Sarasota is booming, and our readers are noticing… 2019

Condé Nast Traveler readers cast hundreds of thousands of votes for the best cities in the U.S. in the 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards survey—in fact, we got so much feedback, we had to divide our list in two. Here we honor the country’s smaller cities, with populations under one million, and its major hubs, with populations over one million. Is your favorite on the list? Counting down…

and at # 5 ………

5. Sarasota, FL
Sarasota is booming, and our readers are noticing. Not only is the Gulf Coast-side city home to attractions like the Sarasota Opera and Ringling Circus Museum; it’s also ushering in exciting new hotels that are far from generic beach resorts. Book a room at the elegant Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, which got upgraded pools this year, or the Art Ovation Hotel, where you should spend at least one afternoon (if not a few) by the rooftop pool overlooking Sarasota Bay. As for the rest of your days, we suggest exploring Sarasota’s ever-growing food scene: We still stand by the aromatic mushroom bisque at Indigenous, the cinnamon roll pancakes at Station 400, and the savory crepes at C’est La Vie. With meals like these, it’s easy to see why so many people decide to spend their golden years in Sarasota.

source: Conde Nast Magazine