Kelly Stilwell – Book Announcement
Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Sarasota is known for its powdery white sand beaches and clear blue water. Nature lovers flock to the area to see dolphins, manatees, and a plethora of seabirds. But there is so much more than the beach in this west coast parcel of the Sunshine State.
Because of Sarasota’s rich history connected to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, it’s often called Circus City. One visit to The Ringling and you’ll understand why.
Sarasota is also known as Florida’s Culture Coast for its plethora of arts, theaters, and museums. With so much to do, think of 100 Things to Do in Sarasota Before You Die as your guide to exploring the area, checking off all those bucket list items as you go.
Discover the best places to dine, whether you’re in shorts and a T-shirt or dressed to the nines at one of our many fine dining spots. Fresh seafood is abundant, and one bite of a Grouper sandwich at the Sandbar while watching the sunset on Anna Maria Island and you’ll be hooked, too. Explore the Amish Experience or take a City Sightseeing Tour by trolley with narrated Discover Sarasota Tours. Baseball fans will want to check out a Major League Baseball Spring Training game for the Baltimore Orioles or Atlanta Braves at Ed Smith Stadium or the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park in neighboring Bradenton. Families won’t want to miss the Bishop Museum, also in Bradenton, with its digital full-dome Planetarium. And yes, visit our stunning beaches, from Anna Maria Island to the beaches of Venice, the Shark Tooth Capital of the World.
Let Kelly Stilwell, local journalist, show you around. Whether you’re a local or wish you were, there’s a lot to explore. Let’s get started!
About the Author
Kelly Stilwell is a travel and food writer who has visited 40 countries in the last 15 years. She is the author of the popular blog, Food, Fun & Faraway Places, which has a social media following of over 350,000. She is also a contributor to USA Today 10Best, MSN, and Bradenton Magazine, as well as a guest travel pro on Suncoast View, the local morning show. Kelly is a member of the Society for American Travel Writers. Find her at @kastilwell on Instagram. Join us in sharing your adventures from this book by following and tagging @100ThingsSarasota using #100ThingsSarasota.
Purchase your book: https://kellystilwell.com/shop/
Upcoming Events:
Book Signing
Saturday, August 31, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime
821 Apricot Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237
(941) 445-1938
Free and open to the public
Presentation and Book Signing
Saturday, September 21, from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Island Branch Library
5701 Marina Dr, Holmes Beach, FL 34217
(941) 778-6341
Free and open to the public
Presentation and Book Signing
Tuesday, November 5, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Selby Library
1331 1st St, Sarasota, FL 34236
(941) 861-1110
Free and open to the public
Presentation and Book Signing
Saturday, November 9, from 2 – 4 p.m.
Barnes & Noble
4010 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231
(941) 923-9907
Free and open to the public
Presentation and Book Signing
Wednesday, November 27, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Phillippi Farmers Market
5500 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231
Free and open to the public
Presentation and Book Signing
Tuesday, December 3, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Library
4143 Woodmere Park Blvd, Venice, FL 34293
(941) 861-1110
Free and open to the public
TALKING POINTS FROM THE BOOK:
The Sarasota area is home to:
- A plethora of fantastic restaurants catering to diverse tastes, including upscale dining, local seafood joints, and casual eateries. Many have views of the Gulf of Mexico or one of our beautiful bays.
- Live Circus performances year-round from Sarasota Circus and Sailor Circus, called The Greatest Little Show On Earth. Upcoming shows will feature the one and only Nik Wallenda, king of the highwire.
- Beaches where shark enthusiasts come to find the teeth of prehistoric sharks as well as the 15 separate species of sharks that currently live in the Sunshine State. Venice is the shark capital of the world!
- Nathan Benderson Park, a world-class rowing venue hosting events all year long such as the US Olympic & Paralympic Rowing Team Trials, USRowing Winter Speed Order, and the American Youth Cup Regatta.
- Asolo Rep, a Broadway-style theater built in Italy in 1798 and reassembled in Sarasota.
- Sarasota Opera House, a theater referred to by Musical America as one of the finest venues for opera in the United States.
- A handful of fantastic local breweries, all offering food or visiting food trucks.
- Florida’s only professional ballet company at Sarasota Ballet.
- The Venice Symphony, a fully professional 75-piece orchestra featuring classical music, pops, folk, and even music from films.
- Celery Fields, one of the most popular spots on the Great Florida Birding Trail, featuring two boardwalks perfect for walking, biking, and wildlife viewing.
- Mote Marine Aquarium, a beautiful public aquarium known for its renowned marine research such as shark biology and coral reef restoration programs.
- Sarasota Jungle Gardens, housing 200 native and exotic animals from parrots and porcupines to loveable lemurs.
- Neal Preserve, a 120-acre preserve featuring a few opportunities for recreation, including a short shell trail loop, winding boardwalks, and a 20-foot-tall observation tower providing views across the bay.
- Home away from home spring training spot for two Major League Baseball teams; the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates.