The Official Visitors Guide of Sarasota County® - 2025

Sail Out to Sea

Charter your own experience with Sail Venice, where you can take the wheel of the Inspiration sailing vessel or sit back and relax while a captain who knows the waves and the winds takes the helm. For a luxury boating experience with a laid-back vibe, schedule a high-end yacht day trip with the hospitable team at Kokomo Charters. For a total reset and wellness on the water, book a public or private charter with Kathleen D Sailing Catamarans, with destinations that vary from Longboat Key to Anna Maria Island. Step aboard Marina Jack II Cruises for stunning views of the bay from air-conditioned salons or open-air decks after a bu et lunch or dinner. Join a luxurious excursion with Paradise Key Charters to spot dolphins, hop sandbars and catch a breathtaking sunset cruise to forget the weekday blues.

Spa Day Splendor

Melt your cares away at the St. Regis Longboat Key Spa, a 5-star sanctuary and oceanfront spa where champagne and wellness shots welcome you before delving into vitality pools, therapy baths and couples massages. Or enjoy a tip-to-toe refresh with a manipedi and blowout at the salon. For a day of bliss and beauty, pamper yourself at Azul Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Spa for a rejuvenating facial peel or IV Drip Therapy. Warm up in Beach Sound Vibes Hyper-Wellness Spa’s detox saunas to soothing audio, then cold plunge into the subzero cryogenic chamber to get that “Hollywood glow.”

Join the Club

For a more active take on wellness, book tee time at Wellen Park Golf & Country Club in Venice, an 18-hole golfing experience that will challenge all player types. If a racket is your gear of choice, Laurel Oak Country Club is home to premier tennis courts and a facility impressive enough to host the Sarasota Open (twice!). Retreat south of Sarasota for Manasota Beach Club’s all-inclusive membership to tap into all-access activities like tennis, bocce, croquet and pickleball. A crowdless cooldown at the pool or library is a joy. The Ritz-Carlton Members Club encompasses access to the legendary resort’s 315 acres and an immensely playable Tom Fazio-designed, 18-hole championship course. Top off a round with an elite beach day replete with reserved lounge chairs, towels, umbrellas, and food and beverage service.

Find Your Flow

A visit to Mandala Med Spa & Yoga Shala guarantees a well-balanced experience—from full-moon sound baths, guided meditations and yoga classes to healing modalities like acupuncture and energy therapy. Enjoy Yoga in the Park during the Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market on Sunday mornings for a gentle and free flow paired with lake views. Or find your center at Namaste at The Bay, weekly community yoga hosted at The Bay’s green park oasis, under “The Nest.” You won’t find a more lush setting for your warrior pose than Yoga in the Gardens at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, selected for TIME’s 2024 annual list of The World’s Greatest Places. A ticket includes admission for the day! Take your practice to Venice Beach for Yoga with Elin, a community class for all-experience yogis to breathe, stretch and strengthen while waves provide sounds of meditation.

Equine Therapy

Saddle up for self-care on majestic creatures touted for their therapeutic qualities and mental health benefits. Combine a serene coastal horseback riding trail experience with a personalized photography session with Gulf Coast Ponies. Fox Lea Farm’s boutique-style horse shows—from hunter-jumper and quarter horse to appaloosa and dressage—is the perfect excuse to dress to the nines and head to Venice for a Saturday afternoon event. If polo is your preferred sport, pony up to Sarasota Polo Club’s spectacular grounds for private lessons and training, or stick to the stands for spectator games, concerts and social events. For a sprawling cross-country course designed by an Olympic gold medalist, visit the TerraNova Equestrian Center, tucked into the picturesque countryside of Myakka City.

Tailed EXPERIENCES 

Leave the planning to local experts. Sarasota’s concierge services can turn the dream you long for into lifelong memories. The Coastal Concierge is your one stop for customized planning and no-stress booking—whether a business trip with sightseeing touches or a vacation of adventure and play. For special occasions, Sun Served Bespoke Picnics helps bring lavish and lovingly prepared picnics to life, customized and delivered straight to the location of your choice.