Sarasota's appeal is getting more and more attention! On the heels of U.S. News & World Report's announcement that Sarasota is one of the ten most desirable places to live in the United States, Time magazine has just announced Sarasota as one of the world's 100 greatest places of 2021. The comprehensive annual list celebrates the globe's most unique and appealing destinations, with a special emphasis this year on the ingenuity and community creativity emerging from the pandemic's effect on tourism and hospitality.
Sarasota was included among destinations as exotic as Antarctica and Mozambique for the magical combination of our Gulf Coast beauty and inspiring cultural scene.
Read the full text below or click here to explore Time's entire list.
The challenges of the past year and a half have transformed our world, and few industries have been as affected as travel, tourism, and hospitality. In many ways, our third annual list of the World’s Greatest Places is a tribute to the people and businesses at the forefront of those industries who, amid extraordinary circumstances, found ways to adapt, build and innovate. It shines a light on ingenuity, creativity, revitalization, and reopenings in destinations across the world.
To compile this list, TIME solicited nominations of places—including countries, regions, cities, and towns—from our international network of correspondents and contributors, with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences.
The result: a list of 100 unique destinations, from the idyllic Portuguese town of Arouca, now home to the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge, to the continent of Antarctica, which this December will experience a rare total solar eclipse. And while it may not be possible to safely visit each place just yet, they’re all well worth reading (and dreaming) about until it’s time, once again, to explore.
Sarasota, Florida
The growing Gulf Coast scene
Miami has long held the reins on all things young and hip in Florida. But there’s something special percolating along the once sleepy Gulf Coast these days. Celebrating its centennial this year, Sarasota is proving itself a vital cultural capital with the new Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College, housed in the former Sarasota High School building, with exhibitions featuring the work of artists such as Robert Colescott, Charles McGill, and Samo Davis. Phase 1 of The Bay, a project that will redevelop 53 acres of city land into a bayfront public park, is set to debut this year, including the meandering Mangrove Bayou Walkway, which opened in April, and the Sunset Boardwalk. And across the John Ringling Causeway, two upscale beachfront properties recently unveiled major renovations: the Lido Beach Pavilion and the Resort at Longboat Key Club, both superior spots to watch the sunset over the shimmering Gulf waters. —Brad Japhe