Port Saint Lucie to Sarasota bus

Map out a Florida vacation and it will most probably lead you to Port Saint Lucie. Situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline of southern Florida, the city includes long ribbons of pristine sand beaches that are an ideal escape from it all.

Head inland, and you'll find a heart ringed by stunning waterways and roughly 20,000 acres of a nature reserve that are just waiting to be discovered. There are various opportunities to try your luck on a fishing adventure, strike out with a rucksack on a day's hike, or ride horses at full gallop in the shallows. Should you prefer, there's also ample opportunity to take to the saddle of a mountain bike to raise the heart rate or enjoy a sedate round of golf at PGA-level facilities.

Neatly positioned between Miami to the south and Orlando to the north, Port Saint Lucie makes for a great way to break up a journey. Buses make frequent arrivals at Port Saint Lucie Service Plaza at Florida Turnpike Mile 144, just two miles from the city center, as well as at 2031 SW Gatlin Blvd and La Bonita.

The ride to Orlando or Miami will take around 3.5 hours, while if you choose, it's possible to head as far afield as Philadelphia, too.

A culturally-rich alternative to the nearby theme parks of Orlando, Sarasota's Gulf Coast location is hard to resist. It became the winter base for many well-to-do families in the early twentieth century, during which time much of the town developed a subtle Italian feel.

Not only is the climate similar to what you might experience in southern Italy, but many of Sarasota's buildings were constructed to resemble the country's renaissance masterworks too. A good example is the Ringling family's Ca' d'Zan Venetian-style mansion.

The Ringlings made their money from circuses before giving their name to the much-celebrated John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. It contains 21 galleries of European paintings, archaeological artifacts, and American art totaling 10,000 objects.

With weather so fine, you'll probably be looking with more than half an eye at Sarasota's numerous excellent resorts and beaches, many of which lie on a group of keys within the city limits. Bonus: our research ranked Sarasota as the #3 cheapest Spring Break destination, so you can soak up the sun on the cheap.

Arriving in Sarasota is equally easy thanks to its Cattleman Transfer Centre and Fruitville Road bus stations. Between them, travelers can connect by bus everywhere from Tampa to Tucson. Amtrak also operates a Thruway bus service from the defunct Sarasota rail station to Tampa for onward connections by train on the Silver Service. This service runs between Miami and New York City via Washington, D.C.