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Sarasota
Sarasota, located between Ft. Myers and Tampa on Florida's west coast, enjoys year-round summer weather. Fall is a particularly pleasant time to visit, with plenty of activities and events to keep travelers busy before the crowds of the winter high season descend.
Besides hitting the beach, other year-round activities include golf (Florida's first golf course is in Sarasota); hiking, bird-watching, and camping at the area's two state parks; and visiting botanical or jungle gardens. Sarasota is known as Florida's cultural coast, and has dozens of galleries, an art museum, 10 theaters, and is home to a professional ballet, symphony, and opera.
Sarasota's art is highlighted during Palm Avenue's First Friday Art Walks, which feature gallery openings, fine dining, and live music on the first Friday of every month. Music lovers can attend Friday Fest on the Bay, a free jazz festival with music, food, and arts and crafts at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall (the last of the year on October 20), or check out the 16th Annual Sarasota Blues Festival, featuring Greg Allman and friends, in October.
Seafood and wine are highlighted at the end of October at the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort's 17th annual Stone Crab, Seafood, & Wine Festival, with culinary demonstrations and tastings, as well as live music and dancing.
Sarasota's Medieval Fair takes place on four days in November, and features more than 75 performances per day. Knights, jesters, dancers, and musicians perform, and visitors can watch jousting matches and participate in a "royal feast."
Several airlines are introducing service to Sarasota this fall. JetBlue begins its nonstop service from New York on September 21, while AirTran will resume its seasonal service from Dallas to Sarasota in late fall. US Airways has promotional fares from Washington, D.C., to Sarasota for travel though mid-November.
I compared peak and off-peak airfares and found savings of up to $50 in fall.
| Route | Off-peak fare | Peak fare |
| New York (JFK) to Sarasota | $207 | $241 |
| Oakland to Sarasota | $377 | $426 |
| Phoenix to Sarasota | $427 | $447 |
| Washington, D.C. (Dulles), to Sarasota | $214 | $264 |
Off-peak fares are based on travel from October 17 to 24, 2006, and peak fares are based on travel from February 20 to 27, 2007. Prices were found on Travelocity's website and include taxes and fees.
For more information on accommodations and events in Sarasota, refer to the Sarasota CVB's website.
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