Sarasota may be the ultimate beach town, with its sun-kissed location on the Gulf of Mexico, more than 200 sunny days a year and an average year-round temperature of 71°F. Yet there are plenty of other reasons why we named it the best small city. The county -- which includes Venice, Northport, Longboat and Siesta Keys -- has its own symphony, ballet and opera companies. The 1,800 seat Van Wezel Performing Arts Center lures productions like the Broadway road company of Chicago. The Ringling Museum of Art -- established by circus baron John Ringling, who settled in the area in the 1920s -- has an extensive collection of American and European art. Like sports? Just an hour away there's the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers and arena football's Storm.