Devotees of the performing arts are well served by the Sarasota Opera Association and The Ballet as well as the Florida West Coast Symphony and several other musical and drama groups. The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, The Asolo Center for the Performing Arts, The Sarasota Opera House and several smaller theaters provide superb benues for a wide range of entertainment and cultural events.

Sarasota also has much to offer the nature enthusiast - from beautiful orchids and rare botanical specimens at The Selby Botanical Gardens to sharks and other fascinating creatures at Mote Marine Aquarium and Marine Science Center. The Pelican Man's Bird Sanctuary is also an educational treat. If your interest is wildlife, Oscar Scherer and Myakka State Parks are just a short drive away. There you can picnic and visit with the alligators, wild boar and maybe a deer or two!

Golf and tennis are thriving sports in Sarasota. The area's many golf courses offer recreation and challenge to both the beginner and professional. Many of the area's resorts and condominiums offer excellent tennis facilities as well as the many public courts dotted throughout the city.

If golf and tennis are too energetic for you, how about a spot of fishing? Whether it be a lazy afternoon at the pier or surf-casting from the beach or the excitement of deep-sea fishing aboard one of the area's well-equipped charter boats, it is a pastime that refreshes the soul.

Since Sarasota, with its barrier islands, is a water wonderland, it offers all kinds of water recreation such as swimming, boating, water skiing and windsurfing. In addition, of course, the beaches of powdery white sand are unsurpassed. We have the finest, whitest sand in the world!

Sarasota has many unique shopping areas where one can enjoy hours of browsing through boutiques or fashionable department stores. End your shopping spree with a snack or an elegant gourmet dinner at one of the many fine restaurants.

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