Right on the bay in Sarasota, Florida, the Ringling is one of the truly don’t miss spots in the area.
The museums are incredible and the grounds are so lovely that it’s easy to spend a whole day here.
- If you love art, or at least appreciate the grander things in life. - If you want to learn more about the history of the circus. - If you want to tour a historic 1920s style home.
There are plenty of historic items on display, but they’ve really arranged everything in an interactive way (walk a tightrope, squeeze into a clown car, etc.) and it’s where you’ll do all the “learning” (reading, watching videos, etc.) about the Ringling Circus.
It’s a few rooms with cases of historic objects with tiny plaques to read that weren’t terribly exciting, but you’ll definitely want to walk through because in the back room (more like a warehouse) they have several original wagons and also one of the train cars.
Built during the roaring twenties in the Venetian style, this home of John and Mabel Ringling is really something to see.