COMBINE THE WORLD OF TRAVEL WITH THE JOY OF LEARNING WITH EXPERIENTIAL VACATIONS IN SARASOTA AND HER ISLANDS, FLORIDA

From Learning to Kayak or Scuba Dive to Learning about Art and History,
Sarasota Offers Year-Round Educational Opportunities for Every Traveler

SARASOTA, Fla. (February 27, 2008) - Vacationers to Sarasota and Her
Islands, Florida, generally return home with suntans, vacation photos and
probably a few souvenirs - but now Sarasota is also giving visitors the
chance to return home with some new-found knowledge.  From learning to
scuba dive for fossilized shark's teeth or learning how to soar on the flying
trapeze, to learning how researchers track sharks at Mote Aquarium and
learning about both art and the history of the circus at the Ringling Museum,
Sarasota and Her Islands are offering travelers a great way to combine
relaxation and fun with the joy of education for travelers looking to learn
something new during their vacation. 

Following is a selection of year-round experiential and educational
opportunities available to visitors to Sarasota and Her Islands:

Dive for Fossilized Shark's Teeth with Florida Underwater Sports:

Florida Underwater Sports, located in downtown Sarasota, offers visitors the
chance to learn to scuba dive, both in a pool and in open water.  In addition
to both group and private classes (for adults and children as young as 8
years old), Florida Underwater Sports also offers charter trips to dive in
Sarasota's artificial reefs, which include things such as sunken barges, army
tanks and old boxcars.  Expeditions are also held to search for fossilized
shark's teeth, held off the coast of Casperson Beach, which is known as
the "Shark Tooth Capital of the World."  For more information, travelers can
visit www.underwatersports.com or call 941-870-4461.

A Curriculum of Culture at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art:

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art offers university-level, specialized
seminars throughout the year, focusing on a wide variety of cultural topics. 
The seminars are taught in small groups to enhance the learning experience,
and participants are engaged in the program through a blend of lectures, field
trips, films and in-gallery study sessions.  The 2008 schedule of educational
opportunities includes learning about the Harlem Renaissance through the
eyes of Jacob Lawrence, including a musical performance at the Historic Asolo
Theater; as well as a seminar on Circus Stars and the part that the circus
played in the birth of modernism.  Advance registration is required for the
Institute for Cultural Learning by calling 941-358-3180, and visitors can visit
www.ringling.org for more information.

Learn How Sharks are Tracked at Mote Aquarium:

Visitors to Sarasota can take on the role of Mote Marine Laboratory scientists
at Mote Aquarium's "Sharktracker" exhibit, to learn how researchers track
sharks in the wild using high-tech sensing equipment and underwater
microphones. The new interactive exhibit includes two touch-screen kiosks
that allow visitors to follow juvenile blacktip sharks in Terra Ceia Bay as the
fish migrate through nursery areas and attempt to overcome challenges in
their environment as they mature toward adulthood.  For more information,
traveler can visit www.mote.org. 

Soar Through the Air at the Flying Trapeze Academy:

Visitors looking for a thrill can learn how to soar through the air on the flying
trapeze at Tito Goana's Flying Trapeze Academy.  The Academy is located in
the old Ringling Winter Quarters in Venice, where circus stars performed and
Guenther Gebel-Williams trained circus animals for 30 years.  Both group and
private lessons are available, and instruction is offered for the flying trapeze,
multiple trapezes, wire walking and trampolines.  For more information,
travelers can call 941-412-9305 or can visit www.titogoana.com. 

Kayak Through the Mangrove Tunnels and Learn About Sarasota's Natural
Habitat:

Sarasota Bay Explorers teaches visitors to kayak, while also giving them the
chance to learn about Sarasota's natural habitat.  A boat takes participants
to the kayak site at South Lido Park, where they'll receive kayak
instructions.  A naturalist will then guide participants through the mangrove
tunnels of Lido Beach as they learn about the variety of flora and fauna, both
above and below the water's surface while observing nature in an up-close
manner.  Reservations are required and can be secured by visiting
www.sarasotabayexplorers.com.

Learn About Art and History at The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota:

To educate, appreciate and commemorate Sarasota's hotel art collection and
historic ties to the cultural community, The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota now offers
Art & History Tours available to resort guests and the general public.  The
Ritz-Carlton Sarasota offers a walking guide to its art collection available at
the concierge desk, which includes a map of the most significant pieces on-
site at the resort.  Guided tours are held by the resort's Lobby Ambassador
every Saturday at 3 pm.  For more information on the Art & History tours,
travelers can call the concierge at 941.309.2160.

Sarasota and her string of eight islands are located along Southwest Florida's
Gulf Coast between Tampa and Ft. Myers, and were just rated as one of
the "Top Ten Fastest Growing Domestic Beach Destinations" by Orbitz.com. 
Sarasota and Her Islands is comprised of Sarasota, Longboat Key, Lido Key,
St. Armands Key, Manasota Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Englewood, Nokomis,
North Port, Osprey and Venice. In addition to sandy beaches, Sarasota and
Her Islands also offer numerous cultural and ecological attractions.  For more
information on saving and discovering in Sarasota, call the Sarasota
Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 522-9799 or visit www.sarasotafl.org.

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