Southwest Florida cannot be defined by a single lifestyle. There is a lot more to Sarasota real estate than its popular golf communities and residential boating clubs. Life is different just a few miles east of I-75; this is where you can find the elegant Old Florida equestrian lifestyle at Saddle Creek.

Saddle Creek in Sarasota is nothing like the sprawling suburban communities located west of I-75. Traffic is lighter and life is slower. There are only 168 homes at Saddle Creek, but each homeowner gets an astonishing five acres of land. These are spacious homes ranging from three to six bedrooms, and many of them are two-storied residences. The architectural style is mostly a modern take on Southern Colonial floor plans, complete with red brick houses and horse barns.

Homes at Saddle Creek start around $428,000 for a 3,662 square foot property with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. A six-bedroom and four-bathroom estate built on 5,285 square feet of living space can be negotiated for $840,000. These are some of the largest residential properties in Sarasota County, and all of them have serene views of the woods or large fishing ponds.

Many families at Saddle Creek keep horses in their properties and ride them in the 26 miles of equestrian trails. Children love exploring the oak forest patches and fishing ponds; they also enjoy seeing the abundant wildlife that peacefully roams through the neighborhood. The public schools serving Saddle Creek are Ashton Elementary, Sarasota Middle and Riverview High.

Nature lovers have more than just their own neighborhood to enjoy. The Myakka River State Park is nearby, and the white sands of the beaches at Siesta Key are about 20 minutes away driving straight down Clark Road. Saddle Creek is a very quiet neighborhood, but it is not isolated by any means; the closest Publix supermarket is located in a small shopping center less than two miles away.