Sarasota Named Top 10 Southern City By Southern Home Readers

SARASOTA, FL – A living room coffee table topped with neatly stacked copies of Southern Living magazine is generally the hallmark of someone with good taste.

So, when the editors of the magazine focusing fine dining, entertaining, decorating and traveling asks its readers to vote on the best cities in the South, it’s a good bet readers won’t take their choices lightly.

That’s all the more reason why city officials were thrilled to learn that Sarasota was named one of “The South’s Best Cities.”

Readers of Southern Living magazine voted Sarasota No. 9 on the list of 2018 best cities. Other cities making the list were such Southern gems as Charleston, South Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; Asheville, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Greenville, South Carolina; Austin, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Lexington, Kentucky.

And if that wasn’t enough of an hour, Southern Living readers also voted Sarasota No. 5 on the list of “The South’s Prettiest Cities.”

They are honors Visit Sarasota County President Virginia Haley is more than happy to tout on the county’s tourism website.

“This is a very prestigious list, and to be the only Florida destination in the South’s Best Cities and then the top Florida destination for prettiest city is a great recognition for us,” Haley said.

The 52-year-old magazine with a circulation of 16.8 million tabulated more than 32,000 responses to its annual “The South’s Best” winners.

Categories included the South’s Best Tiny Towns, South’s Best Small Town, South’s Best Cities, South’s Best Restaurants, South’s Best BBQ Joints, South’s Best Food City, South’s Best Food Town, South’s Best Desserts, South’s Best Brewery, South’s Best Beach, South’s Best Resort, South’s Best Hotel, South’s Best Inn, South’s Best Festival, South’s Best Grocery Store and South’s Friendliest City.

Southern Living magazine's The South's Best issue is now available on newsstands.

Image via Southern Living