| check-in time: 3:00 pmcheck-out time: 11:00 am. off interstate 75, this straightforward, modern hotel is 2 miles from the gamble plantation historic state park and 6 miles from the south florida museum. free amenities include cooked breakfast (with a breakfast bag option on weekdays) and parking. they also have microwaves and minifridges, and some add whirlpool tubs and pull-out sofas. there's also an outdoor pool and a gym, plus a snack shop and a business center. casual rooms include free wi-fi and custom-designed beds, plus desks, coffeemakers and flat-screen tvs with hd channels
Tampa International Airport 46 min
Sarasota Jungle Gardens (31 min)
Historic attraction featuring more than 150 animals & shows in a tropical setting. The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature (15 min)
A planetarium, aquarium & history museum under 1 roof with dioramas & films. Robinson Preserve (29 min)
Nature preserve with hiking & biking trails, picnic areas, a boat launch & observation platforms. Tibbals Learning Center at The Ringling (30 min)
Ringling Circus archives, with historical documents, costume drawings & art (by appointment). Sarasota Classic Car Museum (29 min)
Venerable site showing 90+ classic, exotic & muscle cars, plus antique music boxes & phonographs. Gamble Plantation Historic State Park (7 min)
Florida's only surviving plantation home, circa 1840, set on lush grounds & open for guided tours. DeSoto National Memorial Park (27 min)
Nod to the famed explorer's landing site with living-history camp, exhibits, shore & nature trails. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (29 min)
State art museum founded by the circus magnate with 31 galleries in a pink Renaissance-style palace. Little Manatee River State Park (20 min)
Aquatic preserve park featuring a winding river, equestrian trails, campsites, picnicking & fishing. Manatee Village Historical Park (16 min)
Park area filled with restored historical buildings including a barn, general store & church. Mixon Fruit Farms (19 min)
Citrus grove with a play park, alligator encounters & a store serving orange flavored ice cream. Ca' d'Zan (32 min)
Once home to the Ringlings, this circa-1924 mansion draws inspiration from the palazzos of Venice. Riverwalk (15 min)
Picturesque riverside park for strolling & enjoying the sights, with a playground & benches. Sunshine Skyway Bridge (15 min) Florida Railroad Museum (13 min)
Transport history told in interactive exhibits & a 13-mile weekend ride, plus locomotive rentals. | 
