Port of Call: Sarasota

The first time I ever heard of Sarasota was in the early eighties, when a colleague told me his grandmother lived there. Immediately, I associated Sarasota with retirees. Over the years, I passed by the town many times, but never did I stop. Until February 2005, when my husband and I arrived by boat. Were we in for a nice surprise!

Mai Thai anchored in Sarasota Harbor

We anchored at the expansive Sarasota Harbor, near Marina Jack. You can tie up your dinghy at O'Leary Tiki Bar and Grill for a small fee. 

Once on land, you are on Island Park (or Bayfront Park) with lots of amenities - walkways for rollerblading, walking or running, huge playgrounds and water fountains for kids to play, benches for picnics, all with the lovely view of Sarasota Bay. For those seeking watersports activities, there are plenty of affordable rentals and charters (sunset or dinner cruises, deep-sea fishing, you name it) at the park.

Bayfront Park

Sunset at Sarasota Harbor

Across the street from the park is the charming downtown, lined with art galleries, cafes, bookstores, and restaurants. There is a theater, an excellent library and bus system. On Saturdays, a good size farmer's market offers fresh vegetables, plants, herbs, flowers, etc.

Farmer's market in downtown Sarasota

We were lucky to stumble upon the Sarasota Arts Festival one weekend. It's one of the best arts festivals we've been to. This video is from our most recent visit (2017).

We love Sarasota so much we stayed on anchor there for almost three weeks! When the birds start  eating their catch on your deck and bimini top, it is time to leave. Did I mention that there were quite a few liveaboards at the anchorage? 

Back in those days, you could anchor as long as you liked. A few years later, the city limited anchoring to 72 hours. Since Nov 2012, you can no longer anchor freely in Sarasota. The city has installed moorings which cost $28/day. Find out more here.

Looking at the mooring field from Bayfront Park

Since that first visit, we have been coming back to Sarasota often. For the lovely beaches, the Ringling Circus Museum, the arts, and so much more. 

Have you been to Sarasota? 

Updated: 11/4/21

This post is shared on Image-in-ing, My Corner of the World and Skywatch Friday.

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