See This, Skip That: Sarasota, Florida

— -- Dependably sunny weather all year-round is just part of the reason beach lovers flock to Sarasota County. This seaside haven on Florida’s southwestern shores is also teeming with tons of cultural and culinary delights, and a bevy of entertainment options. Here are a few things to include on your own Sarasota to-do list.

Skip the Pool, Hit the Beach

Spending quality time on the sand is a no-brainer here. What’s worth discovering, especially for first-time visitors, is that each beach in Sarasota County has its own personality. The quartz-crystal waters of Siesta Beach helped earn it the title of America’s Best Beach in 2015, according to TripAdvisor.

Volleyball players and sandcastle builders flock here for amenities ranging from picnic shelters to tennis courts, and a recent $21 million makeover added concessions and a playground. Parking is free and nearby Siesta Key Village is a perfect stop for seafood and cocktails.

At Lido Beach on Lido Key, rent a cabana right on the sand. Longboat Key is full of casual, flip-flop dining options. You’ll find secluded beaches on Manasota Key, where Blind Pass Beach is lined with dunes and nature trails. The list goes on.

Skip the Concert, Dance to the Drums

A couple of beaches here have become famous for weekly drum circles: energetic, pulsating, rhythmic events that occur spontaneously right on sands. On Casey Key, the Nokomis Beach Drum Circle is legendary and, depending on the weather, can draw dozens or thousands of dancers and hoola-hoopers.

This free-spirited event takes place Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting around an hour before sunset and lasting until the light of day almost completely goes away. Being your own bongo and join in. A community drum circle also takes place – and also impulsively, and also at dusk – on Siesta Beach each Sunday.

Skip the Souvenir Shop, Hunt for Teeth

People visit Sarasota County’s Venice not for gondola rides but, rather, to comb for teeth. Hunting for prehistoric shark’s teeth is a favorite pastime here, especially along Caspersen Beach, which hosts the Shark’s Tooth Festival every year.

Sharks continually shed their teeth and can produce thousands over their lifetimes; the finds here come in a variety of sizes (some up to three inches) and colors (especially brown or black). After your hunt, head to palm tree-lined downtown Venice to shop the eclectic boutiques, admire the architecture and, on Saturday mornings, scour the farmers’ market.

Skip the Beach, Dip in the Springs

Warm Mineral Springs, in North Port, is a link to Sarasota’s ecological and archaeological past; porous limestone caverns dozens to hundreds of feet below the surface, millions of gallons of natural, low-oxygen water flow through here every day, on their way to the Gulf of Mexico. Thousands of people flock here every year to take a dip in the 85-degree waters and to partake in their purported ability to cure ailments. Day passes are $20 for adults and $10 to $15 for kids, depending on age.

After the Beach, Visit the Aquariums

All that beach bumming is bound to pique your interest in the vast marine life that thrives here. Mote Aquarium in Sarasota, home to more than 100 species, gets high marks for its touch pools and interactive exhibits. Mote is also a thriving research laboratory, so there are many viewable working labs, too.

You’ll find several in-depth experiences here, including Breakfast at Mote, where small groups enjoy a continental breakfast before witnessing the aquarium morning routines pre-crowds, and Shark Encounter, where guests 13 and older help prep meals for the resident sharks and peek behind the scenes of their 135,000-gallon habitat.

At the South Florida Museum in Bradenton, the Parker Manatee Aquarium, the 60,000-gallon facility is a learning center for all things manatee and home to Snooty, who, born in 1948, is the oldest known manatee in the world.

See the Stars, Step Inside

The South Florida Museum is also home to Bishop Planetarium, a full dome theater that’s recently gone high-tech: a Digistar 5 dual projection system was installed three years ago, along with a 25,000-watt Dolby surround sound system. The continually updated satellite data sets allow for premium views of the Earth’s continents, oceans and atmosphere.

Bishop’s myriad shows, including Passport to the Universe and the new Journey to the Stars, showcase breathtaking telescope imagery, satellite photography and celestial visualizations. The planetarium is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2016.

Skip the Gym, Run

For active visitors, the best way to take in as much of this area’s sweeping scenery as possible may be to hit the pavement. Sarasota County, indeed, is considered one of the country’s most jogging-friendly communities and several hotels here have devised routes right from their revolving doors that cater to all abilities.

he Hyatt Regency Sarasota features a 3-mile running loop that takes guests over the Ringling Bridge while the Inn at Siesta Key sends guests on a 5-mile run along the coast and through neighborhood streets. Ask for maps at the concierge desks. If you want to run with the kids, the summer months see themed family runs at Siesta Beach on Tuesday evenings and at Brohard Beach in Venice on Wednesdays.

Skip the Playground, Go Wild

The many wildlife destinations here will keep kids of all ages intrigued and entertained. Sarasota Jungle Gardens is a 10-acre tropical landscape, as well as a home to 150 exotic animals, many of them rescued, including macaws, primates, alligators, iguanas and pink flamingos; check out the daily bird and reptile shows.

Save Our Seabirds is a nonprofit conservation group that focuses on avian rehab and whose 3-acre Wild Bird Learning Center features several live exhibits; it’s located next to Mote Aquarium and your same-day admission ticket to mote cuts your admission price here in half. Big Cat Habitat is a sanctuary for lions and tigers where you can witness training (except during the hot summer months) and offers private tours.

Take the Kids to Camp

If you’re planning an extended visit here, check out the summer camps at Circus Arts Conservatory. The one- and two-week programs teach kids ages 6 to 15 everything from flying trapeze and juggling to clowning and hula-hooping. Camp sessions end with a costumed performance. The Conservatory is a nonprofit education organization that runs an active schedule of world-class shows in a one-ring, five-star, European-style big top.

Visit Ringling, See the Arts

Sarasota is known as the Circus Capital of the World for good reason: John Ringling, the famous Ringling Circus impresario, established his winter home here in 1927, making the circus an integral part of Sarasota’s social scene and economy. Today, his 66-acre estate is a cultural epicenter, hosting rotating pop art and photography exhibits, screening award-winning films and featuring stage performances.

Visit the Circus Museum and marvel at classic posters, glittery costumes and the 44,000-piece Howard Bros. Circus Model. Descent Sarasota’s downtown district to experience more of the thriving arts scene here; galleries host regular showcases, including the popular Friday Night Art Walk.

Skip the Restaurant, Catch Your Own Meal

Sarasota Bay is fed by three sources of freshwater, making it a natural estuary and creating an environment teeming with seasonal fish. Several locals who’ve been fishing these waters for decades are also guides, offering chartered trips that can help even novice fishermen reel in inshore catches like trout and flounder, or offshore prizes like grouper and amberjack.

At Wolfmouth Charters, Capt. Wayne Genthner, who has been fishing Sarasota Bay for more than 30 years, leads trips by day or night aboard a 28-foot commercial catamaran. Also, check out Tightlines Charters.

Skip the Guidebook, Do the Tour

For total immersion in this area, consider Eckotour’s four-night Inspired Sarasota Bay tour. Multiple guides help paint a comprehensive picture of the environmental bounty along this beautiful stretch of Florida’s Gulf Coast, including a kayak trip through mangrove islands, a scientific research cruise to spot marine life and a peek at rare botanical collections. Architectural tours, four-star accommodations and most meals are included, with rates starting at $900.

Gabe Saglie is senior editor for Travelzoo, which features exclusive deals in Sarasota County.