As amusing as it may be when people mistake “Saratoga” for “Sarasota,” the two cities do share a number of similarities—and some major differences.
1. Like Saratoga, Sarasota has a robust arts community and is particularly well known for its vibrant downtown area, which comes stocked with art galleries and entertainment venues, as well as popular restaurants and shopping options.
2. Sarasota, however, is more than 1,350 miles from its like-named northern “cousin.” Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, it’s an hour’s drive south of Tampa—which you can fly to with minimal transfers from Albany International Airport.
3. Once the winter home of Ringling Bros. Circus (and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, which shuttered in 1997), Sarasota is now home to the Ringling Museum of Art, which was founded by one of the Ringling brothers.
4. Sarasota is also known for its beaches, such as Siesta Key and Venice. Unlike Saratoga, Sarasota averages zero inches of snow per year.
5. About 17,000 millionaires, including Stephen King and Jerry Springer, have homes in the Sarasota area.
