Best Museums in Sarasota

"Located just south of downtown Bradenton, the Village of the Arts features early 20th century bungalows where residents live, work, and play, with homes doubling as art galleries, specialty stores and even a vinyl record shop called Jerk Dog. Art walks take place the first Friday of each month, but you can visit the village on any given day for dinner or lunch at one of the neighborhood’s four charming restaurants. Arte Caffe serves thin-crust pizza, homemade pasta and other authentic Italian classics while Ortygia offers genuine Sicilian, French and Mediterranean-style cuisine."

"The Village of the Arts contains a lot of different events for visitors of the Bradenton area to enjoy. Music festivals and concerts take place here on a weekly basis but that’s not all that this treasure holds. They hold a lot of artistic events here, such as public painting lessons and making homemade jewelry."

"It consists of individual homes over a four block area that have been rehabed and turned into art studios and unique…. Frequently Asked Questions about Bradenton. The top attractions to visit in Bradenton are:"

"This unique art gallery is a must-see for its unconventional collection. It’s the only gallery in America that displays Italian artist and pianist Massimo Meda’s 3D-fluorescent paintings, concrete Medablocks and stainless-steel furniture. It has its own in-residence Italian artist, Fabio Dal Boni, who paints award-winning fine art photography on aluminium and canvas."

"If you would like to learn a little more about the history of the area, the Florida Maritime Museum provides you with a glimpse of the people and events that shaped Florida into the state it is today. The museum occupies 4 acres of land and includes the historic fishing village of Cortez as well as a 1912 schoolhouse building. The Florida Maritime Museum was designed to showcase the significance of the regional commercial fishing industry."

"Florida Maritime Museum 4415 119th Street W Cortez, Florida 34215 • 941-708-6121. A non-profit organization, the old Cortez Rural Graded School was transformed into the Florida Maritime Museum to educate visitors on the topic of Florida’s maritime heritage. It sits on 1.6 hectares (four acres) of land in the historic fishing village of Cortez."

"Discover old Florida through the history of Cortez Fishing Village. Explore the traveling exhibits such as the current attraction, Caught in the Storm, 100 Years of Florida Hurricanes. Permanent exhibits feature an expansive shell collection, ship models, and more."

"With four galleries, Art Center Sarasota provides creative opportunities to the whole community. They run youth educational programs including Creative Kids Saturday Classes and the Creative Kids Summer Art Camp. The exhibitions focus on local and regional art, showcasing many emerging and established talents."

"This community-oriented nonprofit gallery has four exhibition spaces that mix local and out-of-town artists. Hosts frequent events, including a lecture series featuring local artists talking about what informs..."

"This historic artist colony is famous for its galleries, boutiques, studios and dining. Monthly Art Walk is 5-9PM Every 3rd Friday"

"Explore Clearwater's surroundings by going to Ellenton Premium Outlets (in Ellenton), St. Petersburg (Craftsman House Gallery, The Dali Museum, & more) and Treasure Island Beach (in Treasure Island). Plan for a day of cool, family-friendly fun on the 23rd (Sat) at Legoland Florida Resort. Spend the 22nd (Fri) on the water with a fishing tour. There's lots more to do: stroll through Clearwater Beach, browse the different shops at Treasure Trove Mini Mall & Consignments, view the masterpieces at Stirlng Art Studios and Gallery, and explore the world behind art at The Ringling."

"Hours:Closed todayMon: 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PMTue: 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PMWed: 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PMThu: 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PMFri: 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PMSat: 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PMSun: 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM. Address:127 Bridge St, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217"

"Explore Florida's ecosystems with a day of hiking or bicycling around the nature trails at De Soto National Memorial park or take a 45-minute Trail Walk with one of the Park Rangers from the Visitor Center to learn about the rich history and heritage of the grounds. The De Soto National Memorial is home to the living history Camp Uzita; a ten-table picnic area; several small beaches; and The Cove, an anchorage for small pleasure boats. Admission to the De Soto National Memorial is free to the public, but donations are accepted."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ebyabe used under CC BY-SA 3.0. Located in Manatee County, DeSoto National Memorial Park is a place that was established to commemorate the landing of Hernando de Soto in 1539, a Spanish explorer and conquistador who made landfall in Tampa Bay along with his army of soldiers. Aside from that, it was also built to remember the Europeans’ first exploration of the southern United States."

"The Sarasota Jungle Gardens, which opened in 1939, is a popular tourist attraction that features a gorgeous botanical garden and animal shows."