Sarasota County, Florida is located on the Gulf of Mexico about half way down Florida’s peninsula. It has become renowned for it’s white-sand beaches and cultural arts.
In addition, there are some fantastic attractions in Sarasota, Florida that offer affordable family adventures. Here is a list of a few of our favorite places to visit:
Mote Marine
Located on City Island in Sarasota, Mote Marine is an independent, nonprofit marine research institution. It is comprised of world-class marine scientists committed to the belief that the conservation and sustainable use of our oceans begins with research and education. Explore our waters and meet the scientists working to save them. In addition to the aquarium, visitors can experience hands-on exhibits and explorations.
Check out Mote Marine’s events page for more information.
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, located in Sarasota, is the official State Art Museum of Florida. It was established in 1925 by John Ringling to share the arts of Europe with the people of Florida. It was also intended as a legacy and memorial to his wife, Mable Burton Ringling and himself. John was best known for the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. To commemorate this legacy, there is a must-see circus museum on the property that shows the different aspects of the circus, including an amazing miniature model.
Visit Ringling.org to learn more.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Sarasota Jungle Gardens is a family-owned attraction in Sarasota since 1939. Rich in history, they strive to preserve the old-Florida feel and educate and inspire visitors through personal interactions with animals and nature. The gardens contain over 10 acres of tropical landscaping and trails, including over 200 native and exotic animals. There are also bird and reptile shows daily.
Learn more at: SarasotaJungleGardens.com
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens has two campuses, totaling 45 acres of bayfront sanctuaries and gardens. Their Sarasota Campus is a 15-acre botanical garden located Sarasota Bay, walking distance from downtown Sarasota. The grounds are the former home of Marie and William Selby. The Historic Spanish Campus is 30 acres located on Little Sarasota Bay. Both locations host various exhibits and events are wonderful for taking a stroll and learning about various plants native to Florida.
Explore the gardens at: Selby.org
Ed Smith Stadium
Ed Smith Stadium is a baseball field located in Sarasota. Since 2010, it has been the spring-training home of the Baltimore Orioles. Take me out to the ballgame! Click the link for Orioles Spring Training Calendar and other events.
Buy tickets at: https://www.mlb.com/orioles/spring-training
Point of Rocks
Citrus grove with a play park, alligator encounters and a store serving orange-flavored ice cream. They also have trolley tours of their orange groves. It is a great place to spend the afternoon exploring.
While there is no website for this location , Google has a plethora of information on Point of Rocks.
Snook Haven Park and Riverfront Restaurant
Go ahead, take a drive down that dirt road! It’s the one you’ve always been curious about, located at the intersection of River Road and East Venice Avenue. After an exotically beautiful and shaded stretch of canopied palm trees, you’ll discover Snook Haven, a tin-roofed and rustic restaurant, at the end of the road. Truly unique to Sarasota, the Venice landmark is Old Florida at its finest, settled smack dab on the Myakka River. You can experience it all, from BBQ, brews, boats, bands and banjos to backwoods beauty. And, Snook Haven has a wild, yet extraordinary, history of felonious activities, feature films and fishing camps. What better place to spend an afternoon, taking in some local entertainment while feasting on delicious smoked meats with a locally brewed beer in hand?
Check it out: https://www.snookhaven.com
Warm Mineral Springs park
The Warm Mineral Springs is a water-filled sinkhole located in North Port, a mile north of U.S. 41. The primary water supply is a spring vent deep beneath the pool’s water surface. Warm Mineral Springs is the only warm water mineral spring in the State of Florida.
Learn more at: https://www.northportfl.gov/visitors/visit-north-port/warm-mineral-springs–park
The Beaches of Sarasota County
Sarasota county has gorgeous beaches that you can soak up the sun, build sand castles or play in the waves. The beach is also a great place to have a picnic and watch some amazing sunsets.
Siesta Key Beach: https://www.scgov.net/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/521/4318
Lido Beach: https://www.scgov.net/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/569/4318
Caspersen Beach: https://www.scgov.net/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/603/4318
You can bring a sifter and search for shark’s teeth here, or go to a nearby store to purchase a shark’s tooth/sand flea sifter. It is lots of fun to discover them in the sand.
More To See & Do
This is only a short list of the many things to do while exploring Sarasota County. Do you have a favorite place to go? Let us know! The information provided above about the various places came from Wikipedia or the website of the place of interest.
