The City of Sarasota would like to respectfully point out that if you do not like it, you are welcome to lump it. Sarasota has all of the conveniences and attributes of a metropolitan area, without the drawbacks normally associated with living in larger cities. It has more affluence, culture, and natural history per square foot than any other town in the U.S. to date. All of the magnificent architecture, eclectic restaurants, cafes and eateries, local playhouses and theatres, stand alongside the world renowned Ringling Art Museum and the glorious Van Weazel Preforming Arts Hall, which perpetually houses the most talented performances, acts, and symphonies of our time. It is also home to Siesta Key Beach which is consistently rated in the top three most beautiful beaches of the world, and the single most beautiful beach of the United States in its entirety. If Siesta is too crowded, Sarasota boasts many other beaches of equal quality and caliber, such as Lido Key, Casey Key, and Long Boat Key. As you pointed out, there are many snowbirds- a term for those people who have retired and spend half of the year in a more northern area, presumably near family and friends, and the other half in Sarasota. Essentially, you are making the case that people who have worked their entire lives are rewarding themselves with the relaxation and aesthetically pleasing offerings of Sarasota, FL, and choose this place of astounding beauty and temperate climate to spend their last period of life in. As for the homeless, they lead a nomadic lifestyle and could essentially live anywhere-yet they too choose Sarasota. Sarasota is not overrun with vagabonds, as you would seemingly portray it to be, but has no more homeless than other cities of its size and population. If, in fact, all of this pales in the face of what you perceive to be an unbearable noise level accompanied by untold dangers lurking on every pleasantly sunny street corner, and all of the culture and natural beauty it has to offer is apparently wasted on you, by all means, you are quite welcome to leave. On behalf of the City of Sarasota, I happily await your swift departure.
Amanda | Gainesville, FL | Report Abuse

The City of Sarasota would like to respectfully point out that if you do not like it, you are welcome to lump it. Sarasota has all of the conveniences and attributes of a metropolitan area, without the drawbacks normally associated with living in larger cities. It has more affluence, culture, and natural history per square foot than any other town in the U.S. to date. All of the magnificent architecture, eclectic restaurants, cafes and eateries, local playhouses and theatres, stand alongside the world renowned Ringling Art Museum and the glorious Van Weazel Preforming Arts Hall, which perpetually houses the most talented performances, acts, and symphonies of our time. It is also home to Siesta Key Beach which is consistently rated in the top three most beautiful beaches of the world, and the single most beautiful beach of the United States in its entirety. If Siesta is too crowded, Sarasota boasts many other beaches of equal quality and caliber, such as Lido Key, Casey Key, and Long Boat Key. As you pointed out, there are many snowbirds- a term for those people who have retired and spend half of the year in a more northern area, presumably near family and friends, and the other half in Sarasota. Essentially, you are making the case that people who have worked their entire lives are rewarding themselves with the relaxation and aesthetically pleasing offerings of Sarasota, FL, and choose this place of astounding beauty and temperate climate to spend their last period of life in. As for the homeless, they lead a nomadic lifestyle and could essentially live anywhere-yet they too choose Sarasota. Sarasota is not overrun with vagabonds, as you would seemingly portray it to be, but has no more homeless than other cities of its size and population. If, in fact, all of this pales in the face of what you perceive to be an unbearable noise level accompanied by untold dangers lurking on every pleasantly sunny street corner, and all of the culture and natural beauty it has to offer is apparently wasted on you, by all means, you are quite welcome to leave. On behalf of the City of Sarasota, I happily await your swift departure.
Amanda | Gainesville, FL | Report Abuse

How is this city compared to Jacksonville? we hate jacksonville florida, and were considering a move to either sarasota or tampa st petersburg area, which would be best? Jacksonville, is very very weird, and feel the people re narrow minded also.
lts | Jacksonville, FL | Report Abuse