Ladies, gentlemen, and other guests of Sarasota hotels, welcome to Ringling Circus Museum. Anyone who wants to relive childhood memories of “the greatest show on earth” should be sure to make this stop on their Florida beach vacation.

Guests of Sarasota hotels can enjoy many attractions that will entertain children and adults alike. The Howard Brothers circus model is one of Sarasota hotel guests’ all-time favorite exhibits. Visitors on Florida beach vacations can tour the model, which includes eight circus tents and over 2,000 miniatures of guests, performers, and animals, and spreads over 3,800 square feet inside the building!

Guests of Sarasota hotels also enjoy visiting the Cà d’Zan Mansion—John and Mable Ringling’s winter home. Families visiting during their Florida beach vacations will discover that the house is built and decorated to mimic the architecture of the Venetian gothic era. At the mansion, guests of Sarasota hotels can tour all 56 lavish rooms, filled with famous art and original furnishings.

Guests on their Florida beach vacations can also experience the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. For families on their Florida beach vacations, every Saturday is family day at the museum, and guests of Sarasota hotels can enjoy many family-friendly exhibits and activities. Guests of Sarasota hotels can view paintings and cast replicas from nearly any time period and culture in our world’s history, and explore lavish Rose gardens and trails on the elegant grounds.

The fun never stops when you’re at the circus! Find out more by visiting the front desk at the Longboat Key Club & Resort.

If you’re one of the many families on their Florida beach vacations that are looking for a more unconventional form of entertainment – or you are just tired of the overcrowded attractions – you can always head to Sarasota’s downtown farmer’s market. The market is home to over 40 vendors and can be fun for guests of all ages from Sarasota hotels.

Families from Sarasota hotels can enjoy all of the fresh produce from the local farmers, ranging from fresh ground and bagged coffee, fruits and vegetables, garden salad greens, flowers, honey, and many varieties of organic foods. Many guests on Florida beach vacations who visit the market also enjoy the hand-made crafts. The crafts include glassworks, jewelry, scarves, hats, homemade candles, pottery and paintings, as well as dog and cat dishes, tables, and clothing, which make great souvenirs of your Florida beach vacation.

Many of the guests at Sarasota hotels also enjoy the atmosphere of the market. Not only can families on their Florida beach vacations enjoy the amazing selection of foods and crafts, there is also live music playing every Saturday. The bands are often the local farmers themselves, or small groups of friends and neighbors who entertain guests of Sarasota hotels with many different types of music and dancing.

The market has been a mainstay of the local community for the past 28 years, and is still growing to give guests of Sarasota hotels a new and increasingly entertaining experience on their Florida beach vacations. For more information, stop by the concierge desk at the Longboat Key Club & Resort.

For visitors of Longboat Key Club’s Florida resort who are looking for a different kind of adventure, taking a kayak tour may be just the shot of adrenaline you need. Several businesses in the Sarasota area offer guided tours to guests on their Florida beach vacation, so ask your concierge at Longboat Key Club & Resort for more information.

The kayak tours that guests of Florida resorts can take range from easy and relaxing to challenging and educational. The majority of kayak companies share the waters and offer similar tours, so visitors on their Florida beach vacation can be confident that any choice will be a good one. Plus, many of the tours are family-friendly, so children from Florida resorts can also take part.

For example, one of the most popular tours takes visitors from Florida resorts through the South Lido Mangrove Tunnels, where paddlers can get up close and personal with dolphins and manatees. There are also plenty of birds to see, including osprey, herons, egrets, pelican, storks, and possibly even bald eagles. Visitors on a Florida beach vacation will have a great time paddling through the shallow waters of the Mangrove Tunnels.

Another popular kayak tour for guests of Florida resorts are those that travel the Myakka River. This is the tour where visitors on their Florida beach vacation will have lots of chances to see alligators—but don’t worry, the tours are very safe! In addition, many other types of wildlife inhabit the Myakka River area, including a variety of birds, deer, wild turkeys, and wild hogs.

Among the many other tours available, guests of the Longboat Key Club Florida resort may enjoy taking a tour around the Key itself. This tour takes paddlers to the Two Sister Keys, just east of Longboat Key Club & Resort. Guests on their Florida beach vacation will see plenty of wildlife, such as native birds, Florida plants, and the protected gopher tortoises. Because of strong currents, this tour is recommended for stronger kayakers.

Your Florida beach vacation will be complete with a kayak tour. See the concierge at Longboat Key Club & Resort for contact information and pricing.

For visitors on their Florida beach vacation, a truly unique activity is a tour of Myakka Lake aboard one of the world’s largest airboats. Myakka Lake is located near Sarasota, and a perfect daytime adventure for visitors from Florida resorts.

The guided tours allow guests on Florida beach vacations to ride on airboats, which are slow moving, but can navigate through shallow, grassy areas. Visitors from Florida resorts will take their tour either on the Myakka Maiden or the Gator Gal for a safe, scenic and relaxing ride.

During the one-hour tour, guests on Florida beach vacations will be guided by a Florida park ranger or tour guide. They have in-depth knowledge about the freshwater lake and give educational talks about the local flora and fauna. Guests from Florida resorts have the opportunity to see many different species of animals, including alligators, turtles, blue herons, and possibly even armadillos!

For those Florida beach vacation guests who prefer to stay on land, the Myakka River State Park offers plenty of activities, as well. Visitors from Florida resorts may enjoy a hike through the trails or a safari tram ride through the park’s backcountry. In addition, for those Florida beach vacation goers who like to “rough it,” there are several campgrounds and campsites available, along with a handful of cabins for rent.

For more information on Myakka Lake airboat tours, ask for information at the front desk of Longboat Key Club Florida resort.

One thing’s for certain: when you take a Florida beach vacation, you’re going to encounter the sun, surf and sand. But there are many unique and unusual attractions that could turn your Florida beach vacation into something out-of-the-ordinary.

For example, Florida is renowned for its Art Festivals. Some of the finest artisans in the world travel to and around the state to weekend art shows throughout the year. Florida resort guests can visit exclusive St. Armands Circle in Sarasota. Its annual St. Armands Circle Art Festival, named one of the “top art shows in the country,” is a great way to while away an afternoon during your Florida beach vacation.

What about cultural activities? If you spend your Florida beach vacation in the Sarasota/Longboat Key area, you can visit the famous John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, located on a 66-acre estate by Sarasota Bay. Recognized as Florida’s official State Art Museum, Florida resort guests will find 21 galleries of European paintings, as well as Cypriot antiquities, Asian Art, American paintings and contemporary art. The estate also features the spectacular Cà d’Zan (”House of John”), a waterfront mansion that was restored in 2002. Touring the museum and mansion provide a spectacular way to spend a day on your Florida beach vacation!

For nature lovers, Myakka River State Park, one of Florida’s oldest and largest state parks is a perfect stop on your Florida beach vacation. Located near Sarasota, Florida resort guests can hike, bike, canoe, kayak, go horseback riding, fish or hop aboard one of the world’s largest airboats – the Myakka Maiden or the Gator Gal – and take a scenic cruise of the Upper Myakka Lake, an uncommon freshwater lake.

Art, culture, nature – Florida has it all. So, enjoy the sun, surf and sand, but make sure you get the most out of your Florida beach vacation!

It’s springtime once again, which means one thing to Sarasota Florida beach vacation visitors: baseball spring training! An always-popular event in town, spring training is a fun thing for the whole family to do while staying in local Florida resorts. One of the country’s oldest baseball teams, the Cincinnati Reds, has held their annual spring training activities in Sarasota since 1998.

Guests on a Florida beach vacation can catch the action beginning in February, when pitchers and catchers generally show up to begin practice. A few days later, position players show up, and visitors from Florida resorts can see the big hitters swing the bat and chase the fly balls. Practice begins daily at 9am.

Even more fun for visitors on a Florida beach vacation are the spring training games. Held at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida resort visitors can buy tickets to these exhibition games for very reasonable prices. Teams compete against other Major League Baseball clubs, making for an inexpensive way for guests on Florida beach vacations to see their favorite teams in action.

Baseball has been a Sarasota tradition since 1924, when the New York Giants first appeared to the delight of Florida resort visitors. Since then, teams such as the Red Sox and White Sox have held their spring training in Sarasota. This year, the Cincinnati Reds are attending their last spring training in Sarasota before they move their activities to Arizona in 2010. Because of that, Florida beach vacation visitors may have their last chance to see spring training in Sarasota unless another team takes the place of the Reds!

See your concierge at the Longboat Key Club Florida resort for more information on game times and ticket prices before baseball leaves Sarasota!

Visitors to the Longboat Key Club Florida resort now have something new to be excited about—the new Longboat Key Club Tennis Gardens has opened. Already considered one of the top tennis venues in the country, the $4.5 million Tennis Gardens is a world-class facility that is expected to bring big names and big tournaments to Longboat Key Club & Resort.

Guests on their Florida beach vacation who stay at the Longboat Key Club & Resort will have complimentary access to the Gardens, which features 20 courts with seating for up to 2,500 spectators. Visitors of the Florida resort can also enjoy the new clubhouse, a fully stocked pro shop, locker room, the new Court 21 restaurant with terrace seating and the Players Patio.

Other amenities at the Tennis Gardens for guests on a Florida beach vacation include full-time tennis pros who can help arrange games, group events, custom-tailored programs, and clinics and private lessons. With all of the amenities available at Longboat Key Club & Resort, Florida resort guests can now spend their day doing all of the things they love, from playing tennis on the new courts, to relaxing in the spa, playing golf to dining at a variety of restaurants.

In addition, Florida beach vacation visitors may be interested in attending the Tennis Gardens’ first major tournament, taking place in May 2009. The All Star Children’s Foundation Sarasota Open will be held at the Florida resort, and guests will have access to event tickets. Some of the world’s most notable professional players are expected to play in the tournament, showcasing the new facility to the world and to visitors in town for a Florida beach vacation.

For more information on the Longboat Key Club Florida resort Tennis Gardens, see your concierge.

At the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota, there is always something new for guests of Florida resorts to discover and, fortunately, this non-profit educational facility and public aquarium is open 365 days a year.

What began as a small shed in a small Florida town, has now expanded to a 10.5 acre campus in Sarasota with field stations and public exhibits in other areas around Florida. Some Florida beach vacation guests may not know that the original focus of the lab was sharks.

Visitors staying at Florida resorts will definitely want to bring the kids to the aquarium. Kids will love the touch pools, shark, dolphin, turtle, and manatee exhibits, along with over 100 other species to watch. The live, working labs are also viewable to the public. Especially interesting to many Florida beach vacation guests is the body of a giant squid on display, one of the few ever found intact.

Because Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium often holds special events, it’s a good idea for Florida beach vacation guests to contact the facility or talk to the concierge at their Florida resort to find out what exciting activities are being planned.

For example, on Saturday February 7th, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium held a Customer Appreciation Day to acknowledge their many regular clients. The event featured a Sea Life Encounter Tour cruise out on Sarasota and Roberts Bay with an educated marine biologist.

Currently, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is offering a Special Lecture Series on Mondays through March 16, which is ideal for Florida beach vacation guests and their families who are staying at the Longboat Key Club & Resort.

In all, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is a fun and educational place to visit during a Florida beach vacation at Longboat Key Club & Resort. Information on this facility and many others is available from the concierge at your Longboat Key Club Florida resort.

At Sarasota’s G.WIZ: The Science Museum, adventures in science and technology await visitors on Florida beach vacations. Formally named the Gulfcoast Wonder & Imagination Zone, G.WIZ opened to the public in 1991 with just 1,000 square feet of space. Just a decade later, in 2000, the facility was moved to a new space, where guests of Florida resorts enjoy a world-class center with over 33,000 square feet of space.

G.WIZ currently has over 85 exhibits for guests on Florida beach vacations to enjoy. The museum is divided into “zones,” which makes it easy to navigate through the science and nature displays and interactive learning experiences. In the ExploraZone, guests from Florida resorts can learn about electricity, magnetism, sound and light. Here, visitors on their Florida beach vacation can build bridges and other structures with magnets, whisper to each other from across the room, and make a bolt of lightning with the Plasma Ball.

Guests of Florida resorts can then visit the Tech Zone to experiment with tools, make an animated video, or design their very own paper airplane. In the Wave Zone, guests on Florida beach vacations can play with light and sound, as they make music with a laser harp, see what vibrations look like, and play with a strobe light.

Finally, the Body Zone allows visitors from Florida resorts to learn just about everything there is to know about the human body while getting some physical activity in too! In this zone, visitors on Florida beach vacations can test their strength, flexibility, speed, height, heart rate, and much more.

Along with these permanent exhibits, G.WIZ also features a rotation of touring exhibits. Currently in the ExploraZone, San Francisco’s Exploratorium museum is partnering to bring an additional 35 exhibits to G.WIZ. Stop by the concierge at the Longboat Key Club & Resort to find out how to add a little G.WIZ to your Florida beach vacation.

Guests staying at a Florida resort such as the Longboat Key Club & Resort will certainly want to check out the array of nightlife that the Sarasota area has to offer. From martini bars to dancing to a great place to watch the game, there are many options for Florida beach vacation guests.

For guests of Florida resorts looking for a classy place and a great martini, check out the Ritz Carlton’s Ca d’Zan Lounge. This plush lounge will instantly relax you, and adding one of their signature martinis – especially the chocolate variety – will melt all your worries away. Also serving up excellent martinis is Zoria, a restaurant that holds it own in the nightlife scene. Choose any martini you like, but you can’t go wrong with a classic here.

For guests on a Florida beach vacation looking for a happy hour crowd, try Horse Feathers & Grille Lounge, where the professionals in the area tend to go after work. An extensive drink menu, including 22 beers on tap, helps to loosen up the crowd until nighttime, when the lounge transforms into a dance floor. On Thursdays through Saturdays, guests of Florida resorts may want to stop by when the DJ is on hand.

For those Florida resort guests who like live music, Sarasota offers plenty of options. Try out the Five O’Clock Club where there are live bands every night of the week, or the 15 South Martini Bar in St. Armand Circle. Guests on their Florida beach vacation might also like the beachy island sounds at Sharky’s on the Pier, where the whole family is invited.

Finally, for the Florida resort guest who doesn’t want to miss the big game, check out Bogey’s Restaurant & Sports Pub, where you can control the volume of the TV in your booth. At the Sports Page Bar & Grille, you’ll never miss a shot or a play when you’re surrounded by TVs. A full bar and good food make this a popular stop by visitors in town on a Florida beach vacation.