ED SMITH STADIUM
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If You Go ...
Sarasota is only 65 miles outside of Tampa-St. Pete and close to Bradenton, so you're in the midst of spring-training nirvana: Spring-training venues that are within easy driving distance of Sarasota include Lakeland (Detroit Tigers), Tampa (New York Yankees), Clearwater (Philadelphia Phillies), Bradenton (Pittsburgh Pirates), Port Charlotte (Tampa Bay Rays) and Dunedin (Toronto Blue Jays). In addition, the Baltimore Orioles' minor leaguers practice at Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Road, Sarasota. You can expect your trip to spring training to be filled with lots of baseball in the Tampa area.Outside of baseball spring training, Sarasota is best known as the former winter home of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. John Ringling gave the money to build the Ringling Museum of Art, which features an outstanding collection 17th-century Baroque paintings, including pieces by Rubens, Van Dyck, and Velazquez. Ed Smith Stadium is about a mile from downtown Sarasota, which offers its own set of restaurants and attractions. The Sarasota Jungle Gardens features a wide assortments of tropical birds and animals; it, too, is close to downtown Sarasota. And, of course, there's the seashore: Sarasota County boasts 35 miles of beaches and six barrier islands.
Recommended: the Hyatt Regency Sarasota (1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota; 941/953-1234).
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