2075 Bahia Vista St, Sarasota, FL 34239, USA. Come along if you dare! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Work in teams of 2-10 people to solve a series of mental and physical puzzles. And since the course has 18 holes instead of the usual 9, youll end up spending more time out and enjoying the surroundings. The 15 Best Things to Do in Sarasota, FL - Wandering Wheatleys The Siesta Key distillery produces outstanding, award-winning rums. The park started hosting regatta competitions in 2009, with only a few sites in the nation standing up to the task. With the citys superb weather and beautiful beaches, it takes a lot to drag Sarasota visitors indoors, but the citys annual Improv Festival is as good a reason as any. This is a really fun thing to do while in Sarasota. Whether you are a total beginner or a regular Indiana Jones there is a course here for you. A historic theatre turned opera house, the Sarasota Opera House has been renovated to exude refinery and class as visitors come upon its stunning Mediterranean Revival-style architecture. The campground at Oscar Scherer State Park is a hit during the winter and an excellent option for an authentic outdoorsy stay in Floridas nature! Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Sarasota - Atlas Obscura This is a lot of fun but not for the faint of heart. Follow our journey in real time on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. Youll save yourself the hassle of finding a taxi and received personalized attention the entire time. photo: VisitSarasota.com 6. Here are some the best events which is happening on this weekend in Sarasota. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Escape rooms. Between its wealthy patrons, private collectors, museums and creators there is art on display in the city almost everywhere you look. is one of Sarasotas most adventurous attractions. Or a giant tortoise? 21 Things To Do In Sarasota With Kids (Fun Family Activities) While we absolutely recommend hitting the white sandy beaches, don't let the adventure end there. My Sarasota Events Calendar is your gateway to Sarasota happenings and fun things to do in Sarasota, Florida and throughout the sparkling Sun Coast each year. ), Romantic things to do as a couple in Sarasota, The Best Hidden Gems in the US for Your Next Trip, The Secret Behind The Beignets of Cafe du Monde New Orleans, Be The Change: Steps to Take for a Better World, How to Boost Your Writing in 4 Simple Steps. Sarasota Events Calendar - Fun things to do in - Escape to Sarasota ), Related:Things To Do in Daytona Beach, Florida. They then throw them back in to the water to keep these studies sustainable. Of course, you have! But its the Sea Life Encounters cruise that brings the under and overwater world to life. It offers units with a living area, their own kitchen, and a spa bath. A boat sitting in the Bayfront Park Marina in downtown Sarasota, southwest Florida (Photo: Gregory Urbano via Flickr). Top 5 events in Sarasota, Bradenton area this weekend Free events including ones with live music, food, beer, wine and cocktails in Sarasota-Manatee. It has 30 acres along Little Sarasota Bay, boasting an impressive collection of native Florida plants along scenic nature trails. While you ride, learn about the vibrant history and culture of the city from your . The 12 Most Unique Things to Do in Saratoga Springs, NY A place for business, socialisation, and entertainment this is probably the best way to describe the most important fresh produce market in Sarasota county. South Lido Park, and the conjoined Ted Sperling Park, offer a peaceful respite from the more bustling parts of the city. Looking for fun, free things to do? For the best in local foods and ingredients dont miss the Sarasota Farmers Market. The museum is in an eye-catching pink Renaissance-style palace, which houses 31 galleries. Robin Hood Rentals 12. The superb acoustics are its crowning jewel, making the audience feel like they are not just witnessing a performance but are enveloped by the sound. Explore the city in an air-conditioned trolley and be entertained by informed guides. After the fact, it was super fun to laugh about the squirrels at CCoquinaBeach. One of the most unique ways to explore Sarasota is by joining a Historic Trolley Tour. 2. Whether you're looking for attractions for kids or fun for teens, there are tons of family things to do in this Florida city. Unfortunately, visitors will not be able to see manatees at the park. The 12-mile-long route is also dog-friendly so no one has to miss out. The Park is situated at the very tip of Lido Key and kayak and paddleboard rentals are available nearby. Also about an hour away along the coast is Tampa, home to thrills and screams at Busch Gardens, plenty of culinary delights, a chance to zipline over a natural preserve, and lots of parks to explore. Tampa Bay theme parks is just minutes away too if youre looking to get your heart pumping. Among them, the city of Sarasota stands out as one of the most enchanting, thanks to its mix of distinguished arts institutes and miles of beautiful beaches with fine sand and shallow waters. Explore Myakka River State Park 4. Showcasing a diverse range of productions, the organization aims to make theatre accessible and affordable to all. Sarasota Farmers Market. The Ringling 4. 1. The Sarasota Classic Car Museum features a collection of Rolls Royce autos from famous circus magnates John and Mable Ringling and numerous other classic and muscle vintage cars on display. A boat tour has to be one of the most fun things to do in Sarasota. All you can see from here used to be their land. Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium Paulleon / Shutterstock The Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is situated on City Island, in a little spot called Ken Thompson Parkway in Sarasota, Florida. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236, map Tickets: $15 for adults, $10 for kids We've always loved checking out botanical gardens and even more now that I'm obsessed with plants. Back in the day, the opera house was founded as the Edwards Theater and later named the Florida Theater before becoming an opera house. The Sarasota Childrens Garden offers a multi-sensory experience where kids can pretend to be fairies, become Pirate kings or queens, climb into forts, or hide under giant magical mushrooms. It is one of a series of computer-generated sculptures created by American artist Seward Johnson. University Park, The Meadows, Sara Bay and Founders are all excellent members-only clubs. The __gads cookie, set by Google, is stored under DoubleClick domain and tracks the number of times users see an advert, measures the success of the campaign and calculates its revenue. Think giant inflatable playground with climbing walls, zip lines, wrecking balls and enough silly fun to leave you totally exhausted. Watch river otters play and fluidly glide through the waters. Florida is not all about sandy beaches and palm trees. Meat, cheese, honey they are all from reliable sources. It has some of the softest sand I have ever walked on. Theres also a flag assembly area, a memorial walkway, a donations area, committal shelters, and a ceremonial amphitheater. Test your skills at Jumpin Fun Inflata Park against friends or family members, through a series of obstacles thatll bring out the competitive side in all of you. The Historic Spanish Point campus is less than ten miles from the downtown Sarasota campus. The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. Marvel at a medieval art exhibit at the Ringling Museum of Art. A 600-acre community park, Nathan Benderson Park is renowned for its world-class rowing and recreational facility along with its 2,000-meter sprint rowing course. 10 best places to visit in South Sarasota County: Venice, North Port, Osprey and Nokomis. Sarasota County has a variety of attractions for everyone's enjoyment, from art museums to natural science aquariums and other local must-sees. But I promise, there is still so much more to do in this idyllic southwest Florida town. Fun Things to Do in Sarasota, Florida Today - Thrillist During a tour you may get to visit everything from independent neighborhood shops to gourmet restaurants. After a busy week of sightseeing, why not unwind at The Ritz-Carlton Resort? A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface. Visit Sarasotas most important landmarks and cultural sites on these whistle-stop trips. Here are the 30 best and fun things to do in Sarasota, Florida. You can find McCurdys at the intersection of Ringling Boulevard and Washington Avenue in downtown Sarasota. Don't miss out on the attractions that make this such a hidden gem! 37 Free Things to Do in Sarasota in 2022 [Complete List] The Celery Fields is another of Sarasotas lesser-known gems. For a more easy-going night out, why not try the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Sarasota Art Museum 7. Among the famous car brands represented here are Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Cadillac and Ferrari. 30 Best Fun things to do in Sarasota Florida You Must Do! Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium 10. Once in the tunnels, its an awe-inspiring sight, where fish and fiddler crabs swim inches away from you in waters so clear you can see the grass resting on the waterbed below. The United States National Cemetery, the Sarasota National Cemetery, is the sixth of seven national cemeteries established in Florida. It is part zoo part garden with so much to see. This one is fun for all the family. Experience a truly laid-back taste of Florida life. Small tours run on low pontoon boats, and children are allowed to board too as long as they dont fall in (! Want to hear something crazy? Cookies containing your personal data may be used for personalized and non-personalized advertising to you. Discover Sarasota Tours offers daily tours in an air-conditioned trolley featuring intriguing events from Sarasota's rich past including tiki trivia, circus tours and an "infamous Sarasota". How to swim with manatees in Florida, the ethical way, What surprised me about the Marie Selby Gardens, Weird things to do in Daytona Beach, Florida, The Ultimate West Coast Florida itinerary, A fly-drive itinerary for the west coast in Florida, Driving Massachusetts: road trips from Boston, Two weeks in Alabama: the most surprising road trip, The pre-travel checklist you can print and download. Officially recognized as the second oldest continuously operating antique car museum in the United States, the museum is a leap back to the start of one of the greatest inventions. It has a magnificent downtown Sarasota spot, near the Opera House and Main Street shops and restaurants. Escape from Sarasota? 21 Unusual and Unique Things To Do in Sarasota Florida But this unique list of things to do has been tested and curated by yours truly. Read next: The Perfect 3 Days In Tampa Itinerary. Enjoy a thrilling speed boat ride or a leisurely sail around the local beauty spots and beaches. 6. 14 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Sarasota, FL The 1950s. Guides are on-site at all times to help navigate the tougher parts of the trails. Medieval Art Exhibit at the Ringling Museum. You can see small mountains of shells as you are just starting to explore the park, which were thrown aside by the Manasota people right after consuming them. THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Sarasota - Tripadvisor Search for free among 1,500,000 tours in every destination around the world! While admission is typically $25, you can enjoy FREE . Stroll around the Circus Ring of Fame, which honours numerous circus performing legends and have a think about the level of vision and influence that John Ringling embodied. Want more than just unusual and unique things to do in Sarasota? With or without children, youll need at least a day here. Just an hour away is St. Petersburg, filled with things to do that include more beautiful white sands, a thriving downtown, a chance to hike the Boyd Hill Nature Preserve at night, and a series of unique indoor attractions like the world-class Dali museum. Founded by billionaires William and Marie Selby, a constellation of different gardens overlook Sarasota Bay: banyan groves, clumping bamboo, staghorn ferns and local Floridian mangroves. Info: filmsociety.org or 941-955-3456 From burying your toes in white-sandy beaches to adventures that take you deep into mangrove forests, there are plenty of things to do in Sarasota. 12 Fun Things to Do in Sarasota with Kids | SheBuysTravel The campus is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. 3 Awesome Reasons To Do Sand Castle University In Gulf Shores April 10, 2022. DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Here's the skinny on the Sarasota Farmers Market. 6. Family vacations wouldn't be complete without fun, educational, and exciting activities you can all enjoy together. The structure first opened in 2000 and was the first public treetop trail in North America. It has a rotating schedule of temporary exhibitions as well as a large permanent collection. Passengers pose for a photo during a trolley tour (Photo: Historical Society of Sarasota County), Come and admire a replica military installation. Myakka River State Park opened in 1942 and the Myakka River was designated a Florida Wild and Scenic River by the State legislature in 1985. 2 The Ringling Circus Museum. Siesta Key Seaplanes 8. Ive stood on said sand, rummaged and scrummaged and buried my toes in it and I have to agree. To get the most from Sarasotas Lido Key, its best to explore it slowly. 30 Best Things to do in Sarasota - Mom Explores Southwest Florida Its easily one of the best things to do in Sarasota, Florida! Its time to enter into the realm of alligators and still waters. When the weather forces you to step indoors for a while, visit the the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium or the Sarasota Classic Car Museum, step under the protective tarps of the Sarasota Farmers Market, or jump on a trolley for a haunted tour of the city. Port Charlotte. To tour the first floor only, adults pay $10 additional on top of their museum entrance ticket. Upgrade your instagram captions with these hiking quotes and prompts. Or for some fresh air, have a picnic or a walk in Bayfront Park. Vegetarian and vegan food are at their best in Lila, which specializes in noodle bowls, while Made is famous for its Nashville-style hot chicken sandwich filled with bacon, spicy sauce, and cheese. See the West Florida coastline from above, from St Petersburg down to Port Charlotte. A high-flying course of tree-top zip-lines, platforms, climbing walls, ladders and bridges, this place has fun in spades. This is a must-do for daredevils in Sarasota. The Marie Selby Gardens are the best of a botanical garden: an art gallery, adventure centre, cool caf and meditative retreat all in one. It means that legislation preserves and protects the 34 mile portion of the river that runs through Sarasota County and the result is a serene scene of green. Well, in Sarasota theres plenty to get know and plenty to eat too. Emitting an invigorating tropical and artsy vibe, downtown is the perfect place to find some of the top Sarasota attractions. Mixon Fruit Farms is a great place to take the kids for a day of fun. AddThis sets this cookie to ensure that the updated count is seen when one shares a page and returns to it, before the share count cache is updated. The Ringling. With beautiful seafront pools to relax by and a variety of drinks and snacks for a high-quality al fresco dining experience. This place has been hosting regatta competitions since 2009, so if you are lucky, you may stumble into a main event with big crowds cheering for their favourite and setting up stall on picnic tables. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously. Quench the need for quality retail therapy at the various boutiques, galleries, and souvenir shops. Ever fancied testing your puzzle-solving skills to decipher clues and free yourself from a locked room? 1. The well-positioned Bayfront Park is a great place to spend the afternoon. Skydiving in Sarasota is a truly unforgettable experience. Say hello to a manatee, relax on the beach, explore a farmers market these are all must-do activities if you want to make the most out of your trip to Sarasota County. As well as the many varieties of tropical plants and flowers you will also find species of parrots, primates, lizards and alligators as well as the star attraction, the native Florida flamingos. Another great destination less than two hours away is Fort Myers, where sailing, parasailing and taking a day trip to the Everglades National Park is just the beginning of your fun adventures! Whether your interest is shopping, dining or culture you can find it all here. Famous for its eco-tourism and water-based activities, Lido Key Beach is a short, worthwhile drive from Sarasota. St. Armands Circle offers a unique continental shopping experience that feels both classic and contemporary at the same time. Nathan Benderson Park has gone far and beyond to upgrade its facilities to the best, including grandstands, coaching lanes, straight shorelines, a multi-function boathouse, and more! An eclectic treasure trove of maritime marvels. 5 Fun Things to do in Sarasota, Florida - smugglersgolf.com What is the point otherwise?! And realise just how much we all still need to be the change for social justice. They include Bownes Lab Theatre, the Goldstein Cabaret, the John C. Court Cabaret, the Gompertz Theatre, and the Keating Theatre. The resort also has an 18-hole championship golf course, spa, gym, and numerous restaurants to sample the highest quality food and drinks around. This blocked the manatees route up the river, so it is Lake Manatee in name only. And, how breathtaking the view is from here! 1 John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. If you're in the area when the weather warms up, make sure you catch a race at the Saratoga Race Course.