Outdoor Activities

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Combine exercise, fun and sightseeing in one. Whether you're a competitive cyclist or just looking for a leisurely bike ride, you'll find what you need in Sarasota.

There are many different ways to experience Sarasota County; the best way, though, is on a bicycle. Whether you're looking for bike rentals in Venice Beach, cycles on Siesta Beach, or rides through Sarasota, here's the scoop on where to get the bikes and where to take them. 

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Runners rejoice -- you can take your vacation without having to pause your training. Sarasota County is an excellent Florida Gulf Coast destination and a Runner Friendly Community, as chosen by the Road Runner Club of America.

Vacation and training for a race tend to pair together about as well as oil and water. Too often, "training" on vacation means running loops around the small park next to the hotel, or laboriously dull treadmill jogging.

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Beyond Sarasota County's beautiful beaches, shopping, dining and cultural amenities there is something else to make your visit special. Get a glimpse of Florida's "natural" side and its authentic beauty in our state parks.

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Hunting for fossilized shark teeth is a treasured Sarasota County pastime, and the best place to find them is along the coastline of Venice, Florida.

It's a picture-perfect morning on Southwest Florida's Venice beach, as the cloudless royal blue sky meets the far-off horizon. The emerald-green Gulf of Mexico gently laps onto the sandy shoreline, and a few barefooted beachcombers are off in the distance, searching for the discarded teeth of the ocean’s infamous hunters.

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Consistently named in TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice™ top beaches year after year, come see why this island oasis has remained at the top of the list since 2015.

Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Florida continues to rank highly on the “Top 25 Beaches” lists curated by worldwide travelers and renowned coastal experts.

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You’re never too young to explore the great outdoors—and we’ve got plenty of short trails to help little ones enjoy nature.

“Are we there yet?” “How much longer?” “I’m tired; can you carry me?”

If you’re a parent, you’ve probably heard these kinds of questions and complaints what feels like a million times. They’re never fun to hear, especially when you’re trying to enjoy the beauty of nature by taking a family hike.

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Traveling with a pet? Get prepared with our guide on this critter-friendly destination offering plenty of options for accommodations.

When it's time for a vacation, plenty of people like to plan trips the entire family can enjoy—and for lots of us, family includes our furry four-legged friends. If you wouldn't dream of leaving Fido at home during your trip to the sunny Gulf Coast of Florida, we've got the dish for you on traveling with pets in Sarasota County.

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There are unique animals everywhere in Sarasota County. How many sightings can you cross off your list?

Do you dream of seeing a dolphin? Are you amazed by alligators? Florida is home to a lot of animal species that have become somewhat iconic to our state. And Sarasota County has plenty of places where travelers can check some of those creatures off their wish lists. Here’s where to go to spot several of those well-known wild wonders—plus a few ways to see some animals you may not expect in these parts.

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Sarasota County hosts the highest density of loggerhead sea turtle nests in the Gulf of Mexico. Here's what you need to know about sharing our beaches with these cute critters.

If you head to Sarasota County’s beaches this time of year, you might find you’re not the only one settling in on the sand—and that you have company of the non-human kind.