New to Sarasota: A Neighbor's Starter Guide
By Carson B. · Updated November 6, 2026
Learn your evacuation zone first, then get to know the place by showing up: the Saturday farmers market downtown, the Sunday market at Waterside, and events on our calendar. Our weekly newsletter is the easy way to keep up.
First things first: hurricanes
Look up your evacuation level with your county as soon as you've settled on an address, because it depends on where you live, not how far you are from the beach. Sarasota and Manatee counties each publish their own tools, and it's worth making a plan before June.
Is Sarasota a good place to live?
Lots of people think so. U.S. News ranked it No. 5 in the country for 2023-2024, though the magazine's methods have since changed and Sarasota fell off its 2026 Best Places to Retire list. What you get: beaches, an arts scene that punches above its size, and year-round outdoor life. What you trade: heat, hurricane risk, and busy roads in season.
Where to meet people
Markets are the easiest place to start: the Sarasota Farmers Market on Saturdays and the Lakewood Ranch Farmers' Market on Sundays. Fogartyville and WSLR are the community-radio crowd, Art Center Sarasota has classes, and Sarasota BMX draws families out to Tuttle Avenue.
Rosemary District listening room and home of WSLR 96.5
Getting the house sorted
Our home services directory lists long-running local companies for air conditioning, plumbing, roofing, and pools. Good places to start include Climatic Conditioning, in business since 1972, and Babe's Plumbing, third-generation since 1957. Always check licenses and get more than one quote.
Getting to know the area
Spend a weekend on each: Siesta Key, St. Armands, downtown, Lakewood Ranch, Venice, and Bradenton. The Scoop lands in your inbox every week with what's on.
This weekend, to get you started
Ride and Paddle at The Bay (Guided Kayak Tour)
Fri, Nov 6 · 9:00 AM · 2 dates
Kayak Launch at The Bay Park · Sarasota
Free; registration required
ex•plore: Nature at Night —Sleeping Turtles Preserve North
Fri, Nov 6 · 5:30 PM
Sleeping Turtles Preserve North · Venice
Free
Questions
Is Sarasota a good place to live?
It has beaches, a strong arts scene, and year-round outdoor life. The tradeoffs are summer heat, hurricane risk, and season traffic.
How do I find my evacuation zone in Sarasota?
Use Sarasota County's or Manatee County's emergency management site. It depends on your address.