Petersburg to Sarasota train

Petersburg has a population of 30,791 people and is a suburb of Richmond. There are numerous parks in Petersburg, perfect for the families who live there and visitors looking for some time outdoors.

Petersburg National Battle Park is one of the must-see destinations, with guided tours through the park complete with stories and facts about the area's history. The tour guide will drive you through the park, making stops to tell the tales of what happened at that specific stop. You can also walk through the park yourself or swing by the museum for more info.

Most locals take buses from Charlotte to Petersburg, but bus lines are also available from San Marcos, Dallas, and Los Angeles. Amtrak also has several lines to the city, including the Silver Service, Northeast Regional, Carolinian, and Palmetto, which come to Petersburg from cities such as Richmond, Washington D.C., Lincoln, and Philadelphia.

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.