![Boat parking at The Crow’s Nest in Venice [Photo: Lauren Jackson]](/sites/default/files/styles/popular_stories_teaser/public/2023-import/The-Crow%2527s-Nest-cropped__OPT.jpg.webp?itok=ycs37M-O)
Take a walking tour of Gillespie Park and the Rosemary District that highlights architecture and history of the area.
This walking tour spans approximately 3 miles from start to finish through the historic neighborhood of Gillespie Park and the Rosemary District, located to the immediate north of downtown Sarasota.
Whether standing up, lying down or kneeling on a board, finding one’s groove in the sport of coastal paddle boarding is an individualistic experience. Lovers of this form of leisure appreciate fresh air, saltwater and wildlife.
Sarasota County is a beautiful place, ripe with things to enjoy such as arts and culture, fine restaurants and romantic beaches. With a mix of residents from all over the country and the world, Sarasota County is a open and diverse atmosphere. It is an excellent place for the LGBT traveler to experience the beauty of an arts destination, chill vibe of community boasting some of the best beaches in the world, and much more.
Located in Venice, Fla., Fox Lea Farm is one of the few privately owned equestrian facilities in the state.
While many of the events held at the facility are owned and managed by Fox Lea Farm, Inc., it is also available for rental to outside organizations. Hunter jumper, quarter horse, appaloosa and dressage shows have all been held at this facility. In addition to bleachers and viewing pavilions, an onsite café is available for every event.
Equestrian
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.
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.
