Sarasota to Saratoga Springs bus

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.

Saratoga Springs is a small city in New York with a big reputation for horse racing. The city is home to both the Saratoga Race Course and the National Museum of Horse Racing. Wealthy visitors built opulent Victorian homes in Saratoga to stay during the summers, gamble on horse races, and seek health from the area's natural mineral water springs. To this day, you can visit mineral baths, pools, and fountains in Saratoga Spa State Park to soak for a while or taste the unique naturally-carbonated water.

The buzzing hub of the city is Broadway, where you can find restaurants serving every type of cuisine, quirky shops, cafés, and bookstores. Talk a walk through nearby Congress Park and discover more mineral water fountains, a vintage carousel, and the Saratoga Springs History Museum.

Amtrak's Adirondack line operates a daily service to Saratoga Springs on its route from Montreal to New York City, and so does the Ethan Allen line from Vermont. Saratoga Springs is a stop for Greyhound buses heading towards Albany or Montreal, plus many local bus services to nearby cities and towns. The closest airport is the Albany International Airport, about 40 minutes away.