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Things To Do In Sarasota
Sarasota is a city on central Florida’s west coast. You can find it just off the interstate 75 highway. Attractions in city are a dime a dozen, with a number of well known tourist destinations lying nearby Sarasota in Florida.
This is a great place for an all-round vacation, with loads of attractions within the city and a number of places to see as part of your day trips from Sarasota. From Sarasota County to the Gulf Coast ,this article will bring to you some of the most unique and top rated things to do while in the city, along with some general information about tourism in the city.
What Is Sarasota Florida Best Known For?
Sarasota is a town filled with vibrancy and culture. It is well known as Florida’s Cultural Center because of the large number of museums, galleries and artsy attractions in the city. There are a number of theaters and art galleries in the city that you can visit while you are here.
It is also known for its natural attractions such as botanical gardens and parks. Some of the best beaches of Florida may be found in Sarasota. It has a number of keys around the city where you can stay during your Sarasota trip. These keys are nearby bodies of water and make for the perfect Florida vacation.
The city is also known for the circuses here. Some of these establishments have been around for a long time and its no wonder that Sarasota is also referred to as a Circus Town.
Is Sarasota Worth Visiting?
Sarasota is a town that that many tourists don’t know about perhaps. This underrated destinations might just become the next best thing on your travel list. Lying on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, this unique Florida destination will offer you a whole lot of things to do.
There are a number of beaches here, and some of them might rightly be called the best beaches in the world. What the city iss known for is its Circus culture and art galleries. For the tourists into culture, the city can be the most worthwhile visit in Florida. There are shopping opportunities and gardens filled with beautiful plants and flowers.
All in all, Sarasota is a really great place to visit and can be one of the best vacations you will ever take. Come here and let the town surprise you.
Unique Things To Do In Sarasota
This section of the article will explore some of the best and most unique things to do when you visit Sarasota.
The John & Mable Ringling Museum Of Art
Find the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art on Bay Shore Sarasota. Here you will find a number of pieces representing art and architecture from different eras in the world. Classical art such as Greek, Roman and Renaissance art are displayed here in their originals as well as reproductions.
Consider spending a couple of hours here at the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art. You can also find free tours here that are a really good way of touring the John Ringling museum.
Myakka River State Park
Spread over 60 square miles, the Myakka River State Park offers a number of activities spread over its myriad of natural features such as prairies, lakes and wetlands. The most common and best activities here at the Myakka River State Park are hiking, biking, fishing, and kayaking in the river.
You can sign up for tours of the park on land or by airboat, which lets you see the great views the park has to offer from an aerial view. The park also has a lot of hiking trails, gift shops and a visitor’s center.
Bradenton Riverwalk
When you visit Sarasota, Florida, you will find the Manatee river to be one of the top attractions in the city. The Bradenton Riverwalk along the Manatee river offers you one of the most unique things to do in Sarasota. The riverwalk runs for over 2 miles and is also accessible via a wheelchair.
Featuring skate parks, amphitheaters and volleyball courts, the riverwalk features a lot of open spaces for you to chill. If you come to Sarasota during the summer, you can see outdoor and live shows. Enjoy fishing at the pier and take a jump into the splash pad.
Palma Sola Botanical Park
The Palma Sola Botanical Park features a number of gardens and trail connected grounds. The park contains picnic areas, gazebos and three lakes that are great for scenic shots from your camera. The park was created as a green space and to preserve unique trees from a municipal nursery.
While you are here, you can take part in instructional and educational workshops. Such workshops are best for children and you will find them to be a great experience. The park remains open all year round except for major holidays.
Mote Marine Laboratory And Aquarium
Find a large number of exhibits here on unique marine animals such as turtles. eels and more. The Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is located on Ken Thompson Parkway in Sarasota.
A few of the most unique attractions in the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is the shark tank and their yearly reptile exhibit on American alligators and crocodiles.
All in all, the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is one of the best things to do in Sarasota.
Sarasota Farmers Market
This is one of those things to do in Sarasota that are pretty well known. The Sarasota farmers market has been around since 1979 and opens up every Saturday from 7 AM until 1 PM. This is one of the most unique things to do in Sarasota due to the quality and uniqueness of its products.
You will be able to find not only fruits and vegetables but other products such as arts and crafts, health products, baked goods and prepared food items as well.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
These botanical gardens have been in use and open for visiting since four decades and are home to some of the most distinct plants and flowers in the city. There is a lot of stuff to do here at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens such as visiting the Butterfly and Rainforest gardens, checking out caves, rope bridges and ponds with goldfishes.
This attraction is one of the best things to do. Sarasota, Florida is a town filled with a lot of commercial spots so the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens offers a respite into nature. Do come to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens while you are in Sarasota.
Mad Moe’s
This eatery boasts the perfect ambience for your afternoon lunch at really affordable prices. The place features an outdoor patio for seating and keeps its bar well stocked. The fish tacos here are really amazing. Mad Moe’s can be the best retreat on your day trips around Sarasota.
Whether you are visiting Downtown Sarasota, or Sarasota Bay, or any Siesta Key, Mad Moe’s is the place to come and relax. You can find locals here catching games on the television screens. Mad Moe’s is located on the North Tamiami Trail in Osprey.
Florida Maritime Museum
In the nearby town of Cortez, the Florida Maritime Museum celebrates the rich maritime history of Florida. The focus of the Florida Maritime Museum is commercial fishing and nautical artifacts such as naval logs and photographs. Florida is a special place for people who are into naval culture and history.
The state’s coastline is the longest in the US and there are places of note such as Gulf Coast and Sarasota Bay. Best for a day trip outside the city, the Florida Maritime Museum also has a research library. The Florida Maritime Museum is one of the best things to do in Sarasota Florida.
De Soto National Memorial
The De Soto memorial is a tribute to Hernando De Soto whose fruitless search for the fountain of youth and cities of gold led him to Florida over 500 years ago.
The De Soto National Memorial features a large area composed of scenic views of coastline. The place also offers kayaking, hiking, fishing and picnicking. You can also engage in birdwatching while you are at the De Soto National Memorial.
Village Of The Arts
Located at 12th Avenue West in Bradenton, this place features a number of homes and galleries, studios and more. This place is filled with uniqueness and offers visitors a chance to lose themselves into an artsy setting.
The buildings in the village are almost a century old and features murals, art pieces and more that you can enjoy while you are here. The ambience in this place is really breathtaking and it would be really awesome to enjoy it with a cup of your favorite coffee.
Baltimore Orioles Spring Training Site
The city has been hosting the spring training of the Baltimore Orioles for quite some time now, with the Ed Smith Stadium as their home stadium. Not far from Downtown Sarasota, the stadium is near the interstate 75 highway. You can enjoy a fun day here and it might be worthwhile to have this in your city visit itinerary.
Bobby Jones Golf Complex
This golf course is over a century old and has 45 holes for you to play on. 300 acres of greens and more await you when you play a round at the Bobby Jones Golf Complex. This place is really great for all skill levels of players and features underdeveloped holes that make for really beautiful scenes. Book your spot here in advance before you come to the Bobby Jones Golf Complex. It can be one of the most fun things to do in Sarasota.
We hope you enjoyed our list of the best things to do in Sarasota, Florida. Sarasota features a beautiful combination of natural wonders such as Sarasota Bay and Sarasota County, along with urban places to come to such as museums, circuses and galleries. The miles and miles of beautiful Florida coastline feature some of the best beaches in the entire world. Sarasota County would be a great place to find natural beauty and you can swim and surf at the Sarasota bay.
In light of the COVID 19 pandemic, please make sure to follow all the prescribed safety and personal hygiene norms. You should maintain social distancing and other safety measures to ensure that your trip is safe.
Do let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed this article or wish to share your experiences visiting Sarasota.
Please also read about things to do in Smokies.
