Downtown Sarasota Real Estate

Probably the most popular destination in Sarasota County aside from the beaches, Downtown Sarasota, Florida, is a hopping locale where an average of 40,000 people a day come to work, shop, go to school or perform other activities. The downtown area is home to the heart of Sarasota, and it houses most of the city's popular attractions, including many of its cultural and artistic venues. 

The downtown area hosts a farmers market every Saturday from 7 a.m. until noon for local and visitors alike to buy and sell produce and other items. The area's popular Main Street stretch offers many restaurants, music venues, bars and nightclubs and is popular especially at night. 

Artistic venues dot the downtown area. Towles Court is a privately owned artist colony. The Museum of Asian Art, features pieces from China, Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal and Myanmar, including a famous collection of Chinese jades. The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is locally known as Sarasota's "Purple Cow" for its color and is home to Broadway shows, concerts and comedy shows throughout the year. Also featured prominently downtown are the Art Center Sarasota, the Sarasota Opera and the Players Theater of Sarasota.

The Gulfcoast Wonder and Imagination Zone is a science and technology center especially popular with children. Selby Gardens has a large and beautiful collection of more than 6,000 orchids. It has 11 acres on the bay and more than 20,000 plants. The Main Plaza is a mall featuring shops, restaurants and a movie theater. Island Park's boat basin offers chartered boats and trips. Burns Court Cinema is home to the Sarasota Film Society Cine-World Film Fest. There are many fishing piers which fishers can cast away from downtown: the Englewood Public Fishing Pier, Ken Thompson Park Pier & New Pass Pier, Osprey Fishing Pier, Tony Saprito Pier, Turtle Beach Pier and Venice Fishing Pier.