Hyatt Regency Sarasota

Set along Sarasota's beautiful bayfront, the landmark Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has been entertaining audiences with a variety of music, dance, theater and comedy for more than 42 years.

A must-see for serious plant lovers and a should-see for those looking for good photo ops, this peaceful retreat on the bay, just south of downtown, is said to be the only botanical garden in the world specializing in the preservation, study, and research of epiphytes -- that is, "air plants" such as orchids. It's home to more than 20,000 exotic plants, including more than 6,000 orchids, as well as a bamboo pavilion, a butterfly and hummingbird garden, a medicinal-plant garden, a waterfall garden, a cactus and succulent garden, a fernery, a hibiscus garden, a palm grove, two tropical-food gardens, and a native shore-plant community. Selby's home and the Payne Mansion (both on the National Registry) are also located here.

Sarasota is known as Florida's Cultural Coast and is home to a professional symphony, ballet and opera. In addition, more than 10 theaters and 30 art galleries are located in Sarasota. Main Street in downtown Sarasota boasts dozens of shops, restaurants and nightclubs. There are many special events throughout the year in Downtown Sarasota including live music, art festivals, motorcycle shows and parades.

Set amidst a tropical paradise, St. Armands is an enchanting circle of fine shops and gourmet restaurants. Renowned as a market place with a continental flavor, it is a charming and graceful synthesis of past and present. Lush tropical plantings, courtyards and patios, antique statuary and contemporary architectural design skillfully contribute to an international atmosphere of friendly warmth, enduring elegance, and timeless style. Relax in the restaurants, explore the shops - from trinkets to treasures, gourmet snacks to candlelight feasts, you'll find it all on St. Armands Circle. Today, more than 130 stores on St. Armands Circle pamper customers from all areas of the United States and many foreign countries, but in the early 1900's, the key was just a mangrove island too far from the small fishing village of Sarasota to attract much attention. Hotel Provides Complimentary shuttle access to the shopping district.

Sarasota Bradenton International serves over one million passengers a year as a gateway to the southwest Gulf coast of Florida. Major domestic and commuter airlines provide daily scheduled service, as do seasonal international and domestic charter carriers. Our user-friendly terminal and attractively maintained surroundings exemplify the best of Florida, offering a comfortable, secure and stress-free atmosphere. Airline ticketing, baggage claim, and other services are steps away from the main concourse and the commuter gates. Both the short and long-term parking lots are adjacent to the main terminal. Whether you are arriving or departing for pleasure, business, or both, thank you for choosing us!

Lido Beach has plenty of free parking, lifeguards, concessions, picnic tables, playground, showers and restrooms. It is a popular beach, frequented by the locals and a great beach for a stroll at sunset. This beach is just steps away from St. Armands circle. The Hotel Provides complimentary shuttle access to Lido Beach.

By far the top attraction here, this 66-acre site is where showman and circus legend John Ringling and his wife, Mable, collected art and built a house on a grand scale. Now under the aegis of Florida State University, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is the state's official art museum. It's filled with more than 500 years of European and American works, including one of the world's most important collections of 17th-century baroque paintings, collections of decorative arts, and traveling exhibits. The Old Masters collection includes five renowned tapestry cartoons by Peter Paul Rubens. Built in 1924 and 1925 at a cost of $1.5 million and modeled after a Venetian palace, the Ringlings' 32-room palatial bayfront, four-story winter residence, Ca'd'Zan ("House of John" in the Venetian dialect), has been recently restored. An 8,000-square-foot terrace leads down to the dock at which Mable Ringling moored her Venetian gondola. Don't miss a tour of this house to see the period furniture and stunning architecture and artwork; in fact, I'd make it the first stop on your Ringling itinerary. The Ringling Museum of the Circus is devoted to circus memorabilia (which is, in a way, more fascinating than the circus itself), including parade wagons, calliopes, costumes, and colorful posters. The grounds include a classical courtyard, a rose garden, a museum shop, and the historic Asolo Theater, a 19th-century Italian court playhouse, which the Ringlings moved here in the 1950s. It's now the centerpiece of the Florida State University Center for the Performing Arts. If you're hungry, check out the museum's on-site restaurant, Treviso, an elegant lunch-only spot serving fine Italian fare from 11am to 4pm. You can dine inside or, better yet, outside overlooking the Ringling's pristine grounds. A museum admission ticket isn't required to dine in the restaurant. You'll need most of a day to see everything here.

Kids get to touch cool stuff like stingrays (minus the stinger, of course) and watch sharks in the shark tank at this excellent aquarium. Part of the noted Mote Marine Laboratory complex, it is more broad based than Tampa's Florida Aquarium, which concentrates primarily on local sea life. See manatees in the Marine Mammal Center, a block's walk from the aquarium, as well as many research-in-progress exhibits. Start by watching the aquarium's 12-minute film on the feeding habits of sharks; then allow at least 90 minutes to take in everything on land. Add another 2 hours for a narrated sea-life encounter cruise with the Sarasota Bay Explorers (tel. 727/388-4200; www.sarasotabayexplorers.com). These fun and informative cruises visit a deserted island, and the guides throw out nets and bring up sea life for inspection. It's a good idea to make reservations a day in advance. This company has unusual kayaking adventures, too.