2022

Looking for some family fun in the sun? You’ve come to the right place.

There are lots of family-friendly ways to explore and enjoy Sarasota County. Whether you’ve got toddlers, tweens or teens in your traveling party, Sarasota County offers all kinds of options for the young (and young at heart).

Here are 10 kid-approved activities to add to your vacation itinerary:

There's plenty of ways to fill your days near America's best beach after soaking up the sun on Siesta Key

You likely already know about Siesta Key Beach—having been ranked #2 of the '25 Best Beaches in the World' by TripAdvisor in 2022 and 2023, as well as its year-after-year accolade as 'The #1 Beach in America,' selected by TripAdvisor users in 2015, 2017 and 2020.

After you’ve hit the beach, try these other spots where you can cool off and splash around

When you want to make a splash in Sarasota County, our beaches are always a great place to start. But beyond the sandy shoreline you’ll find lots of other places where you can dip your toes or dive right in for some watery fun.

For health-conscious diners eating out can often be a challenge, but not in Sarasota.

Sarasota has a wide selection of restaurants that cater to vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free diners. Even if you aren’t a vegetarian, but want to enjoy fresh healthy cuisine created by chefs who specialize in the artful fare, you’re in the right place.

To help guide you through a selection of fresh food eateries, here are some choices for your next “eating green” dining experience:

For a bit of escape from real life, visit a tiki bar to be magically whisked away amongst its chill vibes, cool drinks, soothing tunes and breezy atmosphere. In Sarasota, a tiki bar is always nearby.

Few things scream Florida vacation more than a tiki bar. The palapa overhead, the cool drinks in hand, the salty breeze drifting through the open-air venue – the combination is a tropical trifecta perfect for tourists and locals alike who are searching for that calming escape that the tiki always provides.

In addition to its world-renowned shopping, dining, and beaches, modern St. Armands Circle is home to the Circus Ring of Fame

One century ago, the circus reigned supreme as the pinnacle of popular entertainment in the United States. Beginning in the 1880s and continuing well into the post-war midcentury, exquisite, caravans of colorful wagons carried "The Greatest Show on Earth" from coast-to-coast.

Authentic food and tradition of Eastern European cultures that have become prevalent in Sarasota County’s southern City of North Port.

North Port, in Southeast Sarasota County, is a short 30-minute drive from Sarasota.  A little-known fact is that it is considered the hub of the Ukrainian community in Southwest Florida. European accents and languages can be heard everywhere -- in restaurants, shops and markets - it’s a microcosm of Eastern Europe. Here you’ll likely meet Ukrainians, Russians, Serbians and Poles – to name a few.

So, why North Port?

See this small beach community’s big heart at the beloved, annual Englewood Pioneer Days 

That sense of small-town community is where the Englewood Pioneer Days Parade Committee thrives. They love their town, they love its history, and they believe in preserving and protecting its legacy.