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In every city, there are those tucked-away tidbits of awesomeness that the locals know to do. Perhaps not the most obvious or Trip Advisor-advertised, but the places and activities the people who live there learn about as the years pass. For those who don’t have years to spend learning them, here you go - 20 great local Mom-approved hidden gems for kids in Sarasota.
Pockets of shopping and dining districts pepper Sarasota County, and visitors rarely have time to explore them all in one day. So, say you only have nine hours to devote to Sarasota district hopping. What would you do? Here is a sample guide. Spend three hours in Southside Village, Gulf Gate and the North Trail's Tamiami Cultural District, respectively, and hunt for gems.
In Sarasota, FL, unlike many other parts of the country, spring is the peak of the year. The season brings migrating avian and sea critters into the area. The warming sea temperatures mean it’s warm enough to dip into the gulf coast, but cool enough to serve as an escape to the afternoon heat. Spring brings an event or festival virtually every weekend. Spring brings theatre and music. Spring brings the king of all fishing experiences: tarpon. But most of all, spring brings fun.
As a rest stop for migratory birds with bountiful lands such as the Celery Fields and Myakka State Park, there's always something new to be seen through the binocular lens.
With 40 miles of white sand beaches and a bay front with city views, Sarasota County, Fla., was named a USA Today's Great Waterfronts to Visit Across North America Top 10 List. Whether you take in the view from a sandy beach, aboard a floating vessel or from the warmth of your seat at the dining table, there is a wealth of places and ways to enjoy waterfront views when staying in Sarasota County.
The USA Today's Travel section produces the top 10 "Best of" lists for a variety of travel-related topics.
A drive down U.S. 41 yields a bevy of eateries and retail options throughout the cities of Osprey and Nokomis. And the exclusive Casey Key has extravagant celebrity homes and privates stretches of shoreline. After the sun sets over the Gulf of Mexico, a beach walk and a drum circle are the perfect preludes to curling up in oceanside hotel suites.
The sugary, white quartz sand and the Gulf Coast waters that stretch all along Siesta Key are reason enough to visit the Siesta Key public beach when vacationing in Sarasota County, Florida.
The Gulf Beach Resort Motel has been on Lido Key since the 1950s, making it the oldest hotel on the island. Learn more about the resort in our video!
The 66-acre-grounds of The Ringling is itself an exhibit. The grounds feature the largest collection of Banyan trees in Florida, as well as a variety of other exotic trees. Sprawled throughout the grounds are a number of gardens as well, including the Mable Ringling's Rose Garden.
