A trip to Florida is always an event. It's the land of oranges, palms, pristine beaches, and summertime vibes. While Florida is diverse in its essence, we've previously written about historic St. Augustine. This time, the focus will be on West Florida, as our recent editorial trip covered the cities of Sarasota, Tampa, and St. Petersburg.
Sarasota is a city with a traditional southern pace of life. Fairly young, founded in 1921, it's been developing lately as a popular resort and a relocation spot for those looking to comfortably enjoy their well-earned retirement.
The city's crowning jewel is undoubtedly its beaches. Siesta Key Beach proudly holds the top spot in America's beach rankings. A broad sandy strip, snow-white quartz sand, as fine as wheat flour, and turquoise waters, that's Siesta Key for you. A bustling tourist street lined with numerous shops and cafes is located just a mile from the shore. The much narrower and less crowded Lido Beach starts right after St Armands Circle, designed especially for strolls. Here, you'll find squares with statues (not of historical value but photo-worthy), little shops, and restaurants, all blooming beautifully. Mansions and multi-story buildings with stunning bay views are located right on the waterfront.
The giant "Unconditional Surrender" sculpture, standing at 25 feet tall, is arguably Sarasota's most famous landmark. Made of aluminum, it's hurricane-resistant. You've likely seen the iconic photo that inspired this sculpture: mere moments after Japan officially announced its acceptance of the World War II surrender terms, photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captured this image during the wild celebrations at Times Square in New York. While critics dismiss the statue as too frivolous and tasteless, the general public loves it. Versions of this sculpture have been set up in several cities worldwide.
Another notable attraction in Sarasota is the Ringling Museum. It's the largest circus museum, but it also houses an art museum and an Asian art museum. John Ringling was one of five brothers who created an extraordinary circus show. Even his mansion was unique: John and his wife Mabel decided to build an Italian palace in Sarasota, which we can see in immaculate condition today.
For car enthusiasts, a visit to Sarasota's Classic Car Museum would be intriguing. The unique collection ranges from the luxurious Ringlings' Rolls-Royce to Paul McCartney's charming Mini Cooper.
Every March, Sarasota hosts its annual jazz festival.
Close to Sarasota, in North Port, lies the Wonder Lake – a popular mineral spring. Native Americans revered this lake as sacred. Its mineral content is higher than in any other American lake, making its waters curative for many ailments.
Longboat Key, an island city, is a place where you can spot the rare manatees (sea cows). Manatees often get caught in boat propellers and fishing nets, so there are warning signs put up in the area. If you can't encounter manatees in the wild, you can always see them at the MOTE Aquarium. To get up close with exotic animals, you can visit the Sarasota Jungle Gardens. Take the kids with you!
We highly recommend heading to Dry Dock Waterfront Grill for lunch or dinner. It's a genuine dock for storing boats and yachts with a view of the bay and a cozy open terrace where pelicans fly in. You'll certainly not find a shortage of seabirds in Sarasota – herons, pelicans, albatrosses, and seagulls are everywhere and are not afraid of humans. Even a local tropical plant is called "bird of paradise", which it indeed resembles.
While exploring Florida's west coast, you cannot overlook Tampa and St. Petersburg. Tampa is the state's third-largest city, and its neighbor, St. Pete as locals call it, is the fourth. Unlike the cold northern Russian city of St. Petersburg, Florida's version is a resort situated on a peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The weather here is consistently good, with a Guinness World Record of 768 consecutive sunny days. Both cities have airports.
The impressive cable-stayed Sunshine Skyway Bridge, spanning over 6 kilometers, stretches across Tampa Bay. This bridge is how you get to Tampa from St. Petersburg. It is a new version built on the site of the old one, which collapsed in 1980 due to a collision with the freighter Summit Venture. The disaster happened in stormy weather and zero visibility, with the southern part of the bridge being destroyed. Six cars, a truck, and a bus fell from a height of 46 meters, leading to the death of 35 people. The freighter's captain was acquitted after an investigation.
Tampa is a vibrant city. Along the Hillsborough River stretches the central promenade, Tampa Riverwalk, where attractions like the Florida Aquarium, Glazer Children's Museum, Tampa Museum of Arts, and Tampa Bay History Center are located. This area frequently hosts festivals, exhibitions, parades, and children's events. At Busch Gardens, you'll experience memorable interactions with animals and thrilling rides.
The Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg boasts the largest collection of the famous painter's work in the world: around a hundred paintings, 1,300 pencil sketches, and even the first artworks of a fourteen-year-old Dali.
What else is there to do on Florida's west coast? Just about anything! Stunning sunsets, mangroves, kayaking, surfing, day cruises, exquisite cuisine... Many spend the entire winter here if they can. You can swim and sunbathe practically all year round.
