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Sarasota, Florida is an attractive retirement destination for sun-loving active adults.

Located in Southwest Florida, along the shores of the Gulf Coast, Sarasota is an affordable retirement haven. The area offers plenty of things to do, from outdoor recreations and festivals to shopping, dining and cultural attractions. Plus, Sarasota has been listed as a great place to retire by publications like The Wall Street Journal and Money Magazine.

Sarasota sits along the Gulf of Mexico toward the southern end of the state. The city is about one hour south of Tampa, an hour north of Port Charlotte and 90 minutes north of Fort Myers. Sarasota is separated from the Gulf by small barrier islands, known as keys, including Lido Key and Sierra Key.

With a subtropical climate, Sarasota has hot, humid summers and mild, warm winters. Average daytime temperatures in the summer months are in the low 90s, although they can easily climb to over 100 degrees. Summer is also Sarasota’s rainiest period with frequent storms from June through September. During the winter, days are warm with average temperatures in the low to mid-70s.

Whether visiting or relocating, active adults have no trouble finding things to do in Sarasota. The Gulf of Mexico and the Sarasota Bay offer numerous water activities including swimming, boating, fishing, snorkeling and kayaking. The Crowley Museum and Nature Center’s 190-acre wildlife sanctuary is sure to please nature lovers, and golfers have their pick of several local courses, such as: The Founders Golf Club, Misty Creek Country Club, Oakford Golf Club and Rolling Green Golf Club.

Active adults can find many cultural attractions and performing arts centers in Sarasota and the surrounding area. Visitors will enjoy the varied exhibits at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, as well as the classes and lectures available through Art Center Sarasota and the Longboat Key Center for the Arts. Local performing arts can be enjoyed through companies like the Florida Studio Theatre, the Banyan Theater Company, Golden Apple Dinner Theatre and the Asolo Repertory Theatre.

Retail centers in Sarasota offer a wide range of shopping and dining opportunities. The area has spacious shopping malls, quaint antique shops, art galleries, specialty boutiques, farmers’ markets and flea markets. Restaurants feature various cuisines with everything from casual coffee shops to exclusive, upscale dining.

Active adults who choose to settle in Sarasota will find many affordable communities with beautiful homes and resort-style amenities. Age-restricted communities like Cascades at Sarasota and LakeRidge Falls are intimate developments with around 400 single-family homes and a variety of social and recreational activities. Retirees who prefer an open age community can also find appealing communities such as The Isles on Palmer Ranch which features an 11,000 square-foot lakeside clubhouse.

With beautiful Gulf Coast beaches, exciting attractions and affordable homes, it’s easy to see why Sarasota appeals to so many active adult retirees.