Escape to Sarasota, Florida

Things to do in Sarasota

• Sarasota Jungle Gardens
  Sarasota Jungle Gardens is a stunning tropical paradise that’s a combination of animal park and nature experience. You’ll be able to see a lot of animals native to Florida such as alligators, birds and other non-native animals such as monkeys and macaws. By far the highlight for me was feeding the flamingos that walk around. They are so friendly and it’s a really fun experience and creates a memorable photo op.

• The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
  This is one of my favorite places on all of the Gulf Coast. This museum and grounds looks like a European postcard. The grounds are massive with beautiful gardens and banyan trees. There are a series of museums and the art and paintings are truly stunning along with the different sculptures and statues. The whole museum and grounds look like they were plucked straight out of Italy.
  
  Tip - The museum of art, the grounds and the gardens are free on Mondays!

• Mote Aquarium
  Going to the Mote Aquarium is the perfect rainy day activity or just when you want a break from the sun. Here, you’ll find beautiful animals and exhibits such as Florida Watershed, the Shark Zone and Creatures from the Coastal. They also offer a variety of activities such as breakfast with the sharks and eco boat tours.

• St. Armands Circle
  Located truly in the heart of Lido Key, St. Armands Circle is the center of town and where all of the shops and restaurants are located. It's walking distance from the beach and a fun place to bike or walk around.

• Lido Key Beach
  This beach is one of the best in Florida, in my opinion. The sand feels like powdered sugar and the water is calm, clear and great for swimming. This is also a great beach for sea shell lovers and many unique and beautiful shells can be found here.
  
  Tip: If you want the best chance of finding shells, go at low tide. Google the times of the tides on the day that you want to visit and try to go at a time closest to low tide.

• Bayfront Park
  Taking a stroll around Bayfront Park and the marina is a wonderful free activity in Sarasota with picture perfect photo opportunities such as the famous Unconditional Surrender Statue of the sailor and the nurse after World War 2.

• Kayak or Paddleboard at Bird Key Par Bird Key Park is the ideal spot to pull over on your way to Lido Key. There are picnic tables perfect for lunch and areas to walk your pets. You can fish here or launch your own kayak or paddleboard and enjoy the calm waters of Sarasota Bay.

• Dolphin and Manatee Watching Cruise
  Taking a dolphin cruise for a couple hours is a great way to take in the water from a different view. The expert guides and marine biologists are great at spotting dolphins and giving more information and history about the wildlife in these waters. If you go in the winter months, you can also spot manatees which are always a fun sighting.

• Mini Golf with Alligators
  A perfect activity for the whole family or a fun date night, Smugglers Cove is a extensive mini golf experience with 18 holes. A highlight of Smugglers Cove is their group of 20-30 alligators that visitors can observe or even feed with a special fishing pole.

Venice Day Trip
If you're staying in Sarasota for more than a few days, explore a little further south to Venice, Florida. This is an easy day trip from Sarasota with Venice being only about 45 minutes away. What's so special about Venice is that it's the shark tooth capital of the world. On the beaches on Venice (especially Caspersen beach,) it's possible to find dozens of fossilized shark teeth within just a few hours. This is a really fun activity for kids to sift through shells in search of these treasures. Despite its reputation for shark teeth, I've never seen a shark at these beaches and I've only ever had wonderful experiences here.

Tip: You may notice many people on the beach using shifters on a long handle to sift through sand and shells to find shark teeth. They definitely make it a lot easier to find the teeth. You can buy these at many of the local beach stores or on Amazon.

Places to eat and drink in Sarasota:

• Green Zebra Cafe

This is a fun, quirky cafe that offers a delicious variety of healthy and allergy friendly brunch and dinner options. They have nutritious wellness shots and juices, amazing acai bowls and savory entrees.

• Boca

Boca is a cool local hangout spot with seasonal fresh ingredients and a beautiful atmosphere. Visit for brunch, lunch or dinner and enjoy some dark chocolate orange cake for dessert.

• Crab & Fin

Crab & Fin is located right in the heart of St. Armands Circle, making it a perfect spot for some fresh seafood after the beach. Whether you're craving raw oysters, local mahi-mahi, caribbean yellowfin tuna or blue crab crab-cakes, you won't be disappointed.

• Bevardi’s Salute

This is a perfect spot when you're having some cravings for Italian food whether it's lasagna or brushette. The location feels very Italian with indoor/outdoor seating and cozy string lights.

• Duval’s Fresh Local Seafood

Duval's is a perfect option if you want to dress up a little bit and have a delicious dinner with fresh options such as ocean scampi and filet mignon. You will also find a variety of incredible desserts here such as key lime pie, bread pudding and flourless chocolate cake.

• Kilwins

Kilwins is the ultimate stop for a treat on Lido Key. It's located in St. Armands Circle and is very popular with locals and tourists. In addition to ice cream, the have a variety of fudge, truffles and candy apples. The toasted coconut ice cream is my absolute favorite and it's a must try!

• Toasted Mango Cafe

For a tropical and yummy breakfast or lunch option, head to the Toasted Mango cafe. Here you'll find the award winning toasted mango waffle or the delicious breakfast banana split. Anything from here will surely make you feel like you're on vacation.

• Oleary’s Tiki Bar and Grill

At Oleary's, you can find the ultimate toes in the sand dining. It's casual here, so it's the perfect place to kick back, eat great food and take in the views. Walk around their little beach and the dock after you eat and enjoy the Florida sunshine.