5 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Sarasota - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Sarasota

Sarasota, Florida

John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

A Circus legend leaves an unexpected endowment.

Sarasota, Florida

Molly the Mollusk

The giant squid's 27-foot-long corpse lies preserved within a Sarasota aquarium.

Sarasota, Florida

Pinecraft

This Florida resort community is where the Amish come to have fun in the sun.

Sarasota, Florida

The Last Defense of Fort Juan Ortiz

A lone gunner's station is all that remains of a replica Spanish Fort in Florida.

Sarasota, Florida

Medieval Art Exhibit at the Ringling Museum

The collection of 80+ pieces created between the years 1100 and 1500 is intended to be seen, heard, smelled, touched, and tasted.

Are we missing something unusual in Sarasota?

Bradenton, Florida

Braden Castle Ruins

These crumbling foundations are all that remain of the once-stately 1840s manor that gave the town of Bradenton its name.

11 miles from Sarasota

Bradenton, Florida

The Sea Hagg

An eclectic treasure trove of maritime marvels.

13 miles from Sarasota

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Kayaking in the Shell Key Preserve

Tierra Verde, Florida

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Stories About Sarasota

Ringling's personal train car, which accompanied the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus during the early 1900s.

John Ringling’s Mobile Mansion Is Now Open for Digital Visitors

The showman's personal train car was full of stained glass, chandeliers, lavish furniture, and elaborate moldings.

November 15, 2018

Behind this sign lies very good pie.

The Beloved Pie Shop in an Amish and Mennonite Vacation Town

Modest clothing stands out in a beach town. So does amazing pastry.

by Amanda Leigh LIchtenstein

Taxidermied frogs spend a day on the lake at Froggyland.

9 of the Strangest and Loveliest Dioramas You'll Ever See

Behold the intricate detail of these exquisite miniature worlds.

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