Sarasota is America’s Best Town to Visit in 2026, per CNN
This west central Gulf coast city in Florida has a lot going for it, and now it has some national recognition too.
Sarasota is the top-ranked locale on CNN’s third annual “America’s Best Towns to Visit” list, which dropped in early July.
We at ICI Homes aren’t surprised! The Sarasota area is our newest division, and CNN network researchers and readers also noticed all the good things about what’s known as the Suncoast.
From thriving arts and cultural scenes, to splendid beaches, Sarasota has something for everyone at every age and stage of life. Add museums, performing arts venues, spectacular public gardens and amazing history, and it’s clear Sarasota is a prime location to visit and reside.
Here’s more on America’s Best Towns to Visit in 2026, per CNN.
Methodology
Don’t worry — no stodgy statistics.
Nominations for the 2026 list came from CNN readers and staff members. For America’s 250th birthday year, researchers looked beyond the country’s established tourist destinations for some hidden gems.
Per CNN’s website, “We weighed the nominees and winnowed them down to 10 by evaluating the finalists’ attractions, food and beverage offerings, cultural and nightlife scenes, diversity, sense of identity, proximity to other interesting spots and ‘wow factor.’ We also looked at travel essentials, including lodging options and the ease of getting there.”
Here are America’s Best Towns to Visit in 2026:
No. 1 Sarasota, Florida
No. 2 New Haven, Connecticut
No. 3 Greenville, South Carolina
No. 4 Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
No. 5 Fort Collins, Colorado
No. 6 Burlington, Vermont
No. 7 Juneau, Alaska
No. 8 Iowa City, Iowa
No. 9 Lawrence, Kansas
No. 10 Roanoke, Virginia
Why Sarasota
It’s also known as the “Cultural Coast” for the above-mentioned arts and cultural riches. Some of the first contributors were early 20th-century circus magnets John and Mable Ringling, whose historic home and museum complex known as The Ringling are local and state treasures.
Sarasota’s a constant dining hotspot with multiple neighborhoods stocked with galleries, shops, markets, and craft breweries, while all around are endless boating, beaching and watersports opportunities that define its “Suncoast” nickname.
It boasts multiple institutions of higher learning — New College, the Ringling School of Art & Design, and regional campuses for the University of South Florida and Florida State University’s College of Medicine.
ICI Homes at Sarasota
The same attributes CNN researchers cited for ranking Sarasota as America’s best town to visit in 2026 also make it a great place to live.
ICI Homes is a preferred builder in the master-planned community of Wellen Park, located just south in nearby North Port, less than a half-hour away.
We’re active in the Palmera and Oakbend neighborhoods, and soon will add the Westlake neighborhood to our portfolio here. The On Your Land Or Ours custom division can build your Sarasota dream home on land you might own, or that our pros are happy to locate.
Ready for your new custom Florida home? Talk to ICI Homes here.
