Big City Amenities in a Small City Atmosphere
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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 and festivals throughout the year, a vibrant downtown, numerous fine and casual dining establishments, excellent retail and shopping, meaningful volunteer opportunities, warm climate, excellent medical care, and outdoor activities...Sarasota offers a quality of life that is hard to match on either coast of Florida. When we moved to Sarasota, reaching out to neighbors and making friends was easy....many were from other parts of the country and happy to connect. We recently relocated to another part of the market area, walked up and down the street to meet neighbors and invited them to an impromptu happy hour 4-5 hours later. 18 neighbors came and we had an instant party that lasted for hours! I've read reviews with the opinion that people were not friendly here...I've personally never found that to be true in a broad sense...but then I always believe "you must be the change you want to see" so I am often the initiator. There are plenty of ways to connect with others in the community by getting involved in any of the numerous non-profit organizations, neighborhood association activities, local events, meet-up groups,etc. When my mid-western friends ask how I can stand the hot, humid summers, I reply that being along the coast with gulf breezes keeps the average hot months at a high of 91-93 with the evenings dropping in the mid-70's to low 80s...there is rarely a summer evening that we can't enjoy sitting outside on the lanai comfortably. That was not always true in the agricultural areas of central Illinois during July and August. There is a joke among locals that "we shouldn't speak so positively about Sarasota because we don't want any more people moving here" ha...I often wonder if that is what is happening when I read something negative about our town. I would suggest that whatever is negative, could most likely be found anywhere in the country in a similar small city. Then again, Sarasota-Bradenton area might not be the right fit for everyone. Certainly the wage to housing cost ratio must be personally evaluated. The small communities surrounding Sarasota-Bradenton often offer more home for the price/rent, so there is something for everyone. I'm grateful to be able to live in such a beautiful area offering such a high quality of life!
Cathy | Bradenton, FL