Halfway between wildlife preserves and white sand beaches
Extending over 18 miles from downtown Sarasota to South Venice is the Legacy Trail, once part of an early 20th-century railroad line that connected the two cities. Covered benches, referred to as “stations,” line the pathway, resting points for bikers to readjust their helmets. Sarasota Springs, a neighborhood made up of just over 7,000 households, is one of the first stops along the trail. Here, single-family homes and the occasional condo community sit between 400 acres of open marshland to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west. Back porches look out onto small ponds and palm trees, and—although Sarasota Springs is mostly residential—there are grocery store options, family restaurants and auto shop options along Bee Ridge Road, the neighborhood’s southernmost border. Downtown Sarasota, which has been known for its thriving arts scene since the days of the Ringling Brothers Circus, is just 5 miles away.
Celery Fields and nearby preserves offer wetlands trails and birding.
Siesta Key’s white sand beaches sit about eight miles from Sarasota Springs.
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Ranch-style houses, condo units and million-dollar estates
In Sarasota Springs, prospective buyers will find single-story ranch-style houses built between the 1950s and 1970s. As Lori Summers, a Realtor with Corcoran Dwellings and half of the Golden Summers Mortgage Team, notes, “Most properties fall between 1,500 and 2,000 square feet.” They have stucco exteriors, single-car garages or covered porticos. Lot sizes are generous, especially when compared to properties closer to Sarasota’s busy downtown, and some even span half an acre. Towering palms and oak trees shade the streets. Most single-family homes fall between $300,000 and $600,000 depending on bedroom count, but buyers will also find two-bedroom condo units in communities like Village Brooke for just under $300,000. At the highest end of the spectrum, five-bedroom estates in Old Forest Lakes can fall between $1 and $2 million.
Single-story ranch-style homes remain a common choice in Sarasota Springs.
Villas and condos offer more affordable options across Sarasota Springs.
Old Forest Lakes features five-bedroom estates, often listed between $1–$2 million.
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A circus arts magnet program at Sarasota High School
Neighborhood students are incorporated into the Sarasota County School System, where they can enroll in prekindergarten through fifth grade at Brentwood Elementary, known for its bright green exterior and B-plus Niche grade. Both McIntosh Middle and Sarasota High have A-minuses from Niche, and students at Sarasota High can earn college credit in the AICE Diploma program. The school also has a Circus Arts Magnet Program where students can learn trapeze skills.
Sarasota High School offers AICE credits and a Circus Arts Magnet program.
McIntosh Middle School holds an A-minus rating and serves Sarasota Springs.
Brentwood Elementary, graded B-plus by Niche, serves Sarasota Springs.
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University Town Center shopping and Man vs. Food dining
According to Summer, most Sarasota Springs residents head to University Town Center—or UTC—to do their shopping. The indoor mall, which first opened in 2014, is home to an Apple store, Saks and Macy’s. Next door, an outdoor shopping plaza features over 200 retailers and more than 80 restaurants; there’s everything from grass-fed lamb chops at Apollonia Mediterranean Grill to authentic Cantonese-style dim sum at Dim Sum King. UTC is known for going all out for the holiday season, and residents can reserve rides on horse-drawn carriages, enjoy the festival of lights and stop by for firework shows on Saturday nights. Just blocks outside the northwest corner of the neighborhood is the Pinecraft Amish Community, where Yoder’s Restaurant & Amish Village has been a staple since the 1970s. The restaurant, which was featured on “Man vs. Food,” serves up pressure fried chicken and a selection of homemade pies. Locals will find even more shopping options along Bee Ridge Road to the south, including a Winn-Dixie grocery store and a Publix in Centergate Plaza.
University Town Center opened in 2014 with major shopping and dining in Sarasota.
Yoder’s Fresh Market in Pinecraft offers baked goods and deli sandwiches.
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Nearby attractions: Downtown Sarasota, Siesta Key and St. Armand’s Circle
One of Sarasota Springs’ main selling points is its proximity to downtown Sarasota, Saint Armands Circle and Siesta Key. Downtown, locals have their pick from a range of live theater venues, including Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, where touring Broadway shows make pit stops. There’s also the Sarasota Art Museum on the Ringling College Museum Campus. It’s home to an ever-evolving calendar of contemporary art exhibits, adult classes and summer camp options. On Saturday mornings, locals shop for fresh produce and artisan-made gifts at the Sarasota Farmer’s Market on Lemon Avenue.
Eight miles from Sarasota Springs is the island of Siesta Key, where those willing to brave the traffic can enjoy white sand beaches. Saint Armands Circle, a vision of circus tycoon John Ringling established in 1926, is a bit farther north. This outdoor continental marketplace has over 130 shops and restaurants, as well as an annual arts festival. “In Sarasota, we always have art shows. Ringling College [of Art and Design] is nearby,” says Terry Hayes of Coldwell Banker, whose family has owned property in the Sarasota area for over five decades, adding, “The school’s influence is strongly felt.”
Saint Armands Circle offers European-inspired shopping and dining since 1926.
The Open Book Gateway sculpture welcomes readers at Fruitville Library.
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A playground at Urfer Family Park, protected wildlife and nearby golf courses
Along with the Legacy Trail, other public green spaces near Sarasota Springs include Urfer Family Park, where locals will find a playground, picnic facilities and the Wilson House, the former home and medical office of Dr. C.B. Wilson. There are opportunities for fishing and picnicking at the Preserve at Tamaron, and Celery Fields’ protected wetlands are a destination for bridging enthusiasts near and far. For more curated outdoor experiences, residents head to one of the area’s many surrounding golf courses, like the Palms Golf Club at Forest Lakes or Village Green Golf Club.
Urfer Family Park features wooded paths and the historic Wilson House.
The Palms Golf Club at Forest Lakes features a par‑64 course.
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A public bus system, airport access and medical care down the street
According to Summer, “Sarasota doesn’t have your typical 9 to 5 traffic because most people there aren’t on a 9 to 5 work schedule.” Highways can back up at unexpected times. Most Sarasota Springs residents rely on their own cars, but Breeze Transit buses also run along Bee Ridge Road into downtown. For long-distance travel, the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport is 9 miles north, near the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. From here, travelers can book nonstop flights to over 50 U.S. cities. The Tampa International Airport, 60 miles from the neighborhood up Interstates 75 and 275, offers over 20 direct international destinations. HCA Florida Sarasota Doctor’s Hospital, a 155-bed facility made up of private rooms, is located within the neighborhood itself; it offers everything from robotic surgery to orthopedic and spine care.
Breeze Transit buses run along Bee Ridge Road into downtown Sarasota.
Sarasota Memorial Hospital provides comprehensive care for the region.
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Hurricane risk and below-average crime scores
Although most houses in Sarasota Spring have metal storm shutters, hurricanes aren’t a major concern in this part of Florida; in fact, as far as records from the past 150 years are concerned, Sarasota has never taken the brunt of a hurricane’s force. “There are stories of an ancient blessing that explain why Sarasota is protected from hurricanes,” says Summers. According to the realtor, some say it’s because of the Native American burial grounds resting below the county, others attribute it to geographic and atmospheric factors. “Either way, we really haven’t been hit.” The neighborhood also has a 3 out of 10 CAP Index Crime Score, which is below the national average of 4.
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Video By
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