Travel & Outdoors

Hope Floats

Local Angler Chasten Whitfield Takes Differently Abled Youth Fishing on Her New TV Show

Filming is almost complete on the inspiring show's second season.

01/23/2023 By Emma Moneuse

🌳🌳🌳

Celebrate Florida Arbor Day With a Scavenger Hunt for Native Trees

The goal is to encourage residents to get outside and enjoy local parks while learning about tree species native to Florida and their benefits.

01/18/2023 By Bethany Ritz

Time Machine

Stroll Through Sarasota History With an Interactive Walking Tour

Compass Rose founders Andrea Knies and Mimi Cirbusova explore the boom and bust of 1926 Sarasota and the resilience of the community during the Great Depression and World War II.

01/17/2023 By Kim Doleatto

Red Alert

How Bad Is Red Tide at Our Beaches?

The latest red tide reports might affect your weekend beach plans. Here's where it's safe to swim.

01/06/2023 By Isaac Eger

Top 10 in 2022

10 Great Reads From a Year Full of Them

Our editor-in-chief picks some of his favorite stories from 2022.

12/28/2022 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Beach Update

High Levels of Red Tide Are Present at Many Sarasota Beaches. So Where Is It Safe to Go?

Dead fish, scratchy throats and unpleasant smells have been reported at Sarasota County beaches. Here's where it's safe to swim.

12/02/2022 By Isaac Eger

Essential Intelligence

Mangroves Are Powerful Coastal Guardians

Beyond their inherent value as living organisms, mangrove trees are vital when it comes to protecting healthy waters and fisheries—and even human development.

11/12/2022 By Yasi Bahmanabadi

Sandy gallery

The Siesta Key Crystal Classic Is Back

Professional and amateur artists at the 2022 international sand sculpting competition are primed to make jaws drops with these sandy creations.

11/01/2022 By Kim Doleatto

Island Hopping

Virgin Islands National Park Is One of the Country's Least-Visited Parks. You Should Go.

There are many good reasons to visit this tropical paradise, aside from its pristine beaches and abundant coral reefs.

10/19/2022 By Matt McGowan

Wheelie Fun

Get Excited for Sarasota Bike Fest's Halloween Bike Parade

Get the bike gang back together for this family-friendly celebration of all things bicycle.

10/12/2022 By Lauren Jackson

Shopping Adventure

Vintage Marché in St. Petersburg Is a Vintage Shopping Utopia

Need a fun escape this weekend? (Don't we all?) This extravaganza of vintage treasures is just over the Skyway Bridge.

10/06/2022 By Susan Burns

Hurricane Season

Do You Know Your Evacuation Zone?

Use Sarasota and Manatee counties' interactive tools to find evacuation levels and routes, shelters and more.

09/24/2022 By Megan McDonald

Museum Day

Here Are the Local Museums Participating in the Smithsonian's 'Museum Day'

The annual event offers visitors free admission to local participating museums.

09/13/2022 By Megan McDonald

Beaches

How Seriously Should We Take No-Swim Advisories?

After a recent spate of no-swim advisories, we asked the Florida Department of Health what causes them and what precautions we need to take.

08/25/2022 By Bethany Ritz

Throwing Shade

Small Handmade 'Chick Huts' Help Our Beach Birds Stay Cool

The wooden huts, which offer shore birds a respite from the sun, are a gift from local bird enthusiast Sandy Ulrikson and her late husband Jerry.

08/19/2022 By Megan McDonald

Beach Report

No-Swim Advisory Issued for Multiple Sarasota County Beaches

Wading, swimming and water recreation are not recommended when no-swim advisories are in place.

08/11/2022 By Staff

Globetrotter

This Sarasota Man Has Traveled the World Hunting Exotic, Dangerous Snakes

"I’ve been bitten by almost every creature there is. But I love what I do."

07/28/2022 By Allison Forsyth

The Wild Life

Scalloping at Crystal River Is Something Every Floridian Should Do

The Nature Coast astounds with manatees, scallops and stunning waterways.

07/25/2022 By Lauren Jackson

Getaway

Great Ways to Explore Knoxville

This up-and-coming city on the Tennessee River offers arts, inventive food and drink, and blissful wilderness.

07/14/2022 By Susan Burns

We All Live in a Yellow Submarine

This Sarasota Duo Is Killing Invasive Lionfish in a Tiny Yellow Submarine

Scott Gonnello and Scott Cassell are finding new ways to rid the waters of the invasive species wreaking havoc on coral reefs.

07/07/2022 By Kim Doleatto