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Connecting professionals. Sharing knowledge. Advancing best practices
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One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours
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With the major winter snow storm barreling across North America this weekend, it is a perfect time to reflect on your upcoming time in lovely, warm Sarasota next month! Oh my, we are a mere 31 days away from welcoming you to the gorgeous Florida Suncoast!
in a few weeks, I will send out a detailed Tours document so you may prepare in advance for your Florida adventures. In the email, I will request dietary restrictions, mobility challenges, and lodging info and share specifics such parking apps for those with a vehicle, typical weather conditions, zero waste protocol, and other details for an amazing visit filled with ease, grace, and FUN!
Today's Tours Update showcases Sarasota as Florida's Cultural Coast. The next Tours Update will focus on Sarasota's eclectic history and how it is incorporated into the Tours.
Afterall, the FL Tours is the first of seven tours in the LAI SemiQ East Coast Tours: Land Use & History (1776-2026)
Please let me know if I may answer questions or provide additional information.
With Excitement,
Holly Elmore
FL Suncoast Chapter President
holly@earth-impact.org
404-510-9336
Photo: LAI Global President Craig Binn at the "Siesta #1 Beach in the USA" sign during his April 2024 Sarasota visit; courtesy of Holly Elmore Images.
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Refer Friends & Colleagues!
The One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours and the Water Challenges, Economics, and Nature-Based Solutions LED (Land Economics Dialogues) are now open to ALL land economics professionals, LAI members and beyond!
Please refer your friends and colleagues to the Tours/LED - the more the merrier!
Discount codes are available totaling $100 per person in savings, IF two or more attendees register at once. Contact Holly Elmore at holly@earth-impact.org to get your codes!
Space is limited on the bus for the "by Land" tours and on the "by Sea" Sarasota Bay History Cruise. Encourage Registration NOW while space is available.
Learn about registration options at this LINK. Scroll down for Tours/LED details..
Photo banner is a Sarasota skyline image from across Sarasota Bay courtesy of Holly Elmore Images.
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Sarasota: Florida's Cultural Coast
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Sarasota has long mastered the art of being more than just a premier coastal destination; it is a city where the "Culture Coast" is a lived experience. From the Gilded Age legacy of the Ringling family to the globally recognized Sarasota School of Architecture, the city balances its stunning natural beauty with a sophisticated stage for world-class opera, ballet, and theater. It offers a rare sanctuary where historic charm meets a high-energy arts scene, providing an exceptionally vibrant backdrop for the One-by-Sea, Two-by-Land Tours.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens CEO Jennifer Rominiecki launches the Tours program as the keynote speaker at the Opening Reception. Rominiecki’s leadership transformed Selby Gardens into a global model of innovation, earning international acclaim for its master plan and the world’s first net-positive energy botanical garden complex. The spectacular grounds feature pioneering architectural designs, including a landmark net-zero restaurant that redefines sustainable infrastructure.
By integrating world-class art exhibits directly into the living botanical landscape, Selby Gardens perfectly introduces the sophisticated energy of Sarasota’s "Culture Coast." On the final day, Tours attendees are treated to an exclusive, personalized tour of the award-winning facilities and gardens.
Photo: Holly's Mother at a Sarasota outdoor arts festival in 2017.
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Alexander Calder at Selby Gardens
A centerpiece of Sarasota’s mid-winter cultural season is the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ headline exhibit, Alexander Calder: The Nature of Movement. This stunning display integrates Calder’s legendary kinetic "mobiles" and monumental "stabiles" directly into the lush, living galleries of the gardens. The exhibit explores the dynamic relationship between art and the environment, as Calder’s iconic works react to the coastal breezes and shifting Florida light.
For LAI members, the Calder Exhibit offers a masterclass in how form and motion can harmonize with a curated botanical landscape, providing a unique perspective on the intersection of structural creativity and the natural world.
Post event, attendees may use their Tours lanyard for complimentary admission to Selby Gardens.
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Sarasota Art Museum
Discover the city's only museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art. Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design presents works by nationally and internationally renowned artists as well as emerging talents. With no permanent collection and an ever-rotating exhibition line-up, there's always something new and exciting to experience at SAM.
As a Tours partner, SAM gifts attendees with a pass for complimentary admission to enjoy the current exhibit during their Sarasota visit.
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Land Economics Dialoges (LED)
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Water Challenges, Economics, Nature-Based Solutions LED
As a precursor to the February 25 – 27, 2026 One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours, the Chapter hosts a Land Economics Dialogues (LED) event on Wednesday, February 25 from 9 am – 4 pm. The LED focus is on local Water Challenges, Economics, and Nature-Based-Solutions.
An LED is an FL Suncoast-event series where prominent LAI members from around the globe provide expertise and advice on land- and water-related issues.
The LED agenda consists of four morning speakers followed by a brainstorming session during lunch. Morning presentation topics include Coastal Water Dynamics, Surface Water (Sarasota Bay, Gulf, Inland Waters), Extreme Weather, and Local & Regional Economics. The afternoon is dedicated to an empowering strategy session. A formal report will document the LED presentations, strategy session, and recommended nature-based solutions.
Land and water economics are the common thread within the LED–strategy points.
REGISTER HERE - if registering for two or more, contact Holly Elmore at holly@earth-impact.org for a substantial discount.
Sponsorship opportunities are detailed HERE.
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One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours
On February 25 – 27, 2026, the Chapter welcomes distinguished land economics professionals from across the globe to the Sarasota/Bradenton area during the prime winter season. Due to bus limitations, the One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours is limited to 45 out-of-town guests; local chapter members will participate via their own transportation.
Step into history, innovation, and paradise for the One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours. Learn how the Suncoast evolved over the past 250+ years with visits to:- Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, the world’s first net-positive energy botanical garden,
- Nathan Benderson Park, a world-class rowing venue built from an old shell-excavation pit.
- Sarasota Bay History Cruise, and more!
As detailed in the Tours Itinerary, the tours consist of an opening reception, two days of tours filled with prominent speakers including a two-hour Sarasota Bay History Cruise, and finishes with a Closing Dinner Reception (pending sponsorship.)
REGISTER HERE - if registering for two or more, contact Holly Elmore at holly@earth-impact.org for a substantial discount.
Sponsorship opportunities are detailed HERE.
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LAI SemiQ East Coast Tours
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The LAI SemiQ East Coast Tours: Land Use & History (1776-2026) celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a series of tours hosted by the seven Eastern Region chapters: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, FL Suncoast, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. The One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours hosted by the LAI Fl Suncoast Chapter is the first tour in the series.
Registration is open for the following Tours:
- Annapolis, March 19 - REGISTER
- Atlanta, April 16 - REGISTER
- New York City, May 14 & 14 - REGISTER I hope that you register for other Tours, they will ALL be fantastic!!!
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