50 Things to Do in Sarasota with Only a Few Hours

Whether you’re here on vacation, for a sporting event or a business trip, or just passing through, you can find something to do every time of day on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Here are 50 of our favorites:

1.    Admire native Florida flora and fauna like river otters, red-shouldered hawks and beautyberry while strolling Red Bug Slough Preserve. The sneakers- or sandals-friendly trails are short and easy to navigate, meaning you can spend an hour here — or pack a picnic and spend several hours birding, fishing and letting the kids explore the playground.

2.    A few hours may not be enough time for a full 18 holes, but it’s perfect for popping into the driving range at one of Sarasota County’s golf courses or experiencing mini golf Tiger Woods-style at PopStroke.

3.    Spend time at The Bay Sarasota, a free public park that’s accessible to people of all abilities. Sit in an Adirondack chair set in the sand and listen to the waves lapping, rent a kayak from the on-site outfitter, or grab a cocktail from The Nest and watch the sunset.

4.    Relax with a treatment at The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota spa or the spa at the new St. Regis Longboat Key Resort. A hydrating facial or deep-tissue massage will fill that block of time nicely.

5.    Seek out treasures at Red Barn Flea Market, one of Florida's most popular flea markets and a local landmark. Don’t miss murals by area artists, the farmer’s market out back and the food court serving up Mexican, Polish and more.

6.    Take a beach walk in Venice — and keep an eye out for hints of black in the sand. The beaches at and around Venice Jetty are sprinkled with fossilized shark teeth, making this area the Shark Tooth Capital of the World.

7.    The Ringling is a must-do on any visit to Sarasota. Explore the estate of circus magnate John Ringling and his wife, Mable, which includes an art museum, a circus museum, the Ca’ d’Zan mansion and the Bayfront Gardens. And if you’re there on a Monday, admission to the art museum and gardens is free!

8.    Visit the Amish neighborhood of Pinecraft for a slice of pie at Der Dutchman or Yoder’s Restaurant & Amish Village. Peanut butter cream is a local favorite, and other options include Key lime, Dutch apple and strawberry rhubarb.

9.    There’s always something going on in Sarasota, like the Siesta Key Crystal Classic sand-sculpting festival, Sarasota Chalk Festival or Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week. Check out our events calendar to see what’s going on during your visit.

10.    Peruse four galleries featuring local as well as international artists at Art Center Sarasota, free and open to the public six days a week.

11.    Throw back a dozen on the half shell at Siesta Key Oyster Bar or Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar, both Sarasota institutions — and both offering a daily happy hour.

12.    Head up to one of the rooftop bars in downtown Sarasota; The Westin Sarasota and Art Ovation Hotel offer panoramic views of the city and Sarasota Bay, plus cocktails and light bites.

13.    Rent a cane fishing pole and feed the gators at Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf. Watch how quickly they swim up to grab a bite from your line! If time allows, putt-putt your way through the pirate ship and caves and around waterfalls.

14.    Kids need to burn off some energy? Visit one of Sarasota County’s many parks or playgrounds to run, climb, slide and swing. Payne Park’s circus-themed playground lets them be the ringmaster of their imaginations.

15.    Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium on City Island has a main aquarium featuring local sea creatures, sharks and two touch pools — and that’s only the half of it. Across the street and included in admission is the marine mammal center, where the manatees, sea turtles, otters and alligators make their home. And look for the new Mote SEA, opening in 2025 near University Town Center.

16.    Take a leisurely stroll through Bayfront Park and take in the views of Sarasota Bay and the John Ringling Causeway, which connects downtown to Bird Key and, beyond, Lido Key and St. Armands Circle. While you’re at the park, admire public art — if you can tear your eyes away from the area’s natural beauty.

17.    Explore the area you’re staying in or check out others using the Neighborhood Navigator Pass. Check in along the way and collect points towards a custom Tervis tumbler!

18.    Uncover the history of Newtown, a neighborhood just north of downtown Sarasota, and celebrate more than a century of local African-American history with Newtown Alive. This two-hour trolley tour stops at churches, businesses and other locations key to Sarasota’s civil rights story.

19.    Walk, run, bike or skate the 18.5 miles of Legacy Trail, a paved path stretching north to south across Sarasota County. Free parking is available at seven trailheads along the way, including the Historic Venice Train Depot and Oscar Scherer State Park.

20.    Stroll nine gardens featuring butterflies to bromeliads at Sarasota Botanical Gardens. The gardens’ hidden-in-plain-sight location between downtown Sarasota and Sarasota Bay makes it easy to access and enjoy for a couple of hours.

21.    Cross the Ringling Bridge into St. Armands Circle for an afternoon of snacking, shopping and people-watching. Sip the famous sangria and nosh on soft, warm Cuban bread from the sidewalk of Columbia Restaurant. Browse shops selling beach wear, gifts and coastal décor. And walk the Circus Ring of Fame, which pays tribute to circus performers from around the world, smack dab in the middle of the circle.

22.    Cover 5,000 years of Florida history — including a prehistoric burial mound, a pioneer homestead and plants native to the Sunshine State — at Historic Spanish Point. A few hours are perfect for a self-guided tour of the 30 acres. 

23.     At Sarasota Jungle Gardens, the free-roaming flamingos that eat out of the palm of your hand are a highlight. Other interactions feature alligators, tortoises and macaws, and be sure to make time to stroll the gardens for a glimpse of Old Florida.

24.    If it’s late February or March, Spring Training is in full swing, so take yourself out to the ball game. The Baltimore Orioles’ spring home is Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, and the Atlanta Braves play at CoolToday Park in Venice.

25.    Expend some energy at Jumpin Fun Inflata Park, an indoor inflatable adventure park complete with a “zip rail coaster,” battle beam, ninja wall and other challenges.

26.    Feed a liger at Big Cat Habitat (or a lion, tiger or bear!). Open afternoons Wednesday through Sunday, this conservation center is dedicated to educating visitors. Live shows happen daily, and you can book private experiences with lemurs, a sloth and other residents. 

27.    The historic Burns Court neighborhood is the place to get your Instagram photos, with its colorful buildings and murals galore. Definitely have your phone in hand, but don’t forget your wallet — these few blocks have some of the cutest boutiques and coffee shops in town.

28.    Catch the 77 Siesta Islander and soak up the views and scents of the surf. This free, open-air trolley takes riders between downtown Sarasota, Siesta Key Village, Siesta Beach and other stops on the island, letting you take in some fabulous sights without dropping a dime.

29.    Rent a stand-up paddleboard and try your hand at paddleboarding. Outfitters like Dolphin Paddlesports, SURFit USA and Vanhunks also rent kayaks if you’re more comfortable sitting down.

30.    In search of a rainy-day activity (or air conditioning in the dog days of summer)? Challenge your friends, family or yourself to the perfect frame at Bowlero Gulf Gate. 

31.    Test your shooting skills at Sarasota Trap, Skeet and Clays, offering beginner, intermediate and intermediate-hard sporting clay courses among the trees of Nokomis.

32.    Catch the Swirl’d Tour food truck and taste the history of Mixon Fruit Farms, a local institution since 1939. We recommend the Mixon Swirl ice cream cone, a combination of vanilla and orange — straight from the farm’s citrus grove, not artificial flavoring.

33.    Get a resort pass for the pool at The Sarasota Modern, and for a small fee, amenities like the heated pool, hot tub, and poolside food and beverage service at this downtown hot spot are yours to enjoy.

34.    Practice your French — or simply sip café and pull apart a flaky croissant — at C’est la Vie! Its flagship on Main Street lets you sit on the sidewalk and soak up the city atmosphere, or try its new Lakewood Ranch location.

35.    Embrace your sense of adventure and give parasailing a try for the best views of Florida’s Gulf Coast. CB's Saltwater Outfitters is a solid option for your first flight, as is Siesta Key Watersports. 

36.    Small plates like rock shrimp and blue crab lollipops and specialty cocktails with names like Martini Thyme and Italian Job are on the menu at Libby’s Neighborhood Brasserie in Southside Village as well as its sister location out east, Libby’s Lakewood Ranch.

37.    Head to Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch for shopping, dining or a cold pint at Good Liquid Brewing Co. There’s a farmers’ market year-round on Sundays, and Ranch Nite Wednesdays with cornhole, live music and food trucks every Wednesday evening October through May. If you’re in the southern part of the county, check out the comparable Wellen Park.

38.    Sometimes nothing but a bit of retail therapy will hit the spot. If this is you, shop your way through the massive University Town Center (UTC) district for a selection of local favorites to national brands, including Madewell, Trader Joe’s and Buff City Soap. When it’s time to re-energize, hit Foxtail Coffee Co., Five-O Donut or CROP Juice for a pick-me-up. 

39.    Get in on the fishing action from Venice Fishing Pier. Snook, jack, whiting and Spanish mackerel are common, but if you have the right bait and tackle, there’s a chance you will catch (and release) anything that swims by.

40.    Search out the myriad art installations around the county. “Unconditional Surrender” at Bayfront Park is a can’t-miss, a few sculptures are scattered throughout downtown Sarasota, and murals are painted on walls all around the aforementioned Burns Court.

41.    Marie Selby Botanical Gardens made TIME’s list of World’s Greatest Places 2024, and for good reason. The botanical garden recently became the world’s first net-positive-energy botanical garden. Other alluring areas include the Children’s Rainforest Garden, a butterfly house, orchids, bromeliads and the historic towering banyans, planted on the campus in 1939.

42.    Try putting down your phone and relishing in the simple joy of soaking in the world around you — or maybe even reading a book! Find a park bench, a warm stretch of sand on the beach or a cozy coffee shop and lose yourself in someone else’s story.

43.    Taste a flight of craft beer from a local brewery or brew pub, like Big Top Brewing, 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop and Back Porch Brewing Co. Check each’s website for their seasonal releases, food trucks and events.

44.    Stop and smell the roses in the garden of the historic Edson Keith Mansion. If time allows, stroll the nature trail of adjacent Phillippi Estate Park, located along Phillippi Creek.

45.    Watch the sunset drop over the water and put on a kaleidoscopic show, anywhere from the beach to bayfront parks to rooftop bars. The best part is you can catch this any time of year.

46.    Spend the evening in Englewood. Pop into the shops and galleries along Dearborn Street before settling in for a waterside dinner at Farlow's on the Water, serving Caribbean fare with a dash of southern flavor. One specialty is shrimp, scallops and blue crab in a cream sauce, baked in a skillet with Kentucky cornbread on top … YUM!

47.    Walk the nature trail and mangrove boardwalk at Ken Thompson Park, being careful not to hit your head on the low-hanging canopy or step on the fiddler crabs scurrying underfoot.

48.    Sarasota is home to more than 320 bird species, making it a hub for birdwatching. Grab your binoculars or at least your sunglasses; the Celery Fields, Oscar Scherer State Park and Venice Area Audubon Rookery are popular destinations, but even a drive down I-75 will reveal osprey nests, swooping cranes and the occasional bald eagle.

49.    Use this gift of time to get the perfect vacation photo of your family, friends … or yourself! Fix your hair, check your teeth, find your favorite setting and take your time, letting your relaxation and joy shine through.

50.    It seems obvious, but sometimes we need a reminder to do something as simple as going for a walk on the beach. Feel the sand or the Gulf under your toes and the breeze in your hair as you breathe in the rejuvenating salt air.