Since they move into the renovated high school building, they really have great art displays. We…read morewere here for museum free day. The entrance registration is easy. The museum has two floors and some of the studios and cafe. I am impressed with their chandeliers display with individual pieces link together. Each piece is art as its own. This is the most photographic area. The second thing is their translucent window with different colors and reflections of the color. I also like their make your own art studio. Kid enjoys the clay art. It is definitely great for the kid.

This is an interesting art museum. The building was from an old renovated high school building. The…read moreparking lot is plentful and free. We took advantage of the second Sunday every month free ticket. It got interesting and beautiful exhibits, mostly contemporary art and sculpture. They were eye- catching pieces. The staff were friendly and helpful. The café offers delicious food and drinks plus free cookie for kids. There are different art studio for children to make an art project. Lobby area offered live music at weekend noon time. Their elevators are as big as a New York City studio apartment- a funny fact. This is a pleasant museum to visit. I enjoyed my time there.

We booked the Uncovering Ca' d'Zan Guided Tour ($40 per person) before flying to Florida. The tour…read morelasts about 60-70 minutes and includes the main rooms on the first floor, a peek into the Tap Room with stories about indulgence and Prohibition during the 1920s, as well as select spaces on the second, third, and fourth floors of the Ringlings' magnificent waterfront mansion. I'm so glad I booked this tour! it was the highlight of our Florida trip. Our tour guide, Susan, was professional, knowledgeable, and full of humor. She made the entire experience both informative and relaxing. Ca' d'Zan is simply breathtaking. This stunning Mediterranean Revival mansion sits on the shores of Sarasota Bay and was built in the mid-1920s as the winter retreat of American circus magnate, entrepreneur, and art collector John Ringling and his wife, Mable Burton Ringling. Although the mansion is over 100 years old, it still radiates the glamour, elegance, and artistic vision of the Ringlings. Every room is filled with exquisite craftsmanship and thoughtful details that reflect their passion for art and architecture. One of my favorite features was the magnificent ceiling paintings by the Hungarian artist Willy Pogany. Each one tells a story from another era, preserving its beauty for generations to admire. Standing on the terrace overlooking Sarasota Bay, I couldn't help but be reminded of the atmosphere from the movie Great Expectations. There was something incredibly romantic, mysterious, and timeless about the view. To me, Ca' d'Zan feels alive. If you slow down and listen carefully, the mansion tells its own story. There is glamour. There is longing. There is sadness. There is hope. And somehow, there is a place for you within it. I absolutely fell in love with this place. Without a doubt, this was the best attraction we visited during our trip to Sarasota. I would highly recommend the Uncovering Ca' d'Zan Guided Tour to anyone visiting the area, and I will definitely return to explore the Museum of Art next time.

The Ringling is absolutely beautiful and there's way more to see than I expected. You get…read moreeverything from circus history to ancient art and artifacts, contemporary pieces, gorgeous grounds, statues and the rose garden. The roses were supposedly in season, but honestly that part was a little underwhelming. My personal favorites were the ancient artifacts and the circus miniature. There are also some parts of circus history that definitely haven't aged well, including minstrel depictions, but history is history and I appreciated that it wasn't sanitized. My biggest issue was being asked THREE separate times to show our wristbands while walking the grounds. Normally, no big deal, but we watched larger groups walk right by without being questioned while our group of three kept getting stopped, despite our wristbands being just as visible. By the third time, it was hard not to feel like we were being profiled. That was disappointing, especially after driving an hour for a close friend's birthday. I usually don't spend my money where I feel unwanted, but I wasn't going to let it ruin her day. Beautiful museum and absolutely worth experiencing, but that part of our visit left a bad taste in my mouth.

Guest reviewer: The Wife This museum 100% lives up to its…read morename. Every piece of art at the museum--from the paintings, to the sculptures, to the rest rooms, to the walls themselves--is a study in creative whimsy. Before entering the building, visitors are treated to the sight of giant flamingo statues adorned in fancy headwear and bow ties. What I think delighted me the most about walking around this space was the understanding that the world of art is so much broader than what I learned about at university. The indoor spaces featured both paintings and smaller pieces of sculpture in many different styles, while the outdoor sculpture garden brought the awe of childish whimsy everywhere I looked. Don't forget to check out the men's bathroom near the entrance to the museum!

My mouth hung open in awe from the moment I entered the property. I love this museum. I have…read morebrought many of my friends here. Every piece of painted art is amazing. I am a whimsey painter and I always leave here so inspired I can't wait to start another project. This is a MUST see for Florida visitors. Even if you aren't artistic You will be inspired by this whimsical magical amazing museum of art. Mary, the owner shares her collection of whimsical art on this property and in these buildings. Again, this is a must see in Florida.

Been wanting to check this museum out forever. It did not disappoint…read more I knew Dalí was famous, but really got to appreciate his story and style here. The architecture of the building had great lighting and spaces. Not huge, but also not small. I believe they are expanding too. Cafe downstairs and a gift shop. Took two turns at the art work. One solo and one on the free tour. The tour is absolutely a must. I learned so much and got to get a better understanding for the pieces and artist. Gift shop was fun, but I expected more unique things. Pricer side. I'd say overall visit absolutely worth it. Nice walkable area nearby. If you're lucky, you'll see some dolphins!

2nd time for the Dome exhibits…read more 1st one was Pink Floyd it was amazing the acoustics were good. 2nd was the Sounds of Nature is was cool. This time there was time to walk around the museum. A very cool place to learn about Dalí and his work

We parked for free in their large multi level parking garage and paid $28 pp admission. We were…read moregiven maps and information about the Calder exhibit. It was a beautiful day, just perfect to wander around outdoors.We were directed to start at the mansion which was filled with information and drawings from Alexander Calder. We then followed the path around the gardens. Every flower and every shrub had an identifying name. The gardens were spectacular with lots of places to sit, clean bathrooms, and a café along the way. Most of the visitors that we passed were over 80 & were eager to share what cold location they were visiting from. We wandered through the desert, tropical gardens, through the children's rainforest ... admiring statues and moving Calder mobiles on the way. The paths, flora, statues & mobiles were well marked. I understand that the vegetables, fruit and herbs serve served in the restaurant. Restaurant and Cafe are all grown on the rooftop garden.i took so many beautiful photographs here! Selby Gardens is a tropical, urban oasis of over 45 acres of bayfront sanctuaries, connecting people with native flora and regional history. The gardens include the Downtown Campus on Sarasota Bay & the only botanical garden in the world dedicated to the display and study of orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads, and ferns. The Historic Spanish Point (HSP) Campus is located less than 10 miles south along Little Sarasota Bay, one of the largest preserves showcasing native Florida plants.

We spent maybe 90 minutes at the gardens, which are currently featuring sculptures and drawings by…read moreartist Alexander Calder. Calder is most famous for his use of primary colors, and for his mobiles. This exhibit, "Alexander Calder: The Nature of Movement" ends May 31, 2026. Calder's connection with Sarasota is mainly through sketches he made of Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, which was based in Sarasota. Portions of the gardens are under construction, but most areas along the water are open. There wasn't much in bloom during our visit. Admission is not cheap ($28 per adult, $12 for children 5-17) but we were able to get in for free using the reciprocal arrangement from our membership at another botanical garden. Garage parking is free, and there's an elevator.

Let me tell you about the time my wife casually turned a normal "drop our daughter off at college"…read moretrip into what felt like a deleted scene from a survival movie... destination: Solomon's Castle in the absolute middle of nowhere. And when I say nowhere, I mean NOWHERE. I'm driving waiting for streetlights... nothing. Gas stations? Nope. People? Questionable. Cows? Plenty. Motorcycles flying by like we accidentally entered a post-apocalyptic biker convention? Oh yeah. At this point, I'm looking at my wife like, Babé are we visiting a castle or auditioning for The Walking Dead: Florida Edition?" Then suddenly... BOOM. Out of nowhere... like a mirage built by a very creative pirate appears this shiny, aluminum-covered CASTLE. Now I'm confused. Because one minute I'm dodging cows... and the next minute I'm like: Did we just teleport to medieval times sponsored by Home Depot? But here's the thing this place is AMAZING. Inside? Pure genius. Art everywhere. Sculptures made out of stuff you probably threw away last week. It's like if creativity, humor, and a junkyard had a baby and that baby became a castle. And then there's the restaurant. Yes. A restaurant. Inside a boat. Inside a castle. In the middle of nowhere. At this point, I've stopped asking questions and just accepted that I'm in someone else's dream. If you want the backstory, go ahead and Google it because it's wild. But honestly, just go. Don't overthink it. Would I have ever planned this stop? Absolutely not. Did my wife once again prove she's the CEO of random but incredible detours? 100%. Final verdict: Unexpected Slightly suspicious drive in Completely worth it If you're ever near Ona, Florida--or even if you're not take the detour. Just make sure your gas tank is full... and maybe say a quick prayer once the streetlights disappear

A loving tribute remains to a most unique and loved artist. Alane and Dean continue a one-of-a-kind…read moreattraction.

This place is a hidden somewhat run down but still super awesome old school gem that we loved…read more Florida's "Colonial Williamsburg" type living history museum with several buildings o exhibts as wrll as: Some livestock animals. A small garden inckuding sugar cane. Lots of vintage old stuff to explore. We woukd have loved a docent but self discovery was neat too. We really enjoyed our visit. Hoepfully some big money or loving volunteers step up to help support this super cool place. A trip back in time.. I love this place.

Wonderful place to take children. Old Florida at its best. Adjacent to Myakka State Park and easy…read moreto get to.

A very cute a fun museum!…read more My group and I came here mostly to see the manatees but enjoyed the rest of the museum as well. We went through the exhibits on the two floors relatively quickly but they were interesting to look at. I liked the emphasis on Florida specific history. The planetarium was interesting and the seats were very comfortable. The manatees were obviously the highlight. We were able to see two babies, Sorbet and Juneau, right at feeding time. The top view of the water had a superior view. Overall, while I'm not from here so I'm not sure when I'd be back if I went, I really enjoyed my time here.

Had a wonderful time here. Lost track of time and spent nearly hours there. Well maintained…read moreexhibits. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. The planetarium was awesome. We went to two shows. Very informative.

Be prepared for a pleasant surprise at the museum. It is truly magnificent. And as they say a…read morepicture says 1000 words this certainly does. There's so much to see and do here and you don't have to be bothered with the tour guide you simply walk through and see what you want at your own pace. Several parts you can get into for free but we often pay the $25 to have full access to the museum. Was money well spent. The grounds of this museum as well as its interior is splendid. Plan to spend several hours here so you can absorb everything.

Surpringly expansion collection of art, both classic and modern. We took advantage of their free…read morecurated tour of the classic pieces and then did a self guided tour of their modern collection. The modern exhibit included work of Yayoi Kusama and Lichtenstein.

What a great circus! It is intimate and small. The performers were excellent. After the show…read morethere was an opportunity to meet the performers - speak with them and get photos with them. I highly recommend this circus!

5 stars obviously! So fun! Johnny is sigma. Its a cool experience to have! But the bathrooms are…read morereally gross...