Five things you could do in the area 100 years ago

If you stepped off a train in Sarasota during the summer of 1926, what would you do?

One hundred years ago, Sarasota was in the middle of a land boom. New hotels were opening, streets were bustling with visitors and developers were promoting the city as Florida's next great destination. While many familiar landmarks had yet to be built, visitors found plenty to see and do.

Here's a look at five ways you could spend a day in Sarasota in 1926.

1. Arrive by Train

Long before Interstate 75 and U.S. 41 became major travel routes, many visitors arrived in Sarasota by rail. The Seaboard Air Line Railway connected Sarasota to the rest of Florida and beyond, bringing tourists, investors and new residents to the growing city.

Stepping off the train in 1926, visitors would have found a community buzzing with optimism and opportunity during the height of Florida's land boom.

2. Check Into a Grand Hotel

Visitors had no shortage of accommodations to choose from.

The Mira Mar Hotel, Sarasota Terrace Hotel and El Vernona Hotel were among the city's most impressive destinations. These grand hotels offered elegant dining rooms, tropical courtyards and modern amenities designed to attract wealthy winter visitors and tourists looking to experience Florida's Gulf Coast.

For many travelers, checking into one of Sarasota's new hotels was the first step in a memorable Florida vacation.

3. Take a Boat Ride on Sarasota Bay

A day on the water was a must.

Visitors could charter fishing trips, enjoy sightseeing excursions or simply spend time exploring Sarasota Bay. The bayfront was one of the area's greatest attractions, offering stunning views, abundant wildlife and cooling breezes during the warm summer months.

For many tourists, Sarasota's natural beauty was every bit as appealing as its new hotels and booming real estate developments.

4. Attend a Show at the Mira Mar Auditorium

When the Mira Mar Auditorium opened in 1924, it quickly became one of Sarasota's premier entertainment venues.

Concerts, lectures, dances and community events drew residents and visitors alike. During the 1920s, the auditorium served as a cultural hub where people gathered to socialize and enjoy some of the city's finest entertainment.

An evening at the Mira Mar was one of the highlights of Sarasota's social calendar.

5. Tour the City's New Developments

No visit to Sarasota in 1926 would have been complete without hearing about real estate.

The Florida land boom was in full swing, and developers were eager to showcase new neighborhoods, hotels and commercial buildings. Visitors often spent part of their stay touring properties, attending promotional events or simply imagining what Sarasota's future might look like.

Some came for vacation. Others left with plans to build a winter home.

Much has changed in the last century. The trains no longer bring visitors to downtown Sarasota, many of the city's grand hotels have disappeared and the land boom eventually came to an end.

Yet many of the qualities that attracted visitors in 1926 remain the same today. People still come for the sunshine, the bay, the beaches and the promise of a vibrant community on Florida's Gulf Coast.

A century later, Sarasota continues to welcome visitors--just as it did when the train first rolled into town.