Tara, which takes its name from Margaret Mitchell’s Civil War novel, Gone with the Wind, is a Southwest Florida community of 2,070 homes. Entering Tara via palm tree-lined Tara Boulevard, visitors are offered an enticing taste of this well-designed, 1,110-acre, non-gated community with mature landscaping and a diverse population that includes permanent residents of all ages as well as snowbirds. Winding through the community, two championship golf courses – Tara Golf & Country Club and The Preserve Golf Club – deliver many challenging rounds of play.

Located in Bradenton just north of Sarasota and west of Interstate 75, Tara is less than 20 minutes from the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) and less than 20 miles from celebrated Sarasota- and Bradenton-area beaches. For these and other sightseeing, cultural, and entertainment destinations in SW Florida, see the Quick Link at the bottom of the page for What to do within 100 miles of Tara.

Situated comfortably near the intersection of State Road 70 and I-75, Tara has quick and convenient access to local shopping centers Twelve Oaks Plaza and Creekwood Crossing. A good mix of restaurants provide sustenance to shoppers at Publix, CVS, Lowe’s, Bealls and many other stores and gas stations. Two banks, a liquor store and a carwash help round out the neighborhood offerings.

High quality elementary, middle and high schools are nearby, as is Manatee Technical College. In addition to its standard curricula, the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee (near the SRQ) offers special programming for seniors.

Tara is only six miles/15 minutes from Florida’s newest and largest mall, University Town Center (UTC), at I-75 and University Park. The UTC boasts more than 150 stores & restaurants ranging from Saks Fifth Avenue to the Pottery Barn; from the Cheesecake Factory to Starbucks.