| check-in time: 12:00 pmcheck-out time: 11:00 am. 3-mile drive from gamble plantation historic state park and 6 miles from the south florida museum. off interstate 75, this unassuming budget hotel is a 6. parking is complimentary. accessed via exterior corridors, the bright, functional rooms feature complimentary wi-fi and cable tv, as well as microwaves and minifridges. other amenities include a coin-operated laundry, and an outdoor pool with sunloungers. some rooms add sofabeds
Tampa International Airport 50 min
Sarasota Bay (36 min)
Named an estuary of national significance, this subtropical, coastal lagoon is popular for kayaking. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Downtown Sarasota campus (28 min)
Showcase for thousands of tropical plants, plus a conservatory & garden museum, in a historic space. Big Cat Habitat Gulf Coast Sanctuary (20 min)
Animal sanctuary home to big cats & other wild species offering animal encounters & seasonal hours. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (24 min)
State art museum founded by the circus magnate with 31 galleries in a pink Renaissance-style palace. Lake Manatee State Park (18 min)
This waterfront park offers freshwater boating & fishing, plus camping (though no actual manatees). Tibbals Learning Center at The Ringling (24 min)
Ringling Circus archives, with historical documents, costume drawings & art (by appointment). Florida Railroad Museum (19 min)
Transport history told in interactive exhibits & a 13-mile weekend ride, plus locomotive rentals. Mixon Fruit Farms (11 min)
Citrus grove with a play park, alligator encounters & a store serving orange flavored ice cream. Sarasota Classic Car Museum (23 min)
Venerable site showing 90+ classic, exotic & muscle cars, plus antique music boxes & phonographs. Riverwalk (13 min)
Picturesque riverside park for strolling & enjoying the sights, with a playground & benches. The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature (13 min)
A planetarium, aquarium & history museum under 1 roof with dioramas & films. DeSoto National Memorial Park (25 min)
Nod to the famed explorer's landing site with living-history camp, exhibits, shore & nature trails. Sarasota Jungle Gardens (26 min)
Historic attraction featuring more than 150 animals & shows in a tropical setting. Gamble Plantation Historic State Park (10 min)
Florida's only surviving plantation home, circa 1840, set on lush grounds & open for guided tours. Ca' d'Zan (26 min)
Once home to the Ringlings, this circa-1924 mansion draws inspiration from the palazzos of Venice. | 
