Sarasota to Minot train

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.

Minot is a North Dakota city home to the Minot Air Force Base as well as the Dakota Territory Air Museum. The Scandinavian Heritage Park is another top site for history buffs, which honors the immigrant history in Minot. Close to the Souris River, you can visit the Roosevelt Park Zoo, which houses a wide range of birds, big cats, and bears. Minot offers a chance to go canoeing, kayaking, or fishing at Roosevelt Park or hiking at the amazing parks and trails. The city features great golf courses too.

One of the highlights of Minot is the Norsk Hostfest, an annual Scandinavian festival held each fall. This is North America's biggest Scandinavian festival, with fun shows and delicious food. Minot also features a thriving craft beer scene, with Souris River Brewing being the first to open. The downtown area is not far from Souris River and offers local stores, exciting nightlife, and shopping opportunities.

If you're moving within Minot, you get transportation services from the Minot City Transit. Most visitors come to town on Amtrak.