The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

We had an amazing experience as a whole family. I have 3 kids under 8 years old and they all enjoyed looking at the art pieces and gardens. They enjoyed the circus museum the best. The mansion in the back was under construction but did not feel like it was limited in any way. We also go admission to all the museums for free with our florida ebt and payed just 5 dollars for me and my wife to go thru the first floor of the mansion. Highly worth the trip from port charotte as we spent almost 6 hours on the property. Edit: only suggest buying tickets at the gate because thats the only way you can take advantage of the museums for all program and get free entry with ebt.

Stayed at Anna Maria Island and came to visit from toronto. Found the museum online and it didnt disappoint. The artwork from Gallery 1 & 2 is the reason I went, absolutely breathtaking 😍 the art overall was gorgeous. The gardens were beautiful but due to the humidity we didn't look around too much. Didn't really know who the family was until we were in the circus museum and learned more about them. We didn't have time to tour inside the family mansion.But the outside was gorgeous. I would recommend to anyone that has an hour or 2 to spend if you're in the area. Staff was also personable and polite and there was a lot of parking.

This is an amazing place. Beautiful museum with a huge courtyard and garden. Miniature circus display will bring you back in time. Vast art collection that is meticulously maintained. Courtyard full of statues that will make you feel like you are in Europe. Nice walking trails through the outdoor gardens with many unique plants. Large paved parking lot with plenty of spaces. Nice gift shop for souvenirs to remember your visit. This is a great place to take a break from the beach when visiting Sarasota.

Amazing Museum and grounds! We personally enjoyed touring the Ringling’s house, amazing art collection, and grounds more than the actual circus museum. The circus museum felt a little underwhelming, but the rest of the property makes up for it. The art collection was some of the best I have ever seen. The house tour was only the first floor unless you go at specific guided tour times. This would have been nice to know in advance with purchasing our ticket so we could have timed our day there to include the full house tour. It was still worth paying to see even though you can only see the first floor. Would highly recommend wearing comfortable shoes and bringing a refillable water bottle. Plan to spend at least 3-4 hours if wanting to tour the whole property. There is a restaurant on property if you would like to eat there as well.

We visited over Labor Day weekend in September and were pleasantly surprised that admission to the museum (select galleries) was still free, even though the holiday fell on a Monday. That was such a nice bonus. The territory is absolutely beautiful — it truly feels like you’re somewhere in Italy. The architecture, palm trees, and courtyard views create a very European atmosphere. The art galleries are impressive, with diverse collections and elegant exhibition spaces that are enjoyable to explore at a relaxed pace. Overall, a wonderful cultural experience and a place we would happily visit again.