Shopping

Visitors come from all over the world to shop at St. Armands Circle, on St. Armands Key. Wander around this outdoor circle of more than 150 international boutiques, gift shops, galleries, restaurants, and nightspots, all surrounded by lush landscaping, patios, and antiques. Pick up a map at the Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau. Many shops here are comparable to those in Palm Beach and on Naples's Third Avenue South, so check your credit card limits -- or resort to some great window-shopping. I love to browse through Global Navigator (tel. 813/388-4514), a travel-equipment and apparel shop that reminds me of Banana Republic when it carried really cool stuff (daily 10am-10pm).