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From waterfront estates and golf communities to downtown condos and historic cottages, Sarasota offers a range of residential options for every lifestyle and price range.  Find the perfect home for your boat, enjoy the social and recreational amenities of country club living, or get away from it all in your own island retreat.  Whatever lifestyle you desire, the possibilities are endless.  Interactive Neighborhood Map

Cherokee Park.  Located just south of downtown and close to the hospital district, this bayfront neighborhood of traditional and Spanish homes is one of Sarasota’s oldest suburban areas.  Wide, quiet streets and sidewalks are lined with mature, tropical trees.

Downtown. Bordering Sarasota Bay, downtown Sarasota is booming with new construction. Many new luxury condominiums are under way and several older neighborhoods are being renovated.  A thriving arts district, new upscale retail and sophisticated amenities contribute to vibrant city living.

Gulf Gate.  Ranch-style homes with barrel tile roofs and well-maintained yards are featured in this quiet older neighborhood near shopping, schools and movie theaters. The Gulf Gate Golf Club offers an 18-hole short course and a nine-hole executive course.

Harbor Acres.  This elite bayfront community is located between downtown and the hospital district. Architectural styles range from Old Florida to contemporary in this beautifully landscaped neighborhood of timeless charm.

Oyster Bay. Oyster Bay is an upscale bayfront neighborhood concentrated around the Field Club, one of Sarasota’s oldest and most respected private clubs.  Here you’ll find classic Old Florida-style homes, executive residences and even a few mansions.

The Landings. Located in south Sarasota between Sarasota Bay and Phillippi Creek, The Landings is a gated community of homes and condominiums in a park like setting.  The Landings Racquet Club offers tennis, swimming, a clubhouse and gym.  The Landings is conveniently located near schools, shopping and restaurants.

McClellan Park. A sense of history permeates this quiet neighborhood of mostly Old Florida homes, many bordering on the Bay.

Museum Area.  In north Sarasota near the Ringling Museums and Asolo Theatre, you’ll find some of Sarasota’s most majestic bay front estates, comfortably coexisting with smaller, more affordable homes.  Mature trees, including stately banyons, grace the winding streets.

South Gate.  East of Tamiami Trail, not far from the hospital district, Southgate is an older neighborhood that is gaining new attention. Its 2,000 home sites feature ranch-style homes, barrel tile roofs and well-tended lawns.  South Gate is close to the beaches, shopping, schools and restaurants.

THE KEYS

Part of a string of barrier islands that extends southward from Anna Maria Island to the Florida Keys, the Sarasota barrier islands of Longboat Key, Lido Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key and Manasota Key each have their own unique character and lifestyle and feature some of the areas most distinctive properties.  Sarasota’s extensive waterways also harbor other island communities.

Bird Key
Bird Key is located off the John Ringling causeway between downtown Sarasota and Lido Key. This exclusive gated community is a boater’s paradise with deepwater canals and a private yacht club.  Its 510 homes include spectacular bayfront estates, some owned by celebrities.

Casey Key
Nearly every home has a view of the Gulf on this narrow, secluded island located south of Siesta Key between the Gulf of Mexico and Blackburn Bay.  One of Florida’s most prestigious addresses, Casey Key consists almost entirely of single-family homes and offers unparalleled privacy, un-crowded beaches and some of Sarasota’s most exceptional properties.

Lido Key / St. Armands Key
Lido Key is located just west of downtown Sarasota via the John Ringling Bridge.  It is also accessible by bridge to Longboat Key to the north.  Features include St. Armands Circle, a world-renowned shopping and dining destination; South Lido Park, a 100-acre natural waterfront park; and Lido Public Beach.  The Gulf, Bay and Sarasota skyline provide spectacular views for luxury condominiums, upscale homes and luxury hotels.

Longboat Key
The northernmost of the Sarasota barrier islands, Longboat Key is located half in Manatee County and half in Sarasota County.  The 11-mile island paradise is connected by bridge to Anna Maria Island to the north and Lido Key to the south.  Home of world-class golf and tennis resorts, Longboat Key is a wonderland of manicured fairways and opulent high rise condominiums lining the Gulf of Mexico.

Manasota Key
The southernmost island in Sarasota County, quaint Manasota Key has no high rise buildings or traffic lights.  It is accessible by two bridges, one in Sarasota County and one in Charlotte County.  A two-lane, canopied road runs the length of the key with properties on both sides, many of them spanning both the bay front and gulf-front.  Pristine beaches include a state park and wildlife sanctuary on the far south end of the key.

Siesta Key
Home of the “world’s whitest sand beach,” Siesta Key is an eight-mile island connected to the mainland by two bridges.  The feel of an Old Florida tropical island is enhanced with mature trees, lush foliage and flowering plants. A mix of residential options range from waterfront homes and mid-rise condominiums to quaint beach cottages.

Bent Tree
Offering water views, wide landscaped streets, well-stocked lakes and a variety of architectural styles, the Bent Tree master-planned community features an 18-hole private golf course. Spacious fairways are lined by towering oaks draped in Spanish moss in this established community.  Bent Tree hosted the LPGA Classic in which golf legend Nancy Lopez claimed her first LPGA tournament win and her 35th career victory to establish her in the LPGA Hall of Fame.  Amenities include three all-weather tennis courts, a four-lane swimming pool, a children’s wading pool and clubhouse.

Calusa Lakes
A gated, upscale community with an 18-hole Ted McAnlis‑designed championship golf course, Calusa Lakes is set within 460 acres of wooded terrain with 28 lakes and large greens. Amenities at this semi-private club include a clubhouse, an aqua driving range, tennis courts and a fully stocked pro shop.

pines and clubhouse with a main dining room and private dining rooms, fitness facility, and massage therapy treatment room. A recreational facility highlights basketball, sand volleyball, a picnic gazebo and grills, and two Har-Tru tennis courts.

Gator Creek
Gator Creek is a quintessential country gentlemen’s community of 66 upscale homes. Fourteen miles east of downtown Sarasota, this quiet community features abundant wildlife, including bald eagles, bobcats, foxes, hawks, deer and, of course, alligators. A bridle trail rims the community. Homes tend to be snapped up as soon as they hit the market. This exclusive men’s club features an 18-hole course built in 1972 and designed by Joe Lee. Features include generous landing areas in the fairways and well-maintained greens that are large, undulating and fast. The course's signature hole is the scenic #15 hole, a 380-yard, par 4 which features water flowing down the right side of the fairway. Guests must be accompanied by a member.

Lakewood Ranch
A city onto itself, Lakewood Ranch is an award-winning, master-planned community laid out in five distinct villages offering single-family homes, condominiums and townhomes.  Lakewood Ranch has two golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer:  The Legacy, an 18-hole daily-fee course, and a 36-hole, members-only private course.  The Legacy has received a 4 ½-star rating from Golf Digest magazine.  The Club’s 42,000-square-foot Italian villa-style clubhouse offers rooms for casual and fine dining and a large ballroom.  Amenities include 16 Har-Tru and two red-clay lighted courts, 100 miles of trails and sidewalks, 400 acres of lakes, a restored 41-acre wetland preserve, a protected 2,000-acre conservation easement and numerous parks.

Laurel Oak Country Club
Laurel Oak features more than 400 homes on 800-plus acres surrounded by two 18-hole, par-72, championship golf courses designed by Gary Player:  The West course, the first Gary Player Signature Course built on Florida's west coast in 1990, and the longer East course, opened in 1994.  Another 18 holes by Rees Jones are scheduled to be completed in December 2005.  The club also features 12 clay tennis courts using the “Hydro” irrigation system, with six courts lighted for night play.  Other amenities include a swimming pool, complete golf instruction programs, two driving ranges, putting green and clubhouse with dining and banquet facilities.

The Oaks
The Oaks offers three distinct low-density communities with golf-course homes, waterfront estates and condominiums.  Its private equity country club features two popular courses bordered by Little Sarasota Bay:  The Eagle, a Ted McAnlis design that runs fairly straight and narrow along the perimeter of the 1,000-acre property, and the more intensely challenging interior Heron Course designed by William Byrd.  Amenities include The Oaks’ 30,000-square-foot Georgian clubhouse, 14 Har-Tru tennis courts, a Junior Olympic-sized swimming pool and dining facilities.

Palm-Aire Country Club
Palm-Aire comprises 1,300 acres with condominiums, estate-sized homes and wooded villas.  It features two 18-hole, par-72 championship golf courses:  the original, the Champions, designed by Dick Wilson to challenge the such legends as Gary Player, Sam Snead and Ken Venturi; and the Joe Lee‑designed course, The Lakes, ranked as one of the best courses in Florida by Florida Golfweek magazine.  Both courses have tee box locations at each hole to accommodate players of every skill level.  Amenities include 14 lighted Har-Tru tennis courts, an Olympic-sized pool, a clubhouse, and a beautiful Spanish-style clubhouse overlooking the lake at the Champions’ 18th green which features a formal dining room, casual grille, lanai and lounge.

Palmer Ranch
Palmer Ranch is a master-planned community consisting of 1,000 acres.  A wide variety of residential options ranges from maintenance-free villas and condominiums to single-family homes and sprawling estates.  Palmer Ranch is home to the Tournament Players Club (TPC) at Prestancia, which took over the Country Club of Sarasota in 1984.  Added to the Country Club’s existing 18-hole course was a second 18-hole, par-72 championship course designed by Mike Souchak and Ron Garl.

The Meadows
The Meadows features single-family homes, condominiums, villas and the Meadows Country Club, offering 54 holes of championship golf on three distinctive 18-hole courses:  The Groves, a par-65 Arthur Hills Walking course, The Meadows, a par-72 course remodeled by Ron Garl, and the par-72 Highlands.  Amenities include 16 Har-Tru lighted tennis courts, three restaurants, swimming, racquetball, cycling and jogging trails, and stocked lakes.

Tournament Players Club (TPC) at Prestancia 
Part of the Palmer Ranch master-planned community, the TPC at Prestancia was created when the PGA Tour took over the Country Club of Sarasota in 1984.  Added to the Country Club’s existing 18-hole course was a second 18-hole, par-72 championship course designed by Mike Souchak and Ron Garl.  Beautifully landscaped communities offer golf, nature and lake views.  Amenities include a clubhouse, dining, banquet room, swimming, tennis, golf practice facility, men’s and women’s locker rooms and golf shop.

University Park Golf & Country Club
A gated, master-planned community, University Park offers maintenance-free single-family homes, patio homes and custom-designed estates, many overlooking lakes, preserve areas or the golf course.  The 27-hole golf course designed by Ron Garl has received 4 stars from Golf Digest magazine and has been called one of America's best by Golf Week and Florida Golf News.  It is one of the best fairways for women according to Golf For Women magazine.  University Park’s tennis and fitness center includes 11 lighted Har-Tru courts and tennis pro shop.  Other amenities include croquet, golf pro shop, golf instruction and a large golf practice area. University Park also features the Braden River Nature Trail and Fitness Park.

BOATING COMMUNITIES

Grand Mariner on Longboat Key
An exclusive gated yachting community, Grand Mariner consists of 14 luxury condominiums ranging from 3,150 to 3,600 sq. ft.  A naturally protected private harbor offers 20 deepwater slips for vessels of up to 70 feet with power and cable, an 80-foot guest dock, and a small boat launching ramp. Amenities include a bayfront pool and spa, indoor reflecting pool with landscaped walk, resident's gathering room with balcony and fitness facility.

The Inlets at Riverdale
Nestled within hundred-year-old oaks and pines surrounded by canals, the Inlets offers deepwater dockage and gracious homes in three distinctive neighborhoods: Hawk Island, featuring 29 estate‑size home sites with spectacular riverfront views; Harbour Walk at the Inlets, its latest treasure; and Bela Solé, a luxury waterfront community of 18 estate-size homesites.  Amenities include tennis, playground, water park, fishing docks, canoe launch and nature trails.

Portofino on the Bay
Portofino On The Bay is a gated, maintenance-free community located on Little Sarasota Bay offering three- and four-bedroom residences in six model home designs featuring studies, lanais, two-car garages, second-story bonus rooms and double balconies.  Amenities include boat slips with water access.

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See Also:
The Oaks Country Club, Sarasota Accolades, Neighborhoods Guide,
Area Golf Course Guide/Map, Map & Location, About Rob