This protected park is a great place for a quiet picnic, a bit of kayaking or a place to quietly spot wildlife. 3. Go face-to-face with a lion, tiger, liger, bear, camel, lemur or monkey. For two full hours youll traverse the streets as local historian Sue Blue narrates your journey and points out historical facts and landmarks, ensuring you depart with a new-found knowledge and appreciation of the city. So what does this mean? Visitors can enter the public information center complex and use the electronic gravesite locator to learn more about the facility. Are you ready for a visit? All you can see from here used to be their land. You May Also Like. Sunset Tours: 8pm Night Tours: 9:30pm. Bucket list: 100 fun things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Venice Passengers pose for a photo during a trolley tour (Photo: Historical Society of Sarasota County), Come and admire a replica military installation. The dam established across the river in the 1960s prevents manatees from accessing Lake Manatee. Rent out boogie boards and surfboards to hit the waves. Kayaking in Sarasota, Florida (Photo: Visit Sarasota County) Myakka River State Park comprises a collection of unique habitats such as lakes, wetlands, rivers, and prairies. For live bands and DJs, its worth checking out the Beach Club at Siesta Key. Hidden within the mangrove tunnels you can often see manatees, dolphins, clams, crabs and osprey. Looking for fun, free things to do? Ringling Museum of Art. As a separate area to the beach, Sarasota Bayfront combines marinas, splash pads, palm trees and an unmistakable statue. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously. Theres plenty to see and do nearby when youre ready to keep exploring beyond Sarasota. The Best Things to Do in Sarasota, Florida. Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Sarasota - Atlas Obscura 30 Best Fun things to do in Sarasota Florida You Must Do! With a choice of freshly prepared dishes as well as the finest local seafood, breads, olive oils, jerky and dried goods. Theres much to see and explore at the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium! Read next: 2-Week Florida Road Trip Itinerary. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Finally, go birdwatching for the 155+ species of bird that call the local ecosystem home. Throughout the trail are signs marking fun highlights of local history. Venetian Gothic Architecture is sure to dazzle visitors exploring the 36,000-square-foot house. While you ride, learn about the vibrant history and culture of the city from your . Siesta Key Beach is an excellent family-friendly destination with nearby ice cream shops to end a perfect day at the beach. The Marie Selby Gardens are the best of a botanical garden: we all still need to be the change for social justice. This attraction is ideal for tourists looking for things to do with kids in Sarasota since it entertains, fascinates, and also educates. The strong LED lights will light up everything in the shallow waters of Sarasota Bay. Experience a free live encounter with these massive cats. Clown cars, cannons, ornate parade wagons, posters, a huge 44,000 piece model circus and a life-size replica of a tiger. If you love to fish, youre going to love Sarasota. Read next: The Perfect 3 Days In Tampa Itinerary. Or head over to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall for more entertainment! Our list of the best things to do in Sarasota ranges from interacting with exotic animals at the Big Cat Habitat Gulf Coast Sanctuary to engaging artistic expression and curiosity at the John Ringling Museum of Art. Escape Countdown Sarasota 15. #12. Buy a ticket for lemur yoga. Check the website for upcoming shows and events! Save Our Seabirds is a rescue center for sick and injured birds. Expect to be well fed and well educated in equal measure with your experienced guides regaling you with anecdotes relating to Sarasotas rich heritage and food tastings. The museum is $25 a person, but admission is free on Mondays. Siesta Key Beach This beautiful beach is located just west of downtown Sarasota on Siesta Key. Fun Family Things To Do In Sarasota With Kids. Activities for kids and families, youth sports, seasonal events, ongoing programs and summer camps! A world-class shopping and dining destination, the University Town Center boasts more than 250 restaurants and stores of unique and famous retailers. After the Circus Museum, the Museum of Art and whimsy has to be the most cheerful place in Sarasota. 2) Go For A Stroll Through The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Or two or three. Online streaming available any time. 21 Unusual and Unique Things To Do in Sarasota Florida 17 Unique Things To Do In Sarasota, Florida On Spring Break - Kb in Bloom 14 Engaging Black History Month Social Media Post Ideas You'll Love February 3, 2023 Make Your Own: Mindfulness Jar for Adults Ideas February 1, 2023 15 Coconut Yogurt Benefits That Will Most Likely Surprise You January 31, 2023 40 Positive Affirmations to Start Your Day I mean you three were there. After a busy week of sightseeing, why not unwind at The Ritz-Carlton Resort? There are also well-known food and beverage outlets and even a store selling arcade games, pinball machines, and memorabilia. Visit the eight greenhouses to gaze at vibrant displays of bromeliads and orchids collected by the Gardens scientists. They include Bownes Lab Theatre, the Goldstein Cabaret, the John C. Court Cabaret, the Gompertz Theatre, and the Keating Theatre. Push your limits with this exhilarating forest adventure. With lots of music, entertainment, and an overall joie de vivre, the list of things to do in Saratoga Springs feels endless. Related:Fly Drive Florida: A Two Week Itinerary & Adventure. This museum is jam packed with mementos from when the Ringling circus was at its heyday. Like most beaches in Sarasota, Coquina Beach has free parking. Moreover, our partners, such as Google Adsense, will collect data and use cookies for ad personalization and measurement. The Museum of Art was commissioned in 1925 by circus entrepreneur John Ringling. Enjoy a two-course meal at lunch for $16 or a three-course meal at dinner, including dessert for $32. Fun and Free Things To Do in Sarasota - Corporate Quarters USA We hope you enjoy our carefully-made selection. The Historic Spanish Point campus is less than ten miles from the downtown Sarasota campus. It has 30 acres along Little Sarasota Bay, boasting an impressive collection of native Florida plants along scenic nature trails. By the way, you should really taste the honey. Award-winning Duvals Fresh Local Seafood serves only the best of local fish and ingredients, it is one of the fancier seafood eateries in town and its popularity means that you should book to avoid disappointment. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Discover local and national brands to savor some quality retail therapy. Tampa. Among them, the city of Sarasota stands out as one of the most enchanting, thanks to its mix of distinguished arts institutes and miles of beautiful beaches with fine sand and shallow waters. Nobody leaves without a smile on their face! See a Horse Race at the Saratoga Race Course. In the unique Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf 18-hole course, youll get a chance to practice your shots among pirate ships, waterfalls, and very real alligators in the courses educational alligator exhibit. Built by the famous New York architect Dwight James Baum, the Ca dZan was the Ringlings winter residence, a spectacular building overflowing with luxury both on the outside and on the inside. Inside the Travel Lab is described by National Geographic Traveler as Essential Reading and Lonely Planet as one of the best travel blogs in the world.. Less crowded but equally stunning is Lido Key Beach, which focuses in eco-tourism and its famous for its cruises. Port Charlotte. Go kayaking among the mangroves, play a round of golf, or explore an adventure course high among the trees. Sarasota Opera prides itself on being the only company in the world to have staged all of Verdis operas. Once in the tunnels, its an awe-inspiring sight, where fish and fiddler crabs swim inches away from you in waters so clear you can see the grass resting on the waterbed below. Taking place on Main Street at Orange Avenue and running east to Links Avenue, the two-day festival features more than 250 gifted artists from Florida and far beyond. It is a great place to spot wildlife and on a good day, you can expect to see alligators, herons, armadillos and a variety of fish and birds. If you fancy learning to row, lessons are available for groups and individuals. Here is our list of the best things to do in Tampa if youre planning a visit there. Peer at the intriguing differences between European and American cars and how the design of automobiles changed throughout history. Performances during the event range in styles, with everything from long and short form, hip hop musical, genre-based, and more on display. Half fun in the sun, with visitors replicating the pose. Ive stood on said sand, rummaged and scrummaged and buried my toes in it and I have to agree. photo: VisitSarasota.com 6. Thanks for your support, kind friend! Small tours run on low pontoon boats, and children are allowed to board too as long as they dont fall in (! The Legacy trail follows the route of the old Seaboard Air Line railroad and runs from downtown Venice up to Sarasota. Theres plenty to do here from building mud pies to identified while surrounded by beautiful and colorful nature. What can I say? The centers living museum offers a chance for visitors to learn through educational displays with live birds that were previously patients deemed unfit to return to the wild. Then, adventure the water by kayak or go fishing for freshwater catches. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Theres also a flag assembly area, a memorial walkway, a donations area, committal shelters, and a ceremonial amphitheater. As well as a cultural center, the Sarasota Opera House is a historic institution in its own right. An eclectic treasure trove of maritime marvels. Sarasota Farmers Market. The company was originally based in an 18th-century Italian theatre, reconstructed near the Ringling Museum of Art. From dedicated explorers and world-class scientists, the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is heavily dedicated to learning more about marine environments while educating others on the importance of ocean conservation. The market is open every Saturday from 7 am to 1 pm. The attraction is at 7101 Palmer Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34240. In a curious quirk of fate, certain areas near Sarasota have become key travel destinations for Amish communities based in the north in Pennsylvania. Tampa Bay has long been renowned for its world-class theme parks and attractions. It was constructed in the 1920s, drawing inspiration from the couples love of Italian architecture and design, and took only two years to complete. Meet Tigers at the Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary 3. It offers in-house art installations, an outdoor pool, and a great restaurant that doubles as an art gallery. This restaurant specializes in local seafood but also offers a variety of other dishes including pasta, pizzas, snacks, and a childrens menu. 3) Peer At The Vintage Car Collection At The Sarasota Classic Car Museum. Originally constructed as a tourist attraction in the late 1940s, the imitation of a lone gunners station began life as part of an arms museum, but since the museum itself was closed, the landmark has eked out a lonely existence, with the occasional visitor for company as it serves its role as the only reminder of the forts bygone days. It is held only on Saturday mornings from 8 to 13 and tends to get crowded, so be there early if you want to take your time strolling around the stands. In the center of the cemetery is the Patriot Plaza amphitheater where visitors can receive guided tours of the artworks every Tuesday at 10 am. Another high-end option is the Resort at Longboat Key Club, which features its own golf course, a full-service spa, and modern luxurious rooms overlooking the Gulf Coast. Meet fantastic dragons, dare to enter the Monster Garden, or skip down the yellow brick road. But otherwise, the park is peaceful, with paved walking trails and spaces where yoga enthusiasts gather for their courses. Say hello to a manatee, relax on the beach, explore a farmers market these are all must-do activities if you want to make the most out of your trip to Sarasota County. Mote Marine Laboratory 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 388-4441 Sunset Celebration - John Ringling Causeway Bridge John Ringling Causeway Sarasota, FL 34236 Celebrate Sarasota's famously beautiful sunsets on the John Ringling Causeway Bridge, a 1-km bridge going over Sarasota Bay and connecting the city to other Florida Keys. But the biggest attraction by far is the feeding of the pink flamingos. Use an app to find objects, score points and complete challenges, all under the supervision of a local host. This is a must-see for all car enthusiasts. Tampa Bay is not far from Sarasota! Whether you are a total beginner or a regular Indiana Jones there is a course here for you. Definitely unique through its oddness, Mariettas Museum doesnt have the sobriety of a world-class arts venue but is more of a place for relaxation. In the heart of the city, you will find an abundance of sporting and cultural events in addition to upscale shops, restaurants, and powder-white beaches for you to enjoy. Installed by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. 11 Top Things to Do in Sarasota, Florida - tripsavvy.com This is a really fun thing to do while in Sarasota. Marietta Museum of Art and Whimsy. You will have the chance to meditate and relax with a certified yoga instructor whilst being surrounded by the curious animals. The Sarasota Farmers Market is a lively social activity joining together locals and tourists to enjoy the best products! Im only recommending them because I think theyre interesting. 21 Best Things To Do In Sarasota, Florida (2023 Guide) Sarasota Events Calendar - Fun things to do in - Escape to Sarasota For a truly original activity, trekking through these stunning mangrove tunnels in South Lido Beach Nature Park, located a quick drive from central Sarasota, will be hard to beat. In the mood for something completely different? The service is friendly and really adds to the atmosphere. Baseball lovers will undoubtedly have the time of their lives at the Ed Smith Stadium! There is even a petting. Contained within its own small island there is always something going on at the Circle. There are plenty of activities at Nathan Benderson Park.