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3* Helmsley Sandcastle Room Only Ad. from: £659 Ch. from: £619 3* Shorewalk Vacation Villas Self Catering Ad. from: £625 Ch. from: £585

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Sarasota exudes an air of relaxed sophistication. Long considered the cultural capital of Florida, the Ringlings and other wealthy families made Sarasota their winter playground, imparting the legacy of the arts early on. This fair city soon became a haven for artists, thespians and musicians. The powder white sands of the keys attracted more visitors and they soon developed into rustic, laid-back beach communities.

Sarasota boasts several world-class museums and arts venues. A beautiful Italian Renaissance villa-turned-art-museum, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art houses one of the most comprehensive collections of Baroque paintings, plus exquisite 17th-century tapestries. Next door, the Ringling residence, Ca'd'Zan (House of John), a 30-room mansion nestled on picturesque Sarasota Bay, is modeled after a Venetian palace. The Circus Museum on the grounds contains memorabilia from the Big Top, including parade wagons, photographs and costumes.

Sarasota is also rich in lush natural beauty. The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, is set on Sarasota's sparkling bay. The Gulf Coast Heritage Trail is the state's first ecotourism trail, winds through Sarasota County.

For the more active visitor, Sarasota offers watersports, fishing and tennis galore, along with many excellent golf courses. A municipal baseball stadium is used for spring training by the Cincinnati Reds. Nearby Myakka River State Park, Florida's largest, offers sun-dappled rivers and cypress-studded paths for hikers and bicyclists.

So just kick back, relax and let your cares dissolve in Florida's premier west coast paradise.

Bradenton

Bradenton is one of central west Florida's oldest cities. It was named for Joseph Braden, an early settler who grew sugar cane and operated a sugar mill. The county's largest city and the county seat, Bradenton is also its center of commerce, government, health and social services, and much of the area's cultural life. Increasingly cosmopolitan in character, the city retains its small-town charm. A number of new residential sections complement older established neighborhoods in both urban and suburban settings.

In Manatee County, art, music and theater have strong community support. An active force in developing that support is the Manatee County Cultural Alliance, which promotes the area's cultural resources and publishes an up-to-date calendar of events. The County Art League is a comprehensive center for the visual arts. With three galleries, several classrooms and annual programs offering a variety of exhibition and educational opportunities, the League encourages both enjoyment and participation in the arts. Opportunities to exhibit are shared by amateur and professional artists.

The best way to discover Manatee County is a trip to Bradenton's South Florida Museum. A comprehensive facility telling Florida's history from prehistoric times to the present. Outstanding features include: life-size dioramas; 19-ft high mastodon skeleton, medical wing, maritime exhibits; changing exhibits gallery; Spanish Plaza; and Snooty, the oldest living manatee born in captivity, playfully entertains visitors from his 60,000-gallon pool.

Bradenton and nearby Palmetto's easily accessible water makes boating and fishing popular pastimes. The county's boating public is served by 30 marinas and eight boat ramps. In bays, bayous, and along the shores of the Gulf, fishermen find trout, redfish, pompano and flounder. Offshore they go for kingfish, mackerel, grouper and tarpon. Among the public fishing piers are the Anna Maria City Pier at Pine Avenue; the Bradenton Beach Fishing Pier at Bridge Street; Manatee Beach Fishing Pier on Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach; and the Rod 'n' Reel Pier on Bay Boulevard in Anna Maria.

The Bradenton area represents natural Florida because it has not suffered many of the negative effects of Florida's booming growth. The best example of the area's unspoiled nature is the broad sweeps of white sand beaches unmarred by high rise condominiums or hotels. The beaches feature the Gulf of Mexico's emerald waters bordered by tall, shady Australian Pines. Serene natural beauty and breathtaking Gulf views give Bradenton and the Gulf Islands a kick back and relax style all their own - the perfect setting for a rejuvenating, carefree vacation.

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