HOW TO GET THERE
CIRCUS PHOTO COURTESY OF CIRCUS ARTS CONSERVATORY
IF YOU FLY: Delta Airlines has direct/nonstop daily flights from Atlanta HartsfieldJackson International Airport to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, which is about five miles from downtown Sarasota. Add 20 minutes to your journey once you’ve landed, and your toes will be in the sand.
professional theater, which stages a mix of contemporary and classic plays, along with new work and musicals, on two stages roughly from November through June. Awesome beaches stretch for nearly 40 miles of Florida shoreline and include a string of eight-plus islands tucked into the coast, where relaxation and rejuvenation are top priorities for residents and visitors. Accommodations range from family-oriented resorts such as the Hyatt Regency Sarasota on the bay, to full-service, pamper-me-witheverything-you’ve-got spots like the waterfront Ritz-Carlton. The ultimate merger of both worlds, the Resort at Longboat Key Club, found on its name-
sake island, delivers spectacular beachfront views and golf, spa and marina luxury along with Four-Diamond status and an outstanding international reputation. If you’re looking for clowns, you’ll find them, thanks to the legacy of circus magnate John Ringling. In fact, Sarasota often is called the Circus Capital of the World. One look at the extensive map of the Ringling campus demonstrates just how far that performance heritage has expanded beyond what began as a simple and artistic way to entertain, then blossomed into the permanent home of “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Visitors can spend hours and still not have enough time to view
IF YOU DRIVE: From Atlanta, it takes seven or eight hours due south on I-75. When palm trees start to outnumber the buildings (about 60 miles south of Tampa), you’ll know you’re close. BEST TIME TO VISIT: Summer and fall months, with summer offering the best rates on lodging.
ATLANTA’S PERFORMING ARTS PUBLICATION 43