Capsule: Combining culture and the arts with the "world's whitest" sand beaches, a revitalized downtown with romantic barrier islands, Sarasota truly has something for just about everyone. Recreational opportunities abound , while gated communities guarantee security and privacy.

Waterfront Homes: From imposing high-rises to luxury bayside estates, the Longboat Key lifestyle is hard to match. The opulence.of Lido Key provides the backdrop for dramatic, upscale homes. On Casey Key to the south, sprawling Gulf-to-bay estates -- blending wealth, elegance and charm -- make this one of Florida's most prestigious addresses.

Golf and Tennis: With more than 80 courses, the Sarasota area is the place for golf. The Longboat Key Club features two waterfront golf courses in a very mature tropical setting that includes thousands of palm trees. The Oaks also offers two championship courses.

Weather: Sarasota enjoys pleasant temperatures in the lower 70s during the winter months and the upper 80s and lower 90s in the summer months.

Culture: Sarasota is a Mecca for the arts offering award winning theaters, symphonies, museums, the ballet and opera. Restored to its original beauty, the Sarasota Opera House is a cornerstone of Sarasota’s Theater Arts District. The Harold E. and Esther M. Mertz theatre, brought to Sarasota from Dunfermline, Scotland, is a majestic, 500-seat former opera house which is the main performing space for the Asolo Theatre Company.

For information about luxury real estate in the Sarasota area and the Realtors that can help you find the perfect Sarasota, Longboat Key, Lido Key or Siesta Key home, please click here.