Its part of a series that makes up the two week Florida West coast road trip itinerary here. First, traverse the trails by walking, running, skating, or biking while enjoying the scenic views. Fly Drive Florida: A Two Week Itinerary & Adventure. Lovers of beautiful automobiles from bygone eras are in for a treat in Sarasota, which is home to its own Classic Car Museum. Ringling Museum of Art. Explore the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art 5401 Bay Shore Road Sarasota The detailed circus miniatures at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota Florida. Baseball lovers will undoubtedly have the time of their lives at the Ed Smith Stadium! Learn about current animal topics and habitat preservations criticalness as you tour the sanctuary protecting 300+ animals. This blocked the manatees route up the river, so it is Lake Manatee in name only. The centre for most of them is the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, a huge building overseeing Sarasota Bay and illuminating the area at night. Florida is not all about sandy beaches and palm trees. Heres what to do in Sarasota Florida with someone special. Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf. Hosted by the Historical Society of Sarasota County, guests will board a traditional tram (known in the US as a trolley) before embarking on a fascinating tour of downtown Sarasota. #1 in Sarasota Address: 13208 State Road 72 Natural Wonders, Parks and Gardens, Hiking, Recreation TYPE 2 hours to Half Day TIME TO SPEND Considered one of Florida's oldest and largest state. The first 2 hours is complementary parking, $3 for hours 2 and 3 and $1 additional per hour after. Photo credit: Daderot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons The creative, artsy theme will keep your interest. Its big and in some opinions tacky, but its certainly a conversation starter. Kayaking in Sarasota, Florida (Photo: Visit Sarasota County) The Museum of Art was commissioned in 1925 by circus entrepreneur John Ringling. AddThis sets this cookie to ensure that the updated count is seen when one shares a page and returns to it, before the share count cache is updated. Sarasota Art Museum 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-309-4300;. If you love to fish, youre going to love Sarasota. The Sarasota Farmers Market is a lively social activity joining together locals and tourists to enjoy the best products! Myakka River State Park is one of Floridas largest parks and covers 37,000 acres. Within walking reach of St Armands Circle, parking at Lido Beach is a little busier than elsewhere but still easy to manage. It has some of the softest sand I have ever walked on. is one of Sarasotas most adventurous attractions. Rent out boogie boards and surfboards to hit the waves. This article explores the best things to do in Sarasota during your trip so you dont miss out on top attractions that draw in millions of visitors to this tropical oasis each year! With miles of beaches, coves and inlets theres an almost endless variety of places to fish. To help inspire you ahead of your trip, weve picked out 12 of the most unique things you can do here, ranging from the raw and energetic to the intellectually nourishing. Away from the beach, you can enjoy the cool sea breeze and most stunning sunsets Florida has to offer. Enjoy a romantic dinner at one of the fine dining restaurants. John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. 3 Awesome Reasons To Do Sand Castle University In Gulf Shores April 10, 2022. Founded by billionaires William and Marie Selby, a constellation of different gardens overlook Sarasota Bay: banyan groves, clumping bamboo, staghorn ferns and local Floridian mangroves. Myakka River State Park comprises a collection of unique habitats such as lakes, wetlands, rivers, and prairies. A trolley tour will show you what should not be missed when in Sarasota. This restaurant specializes in local seafood but also offers a variety of other dishes including pasta, pizzas, snacks, and a childrens menu. These 400-acre wetlands are an ideal place to hike, bike, fish and picnic. In addition to trails, there's also camping, picnic grounds and several . It was the private home of circus-mogul John Ringling and his wife Mable. The Asian art collection focuses on sculptures and ceramics before leading to a Japanese tea house (chashitsu)and the 66 acres of gardens that overlook Sarasota Bay. Mote has an aquarium that is home to sharks, turtles, stingrays and manatees to name a few. An eclectic treasure trove of maritime marvels. We hope you enjoy our carefully-made selection. But its the Sea Life Encounters cruise that brings the under and overwater world to life. After the fact, it was super fun to laugh about the squirrels at CCoquinaBeach. As the curtain lifts and Bizet or Puccini begins, you will think only What a great place to spend the night! The acoustics are phenomenal. Ten acres of botanical plants are the home of exotic animals and birds, reptiles, pink flamingos, and even farm animals like goats and pigs. Rent bikes to pedal the Legacy Trail, a more than 10-mile paved pathway that runs along a former railroad corridor, or go for a jog over the picturesque John Ringling Causeway bridge. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Expect to see over 100 years of motoring history represented by the likes of Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Cadillac, Ferrari and Edsel to name a few. Expanding across a hefty 66 acres, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art was established by the famous circus magnate, The Ringling Circus. So get in on the fun and discover the fun things to do in Sarasota with kids. The Ringling Museum was built to house the collection and serve as a cultural center for the state of Florida. 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. The butterfly garden is one of the main attractions, so make sure not to miss it for wonderful photos and a great experience. Nathan Benderson Park has gone far and beyond to upgrade its facilities to the best, including grandstands, coaching lanes, straight shorelines, a multi-function boathouse, and more! Head to Manatee Public Beach on Anna Maria Island if youre after a day of picnicking and grilling or try Cortez Beach for a more underdeveloped feel and tall trees lining up the long stretch of sand. 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. 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. Explore at your own pace or take a two-hour guided tour through the mangroves and backwaters. Originally conceived as a botanical garden it has since come to be home to a variety of domestic and exotic creatures also. The park started hosting regatta competitions in 2009, with only a few sites in the nation standing up to the task. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products, and regularly review these. Why not head up to Pinecraft and take part in a tour of the local Amish community. They have a year-round schedule of productions taking place. The European section involves room after room after room of well-loved Italian and Flemish Baroque paintings. Venetian Gothic Architecture is sure to dazzle visitors exploring the 36,000-square-foot house. Sarasotas creative impulses are allowed to flow each year as more than five city blocks are given over to a popular arts festival. How would you like to pet a baby alligator? Oscar Scherer State Park is an invigorating and refreshing escape. Sarasota has its own airport but unless youre fairly local, it usually makes sense to fly in to Orlando and visit Sarasota as part of a larger trip through Florida. Parasailing is often thought of as a thrill-seekers sport but it can also be a very peaceful experience, much like gliding. And thats not just folklore. This Classic Car Museum is one of the oldest in the country. Test your skills at Jumpin Fun Inflata Park against friends or family members, through a series of obstacles thatll bring out the competitive side in all of you. Theres life-size sculptures, incredible paintings, one-of-a-kind jewels, photography, ceramics and plenty more to bedazzle visitors, while many artists are also on hand to discuss their inspirations and working methods during the event. As well as being home to some of the countrys most beautiful beaches, the city and surrounding area is a paradise for lovers of nature and the great outdoors. Moreover, our partners, such as Google Adsense, will collect data and use cookies for ad personalization and measurement. Circus Sarasota 6. 1. More than 200 species of native and exotic animals call the Sarasota Jungle Gardens home, including pink flamingos, alligators, iguanas, parrots, and crocodiles. From its historical museums, sprawling parks, exceptional art galleries, scenic beaches, and appealing tropical weather, a trip to Sarasota can cater to all types of likes and interests. With indoor and outdoor seating you can really make the most of the long summer nights as you take in the view over Sarasota Bay. The lemurs will even climb on you, so lets see how you can maintain your pose. The dam established across the river in the 1960s prevents manatees from accessing Lake Manatee. Aside from a place to see world-class comedy, theres also a bar and restaurant with a full menu to savor before the show. Greenhouses show rotating exhibits. Sarasota has its own airport, but many travelers arrive at the larger Miami International Airport or the Orlando (MCO) Airport instead. Discover local and national brands to savor some quality retail therapy. Tour historic buildings, such as the Guptill House, built entirely with Florida yellow pine in 1901. It also offers a space for local artisans and merchants supplying everything from soaps and musical instruments to bicycle repairs. Mote Marine Laboratory 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 388-4441 One of the most unique ways to explore Sarasota is by joining a Historic Trolley Tour. The two parks couldn't be more different and definitely offer something unique to do in Sarasota for those who love the outdoors. Discover the best of Sarasota, Florida as you embark on a sightseeing tour of the city. The big felines are the stars here, and you can see them in shows or admire their mightiness as they go on with their lives in their enclosed spaces. The Legacy trail follows the route of the old Seaboard Air Line railroad and runs from downtown Venice up to Sarasota. Catch a Live Concert at the Van Wezel 6. Read next: The Perfect 3 Days In Tampa Itinerary. 100-plus fun things to do in January in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties The new year will bring a full lineup of festivals, concerts, stage productions and more to Sarasota, Manatee and . Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. This is a deep look into the cultural soul of Sarasota. LOCATION Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 North Palm Avenue DATES 5-6 July 2019, A performer in full flow during the Sarasota Improv Festival (Photo: Sarasota Improv Festival), Indulge in some retail therapy at The Womens Exchange. Roll up, roll up! Take a quiet paddle through the mangrove tunnels or enjoy a guided tour with knowledgeable locals. Stretching three miles down Lake Manatee, its namesake, Lake Manatee State Park is a quaint getaway perfect for fishing, picnicking, and de-stressing. The Ringling 4. TripBuzz found 36 things to do indoors in the Sarasota area. The Gator Club is a stylish venue with a good selection of drinks, it plays reggae each Thursday. It comes from pure quartz, filtered from the Appalachian mountains, and it winds up looking bright white, peppy and pretty on Siesta Beach on Siesta Key. The Marie Selby Gardens are the best of a botanical garden: we all still need to be the change for social justice. This Big Cat Sanctuary is home to all kinds of wild and exotic creatures including tigers and lions (as well as ligers and tigons), bears, primates, birds and wallabies. Go face-to-face with a lion, tiger, liger, bear, camel, lemur or monkey. With all its tidal pools, mangrove islands, and estuaries, Floridas Gulf Coast shoreline is one of the most dynamic in the country. A boat tour has to be one of the most fun things to do in Sarasota. Run Away to the Circus at the Ringling Museum. You May Also Like. You can buy food for them as you enter the gardens or at a small shop on the premises called The Flamingo Caf. Theres an air of intimacy as you step inside the 1119-seat theatre, together with opera lovers from around the world. Need help deciding? Ride the Siesta Key Breeze Trolley, shop at the nearby Siesta Key Village, join an e-bike tour along the beach, or rent a jet ski for a thrilling ride across the waters. 2. Use an app to find objects, score points and complete challenges, all under the supervision of a local host. And its a curious place to visit. Adult tickets are $18, with options for children and seniors. 10 best places to visit in South Sarasota County: Venice, North Port, Osprey and Nokomis.