Summer is here, and as temperatures soar and the sun shines down, our real estate agents know that sometimes you need a place to beat the heat. While the Sarasota area may be famous for its beaches and waterfront destinations, it's also home to some amazing museums and other indoor attractions that offer shelter and air conditioning on steamy summer days.

Top Indoor Attractions Around Sarasota, FL

The Ringling Museum of Art - Sarasota, FL

Address: 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, FL 34243

The official state art museum of Florida, the John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art, has been a Sarasota staple since 1927. The museum includes 21 galleries on a sprawling, 66-acre waterfront property near many Sarasota homes for sale. Part of the legacy of circus magnate John Ringling and his wife, Mable, the museum houses a fascinating art collection that encompasses European paintings, Cypriot antiquities, and Asian art.

Mote Marine Laboratory - Sarasota, FL

Address: 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236

For nature lovers and anyone drawn to the sea's awesome power, the Mote Marine Laboratory is a must-visit indoor attraction in Sarasota. An independent, nonprofit marine research organization that helps advance marine science worldwide, the Mote Marine Laboratory includes a variety of public facilities—including an enormous marine aquarium—and offers nature programs such as guided kayak tours and youth day camps.

Bishop Museum of Science and Nature - Bradenton, FL

Address: 201 10th St. W, Bradenton, FL 34205

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature is the largest natural history museum on the Florida Gulf Coast. Offering hands-on science and history experiences for all ages, the museum illuminates every era of Florida's history, from the Pleistocene epoch to the present. The museum is a stone's throw from many Bradenton homes for sale, with highlights including:

• The Planetarium at The Bishop, which includes an immersive 50-foot full-dome theater
• The Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat, which houses rescued wild manatees in a habitat modeled after a cypress spring

The Venice Museum - Venice, FL

Address: 351 Nassau St. S, Venice, FL 34285

A short drive south along the coast from Sarasota and just minutes from these Venice homes for sale, the fascinating Venice Museum shines a spotlight on local history and culture. The museum's collection includes historical clothing, a vast collection of postcards and photographs, fossils and sharks' teeth, archival maps, and much more, painting a distinctive portrait of life in Venice throughout the city's history.

Sarasota Art Museum - Sarasota, FL

Address: 1001 S. Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236

Sarasota's premier non-collecting art museum dedicated to 20th- and 21st-century contemporary art, the Sarasota Art Museum encompasses 15,000 square feet of gallery space in a repurposed 1927 school building. The museum showcases today's most vital works of art, hosting an ever-changing slate of exhibits by local, national, and international artists. The museum also features an outdoor sculpture garden, cafe, and shop.

Pop Culture Antique Museum - Englewood, FL

Address: 191 S. McCall Rd., Englewood, FL 342235 6b

Part museum, part antique store, and part pop culture novelty shop, the Pop Culture Antique Museum is one of a kind. It's an old-fashioned roadside attraction located near these Englewood homes for sale, featuring a tremendous, wide-ranging collection of memorabilia, collectibles, and antiques for display and, in many cases, for sale. The Pop Culture Antique Museum is a sprawling tribute to the Sunshine State's unique and kitschy treasures, all under one roof.

Contact us today to learn more about life in the Sarasota area. From Bradenton to Venice, our real estate agents are here to help find your dream home on the Florida Gulf Coast!