Golf, arts, culture in the Sarasota Bay community of Whitfield
Locally known as Whitfield Estates, the community of Whitfield on the Sarasota Bay is a neighborhood born in the 1920s land boom. Still framed by the historic fairways of the Sara Bay Country Club, Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) places residents minutes from the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the Ringling College of Art and Design, and the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, while city buses keep the bayfront streets connected. The white sands of Lido Key beach lie just over the bridge, adding salt air to the community’s easygoing routine of gallery visits and evening golf rounds.
Some homes in Whitfield neighborhood are very vibrant with color & art work.
Enjoy your days golfing at the Sara Bay Country club.
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Old Florida architecture mixes with waterfront estates
Homes in Whitfield highlight vibrant, Old Florida architecture alongside newer luxury builds. Modest ranch-style houses in (sometimes in pastel hues) line the older, well-established streets; these single-story homes generally list between $350,000 and $500,000. “Residents here love that there’s no HOA,” says longtime resident and Realtor Kim Donahue. “You can launch a kayak almost anywhere, catch the bus to dinner, and choose from houses as modest as fixer-uppers to waterfront estates topping $7.5 million—no two are alike.” Closer to Sarasota Bay, expansive estate properties sit directly on the water, showcasing Spanish and Mediterranean-inspired details—stucco walls, barrel-tile roofs, arched colonnades—and command premium prices well into the seven-figure range. Buyers also find a sprinkling of 1920s and 1930s cottages that preserve the area’s early-resort character, along with mid-century ranch-style homes updated with contemporary interiors.
You will find a few waterfront estates in Whitfield neighborhood that take your breath away.
With so many styles of homes it makes walking the streets in Whitfield neighborhood enjoyable.
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Ringling-area schools build a creative talent pipeline
Students usually begin at Florine J. Abel Elementary, which holds a B-minus on Niche, advance to Electa Lee Magnet Middle School, rated C, and then move on to Bayshore High School, which carries a C-plus. Whitfield is a short drive from the acclaimed Ringling College of Art and Design, giving graduates an immediate pathway into design, animation, and fine-arts programs.
Bayshore High School in Bradenton has 1,774 students and a 20:1 Student to teacher ratio.
Electa Lee Magnet Middle School is part of the learning pipeline for kids in Whitfield.
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Lido Key beaches and art-rich recreation options
The Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy pairs playful outdoor sculptures with rotating indoor exhibits, while golfers refine their swing at the private Sara Bay Country Club, an 18-hole Donald Ross design dating to 1926. Families gather at Whitfield Park, where the turf playground, picnic tables and shaded oaks make for relaxed afternoons. Gulf beaches lie minutes away, and Lido Key’s soft sand and gentle surf remain a favorite for swimming, shelling and sunset walks. Nearby, Sarasota Jungle Gardens adds walk-through bird habitats and wildlife shows, rounding out a diverse mix of recreation close to home.
Tamiami Trail diners and St. Armands boutique shopping
For daily essentials, locals head to the Aldi on Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) for budget produce and pantry items. Just south on the Tamiami Trail, Crager’s Restaurant serves classic diner breakfasts, while neighboring Waterfront Restaurant overlooks the harbor and offers fresh Gulf seafood with sunset views. In the evening, residents gather at Tarpon Grill & Tiki Bar for coconut shrimp and live music on the open-air deck. For special-occasion shopping, a short drive across Sarasota Bay leads to St. Armands Circle, where tree-lined streets feature upscale boutiques such as White House | Black Market, fine-jewelry stores and sidewalk cafés.
U.S. 41 and SRQ airport offer quick regional
access
Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) serves as Whitfield’s main corridor, carrying residents south six miles to downtown Sarasota and north eight miles to central Bradenton. Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport sits just two miles away, so most flights are a five-minute drive or quick ride-share. Sarasota County’s Breeze Route 99 buses stop along U.S. 41, linking the neighborhood to both city centers and the airport for $2 a ride. East of Whitfield, University Parkway reaches Interstate 75 in about ten minutes, opening a direct route to Tampa and Fort Myers. For beach time, Lido Key’s public access and parking are roughly eight miles south, while Sarasota Memorial Hospital is a 15-minute drive down the Trail for full-service medical care.
Written By
Braxton Chea
Photography Contributed By
Leila Sally
Video By
Matthew Bloch
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Tonna Gruber,
an experienced agent in this area.
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