Sarasota is a beautiful city located on the southwestern coast of the state of
Florida in the United States, within the county of Sarasota. Its convenient location in the southern region of Tampa along the gulf coast of Florida makes it the seat of Sarasota County.
Sarasota Bay is separated from the gulf by two magnificent islands called keys. The Lido and Siesta Keys are renowned across the globe for the beauty of their beaches, complete with beautiful white sands and cool blue waters. Other important keys are the Longboat, Otter, Casey, Coon, Bird, and St. Armands Keys.
Sarasota is home to numerous attractive spots and activities. The city was the original winter home for the Ringling Brothers Circus and is today home to the Ringling Museum of Art, where a blend of ancient and modern art is showcased. The famous Circus Museum has unique masterpieces and artifacts that feature the history and development of the American circus. Several other museums and galleries are found all over Sarasota, featuring many forms of art and craft for visitors to enjoy.
Sarasota has invested deeply in the conservation of the sea, through numerous aquariums, marine life zoos, and natural botanical gardens. Some of them are the famous Sarasota Jungle Gardens, the scenic Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, and the rich Mote Marine Labs where unique marine animals like the Bonnethead sharks can be seen.
Sarasota experiences a humid subtropical climate under the Köppen classification Cfa, with a close border on the tropical savanna climate. The weather is characterized by rainy, warm to hot, humid summers and moderately warm and dry winters. Extremely hot days and cold days are rare, but Sarasota still has two main seasons featuring a rainy season and a dry season.
The dry season begins in
October and stretches through
May. Rainfall is still received during the season, albeit in minimal amounts. The driest month of the year is
November when the rain gauge barely collects more than 1.9" (48.3mm) of rain. The temperature during this season averages highs of between 71.4°F (21.9°C) and 86.2°F (30.1°C) and lows of between 52.3°F (11.3°C) and 68.2°F (20.1°C).
The wet season extends from
June through
September, during the warmest time of the year. The temperature remains high during the day, between 89.8°F (32.1°C) and 91.9°F (33.3°C) and drops to read between 68.7°F (20.4°C) and 72.1°F (22.3°C) at night. The season receives an average of 7.9" (200.7mm) of precipitation per month.
August being the rainiest month of the year, it records an average of 9.1" (231.1mm) in rainfall.
The city of Sarasota can be visited any time during the year due to its warm and pleasant all year long stable weather. However, the travel period peaks between
February and
July. This period has the best climate of the year, with warm and lovely days and minimal weather-related interruptions, perfect for outdoor fun and activities. Most of the festivals and events in Sarasota are also held during this period.
The biggest event held in Sarasota is its annual Film Festival, usually held in
April. It is aimed at celebrating and appreciating the film industry and the contributions of filmmakers within the industry. The festival features more than one hundred and eighty screenings of popular shows, documentaries, and children's movies.