Sarasota Florida

 Sarasota Florida, located on the west coast of Florida about an hours drive south of Tampa is one of the premier garden spots in the world. It has  been called the "biggest" little city in the country. With all the amenities of a large city, it still offers small town friendliness and hospitality. Everything from theater to professional sports is offered as well as a wide variety of civic and fraternal organizations.Enjoying sunshine over 300 days a year and a frost maybe once every five years the climate is ideal.




The John Ringling Bridge built in 2003 is a modern passage to St.Armand's Circle and Longboat Key. Actually the 3rd bridge to traverse Sarasota Bay, the first bridge was built by John Ringling in the early1900's utilizing elephant power to move the heavy timbers involved in it's construction. The second bridge was a draw bridge which was removed when the present day bridge was built.






On Dec. 23,1885 a group of Scottish families arrived in Sarasota to settle on land they had purchased for their new homes. Meeting with hardships instead of an established town they had been promised, many returned to Scotland. The ones that remained along with the American colonists who welcomed them plotted the town on July 27th, 1886.





The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station depot was built in 1925. This mission style white stucco building with a red tile roof anchored the east end of Main Street. The station had separate rooms for white and  colored patrons as was common in the day. The first train arrived in May of 1924. The station served the Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey  Circus when it arrived in 1927.






The island has various names during the 1800's and early 1900's. Known as Little Sarasota Key and Sarasota Key before 1907. The name Siesta Keybegan in 1907 and became official in 1952.





 

Early access was by boat, the beach became popular after the first bridge was built in 1917. For the first time cars could access the island and thus many homes, cottages and even a casino was constructed on the island.In recent years Siesta Key has been given the distinction  of being named the best beach in Florida and one of the top ten beaches in the United States.

Gary is a travel writer and photographer living in Sarasota, Florida. He maintains a website featuring some of his travel photos and markets a line of products featuring many of his photos.