Discover Sarasota Tours

When did you start the business?  Why? When I moved to Sarasota from Minneapolis in 2015, I wondered why there were no trolley tours in a tourist town with such a storied past. As an arts consultant (part of my past career), I was asked to take on the role of leading the Center for Architecture Sarasota as part of a Gulf Coast Community Foundation consulting assignment. For them, I developed the Architectural Trolley Tours which led to me realizing the potential for other types of tours. In 2018, I started my own tour company Discover Sarasota Tours (DST) to showcase all the wonderful and hidden aspects of Sarasotas rich history and culture. DST offered three trolley tours when we started (Circus Tour, City Tour, and the Haunted Tour) but now have 16 different tour themes running all year long. During COVID to keep the business open, I operated The ChillMobile vintage ice cream truck which became so popular it was featured in a Facebook movie and in AARP Magazine as the ultimate pivot business. My career in the arts as a theater performer, director, and producer taught me how to bring stories to life in an informative and entertaining way which remains the hallmark aspect of all DST tours. What is your connection to Bradenton? I have had regular ChillMobile clients (Westminster Point Pleasant and other healthcare businesses) in Bradenton during the past three years. Driving there monthly to serve ice cream to seniors allowed me to discover the downtown area, the restaurants, and cool neighborhoods that comprise Bradentons charm. I have also spent time in the library researching some of the important history of Manatee County and how it shaped Sarasotas own story. What is your background?  Is this business a result of your passion? Yes, this business was started to have fun and make money. I chose to live in Sarasota because I fell in love with the town and my tours are a sort of gift back to this beautiful interesting and artistic place.  Prior to my role with DST, I spent 23 years as the Founder & CEO of a consulting firm for arts organizations called Blue Sky Thinking LLC, and before that worked as an Arts Administrator for state grant makers, museums, theater and dance companies, Broadway Theater, and live radio shows for 15 years. I am also the creator of The Founder & CEO Tammy Hauser Discover Sarasota Tours 36   |   BMAGUltimate Pajama Party, a grown-up girls slumber party extravaganza and commercial theater enterprise. What were your drives to start up? I was ready to leave my world of arts consulting for nonprofits and be able to make my own decisions rather than enacting Board decisions. Running a company that sold goods and services instead of time and expertise seemed like a whole new exciting challenge. I saw a unique need to offer tours that no one else was offering and thought they would be successful because this area is filled with smart, curious people who love to learn and have fun while doing that. Are the sacrifices worth it? Most days yes. COVID was quite a challenge and the ensuring staffing shortages, the trauma that employees still feel after the constant stress of the past three years, has made it really hard. Ian did not help matters but we are finally feeling on solid footing with a loyal growing customer base. Many customers have become SUPER FANS coming on our tours (sometimes the same one) over and over again with new friends and family members. I am so proud of what we do, of my tour guides, and of our resilience to just keep going. Its so important to help new residents learn about their hometown so that they may cherish some of our remaining historical buildings. Its also important for residents to keep falling in love with our area as they learn new things about where they live. What are some goals you hope to accomplish with your efforts? We are continually adding new tours. In the works are a Naturalist tour for nature lovers. We just launched Sunset Cabaret, Music & Craft Beer tour for younger residents and visitors. Our nighttime theatrical shows on wheels will be adding new murder storylines during 2024 and really, there are just so many new things happening that we could offer 20 tours and not cover it all! What do you enjoy most about what you do? I love coming on my tours and experiencing the joy and interest our guests have. I love my staff and am so proud and awed by their knowledge, talent, and sincere desire to help people fall in love with our area. I also LOVE our Annual Trolley Bash in November where we celebrate our CUSTOMERS! Has it been everything you expected? It has been WAY more than I expected in every way. I used to serve as a consultant for many different nonprofit groups going to them to do my work. Having a company that focuses on individuals and business customers coming to us seven days a week has been a totally new learning curve for me. And of course, the world has changed so much in the past two years so its new for everyone. What makes your services unique? We are the ONLY trolley tour company in the Sarasota area offering professional public trolley tours. We offer 15 unique tours designed for EVERY taste! Our ice cream truck is Sarasotas ONLY local ice cream truck and she just turned 44 which makes her one of the only operating trucks of her generation in the country. Our Trolley Cottage Gift Shop provides so many unique, whimsical, and charming gifts and collectibles that have a local feel and flavor. We produce original musicals on the trolley and all our tours are created by our team so all very unique. What advice would you give someone to start their own business? Make sure you have personal support from your family. Make sure you have MORE money saved to use for business than you think you need because you will need it! Take it slow learn along the way so you can change things that may not work as planned. Slow and steady wins the race. Business ownership is definitely a marathon not a sprint so pace yourself and ask for help. Additional Information: Many people think tours are just for tourists and nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, during the months of January through April our trolley is filled with tourists, or family members of residents, but most of our customers are local and some have lived here for decades. They tell us they had NO idea of all the places, history, stories of Sarasota and they just love learning more about the place they call home. Awards 2021 Award Best of Sarasota Magazine 2021 Award SRQ Magazine Best New Business 2022 Tripadvisor Travelers Choice Award Best of Florida 2022 Award for Entertainment/Amusement 2023 SRQ Platinum Award from SRG Magazine Best LOCAL Tour Company B

Dst In Venice Gondolier June 17, 2023June 18, 2023Sarasota Trolley Tour All About DesignJune 17, 2023 | Venice Gondolierby Kim Cool, Our Town EditorIf there is something one wants to learn about Sarasota, there likely is or will be a Discover Sarasota Trolley Tour.The newest is the Discover Sarasota Architecture Tour guided by Ed Simays, a 2000 transplant from Washington, D.C. with a lifelong passion for history.After arriving, he became a docent at The Ringling Museum of Art, Ca dZan (the Ringling mansion) and the Museum of the Circus.Consider that in the glory days when Ringling had docents, they were professionallytrained by an outside group that resulted in some of the finest and most knowledgeable museum docents in the U.S.Design of the museum buildings were inspired by the Mediterranean Revival style popular in the Palm Beach area in the 1920s, as well as by John and Mable Ringlings frequent trips to that area of Europe while seeking circus acts.They also gathered photos of the architecture they viewed and presented those to New York architect Dwight Baum as inspiration for what became Ca dZan, their Sarasota mansion.That is not on this tour but its Mediterranean-inspired architecture is known for its prominence in this area. So is Art Deco and Modern Architecture.On the Architecture tour, Simays shows us examples of these styles and how architecture drew artists and writers and other creative people to the area.Driver James Ward maintained the perfect pace, stopping at specific areas to allow us to really see specific homes, churches, city hall and more.With no need for notes, Simays would talk about the next building on the way to prepare us for what we would see.There is something about taking a tour with someone who not only knows his subject well but also is passionate about it. Within the first few minutes of the tour, it was obvious that we were being guided by someone who knew what he was talking about. He cared about this culturally rich and beautiful area.

During the week of March 14-16, 2023, Discover Sarasota Tours will offer three separate days of trolley tours in three Sarasota County towns: March 14 Englewood, March 15 Sarasota and March 16 Venice.Two 90-minute tours each day running at 10 AM and 1 PM will explore historic buildings, neighborhoods and communities. Each air-conditioned trolley tour will be led by a tour guide and include spots to hop off the trolley for docent-led tours.In Englewood, guests will tour the Historic Green Street Church and the Englewood Area History Museum to learn about Lemon Bay. In Sarasota, hop-offs occur at the Bidwell-Wood House, Crocker Memorial Church and the Whittaker Cemetery. In Venice, the tour begins at the Historic Venice Train Depot and the recently restored Ringling Circus Car Museum and continues through the downtown historic district.The Englewood tour is led by Don Bayley of the Englewood Museum; in Sarasota and Venice, Kathryn Chesley, Discover Sarasota Tours guide and resident historian will lead the tours.The History Hop Trolley Tours grew out of the recent Sarasota County Centennial Celebration and is a partnership with the three historical societies.Don Bayley, Vice President of Englewood Museum said: The Englewood Museum at the Lampp House and the Lemon Bay Historical Society are looking forward to the History Hop Trolley coming to Englewood. We have lots of fascinating history to share! We thank  Discover Sarasota Tours for this exciting opportunity.One of the most pleasurable and instructive ways to experience the neighborhoods, the history and the culture of a city is to be part of a guided trolley tour, said Marsha Fottler, President of the Historical Society of Sarasota County. We love it when the Discover Sarasota Tours trolley pulls into our two heritage properties at Pioneer Park and the visitors on board get to discover us. We are delighted to participate in History Hop Week, March 14-16 because its good for history education and good for our city. And you dont have to be a tourist to enjoy it. We can all learn more and have fun doing it.The Venice Area Historical Society is excited to partner with Discover Sarasota Tours to offer highlight tours of the Historic Venice Depot Campus, said George W. Miller, of the Venice Area Historical Society. Displays in the Depot chronicle the major milestones in the Citys development and in the construction and history of the Depot. Exhibits in the nearby Circus Train Car colorfully depict Venices circus history and legacy. Also featured in the car are an arena miniature and rooms that illustrate how circus performers lived on the train.Discover Sarasota Tours has been leading historical tours of Sarasota for the past four years. I am delighted to be able to expand our existing historical tours to the rest of Sarasota County, said Founder and CEO Tammy Hauser. I am also delighted to be able to support the efforts of our historical society partners by donating a portion of the net proceeds from these tours to them to continue their important work of preserving and presenting the history of these incredibly rich an interesting areas, she added.2023 marks the first year of History Hop Trolley which is expected to continue in future years as a weeklong Sarasota County history celebration.Tour tickets can be booked online at DiscoverSarasotaTours.com or by calling 941-260-9818.Each tour departs from and returns to the same starting point:ENGLEWOOD Tour departs from Historic Green Street Church at 510 South Indiana Avenue in Englewood on Tuesday, March 14 at 10 AM & 1 PM.SARASOTA Tour departs from The Trolley Cottage at 1826 4th Street in Sarasota on Wednesday, March 15 at 10 AM & 1 PM.VENICE Tour departs from the Historic Venice Train Depot, 303 East Venice Avenue in Venice on Thursday, March 16 at 10 AM & 1 PM.A portion of net proceeds will be donated to each participating historical society partner to support the programs and services they provide that keep Sarasota County history alive.a close up of a sign  ALL guests must be 12+. No children under 12 allowed except on family tours designed for children. Every guest must have a paid ticket in order to board.

Discover Sarasota Tours Art Crawl Trolley Tour showcases Sarasotas galleries, studios and public art.The tour is led by local guide and watercolor artist Jerome Chesley and City Guide, Kathryn Chesley.There is so much art to see in Sarasota and I am excited to lead this Art Crawl tour to share the galleries, studios and public art that is Sarasotas arts legacy stated Chesley in a news release.Visitors start at the Trolley Cottage Gift Shop at 1826 4th St., Sarasota. Visit the Artful Giraffe Gallery while waiting to board the trolley to explore six hub locations.Two hop-on/hop-off trolleys run in rotation every 15 minutes starting at start at 5 p.m. At each hub stop, guests can hop off to explore the galleries and studios or hop back on to go to the next stop. The last trolley leaves at 8 p.m.Participating galleries include Chasen Gallery, Burns Gallery On Palm, Define Gallery, Milan Art Gallery, Palmer Modern Studio and Gallery, Creative Liberties, Bazaar on Apricot and Lime, Hamlets Eatery, Helmuth Stone Gallery, Towles Court Art Center, Mara Art Studio Gallery + Gallery, Sarasota Trading Company, Todd Alan Jewelry Gallery, Creaturo Studio Gallery, Papillion Studio Gallery, Antique Clock Emporium, Alex Art International, Art Ovation, Palm Avenue Fine Art, Meg Krakowiak Art Gallery & Studio and North Star Jewelry and Gallery. Participating galleries subject to change.The $10 ticket includes the trolley tour, parking at the Trolley Cottage Gift Shop, plus complimentary beer, wine or water before boarding. The tour is for ages 21 and older.

Meet our Staff at Discover Sarasota Tours Tammy Hauser, M. B. A.Our Founder & CeoWhen Tammy Hauser (B.A./Theater, M.B.A./Nonprofit Management) moved to Sarasota from Minneapolis in 2015, she wondered why there were no trolley tours in a tourist town with such a storied past. After a 20-year national consulting career for arts organizations, she was asked to take on the role of leading the Center for Architecture Sarasota as part of a Gulf Coast Community Foundation consulting assignment. For them, she developed the Architectural Trolley Tours which led to her realizing the potential for other types of tours. In 2018, she started her own tour company Discover Sarasota Tours (DST) to showcase all the wonderful and hidden aspects of Sarasotas rich history and culture.DST offered three trolley tours when they started (Circus Tour, City Tour, and Haunted Tour) but now have 15 different tour themes running all year long. During COVID to keep the business open, Tammy operated The ChillMobile vintage ice cream truck which became so popular it was featured in a Facebook movie and in AARP Magazine as the ultimate pivot business. Tammys career in the arts as a theater performer, director, and producer taught her how to bring stories to life in an informative and entertaining way which remains the hallmark aspect of all DST tours.Prior to her role with DST, Tammy was the Founder & CEO of a consulting firm for arts organizations called Blue Sky Thinking LLC, and worked as an Arts Administrator for state grant makers, museums, theater and dance companies, Broadway Theater, and live radio shows for 15 years. She is also the creator of The Ultimate Pajama Party, a grown-up girls slumber party extravaganza and commercial theater enterprise.Our ReservationistsKate CollinsRESERVATIONIST, GIFT SHOP ASSISTANT MANAGERKate Collins joined the Discover Sarasota Tours Reservations staff in February 2023. If you call the Trolley Cottage, chances are that Kate will be the voice you hear on the other end of the line.David IveyRESERVATIONISTDavid Ivey is a native of Southeast Texas. He relocated to Sarasota with his wife and daughters in 2003, finding a new home in Florida. He has a background in the hospitality industry, and says he came to Discover Sarasota Tours for a fun tour and stayed for the people!Susan IngallsRESERVATIONIST, GROUP SALES MANAGERSusan Ingalls is a new Sarasota retiree with a long career in early childhood special education and care coordination. She and her husband are looking forward to meeting new people and finding time to catch up with family and friends in her native New Hampshire.Penny SmithRESERVATIONIST, GROUP SALES ASSOCIATEPenny and her husband moved to Sarasota seven years ago from Ohio and havent looked back! After their son graduated from college and joined the military they decided it was time to enjoy the sunshine. Penny recently retired after a 25-year career in the senior living industry as an executive director and marketing manager, and quickly realized that she was too young to retire but fortunately she found Discover Sarasota Tours. Penny loves meeting new people and sharing all of the wonderful experiences Sarasota has to offer which is why this job is perfect for her!Joan TravisRESERVATIONISTJoan Travis joined DST as a Reservationist in March 2021. She comes from Kentucky and has a fun past work history in the film and travel industry.CharlieHEAD OF PR (PUPPY RELATIONS) AND TROLLEY COTTAGE MASCOTAs Head of PR (Puppy Relations) and Official Trolley Cottage Mascot, Charlie can be found charming all the tour guests when they enter or enjoying our many trolley tours!Our Tour GuidesPat CanavanPat Canavan comes to Sarasota from Dublin, Ireland, by way of Toronto and Boston. In Boston, several years as a Duck Boat tour guide honed his gift of gab. His varied experience and interests include Civil War reenacting (on the losing side), beekeeping (until he experienced anaphylaxis after a sting), and Special Olympics coaching. He is a certified Florida Master Naturalist and an active member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He loves his three big rescued dogs (and his wife, too).Jerome ChesleyJerome Chesley, leader of DST Public Art Tours and the Art Crawl Gallery Tours, is a painter whose background in education includes teaching in both public school and college level. He continues to teach painting in Florida where he is currently the president of the Florida Watercolor Society, and a docent for the Fine Arts Society of Sarasotas (FASSs) iconic Florida artists collection in the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center. Summers find him teaching at the renowned Chautauqua Institution in New York State. BA & MA, SUNY College at Buffalo, and additional studies at the University of Art in Siena, Italy.Kathryn ChesleyAs an actress and former theater educator, Kathryn uses her love of theater, history and performance to bring the Leading Ladies of Sarasota to life. Dressed in the costume of the era, Kathryn portrays Sarasotas founding mothers, including Bertha Palmer, Marie Selby, Mary Jane Whitaker, Mina Edison, Rose Wilson, suffragette Carrie Chapman Catt, and Mable Ringling. Along with her work as a guide with Discover Sarasota Tours, Kathryn also serves on the Board for the Historical Society of Sarasota.Bob CollinsBob Collins love affair with the circus was nurtured when he first visited Sarasota as a child, beginning in 1950. Since then, he has enjoyed a 44-year career in entertainment marketing, working for such shows as Ice Capades, World Wrestling Entertainment, and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. He also served on the board of the Circus Arts Conservatory, helping to preserve and promote the legacy of the circus in Sarasota. He enjoys showing people The Circus Side of Sarasota by conducting Big Top tours and giving lectures about our charming and historic Circus City.Kendra CrossKendra Cross grew up in a Mennonite community, with great-grandparents who were Amishan experience that planted in her seeds of understanding, appreciation, and the desire to continue that connection. Living just blocks from the Pinecraft community allows Kendra daily communication and exposure to the uniqueness and vitality of the Amish and Mennonite culture. She points out that Sarasotas 90-year old community is the only one of its kind in the United States, and says its a joy to share it!Kelley HawksKelley knows firsthand that taste adventures can open you up to whole new worlds of foods, flavors and discovery! Inspired by 20+ years of hands-on culinary experience in California & Florida, and with her own chef service, she leads tours for Sunset Food Tours, and recently joined DST as our Dine Along Trolley Tour Guide. Savoring the downtown gourmet food scene together promises a fun food-fueled adventure. Kelley is excited to have the opportunity to share her genuine passion for chef-crafted cuisine, blended with local history, art and culture.Jon MacDonaldJon Mac has proudly lived in Sarasota since December 1972. He grew up in Western New York state near Lake Chautauqua, and played four varsity sports in high school. He played on the basketball team at Jamestown Community College, and then attended SUNY Brockport. After moving to Sarasota, with ties to Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Jonny Mac worked at the iconic Sawmill Inn Restaurant for more than seven years as bartender/bar manager. He then spent 32 years in the wholesale liquor and wine industry, employed by National Distributing Company, followed by Southern Wine and Spirits. His passion for sports, entertainment, and the history of our beautiful Sarasota continues to grow.Steve McAllisterSteve McAllister is an actor, author, poet, producer, songwriter, and revolutionary. He may be best known for his one-man shows, Will Rogers Revived and The Cowboy Cabaret, his historical epic, Money, Sex, Power & Faith, his portrayal of Sarasotas first settler William Whitaker in the film No Real Than You Are, or his repertoire of original songs and covers. But some know him as the Sarasota native who attempted to live for a year without money, run for county commissioner, and thought up ABC Squared Economics as a way to celebrate our Artistry, Business, Citizenry, and Community. However you may know him, he has stories to tell. You can find his website at www.SteveMc.xyzand on social media as @SteveMcAlphabet.Ed SimaysEd Simays moved to Sarasota from Haymarket, Virginia in 2000. He retired from the FAA after serving as an Enroute Air Traffic Controller/Supervisor for more than 25 years in the Northern Virginia Area. He chose Sarasota for retirement due to the beauty, arts, culture, beaches and rich circus and local history of the community. As a resident, he and his wife take full advantage of all the area has to offer. He served as a Docent/Tour Guide at the Ringling Museum for over 15 years and enjoyed giving hundreds of tours in all venues during that time. Eds hobbies include golf, reading, walking and continuing adult education. He loves being able to share the beauty and history of Sarasota as a tour guide.Our Cast MembersMichael DeMockoMichael DeMocko is an actor, director and educator who has been performing locally, nationally, and internationally for more than 25 years. He is the Drama teacher at the William Monroe Rowlett Academy for Arts and Communications. He has a really awesome family. Enjoy the tour!Sarah HaunSarah Haun is a local actor, singer, dancer, and educator born and raised in Florida. She is a strong advocate for arts in education, and loves incorporating visual and performing arts into her teaching. She appeared as Lita Encore in Ruthless! here in Sarasota, and originated the role of WitchyPOO on The BooMobile tour, and appears as a singer on the Christmas Carol Trolley. Sarah is excited to perform again after taking some time off to focus on teaching.Kaylene McCawARTISTIC DIRECTOR, CAST MEMBERKaylene McCaw (Haunted Guide/Ghost Hostess, Christmas Carol Writer/Director/Lead Guide, Psychic Sundays Sound Healing) is an award-winning actress, playwright and author of The Human Experience Quick-Start Guide, written during her time as artist-in-residence at The Hermitage Artists Retreat. Kaylene spent 13 years at The Players Theatre, performing lead roles both musical and dramatic. She also managed the theaters costume department and coordinated the Backstage at The Players black box theater project. Kaylene is the writer/director In addition to her theatrical work, she practices Sound Healing and hosts an Airbnb retreat in her home.Ren PearsonLocal actor Ren Pearson joined Discover Sarasota Tours in the spring of 2022, taking on surprise guest roles as several characters in Murder Mystery Trolley: Who Killed The Circus Queen?Daniel Dee PelissierDaniel Dee Pelissier has been learning the actors craft entirely in the field since 2011. Over the years they have lent their talents to local theatre productions with the Sarasota Players and Manatee Performing Arts Center, as well as Ringling College student films and various independent projects. The skills they have developed over the years also include singing, fencing, wrestling, and stilt-walking. Among the various roles they have enjoyed playing, Daniel feels most at home playing fantastic, melodramatic, over-the-top characters. They received their first rave review as the evil Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, originated the role of Dionysus in Goat Song Revel, and recently established their place in the local drag scene, performing original song parodies as Lady Laquelle. Daniel appears in our Haunted Sarasota and Murder Mystery tours.Alexa Vetter TorresAlexa Vetter Torres is a theatre professional from Austin, TX. The artists journey has led her from the Lone Star State to Myrtle Beach, New York, across the country on four National Tours, and lastly, Sarasota, FL. This is not Alexas first time performing on a moving vehicle, but it IS her first time singing on a trolley! She joined our cast in Spring 2023, and will take on a variety of roles on our Murder Mystery Trolley, Haunted Sarasota Tour, The BooMobile, and Christmas Carol Trolley.Debbi WhiteDebbi has been making music since the age of 5. She has coached children and teens in music and singing for more than 20 years. Debbi is a featured soloist at several churches in Sarasota, and makes regular appearances onstage at The Players Centre for Performing Arts. Favorite stage credits include Pamela in Head Over Heelsand BJ in The Marvelous Wonderettes. She joined Discover Sarasota Tours in the fall 2022, starting as one of our singers on the Christmas Carol Trolley, and taking on various roles on the Murder Mystery Trolley.

Tammy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. To kick things off, wed love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standardOur company is a hybrid of the worlds of theater and tourism. Generally these worlds do not collide but at Discover Sarasota Tours they come together by providing entertaining and informative daytime tours and nighttime original musicals on wheels!Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readersWhen I moved to Sarasota from Minneapolis in 2015, I wondered why there were no trolley tours in a tourist town with such a storied past. As an arts consultant (part of my past 20-year career), I was asked to take on the role of leading the Center for Architecture Sarasota as part of a Gulf Coast Community Foundation consulting assignment. For them, I developed the Architectural Trolley Tours which led to me realizing the potential for other types of tours. In 2018, I started my own tour company Discover Sarasota Tours (DST) to showcase all the wonderful and hidden aspects of Sarasotas rich history and culture. DST offered three trolley tours when we started (Circus Tour, City Tour, and the Haunted Tour) but now have 15 different tour themes running all year long. During COVID to keep the business open, I operated The ChillMobile vintage ice cream truck which became so popular it was featured in a FB movie and in AARP Magazine as the ultimate pivot business. My career in the arts as a theater performer, director, and producer taught me how to bring stories to life in an informative and entertaining way which remains the hallmark aspect of all DST tours.Prior to my role with DST, I spent 23 years as the Founder & CEO of a consulting firm for arts organizations called Blue Sky Thinking LLC, and before that worked as an Arts Administrator for state grant makers, museums, theater and dance companies, Broadway Theater, and live radio shows for 15 years. I am also the creator of The Ultimate Pajama Party, a grown-up girls slumber party extravaganza and commercial theater enterprise.When I started DST, I was ready to leave my world of arts consulting for nonprofits and be able to make my own decisions rather than enacting Board decisions. Running a company that sold goods and services instead of time and expertise seemed like a whole new exciting challenge. I saw a unique need to offer tours that no one else was offering and thought they would be successful because this area is filled with smart, curious people who love to learn and have fun while doing that.I am so proud of what we do, of my tour guides and of our resilience to just keep going. Its so important to help new residents learn about their new homes so that they may cherish some of our remaining historical buildings. Its also important for residents to keep falling in love with our area as they learn new things about where they live.Like a professional theater company with a new season each year, we are we are continually adding new tours. In the works are a Naturalist tour for nature lovers and a Sunset Cabaret Craft Beer & Music tour for younger residents and visitors. Our night time theatrical shows on wheels will be adding new Murder storylines during 2024 and really, there are just so many new things happening that we could offer 20 tours and not cover it all!Have you ever had to pivot?Our business was shut down March 20, 2020 a day I will never forget. Fortunately, I had purchased a 1979 vintage ice cream truck two months prior and because I had to work, had bills to pay and operating costs to cover, I learned the ice cream business in a week and was off selling ice cream with my dog Max. For two years, The ChillMobile ice cream truck paid the bills while we waited for the world to return to normal. We were so successful that Facebook Marketplace came to make a movie about us now seen by more than 2 million viewers. We were also featured in AARP Magazine as an example of a mid-life pivot and in several other national and local magazines. I was most pleased that we won BEST NEW BUSINESS Award in 2020 during a very challenging year.Lets talk about resilience next do you have a story you can share with us?See above! I would also say that in the past four years, we have never had a normal year. We started during a bad bout of Red Tide which drastically cut tourism. Then we had 2 years of COVID and this past year has been filled with staffing challenges, hurricane Ian, inflation, political divisiveness and trauma with the loss of Max and Michael two beloved staff members. We have weathered all these storms as a strong team and look forward to easier times ahead!Contact Info:Website: www.DiscoverSarasotaTours.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiscoverSarasotaTours 

(August 5, 2024 Sarasota) Tammy Hauser, Founder & CEO of Discover Sarasota Tours (DST) announced that two new trolley tours of Venice, Florida will be offered on Tuesdays from January-April 2025. We have been leading annual tours of Venice  as part of our History Hop Week celebrating South Sarasota County for two years but are excited to bring Dolly The Trolley to Venice to lead a Venice City Tour on Tuesday mornings and our Circus Secrets of Venice tour on Tuesday afternoons during Season, said Hauser.  The tours will depart from the Venice Chamber of Commerce Building offering FREE parking and a convenient location.   The ninety-minute narrated 10AM Venice City Tour will focus on downtown history, architecture and things to do. It will be led in partnership with Venice Florida Tours. "We are excited to partner with Discover Sarasota Tours to bring a consistent trolley tour option to Venice. I hope this allows for more residents and visitors to learn about the history of Venice," said Ronnie Fernandez, Owner and Tour Guide of Venice Florida Tours. The 1PM Circus Secrets of Venice tour will be led by Circus Historian and Guide, Bob Collins and includes a stop at the Venice Train Depot and the Ringling Train Car (led by Venice Area Historical Society docents). We tend to forget that for more than three decades Venice took the spotlight from the city of Sarasota as winter home of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Join us on our tour, Circus Secrets of Venice, and you'll hear echoes of The Greatest Show on Earth that still resonate throughout the community, said Collins. All daytime tours are $49.99 plus tax/handling fee and can be booked on the website: DiscoverSarasotaTours.com. ABOUT US:Discover Sarasota Tours is a locally owned and operated award-winning tour company founded in 2018. We offer 17 different entertaining and informative daytime sightseeing tours and nighttime musical theater shows in in Dolly our comfortable, enclosed air-conditioned trolley.  Our guide-led entertaining and informative tours focus on the most interesting people, intriguing places, and amazing stories that have shaped Sarasotas rich cultural past. We also have a charming Trolley Cottage Gift Shop filled with fun, whimsical cards, gifts, history books, toys, candles and many more items that are themed after each of our tours. Daytime tour themes include Amish Experience, Leading Ladies of Sarasota, Architecture, City History of Sarasota and Venice, Circus Secrets of Sarasota and Venice, Art Crawl Trolley, Psychic Sundays, Public Art, and History Hop Week of Sarasota County. At night, the trolley turns into a theater on wheels offering original musical shows featuring professional local actors including Murder Mystery Trolley: Who Killed The Circus Queen, Haunted Sarasota, BooMobile, Christmas Carol Trolley: Letters to Santa, and Sunset Cabaret, Music & Craft Beer Tour. In 2022, 2023 and 2024, we were voted SRQ Magazines Platinum winner for BEST Local Tour Company.  In addition, Discover Sarasota Tours was recognized with a 2023 and 2024 Travelers Choice Award from TripAdvisor/Viator, voted Best of Florida Arts & Entertainment in 2022 and 2023, and was featured in a film produced by American Express as a leading American Small Business.   Tour tickets and information available online at DiscoverSarasotaTours.com or by calling 941-260-9818. For Groups, email info@DiscoverSarasotaTours.com.

Trolley & Van Tours Around Sarasota, FloridaDiscover Sarasota Tours offers fun, entertaining, interactive, and informative air-conditioned trolley and van tours of the most interesting places and stories that shaped Sarasotas rich cultural past. We offer many different daytime, nighttime, or holiday trolley tours exploring the history, culture, and unique aspects of Sarasota.If you are looking for a fun activity for your next group outing, look no further! Our tours are perfect for groups. Check out our private Group Tours page.Our tours run year-round, but during the hottest months of the summer, we dont run all tours every day, so please check the calendar. If there is a date not listed when you would like a tour, please email us at info@discoversarasotatours.com.Our comfortable, air-conditioned trolley (or van) embarks from our Trolley Cottage, a charming 1930s bungalow at 1826 4th Street, with easy, FREE on-site parking behind the Breakfast House off Fruitville Road.See the All Tours page for a full listing of current offerings.Discover Sarasota Tours Trolley Cottage Gift Shop features curious collectibles and memorabilia curated to complement our trolley tour themes. The Trolley Cottage is also home to our groovy vintage 1979 ice cream truck, The ChillMobile, selling cool locally-produced ice cream, popsicles & novelty treats.Please allow extra time for traffic and plan to arrive 30 minutes in advance of your tour. We leave the Trolley Cottage at the regularly scheduled tour times.Hop aboard our air-conditioned trolley or passenger van to hear entertaining stories of fascinating people, interesting places, and intriguing events that shaped Sarasotas rich culture on one of our many Daytime Sightseeing Tours or Nighttime Theatrical Shows.Due to limited availability, advance reservations are highly encouraged! Generally tours that begin on the hour run in the trolley and those that begin on the half hour run in the van. Both vehicles are enclosed and air-conditioned. We cannot accommodate wheelchairs.Check our FULL CALENDAR for the tours offered each day.Tours that are running are listed on our calendar. If a tour is not listed, it is not running on that day or time, is already sold out, or is booked for a private event. All available tours and seats are listed on the website.Private Group Daytime Tours generally run on Mondays; Private Group Evening Tours can run other days of the week.The Trolley Cottage Gift Shop is open:Mondays-Sundays 9 AM 5 PMMOST POPULAR DAYTIME TOUR!$48.99YEAR ROUND10+ ONLY90 MINUTESCity Sightseeing TourOn this classic City Sightseeing Tour, learn where to tour, shop, and dine! Get an entertaining overview of Sarasotas rich history, culture, and neighborhoods.BOOK NOWLEARN MOREEXPLORE SARASOTA ARCHITECTURE$48.99YEAR ROUND12+ ONLY90 MINUTESArchitecture TourHop aboard our air-conditioned high-top van to see outstanding examples of Sarasota architecture. Tours feature three distinctive styles: Mid-Century Modern, Art Deco, and Mediterranean Revival.BOOK NOWLEARN MOREHALLOWEEN FAMILY FUN!FROM$24.99 -$39.99OCTOBER3-11, 12+45 MINUTESThe BooMobileA Fun Interactive Musical Adventure for kids of all ages with Miss WitchiPOO and her Magic Pumpkin. Enjoy FREE apple cider and cookies at the Trolley Cottage before boarding.BOOK NOWLEARN MOREFUN FAMILY HOLIDAY SHOW!FROM$29.99 -$49.99DECEMBER12+, UNDER 1275 MINUTESChristmas Carol Trolley: Letters from Santa Family ShowA fun-filled holiday music and light tour for the whole family aboard the trolley, with holiday sing-along and stories, real letters to Santa, jokes and trivia. Book now!BOOK NOWLEARN MOREPOPULAR TOUR!$48.99YEAR ROUND10+ ONLY90 MINUTESCircus Secrets of SarasotaLearn about the Circus Secrets of Sarasota by visiting key landmarks and hearing stories of the colorful cast of circus characters, showmen, and performers who called Sarasota home.BOOK NOWLEARN MOREA TASTE OF SARASOTA!$99.99YEAR ROUND21+150 MINUTESDine Along TrolleyHop aboard air-conditioned Dolly The Trolley to discover Sarasotas best food, flavors, and history with local chef and tour guide.BOOK NOWLEARN MOREPOPULAR NIGHTTIME TOUR!$52.99YEAR ROUND18+ ONLY90 MINUTESHaunted Sarasota TourLearn about Sarasotas famous murders, haunted buildings, and unsolved crimes on this fun trolley tour. Keep an eye out for surprise guests along the way!!BOOK NOWLEARN MOREADVANCE RESERVATIONS REQUIRED!$52.99YEAR ROUND12+ ONLY90 MINUTESMurder Mystery Trolley: Who Killed The Circus Queen?On this 90-minute interactive tour, solve the mystery of the Circus Queens murder in a fun circus-themed theatrical show aboard the trolley.BOOK NOWLEARN MORESUNSET MUSICAL CABARET TOUR!$52.99YEAR ROUND21+120 MINUTESSunset CabaretEnjoy stories of Sarasotas history, music, jokes, trivia, a gorgeous setting sun driving by Lido Beach and a stop for craft beer at the new Sun King Brewery.BOOK NOWLEARN MOREVISIT PINECRAFT AMISH COMMUNITY$48.99NOV-MAY10+ ONLY105 MINUTESAmish Experience Tour: Bridges To UnderstandingLearn about Amish & Mennonite cultures in Sarasota from tour guide Kendra Cross. Stops at Alma Sues Quilt Shop, The Carlisle Inn & Der Dutchman Amish Kitchen Cooking Restaurant for a sample of delicious pie!BOOK NOWLEARN MORESARASOTA'S FOUNDING WOMEN$48.99NOV-APR12+ ONLY90 MINUTESLeading Ladies of SarasotaAn Historical City Trolley Tour led by one of Sarasotas Founding Women: Rose Wilson, Mable Ringling, Marie Selby, and Bertha Palmer, as portrayed by actress and guide Kathryn Chesley.BOOK NOWLEARN MOREEXPLORE SARASOTA ART$48.99NOV-MAY10+ ONLY90 MINUTESPublic Art TourHop aboard our air-conditioned trolley or van to see more than 50 pieces of public art in downtown Sarasota neighborhoods on our Public Art Tour led by painter Jerome Chesley.BOOK NOWLEARN MOREEXPLORE SARASOTA COUNTY HISTORY!$48.99MARCH12+ ONLY120 MINUTESHistory Hop Trolley - Englewood, Sarasota, VeniceJoin us for History Hop, our annual week-long celebration of Sarasota County history in partnership with the Lemon Bay (Englewood), Sarasota & Venice Historical Societies.BOOK NOWLEARN MORE

Anthea Gerrie discovers why Sarasotas circus history and cultured present make for the perfect Sunshine State escapeBY ANTHEA GERRIEIts Florida but not as we think we know it. Fewer palms, fewer pina coladas and barely any bling to speak of but bags of charm and culture. No wonder Sarasota has attracted enough Jews to fill 15 synagogues, as well as helping found or support its professional ballet, symphony orchestra, opera house, art museums and string of theatres.When I was researching my history of the community I was amazed at what Jewish arrivals did to make their new home a culture hub, says Kimberley Sheintal, president of Sarasotas Jewish Genealogical Society and author of a book about the areas Jews.Perhaps uniquely, this town on Floridas west coast caters equally for culture vultures and beach bums; bridges connect the city centre to the lovely islands surrounding Sarasota, where its easy to get sand between your toes on wild, white powder beaches.And with Sarasotas airport currently expanding, direct flights from both London and Manchester are expected before too long, so now is the time to visit Floridas best-kept secret.Set aside at least a week to do it all justice. Quite apart from Sarasotas big attractions and cultural scene, youll want to save time to relax at the waterfront bars and restaurants, browse the vintage shopping scene and explore the lively weekend farmers market, which has attracted locals, their dogs and street musicians for the past 43 years.Even if you booked tickets for every matinee and evening show available, it would be impossible to see all the live performances taking place.In one month alone, the list of 100 things to see included touring productions of two Broadway musicals, a local interpretation of The Lehman Trilogy and concerts by Paul Anka, Rick Springfield and the Righteous Brothers, supplemented by more niche events such as the annual Jewish film festival, a cantors benefit concert for Israel and a new play at the Sarasota Jewish Theatre.Start by getting your bearings on the 90-minute trolley ride organised by Discover Sarasota Tours, telling the history of the city, which was settled by emigrant Scots in the 1880s and later endowed with its current riches by two of the Ringling brothers of circus fame.

Discover Sarasota Tours announces that it has been named the PLATINUM winner in SRQ Magazines 2023 SRQ Best of Local Competition in a new category called BEST LOCAL TOUR COMPANY. SRQ readers submitted a record 104,395 Best of SRQ Local votes this year, in the magazines 15th Annual Contest.BEST LOCAL TOUR COMPANY PLATINUM WINNER | Discover Sarasota Tours:Sometimes we just need someone to take the lead and show us the ropes. For those hoping to explore Sarasota with an expert look no further than Platinum pick DISCOVER SARASOTA TOURS.Jason Ellis (on Discover Sarasota): An innovative small business that is combining live theater and entertainment with fascinating local history. This group is not only providing a necessary service to tourists and the community, but also bringing more paid performing opportunities to the large artist community. Founder and CEO Tammy Hauser shared her delight in winning the award: On behalf of our entire team of exceptional Tour Guides, friendly Reservationists, and expert Drivers, we are proud to have won this award recognizing our ability to provide entertaining and informative tours of Sarasota from a locals perspective. The past few years have certainly been challenging and we wish to thank all our amazingly loyal and supportive customers who have enjoyed learning, laughing, and loving our many tour experiences. ABOUT US:Discover Sarasota Tours founded by CEO Tammy Hauser, M.B.A. in 2018 with three trolley tours now offers 16 different entertaining and informative daytime sightseeing tours and nighttime musical theater shows in our air-conditioned trolley or van. Tours focus on the most interesting people, intriguing places, and amazing stories that have shaped Sarasotas rich cultural past. Discover Sarasota Tours has been recognized with a 2022 Travelers Choice Award from TripAdvisor, Best of Florida Arts & Entertainment 2022 and as 2023 SRQ Platinum Winner for BEST LOCAL TOUR COMPANY.Tour tickets and information available online at DiscoverSarasotaTours.com or by calling 941-260-9818. For Groups, email Sue@DiscoverSarasotaTours.com.IMAGES:Discover Sarasota Tours CEO Tammy Hauser (center) with guides (L-R) Jerome Chesley, Kendra Cross, Steve McAllister, Kaylene McCaw, Kathryn Chesley, Jon MacDonald, and Pat Canavan.

Beloved tour Psychic Sundays returns with new tour guide, Deni Dreazen, after death of psychic Michael Newton-Brown forced tour to end in October 2022. Deni is a well-known Sarasota tarot reader, teacher, hypnotist, and psychic medium and we are delighted to have her take on this wonderful tour as a guide, said Tammy Hauser, CEO Discover Sarasota Tours. I looked high and low to find a guide who could deliver authentic evidentiary mediumship during the tour, as well as share information about our rich metaphysical community in Sarasota. Deni is just this right blend of skilled practitioner, teacher, and warm inclusive guide, she added. Psychic Sundays begins with orange and pineapple mimosas at the Trolley Cottage Gift Shop located at 1826 4th Street, and then includes an energy exercise where guests learn to focus on what they feel (energy) but cannot see. Guests then board Dolly The Trolley for a two-hour tour to learn more about the metaphysical community in Sarasota as well as the many different divination tools healers use. These tools may include bodywork modalities such as acupuncture, reiki, sound healing, massage, or acupressure or they may focus on the spiritual arts of palm reading, tarot, crystals, mediumship, tea leaf reading, or pendulums. During the tour, guests learn about Spirit University where they can study and about our Metaphysical Chamber of Commerce where they can find like-minded colleagues and teachers. Next, they visit Pixie Dust a metaphysical store on Main Street, walk in meditation on one of 7 labyrinths in Sarasota and participate in an immersive sound bath at Crocker Memorial Church. During the tour, Deni also provides mini tarot readings and a Spirit Gallery session. The tour runs every other Sunday from 1-3 and is $48.99 plus tax/handling fee and can be booked on our website: DiscoverSarasotaTours.com.

(November 26, 2024 Sarasota) Discover Sarasota Tours announces its second annual Art CrawlTrolley tours exploring Sarasotas vibrant visual arts scene offered the second Friday nights Jan-Aprilfrom 4-8PM. The Art Crawl will be offered on January 10, February 14, March 14, and April 11, 2025.Art Crawl Trolley tour showcases Sarasotas galleries and studios located in six arts districts ofMain/State St., North and South Palm, Burns Ct., Towles Ct., and the Limelight District. Three trolleyswill be running in 15 min loops from 4-8PM. While there are no guides leading this hop-on hop-offtour, there will be guides aboard telling guests about the different arts districts and offering directionsand suggestions for dining and exploring each area.I am delighted that there was so much interest and support for this Art Crawl Trolley our, said TammyHauser, CEO & Founder Discover Sarasota Tours. I am especially happy to be partnering with the Artsand Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County in 2025 to provide volunteers and help to mobilize andsupport the visual arts community. In exchange, we will be offering the Alliance a donation of $5 oneach ticket sold, she added.The Alliance is thrilled to partner with Discover Sarasota Tours for the second annual Art CrawlTrolley Tour. This exciting collaboration supports downtown Sarasota's vibrant art galleries andunderscores our dedication to showcasing Sarasota as Floridas Cultural Coast, said Alliance ExecutiveDirector, Brian Hersh.Visitors start at the Trolley Cottage Gift Shop located at 1826 4th Street in the heart of Gillespie Parkoffering charming Sarasota gifts and complimentary wine or beer. Guests can also visit the ArtfulGiraffe Gallery at this hub location. Then they will board the trolleys in 15 min boarding time slots toexplore six hub locations. At each hub stop, guests can hop off to explore galleries and studios or hopback on to go to the next stop. The Bazaar at Apricot and Lime will have live music, food, and drinks forpurchase while guests shop at the Bazaar.Discover Sarasota Tours NEWS RELEASE | Art Crawl Trolley Tour UPDATED 2024-11-26.Participating galleries include: Artful Giraffe, Chasen Galleries, North Star Fine Jewelry & Gift Boutique,Helmuth Stone Gallery, Art Ovation Hotel, MARA Art Studio + Gallery, Palm Avenue Fine Art, fine ArtGallery & Studio, Milan Art Gallery, Sarasota Estate Auction, Sarasota Trading Company, Towles CourtArtist Studios, Papillon Studio, Creaturo Studio Gallery, The Bazaar on Apricot and Lime, HamletsEatery, Creative Liberties Artist Studios & Gallery, and Palmer Modern Studio and Gallery."Creative Liberties is excited to once again participate in the Art Crawl Trolley because it gives thevisitors a chance to come in and see who we are and what we do. We had many trolley guests lastseason that said they had never visited us before and didn't know anything about the Creative Libertiesor the Limelight District. After visiting us via the Art Crawl Trolley, many came back to see us again - tochat with the artists, buy artwork and even take classes! said Barbara Gerdeman, co-owner CreativeLibertiesThere is so much art to see in Sarasota and I am excited to be a part of this Art Crawl Trolley Tour toshare the galleries, studios, and public art that comprise Sarasota arts legacy, said DST Art GuideJerome Chesley.Tickets are $24.99 and include a $5 donation to the Alliance. Tickets can be purchased on the DiscoverSarasota Tours website and each ticket includes transport to each of the tours six hub stop locations,FREE parking at The Trolley Cottage Gift Shop, and complimentary beer, wine, or water beforeboarding. Final tour departs at 6:45PM. Many participating galleries will also offer complimentaryrefreshments and lite bites on Art Crawl Trolley nights.Presented in partnership with Visit Sarasota County, SRQ Magazine, Sarasota Chamber of Commerce,and the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.# # #ABOUT US:Discover Sarasota Tours offers 17 different entertaining and informative daytime sightseeing tours andnighttime musical theater shows in our air-conditioned trolley. Daytime tour themes include:Sarasota and Venice history, art, architecture, metaphysical community, Amish Experience andSarasota and Venice circus legacies. Nighttime tours are original musical theater shows on wheelsperformed by our talented ensemble of singers and actors. They include Murder Mystery Trolley: WhoKilled The Circus Queen, The BooMobile, Christmas Carol Trolley: Letters To Santa, Sunset Cabaretand Haunted Sarasota.In 2022, 2023, and 2024, we were voted SRQ Magazines Platinum winner for BEST Local TourCompany. In addition, Discover Sarasota Tours was recognized with 2022,2023 and 2024 TravelersDiscover Sarasota Tours NEWS RELEASE | Art Crawl Trolley Tour UPDATED 2024-11-26.Choice Awards from TripAdvisor, voted Best of Florida Arts & Entertainment in 2023 and 2024, andwas featured in a film produced by American Express as a leading American Small Business.Tour tickets and information available online at DiscoverSarasotaTours.com or by calling 941-260-9818. For Groups, email Tammy@DiscoverSarasotaTours.com.

(March 29, 2024 Sarasota) Beloved tour Psychic Sundays returns with new tour guide, Deni Dreazen, after death of psychic Michael Newton-Brown forced tour to end in October 2022.  Deni is a well-known Sarasota tarot reader, teacher, hypnotist, and psychic medium and we are delighted to have her take on this wonderful tour as a guide, said Tammy Hauser, CEO Discover Sarasota Tours. I looked high and low to find a guide who could deliver authentic evidentiary mediumship during the tour, as well as share information about our rich metaphysical community in Sarasota. Deni is just this right blend of skilled practitioner, teacher, and warm inclusive guide, she added. Psychic Sundays begins with orange and pineapple mimosas at the Trolley Cottage Gift Shop located at 1826 4th Street, and then includes an energy exercise where guests learn to focus on what they feel (energy) but cannot see. Guests then board Dolly The Trolley for a two-hour tour to learn more about the metaphysical community in Sarasota as well as the many different divination tools healers use. These tools may include bodywork modalities such as acupuncture, reiki, sound healing, massage, or acupressure or they may focus on the spiritual arts of palm reading, tarot, crystals, mediumship, tea leaf reading, or pendulums.  During the tour, guests learn about Spirit University where they can study  and about our Metaphysical Chamber of Commerce where they can find like-minded colleagues and teachers. Next, they visit Pixie Dust a metaphysical store on Main Street, walk in meditation on one of 7 labyrinths in Sarasota and participate in an immersive sound bath at Crocker Memorial Church. During the tour, Deni also provides mini tarot readings and a Spirit Gallery session. The tour runs every other Sunday from 1-3 and is $48.99 plus tax/handling fee and can be booked on our website: DiscoverSarasotaTours.com.  ABOUT US:Discover Sarasota Tours is  a locally owned and operated tour company that celebrated five years in business in October 2023. We offer 17 different entertaining and informative daytime sightseeing tours and nighttime musical theater shows in our air-conditioned trolley named Dolly. Our guide-led entertaining and informative tours focus on the most interesting people, intriguing places, and amazing stories that have shaped Sarasotas rich cultural past. We also have a charming Trolley Cottage Gift Shop filled with fun, whimsical cards, gifts, history books, toys, candles and many more items that are themed after each of our tours. Daytime tour themes include Amish Experience, Leading Ladies of Sarasota, Architecture, City History, Circus Secrets of Sarasota and Venice, Art Crawl Trolley, Psychic Sundays, Public Art, and History Hop Week of Sarasota County (a fundraiser for our local historical societies to help them keep history alive). At night the trolley turns into a theater on wheels offering original musical shows including Murder Mystery Trolley: Who Killed The Circus Queen, Irish Holley On The Trolley, Tiki Trolley Trivia, Love Stories of Sarasota, Haunted Sarasota, BooMobile, Christmas Carol Trolley: Letters to Santa, and Sunset Cabaret, Music & Craft Beer Tour. In 2022 and 2023, we were voted SRQ Magazines Platinum winner for BEST Local Tour Company.  In addition, Discover Sarasota Tours was recognized with a 2023 Travelers Choice Award from TripAdvisor/Viator, voted Best of Florida Arts & Entertainment in 2022 and 2023, and was featured in a film produced by American Express as a leading American Small Business.   Tour tickets and information available online at DiscoverSarasotaTours.com or by calling 941-260-9818. For Groups, email Sue@DiscoverSarasotaTours.com.

On May 4th, Discover Sarasota Tours will kick off its new Sunset Cabaret Trolley Tour. This is the sixteenth tour that the company will run alongside its other popular experiences. The Sunset Cabaret, like many of the other tours, works as a collaboration between Discover Sarasota Tours and local businesses. Tammy Hauser, the founder and CEO of the company, says that the cabaret came about as a response to Sun King Brewerys interest in her popular dine-along tour.Sun King, based out of Indiana, opened its Sarasota branch last year, featuring a distillery and tasting room for its craft beers. We had been wanting to do something with the craft brewing industry, but not a traditional bar crawl, says Hauser. Thats not what we do. All of our tours involve history or the natural landscape and usually one trolley stop, which is a different model from a drinking tour.  Together with Steve McAllister, a tour guide and native Sarasota whos been leading tours for Hauser for the past four years, she created a tour that blended the educational elements for which her brand is known with the vibe of a classic beer crawl.The pair partnered with Sun King Brewery, located in the Limelight District, one of two stops on the tour. We wanted to give a shoutout to this area that is an interesting pocket of Sarasota history, she adds. During the trolley ride, McAllister delights guests with songs, jokes and local trivia that helps connect them to the city. When visitors arrive at Sun King, theyll have the opportunity to sample a variety of different beers and go on a mini distillery tour. The trolley will also stop at Lido Beach, giving guests a chance to marvel at Sarasotas stunning sunsets. Visitors will get to see a beautiful view and enjoy a romantic moment, says Hauser, confident that the cabaret is a great tour option for couples.Were constantly creating new tours, and whenever we can tie in a local business as a partner thats a win for us, she adds, because giving people a truly local experience is what were about.The Sunset Cabaret Tour begins May 4 and runs throughout the year every other Thursday night from 6-8 p.m. Tickets are $52.99 and include pre-tour wine/beer and free parking. Discover Sarasota Tours, 826 4th St., Sarasota, discoversarasotatours.com.

In Englewood, guests will tour the Historic Green Street Church and the Englewood Area History Museum to learn about Lemon Bay. In Sarasota, hop-offs occur at the Bidwell-Wood House, Crocker Memorial Church and the Whittaker Cemetery. In Venice, the tour begins at the Historic Venice Train Depot and the recently restored Ringling Circus Car Museum and continues through the downtown historic district.The Englewood tour is led by Don Bayley of the Englewood Museum; in Sarasota and Venice, Kathryn Chesley, Discover Sarasota Tours guide and resident historian will lead the tours.The History Hop Trolley Tours grew out of the recent Sarasota County Centennial Celebration and is a partnership with the three historical societies.Don Bayley, Vice President of Englewood Museum said: The Englewood Museum at the Lampp House and the Lemon Bay Historical Society are looking forward to the History Hop Trolley coming to Englewood. We have lots of fascinating history to share! We thank  Discover Sarasota Tours for this exciting opportunity.One of the most pleasurable and instructive ways to experience the neighborhoods, the history and the culture of a city is to be part of a guided trolley tour, said Marsha Fottler, President of the Historical Society of Sarasota County. We love it when the Discover Sarasota Tours trolley pulls into our two heritage properties at Pioneer Park and the visitors on board get to discover us. We are delighted to participate in History Hop Week, March 14-16 because its good for history education and good for our city. And you dont have to be a tourist to enjoy it. We can all learn more and have fun doing it.The Venice Area Historical Society is excited to partner with Discover Sarasota Tours to offer highlight tours of the Historic Venice Depot Campus, said George W. Miller, of the Venice Area Historical Society. Displays in the Depot chronicle the major milestones in the Citys development and in the construction and history of the Depot. Exhibits in the nearby Circus Train Car colorfully depict Venices circus history and legacy. Also featured in the car are an arena miniature and rooms that illustrate how circus performers lived on the train.Discover Sarasota Tours has been leading historical tours of Sarasota for the past four years. I am delighted to be able to expand our existing historical tours to the rest of Sarasota County, said Founder and CEO Tammy Hauser. I am also delighted to be able to support the efforts of our historical society partners by donating a portion of the net proceeds from these tours to them to continue their important work of preserving and presenting the history of these incredibly rich an interesting areas, she added.2023 marks the first year of History Hop Trolley which is expected to continue in future years as a weeklong Sarasota County history celebration.Each tour departs from and returns to the same starting point:ENGLEWOOD Tour departs from Historic Green Street Church at 510 South Indiana Avenue in EnglewoodSARASOTA Tour departs from The Trolley Cottage at 1826 4th Street in SarasotaVENICE Tour departs from the Historic Venice Train Depot, 303 East Venice Avenue in Venice A portion of net proceeds will be donated to each participating historical society partner to support the programs and services they provide that keep Sarasota County history alive.

Discover Sarasota Tours offers 16 different tours running daily in our air-conditioned trolley or van. Holiday Tours for Halloween (The BooMobile and Haunted Sarasota) and Christmas (Christmas Carol Trolley: Letters To Santa) run nightly in October and December and sell out in advance.Daytime sightseeing tour themes include Art, History, Amish, City, Circus, and Architecture themes, and nighttime musical shows on wheels include Murder Mystery Trolley: Who Killed The Circus Queen, and Sunset Cabaret, a music and craft beer tour.I love the holidays and there is no better way to celebrate than dressing up and coming on one of our fun tours to enjoy the season together, says Discover Sarasota Tours Founder and CEO Tammy Hauser, M.B.A.The BooMobileThe BooMobile is a 45-minute musical adventure on the trolley for kids ages 3+. Children and their parents will join WitchyPOO on her search for the missing Pumpkin all around downtown Sarasotas historic landmarks. The charming, funny, and delightful musical show is returning for 13 shows October 13-30 from 6:30-7:15 PM.$24.99 for kids 3+ and $39.99 for adults. Includes free soft drinks for kids and beer/wine for the adults before boarding.Show dates: October 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.Haunted SarasotaHear stories about famous murders, visit spirited buildings, and explore unsolved crimes during this 90-minute, air-conditioned nighttime tour with ghost hostess Lady Melody and surprise guests along the way! Prizes for best costumes during October, so come dressed to kill Fridays year-round, 17 special Halloween shows October 13-31 8:00-9:30 PM.$52.99 for adults. Includes free beer/wine before boarding.Show dates: October 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31.Christmas Carol Trolley: Letters to SantaChrismas Carol Trolley: Letters to Santa is a fun-filled 90-minute holiday tour for the whole family with a Christmas carol sing-along, holiday stories, jokes and trivia, and a charming tour of Sarasotas downtown neighborhood lights. This heartwarming musical show is returning for 42 shows December 5-30 at 5:30 and 7:30PM.$29.99 for kids 3+ and $49.99 for adults. Includes free soft drinks for kids and beer/wine for the adults before boarding.Show dates: December 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29.

Sarasota has many ghosts who are just dying to tell us their stories! Hop aboard a Haunted Sarasota Trolley Tour to hear their side of the story. During the month of October Haunted Sarasota, Discover Sarasota Tours beloved Friday night tour returns for the Halloween season for 13 nights starting October 14 and running through Oct 31 at 8 PM.Kaylene McCaw and Tamara Solum portray the ghost hostesses and actors Daniel Pelissier and Ren Pearson take on three mystery roles who jump aboard as spirits to tell their side of the story. This 90-minute tour includes free beer/wine before boarding.In addition, this year, Discover Sarasota Tours will offer their FIRST tour for kids called The BooMobile which runs at 6:30 PM on weekends starting October 14. This 45-minute magical musical adventure is perfect for kids 3+ and features WitchyPOO and the wily Pumpkin. This funny, family-friendly tour travels around Sarasota as guests help look for the wily pumpkinwho does not want to be caught!Children and their parents will delight in singing along to Halloween songs, hearing spooky stories, and searching for the sneaky pumpkin. Cider and cookies offered before the tour, and prizes given for best costumes. The show features actresses Sarah Haun and Liz Pascoe.I just love Halloween and seeing all the creative costumes guests show up in, said Tammy Hauser, DST founder and CEO. We give prizes for best costume on each tour and its always a challenge choosing our winners!The Halloween tours will join DSTs popular ongoing tour themes:Amish Experience led by Kendra Cross, Thursdays at 10 AM, November-May.NEW Architecture Tours led by Tammy Hauser Tuesdays at 10:30 AM.Art Crawl Gallery Tour led by local artist Jerome Chesley, Tuesdays 6-8 PM. November-April.Boutiques & Bubbles Shopping Tour, monthly or as a custom tour.NEW Christmas Carol Trolley Family fun with sing-along music and downtown holiday lights, led by Kaylene McCaw, 7:30 PM daily from December 9-30.Circus Secrets led by Bob Collins, Wednesdays & Saturdays at 1PM. City Sightseeing led by multiple guides, Tuesdays-Sundays 10AM, 1PM & 3PMLeading Ladies of Sarasota led by Kathryn Chesley, Wednesdays at 10 AMMurder Mystery Trolley: Who Killed The Circus Queen? Interactive mystery musical. Thursdays & Saturdays 7:30 PM.Psychic Sundays exploring Sarasotas psychic history, led by Michael Newton-Brown & Kaylene McCaw. Sundays at 1 PM.Public Art Tour led by Jerome Chesley, Thursdays at 1:30 PM November-April.