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Sarasota, Florida

Sarasota is a city in the central west coast of Florida, USA. The Gulf of Mexico is to the west and Sarasota Bay separates portions of this city that is composed of a mainland and its barrier islands, known as keys. Some of the keys include Lido Key, Longboat Key and Siesta Key.  As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 54,349. It is the county seat for Sarasota County. 

There's a distinction between the existing city boundaries and the perceived city. Most residents of what is known as "Sarasota" live in unincorporated parts of Sarasota County. Some even live in Manatee County because Sarasota was considered to reach Bowlees Creek before Sarasota County was created in 1921 out of a portion of Manatee County. The southern boundary of Bradenton, the closest city to the north in Manatee County, is twelve miles away. So an arbitrary line separated portions of what once was identified as Sarasota before the creation of Sarasota County. Vestiges of that cultural identification remain in some Manatee County street addresses to the south of the creek, which still are called Sarasota. 

A Cultural Center of Florida
Recognized as a cultural center of the state of Florida since the early 1920s, artists of many disciplines, writers, performers, musicians, and architects have been attracted to the community in great numbers. Sarasota is the home of Florida West Coast Symphony, founded by Ruth Cotton Butler in 1949, and its famous Sarasota Music Festival which draws students, musicians, professors, and lovers of chamber music from around the world for a three-week event of international importance; Sarasota Ballet; Sarasota Opera; The Players; and numerous other musical, dance, artistic, and theatrical venues. 

Sarasota sports
Golf was introduced into the United States in Sarasota, which became a mecca for enthusiasts of the game. Bobby Jones laid out the city course which is named after him and the SaraBay course in the Whitfield area. Many courses dot the area, including the one originally laid out for the hotel John Ringling planned on the southern tip of Longboat Key. 

Sarasota also is home to Ed Smith Stadium, where the Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati's major league baseball MLB team, trains in spring for the upcoming season, and is home to the minor league Sarasota Reds.

Source:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sarasota Hotels

Holiday Inn-Sarasota-Lido Beach

Holiday Inn-Sarasota-Airport

Holiday Inn-Lakewood Ranch

Holiday Inn Express-Siesta Key