What BestPlaces Users Say about Sarasota
Context:
Sarasota, Florida is a popular city situated on the Gulf Coast that boasts beautiful beaches, numerous cultural attractions, and a vibrant downtown area. It is known for its warm climate, friendly community, and diverse population. With a population of over 58,000, Sarasota offers a mix of urban and suburban living. Below are excerpts from four user reviews from BestPlaces.net about living in Sarasota.
User Reviews:
1. "Sarasota is a hidden gem on the Gulf Coast. I have lived here for over 10 years and wouldn't want to be anywhere else. The beaches are stunning, the downtown area is lively, and there's always something to do. The people are friendly and welcoming, making it easy to feel at home." - Sarah D.
2. "I moved to Sarasota for retirement and it's been one of the best decisions I've ever made. The cost of living is reasonable, especially compared to other popular Florida cities. I also love the cultural aspect of Sarasota with its theaters, museums, and art festivals. It's a great place for active seniors." - John R.
3. "I've lived in Sarasota my whole life and have seen it evolve into a bustling city. While I appreciate the growth and development, it has also brought some challenges like increased traffic and higher housing prices. But overall, I still love living here and wouldn't want to live anywhere else." - Maria S.
4. "I relocated to Sarasota for work and it's been nothing but a positive experience. The job market is thriving and the city is constantly growing. The only downside is the high humidity during the summer months, but the beautiful beaches and friendly community make up for it." - David T.
based on 105 ReviewsGet to know Sarasota with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Sarasota
Big City Amenities in a Small City Atmosphere - 4/18/2015
Named by Movoto.com last year as one of the "Top Ten Most Exciting Small Cities in America", Sarasota-Bradenton (and its surrounding market area) continues to receive high rankings for its amenities: #1 beach, #1 in "well-being" (Gallup poll), etc. My husband and I moved here in late 1996 and have never considered leaving even though the community and populaton has expanded drawing more seasonal residents and increasing traffic during the winter season of January - April. In fact, there is a common frustration among most locals during the winter season as roads are more crowded and the wait is longer for a table at a favorite restaurant, but there is also an appreciation for what is offered in our market area that draws so many people. Considering Sarasota's arts/culture (Selby Botanical Gardens, Ringling art museum, Van Wezel performing arts center with top entertainers, orchestras, symphonies, broadway shows)theatre, easy access to several beaches as well as rivers340, free concerts
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Do Not Move To The Sarasota Bradenton Area - 2/25/2015
Have lived here since 2009. Moved here from Washington State. People are rude and inconsiderate and hard to deal with. Difficult to make friends. Area draws a lot of criminals. Want to move back to the West Coast where people are much more open and friendly. Moving here was a huge mistake.
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Sarasota, Florida relocation - 10/27/2014
I want to move to Sarasota, FL within a year. I am researching the city on all categories. My income is low, $24,000/yr., 67 year old woman, single and very healthy. Love art, beaches, exercise and social activities. Want rent and to live in a one or two bedroom apt.
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Sarasota has changed so much in the last 2 years a - 9/10/2013
I moved to Sarasota from Rhode Island seven years ago and thought I would never leave. The weather, beaches and restaurants are top notch. It all changed two years ago when Siesta Key beach was named #1 and the Reds left and the Orioles came to town for spring training. Having spent the my first 40 years in the northeast I couldn't believe the difference in cultures and attitudes in a city mainly populated by mid-westerner's. They are calm, polite, humble and never in a hurry. Now the northeasterner's have found Sarasota and it will never be the same. Someone is always tailgating me now or weaving in and out of traffic to get one spot ahead. People no longer greet you with a hello or good morning anymore, I feel like I'm back up north again. When I first arrived I could get on the beaches any time of year, I can't even find a spot in August now. My favorite restaurants have lines out the door in September, unheard of before. There is no more off season now, just like Orlando it
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Noisiest Place I Have Ever Lived! - 7/25/2013
The noise level here is at least 10 times that of a large city. Some days I am literally in tears from it. Car horns, dogs, loud engines, machinery, trucks, planes- it's unbelievable. I am out ASAP! I slept better in New Orleans! Also, the Whole Foods here is inundated with homeless people and everything is at least $1 to $4 more than in Orlando. Don't move here, don't let the Siesta Beach fool you- it is not accessible at all in the Summer. In the Winter the snowbirds come back and the traffic is a nightmare. There are homeless camps all over the city and in one of them a 5 year old child was raped. I don't go anywhere without my husband. People are randomly shot for no reason if they accidentally wander into the wrong neighborhood. And the city is knowingly breaking Florida State Law by banning cigarette smoking in OUTDOOR public places- it's ludicrous! But the biggest factor is the noise- it's a Migraine City- and I'm not old, I'm 40! Don't move here is less you want to listen to
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Nice weather but often hostile environment - 7/21/2013
The Sarasota-Bradenton area might be right for you if you’re from the Northeast. I’m from the Midwest and I’ve lived here two years. Except for Latinos, the vast majority of the population is from New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, or some other northeastern state. Considering Florida is geographically part of the South, the demographics are here are nothing but weird. My experience has been that people here are often rude and antisocial, although you will hear the word “socialize” a lot for some reason. I have a foreign language degree, and I have been to nearly a dozen different countries. People in Sarasota are definitely not nice.
There are many ex-military people here, or recent veterans and military retirees. Many of them have no concept of civilian law and therefore no qualms about breaking it. So don’t be surprised if you meet with massive privacy invasion, slander, or even stalking by former soldiers and sailors. All this should come as no surprise
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Only thing I like about it is the weather - 7/14/2013
Sarasota might be right for you if you’re from the Northeast. I’m from the Midwest and I’ve lived here two years. Except for Latinos, the vast majority of the population is from New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, etc. There’s only a handful of Florida natives and people from the rest of the country. Fact is, the demographics of Florida are just plain weird. My experience is that people here are often rude and antisocial, although you will hear the word “socialize” a lot for some reason.
There are a large number of ex-military people here, or recent veterans and military retirees. Perhaps a result of being in the military so long, many of them have no concept of civilian law and therefore no qualms about breaking it. So don’t be surprised if you meet with massive privacy invasion, slander, or even stalking by former soldiers and sailors (mostly the latter). All this should come as no surprise considering that the military has a history of prisoner torture and a
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Only thing I like about it is the weather - 7/14/2013
The Sarasota-Bradenton area might be right for you if you’re from the Northeast. I’m from the Midwest and I’ve lived here two years. Except for Latinos, the vast majority of the population is from New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, etc. There’s only a handful of Florida natives and people from the rest of the country. Fact is, the demographics of Florida are just plain weird. My experience is that people here are often rude and antisocial, even though you'll hear the word “socialize” a lot for some reason.
There are a large number of ex-military people, or recent veterans and military retirees. Perhaps a result of being in the military so long, many of them have no concept of civilian law and therefore no qualms about breaking it. So don’t be surprised if you meet with massive privacy invasion, slander, or even stalking by former soldiers and sailors. All this should come as no surprise considering that the military has a history of prisoner torture and a current
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Life in Sarasota - 9/16/2012
I was born in Sarasota 50 years ago and have lived here all but 8 years of my life. A lot has changed in this town since then. The weather has always been hot/humid, but it's even hotter now due to climate change. If you don't mind being sticky and sweaty for 7-8 months of the year, then it probably won't bother you; November-March (about 4-5 months of the year) is dryer and cooler, a time when you can actually open the windows and enjoy the weather. Over the years, Sarasota has become quite built up and there is hardly an area of the county left anymore (except way out in east county) that has not been developed by a developer. The friendly small-town atmosphere is gone and Sarasota seems to now be a magnet for the pretentious and materialistic. Longboat Key, one of the barrier islands off of Sarasota (which has nice beaches) is full of that type. The newer neighborhoods in Sarasota are run by Homeowner's Associations, and as another poster said, they can make your life
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