Ten season’s reasons to visit Sarasota

Like any Florida city where tourism is big business, Sarasota has a long list of holiday and winter activities. Here are 10 you’ll want to sample:

1. Heritage Holidays at Historic Spanish Point: See Victorian-era holiday decorations and listen to holiday stories from the late 1800s, when Frank and Lizzie Webb Guptill and other Florida pioneers lived there. A bonus: You’ll see native Florida plants and a bald eagle and other wildlife that call the 30-acre property home. You’ll also see evidence of the first settlers to occupy the Point, from 3000 B.C. to 1000 A.D. Bertha Matilde Honore Palmer, a Chicago socialite, bought and preserved the Point in 1910. Nov. 22-Jan. 2. $9 adults, $8 seniors age 65 and older, $3 children 6-12, free for children under 6. 941-966-5214; www.historicspanishpoint.org

Enlarge this image

AMANDA MILLER ALLEN/Special

An actress portrays Lizzie Webb Guptill, a settler getting ready for the holidays, during Heritage Holidays at Historic Spanish Point.

MORE ON SARASOTA
• Sarasota more than a three-ring attraction

AJC.COM HOLIDAY GUIDE
• More holiday events

Florida travel stories

• Cheers, Florida, for many great places to drink! 
• Sarasota forever tied to the circus 
• Adventures in flight  birds and rockets 
• One region, three price points: Clearwater / St. Pete Beach 
• Florida city offers more than beach 

• Photos: Travel / Southeast Galleries
• Latest deals!
• Back to: Travel | Southeast destinations

2. Holiday Lights and Jungle Nights: Normally, Sarasota Jungle Gardens is about free-roaming flamingos and exotic bird and reptile shows. For the holidays, the gardens dress up with holiday lights along the winding paths and offer evening entertainment, food, marshmallow roasting, holiday music and visits by Santa and Mrs. Claus. Nov. 28-Dec. 28: 6-9 p.m. on select evenings. $11 adults, $4 children 3-12. 941-355-1112; www.sarasotajunglegardens.com

3. Santa Jaws: A tour of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is a must whatever season you visit, but during the holidays kids and adults can take a free photo with Santa Jaws, aka Gilly the Shark, the aquarium’s mascot. Nov. 29-Dec. 20, noon-2 p.m. Saturdays. 941-388-4441; www.mote.org

4. Festival of Trees at the Powel Crosley Museum: The 21-room, 1929 Mediterranean Revival estate of Powel Crosley Jr. on Sarasota Bay gets decked out for the holidays, with special events including cruises on a 40-passenger catamaran, afternoon teas, a wine tasting and performances of “It’s a Wonderful Life” by the Manatee Players. Crosley made his fortune in radios and compact cars, and you’ll also see antique automobiles and radios from Crosley’s collection and a room-size model train display. Dec. 3-10. Admission to the tree festival, $8 adults, free for ages 12 and under; special event prices vary. 941-722-3244; www.crosleymuseum.com

5. Holiday Night of Lights on St. Armands: Lighting of a huge Christmas tree, a visit by Santa, entertainment and holiday festivities kick off the season on St. Armands Circle. Dec. 5, 6-9 p.m. Free. 941-388-1554; www.starmandscircleassoc.com

6. Holiday Tour of Homes: Sponsored by the Junior League of Sarasota, this year’s theme is green living, and you’ll see many beautifully decorated homes with environmentally friendly features. Dec. 5-6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $20. 941-953-5600; jlsarasota.org

7. Sarasota Christmas Boat Parade of Lights: Some 40 boats – from yachts to small pleasure craft – cruise Sarasota Bay to show off months of preparation at this annual event, Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. Nearby Venice also hosts a boat parade, at 6 p.m. Dec. 6. Sarasota’s Christmas Parade also is Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. All events free. www.sarasotafl.org

8. Breakfast with Santa and Teddy Bear Tea: At the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, kids will dine with Santa at 9 a.m. Dec. 13, then receive a gift and a souvenir photograph; $45 for adults, $35 for children ages 12 and younger. The Ritz’s Teddy Bear Tea at 11 a.m. Dec. 20 includes a strolling storyteller, finger sandwiches, tea cookies and hot chocolate. Guests receive a keepsake teddy bear and a photo with Santa; $50 adults, $42 for children ages 12 and younger. 941-309-2008; www.ritzcarlton.com/sarasota

9. Sarasota Orchestra: Celebrating its 60th year, the symphony changed its name this year from Florida West Coast Symphony to Sarasota Orchestra. Among guest performers this year are soprano Kelly Nassief, pianists Benedetto Lupo and Andrew Von Oeyen, violinists James Ehnes and Lara St. John, conductor David Lockington, and clarinetist Bharat Chandra. Leif Bjaland is the orchestra’s conductor. Dec. 12-14, Jan. 8-11, Jan. 30-Feb. 1, Feb. 21-22, March 12-15 and April 2-5. $20-$82. 1-866-508-0611; www.sarasota orchestra.org

10. Sarasota Ballet: Instead of the traditional “Nutcracker,” this year’s production is “Les Patineurs and The Two Pigeons,” another winter-themed ballet that includes scenes with falling snow. Dec. 19-21. $15-$70. 941-359-0099, 800-361-8388; www.sarasotaballet.org

IF YOU GO

Getting there: Sarasota is about 520 miles from Atlanta, about an eight-hour drive. AirTran Airways and Delta Air Lines fly nonstop to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport; expect to pay $150 or more roundtrip.