Welcome to Paradise, where you can feel soft, cool to the touch, sugar white sand, see breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, enjoy abundant nature and wildlife and admire exotic plants, flowers and trees. Then, add the world-class Ringling Museum, great performance venues, film festivals, abundance of art and Ringling College of Art and Design. This is the place to be for nature and art lovers.

The Best of Sarasota reveals the secret and not so secret places to visit in Sarasota, Florida. Even if you are local, looking at this book, you will fall in love with Sarasota again. The book is filled with photos, captured throughout the years. You will read Sarasota’s legend. It also gives an overview of must-see places.

The Best of Sarasota is a reminder why we need to protect our environment and those precious turquoise waters. We need to protect our wildlife and sea life, and green spaces and blue spaces. With development and climate change, it is a challenge to keep Sarasota beautiful.

Sarasota has numerous parks to enjoy, including the new Bay Park. It stresses the importance and education of an eco-friendly environment and togetherness.

Photography is important. It reminds us how places used to be and how it is changing. It brings back memories of how life was simpler, and Sarasota was smaller. Sarasota, especially downtown, is growing. New architecture mingles with old, historical architecture. It makes people more aware of how saving bits of history and green spaces is important. People come for nature, after all. Many do not want to work and play in concrete jungle.

When you visit Sarasota or if you live here, please be mindful of nature and others. Shop and dine locally. Together, we can keep Sarasota an amazing place to be.