Travel & Outdoors

Time Machine

Stroll Through Sarasota History With an Interactive Walking Tour

Compass Rose History Experiences is exploring the boom and bust of 1926 Sarasota and the resilience of the community during the Great Depression and World War II.

01/17/2023 By Kim Doleatto

Red Alert

How Bad Is Red Tide at Our Beaches?

The latest red tide reports might affect your weekend beach plans. Here's where it's safe to swim.

01/06/2023 By Isaac Eger

Top 10 in 2022

10 Great Reads From a Year Full of Them

Our editor-in-chief picks some of his favorite stories from 2022.

12/28/2022 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Beach Update

High Levels of Red Tide Are Present at Many Sarasota Beaches. So Where Is It Safe to Go?

Dead fish, scratchy throats and unpleasant smells have been reported at Sarasota County beaches. Here's where it's safe to swim.

12/02/2022 By Isaac Eger

Essential Intelligence

Mangroves Are Powerful Coastal Guardians

Beyond their inherent value as living organisms, mangrove trees are vital when it comes to protecting healthy waters and fisheries—and even human development.

11/12/2022 By Yasi Bahmanabadi

Sandy gallery

The Siesta Key Crystal Classic Is Back

Professional and amateur sand masters at the 2022 international sand sculpting competition are primed to make jaws drops Nov. 12-14.

11/01/2022 By Kim Doleatto

Island Hopping

Virgin Islands National Park Is One of the Country's Least-Visited Parks. You Should Go.

There are many good reasons to visit this tropical paradise, aside from its pristine beaches and abundant coral reefs.

10/19/2022 By Matt McGowan

Wheelie Fun

Get Excited for Sarasota Bike Fest's Halloween Bike Parade

Get the bike gang back together for this family-friendly celebration of all things bicycle.

10/12/2022 By Lauren Jackson

Shopping Adventure

Vintage Marché in St. Petersburg Is a Vintage Shopping Utopia

Need a fun escape this weekend? (Don't we all?) This extravaganza of vintage treasures is just over the Skyway Bridge.

10/06/2022 By Susan Burns

Museum Day

Here Are the Local Museums Participating in the Smithsonian's 'Museum Day'

The annual event offers visitors free admission to local participating museums.

09/13/2022 By Megan McDonald

Beaches

How Seriously Should We Take No-Swim Advisories?

After a recent spate of no-swim advisories, we asked the Florida Department of Health what causes them and what precautions we need to take.

08/25/2022 By Bethany Ritz

Throwing Shade

Small Handmade 'Chick Huts' Help Our Beach Birds Stay Cool

The wooden huts, which offer shore birds a respite from the sun, are a gift from local bird enthusiast Sandy Ulrikson and her late husband Jerry.

08/19/2022 By Megan McDonald

Beach Report

No-Swim Advisory Issued for Multiple Sarasota County Beaches

The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County has resampled the beaches today and expects the results late afternoon tomorrow.

08/11/2022 By Staff

Globetrotter

This Sarasota Man Has Traveled the World Hunting Exotic, Dangerous Snakes

"I’ve been bitten by almost every creature there is. But I love what I do."

07/28/2022 By Allison Forsyth

The Wild Life

Scalloping at Crystal River Is Something Every Floridian Should Do

The Nature Coast astounds with manatees, scallops and stunning waterways.

07/25/2022 By Lauren Jackson

Getaway

Great Ways to Explore Knoxville

This up-and-coming city on the Tennessee River offers arts, inventive food and drink, and blissful wilderness.

07/14/2022 By Susan Burns

We All Live in a Yellow Submarine

This Sarasota Duo Is Killing Invasive Lionfish in a Tiny Yellow Submarine

Scott Gonnello and Scott Cassell are finding new ways to rid the waters of this invasive species, which wreaks havoc on coral reefs.

07/07/2022 By Kim Doleatto

The Green Living Toolkit

How to Go Solar in the Sunshine State

Two experts break down how going solar is an all-around win for homeowners and the environment.

06/28/2022 By Kim Doleatto

Tourism

Two Million Floridians Are Expected to Travel This Fourth of July

The holiday weekend will be the second busiest since 2000, according to AAA estimates.

06/27/2022 By Staff

They're Back!

After Nearly 12,000 Years, Coyotes Return to Florida—and Sarasota

Coyotes are so established in Florida that they've become naturalized—meaning they're a part of the ecosystem.

06/14/2022 By David Hackett