Walk above the trees at the Myakka Canopy. Photo courtesy of 511enews.com.
Beyond the crystalline waters, world-class beaches and swaying palm trees lies a rarely discovered world involving historical significance, cultural importance and natural exploration. It is among these unique charms that one truly discovers what our area is all about, and why those of us who live here are fortunate to call this slice of paradise home.
Here are the top 10 fun facts and places off the beaten path here in the Sarasota area:
1. Burns Court – Nestled away in downtown Sarasota, in the middle of historic Burns Square, is a small raspberry-colored theater that many people consider a landmark of the surrounding area. After opening its doors in 1993, Burns Court Cinemas has continually proven to be the best place around to find first-run, hand-picked foreign language, independent, and art films. Fun fact: Money Magazine has called Sarasota the best small city in the U.S., and has named Burns Court one of the best places to live in Sarasota. Click HERE to see what’s playing today.
2. Myakka Canopy – One of only about a dozen worldwide where you can walk along the treetops, the Myakka Canopy Walkway puts you 25 feet above the ground and extends 85 feet through the tree tops above the Myakka floor. Fun fact: Completed in June of 2000, it is the only one in the world in a subtropical forest. Click HERE for more information.
3. Paul Rudolph Houses - Take a rare look into one of Florida’s most influential architects and view the early residential works of Paul Rudolph, which were widely published at the time of conception and played a significant role in the culture of mid-twentieth century American design. Fun fact: Rudolph’s Sarasota time is now part of the period labeled Sarasota Modern in his career. Learn where to find them HERE. (more…)
Discover the ultimate Florida lifestyle in Rivendell.
A newer community located in the village of Osprey, Rivendell includes almost 500 homes in various neighborhoods spread among 400 acres, which include 14 wetlands and more than 20 lakes and ponds. Located conveniently within walking distance from the Pine View School, this master-planned community is designed to complement your active Florida lifestyle
Rivendell is governed by an active volunteer board of committed residents who are interested in maintaining the beauty of the natural surroundings and upholding the property values.
Market Activity – Rivendell
Home sales have been brisk this year so far, as 15 properties have sold with prices ranging from $200,000 to $585,000 with the time from listing to contract averaging three to five months. There are currently 13 properties actively listed for sale priced from $238,500 to $495,000. There are also eight under contract listed between $220,000 and $519,000.
Sales comparisons for the past few years show that the Rivendell market is “holding its own.”
2008: 23 sales at an average sale price of $393,000, days on market averaged 3-5 months. (more…)
Posted by Michael Saunders & Company on August 18, 2010
The world famous white quartz sand of Siesta Key’s Crescent Beach ends with a stretch of limestone rocks, a formation unique on Florida’s west coast. This is Point of Rocks, the Key’s highest elevation. The homes set on the bluff above the rocks are among the Key’s most desirable. Those facing the Gulf have spectacular views and the neighborhood itself retains touches of Siesta Key as it used to be.
It’s a low key community, intimate in scale, with less than 100 homes. Some are remodeled and expanded classics from the 1950’s and 60’s; other are newer and contain every luxury. A canopy road adds to the old fashioned, tropical atmosphere.
The homes of Country Club Shores offer a quaint "Old Florida" style. Pictured: 621 Ranger Lane.
Originally developed in five phases in the early 1960s, Country Club Shores has become one of the most sought-after locations on Longboat Key. With its convenient site at the southern end of Longboat Key, the neighborhood is popular with boaters as most homes are set on the open bay or deepwater canals with direct access to Sarasota Bay. Residents also enjoy beach access, just across Gulf of Mexico Drive.
Market Activity – Country Club Shores
There are currently 43 active listings in Country Club Shores ranging in price from $499,000 for a 1,600-square foot home built in 1968 to $3.7 million for a 2010-built bayfront estate. So far year-to-date, 12 properties have sold with prices ranging from $330,000 to $1.7 million. Of these 12 closed properties, four took place in July.
Romantic or casual? Discover your favorite dining spot in Sarasota.
The Sarasota area offers an array of dining choices, covering all corners of the world in terms of styles and flavors. As longtime area residents and people about town, our agents and branch managers have sought, savored and selected the preferred dining spots they enjoy sharing with guests, clients and family alike.
So here—in no particular order—is the second sampling of a multi-part series highlighting some of our favorite Sarasota-area restaurants:
• VIZEN Japanese Cuisine – Located at 6559 Gateway Avenue in Gulf Gate, VIZEN Japanese Cuisine comes as the preferred choice for Main Street agent Tammy Garner. Housed in contemporary décor, VIZEN presents its guests with fresh sushi and an assortment of interesting dishes using a combination of great herbs, vegetables and meats selected by the owners/chefs. Chef Masaki “Matsu” Matsunae brings over 20 years of experience creating authentic Edo-style recipes mixed with a bit of French influence fusion to please sushi lovers. Tammy suggests making reservations. Smart casual attire required. Click HERE for more information.
• Mediterraneo – With its convenient downtown Sarasota location, Mediterraneo is named as the favorite area dining spot by Main Street agents Kim & Michael Ogilvie. With a casual yet chic style and a combination of consistent great northern Italian food, Mediterraneo offers a real “big city” atmosphere and the friendliest staff in town to keep Kim & Michael going back for more. “We feel like one of the family with complimentary rosemary flat bread right out of the oven and oftentimes a Limoncello to cap off the evening. Our favorite maître de and the boys from Milan are engaging and entertaining. So passionate are they about their beloved futbol, once there were tears whilst taking our wine order as the Italian team was upset in the World Cup and the lad just had to excuse himself and return to take our order.” It’s also perfectly located for a pre-movie meal. Visit HERE for more information. (more…)
Treat your furry friend to a day at one of our area paw parks.
While our gorgeous coastal area provides plenty of fun for those who enjoy the outdoors, fine dining, world-class shopping and some of the most beautiful beaches found anywhere, there are also a number of recreational spots designated and built especially for Fido to get his exercise and socialize with style. After all, it’s important to keep in mind the old saying, “If your dog is fat, you aren’t getting enough exercise.”
So, here are our top 10 places to take your pooch, including beaches, trails and parks where dogs are allowed, but do not feature fenced leash-free play areas. Remember, some locations require leashes, others don’t, so be sure to check the rules before you go.
1. 17th Street Paw Park – Located in north Sarasota, this expansive dog park features acres of grassy and wood-chip-strewn play space for pooches. It provides plenty of room for off-leash play, shade/shelter, pick-up bags, and agility equipment for large dogs. Hours are dawn to dusk. Adjacent to the paw park are baseball, softball and soccer fields, a snack bar and restrooms. Call 941-861-9830 for more information.
2. Lakeview Paw Park – Located next to Lakeview Elementary School off Proctor Road at 7150 Lago St., Sarasota, Lakeview Paw Park offers a cool, shady oasis on hot summer days. This 26-acre park features a picnic shelter, playground and restrooms. Open from dawn to dusk. Adjacent to the paw park is an area with a jogging and fitness trail, restrooms and picnic tables. For more information, call 941-861-9830. (more…)
Our area beaches are among the finest in the world. Take a look at one of our live web cam feeds to see what you're missing.
The first thoughts of spending time in the Sarasota area often center around lazing on some of the world’s most renowned beaches enjoying the fresh sea breezes and soaking in the warm sunshine.
While you may be miles away from our sun-kissed shores, you can rest assured they maintain the pristine natural beauty that made our area a preferred destination for beach-lovers around the world. In fact, the renowned Stephen Leatherman—also known as Dr. Beach—most recently named our Siesta Key Beach in the no. 2 spot for America’s Best Beach in his annual survey.
Sarasota County’s beaches remain as gorgeous as ever, and our waters are open and inviting for a range of recreational activities and the world-class fishing that makes our area a special treasure for anglers.
We invite you to see for yourself by viewing some of the live feeds showing real-time action of beachgoers enjoying the pristine waters and sugary white sands of our area beaches.
Take a live virtual trip to Siesta Key, Dr. Beach’s number 2 ranked beach in the country HERE.
HERE’s a live look from the BeachHouse Restaurant on Bradenton Beach.
More than just gorgeous, world-class beaches, the Sarasota area boasts a range of exceptional dining options.
With choices ranging from innovative fine dining establishments to quaint waterfront hideaways bursting with Old Florida charm and everything in between, Sarasota is truly food-lover’s destination set to find its way onto America’s culinary map. Our vibrant city adores unique dining concepts and treasures its tried and true mainstays that have provided delectable food and fun for generations of visitors and residents. No matter what the craving, you can guarantee there is a menu to be found in the Sarasota area that does it and does it well.
As longtime area residents and people about town, our agents and branch managers have sought, savored and selected the preferred dining spots they enjoy sharing with guests, clients and family alike. So here—in no particular order—is the first sampling of a multi-part series highlighting some of our favorite Sarasota-area restaurants:
• The Casey Key Fish House – Laidback and relaxed, the Casey Key Fish House offers casual waterfront dining with an “Old Florida” feel in mind. A favorite spot of Longboat Key South agent Deborah Beacham, the restaurant is located just over the north bridge at Blackburn Point to Casey Key. Here you will find fresh seafood served daily from 11:30 am to 9 pm. Owner Jimmy Von Hubertz and Master Chef Willie Tia present terrific food served with warm hospitality. There are daily lunch specials—Deborah’s favorite lunch is the Caesar salad with grilled mahi—and customers rave about the ahi tuna, Bouillabaisse and almond snapper dishes available on the more extensive dinner menu. There is an outdoor section where dogs are allowed (well mannered, of course), so Deborah’s poodle is always welcome! Boat docking available. Learn more HERE.
• Madfish Grill – With a dinner menu offering a selection of Caribbean-inspired cuisine from starters and tapas to seafood to salads and sandwiches, Madfish Grill is a favorite of Siesta Key Branch Manager Debbie Judge. Located at 4059 Cattlemen Road in Sarasota, this locally owned spot serves great cuisine lending itself to the islands and a selection of great steaks. Plus, the bar area is a great place for a lively evening. Fun fact: the restaurant was a bank at one time and the private room is the old vault! Learn more HERE. (more…)
Surrounded by sparkling waters, Bird Key is considered the jewel of Sarasota Bay.
Considered the jewel of Sarasota Bay, Bird Key is perfectly located in the middle of Sarasota Bay between St Armands Circle/Lido Key Beach and downtown Sarasota. This manmade island is made up of 511 lots, or approximately 460 single-family homes, with the only other occupant being the Bird Key Yacht Club. The original island had a large home built on it in 1914, which was owned by a couple from Cincinnati. Since then, John Ringling bought the island, which then became home for his sister. In 1950, Arvida Development Corp—with the assistance of the Corp of Engineers—designed and built the current island.
Market Activity – Bird Key
There are presently 39 active listings in Bird Key. Of these, 11 are off-water—known as Garden homes—15 are canal homes, and 13 are set on Sarasota Bay.
Garden homes range from $515,000 to $1,399,000; Canal homes range from $1,195,000 to $2,695,000; Sarasota Bay homes range from $1,499,000 to $9,490,000. There are five pending homes, in which two are Garden homes, two canal homes and one bay front home. In the last thirty days, one home has sold for $495,000. Year-to-date, fifteen homes have sold—ten of these were off-water; four were canal homes and one bay home. (more…)
Our gorgeous beaches are full of fun things to do. Just be sure to keep it safe.
With the recent endorsement by the renowned Dr. Beach ranking Siesta Key Beach as the country’s number 2 beach—using 50 criteria including water quality and temperature, cleanliness, weather, sand, safety and facilities—residents and visitors alike flock to the surf and sand to enjoy the pristine natural beauty found only on our acclaimed shores. In fact, there’s a good chance there are plenty of sun worshipers there now. You can see them HERE.
While a day at any of our gorgeous beaches offers the perfect blend of fun and relaxation, there are many things to consider to help keep your trip safe and trouble free. From sun safety to recognizing surf conditions and everything in between, here are our top 10 tips for beach safety:
1. Learn to Swim – Everyone should know how to swim, but also remember that swimming in the Gulf is often much different than swimming in a pool. Waves, currents and tides can quickly become overpowering. Do not overestimate your swimming ability. Contact your local American Red Cross, YMCA or recreation department for information on swimming lessons in your area.
2. Good Conditions – Check surf conditions before you enter the water. Make sure no warnings are posted and no warning flags are up. (Red flag = swimming is prohibited. yellow flag = dangerous conditions, green flag = low hazard, purple flag = dangerous marine life.) Find out the water temperature and tide schedule. Observe the water currents. Rip tides can appear normal. The best advice if you’re caught in a rip tide is to remain calm and swim parallel to the shore. Try not to let the tide carry you out, but definitely do NOT swim against the tide.
3. Swim Near A Lifeguard - Statistics indicate that it is safer to swim on beaches with lifeguard services. Lifeguards are trained not only in injury prevention, but also in emergency response. Should anything go wrong at the beach, a lifeguard can help make the difference between life and death. Areas without lifeguard protection may also be areas that have hidden dangers such as sudden drop-offs, currents and weeds all which can endanger your safety. Visit HERE to find area beaches with lifeguards.
3. Hold the Booze - Approximately 50% of catastrophic injuries (including drowning) involve alcohol consumption. Even small amounts of alcohol can impair your judgment, balance, and coordination. Alcohol affects your swimming and diving skills, and reduces your body’s ability to stay warm. Alcohol can make you take risks at the beach that could lead to serious injury or death, so avoid alcohol when swimming at the beach. (more…)
