Top 5 Sarasota Outdoor Activities: A Local’s Guide

So, you’re headed to Sarasota and are checking into awesome places to stay, that’s wonderful! You’re obviously thinking about all the fun you can have soaking up that sweet Florida sunshine. Well, you’ve come to just the place! Sarasota is like, totally overflowing with awesome outdoor things that just make you grin. Very seriously, getting outside here? It’s what everyone does! I’m going to walk you through what I see as some really amazing Sarasota outdoor activities.

1. Siesta Key Beach: Powder-Soft Sand and Turquoise Waters

Siesta Key Beach, is that almost the star of Sarasota, right? It has this super, unbelievably soft, super white sand that really does feel like you are walking on straight-up baby powder, basically. And the water? This unreal, bright turquoise color. Honestly, it’s hard to even put into words! I’ve visited some excellent beaches in the area. It’s the perfect place for sinking your toes and zoning out, soaking up the sun, or jumping right into the Gulf for a swim.

You could, by the way, spend the whole day here, really. You might consider chilling on a blanket, reading a book, or watching the waves. When you get a little bit peckish, there are loads of really neat places to grab a bite nearby. The sunsets, too it’s almost iconic at Siesta Key, so you might want to stick around for that. The way that sun kind of melts into the ocean? It is straight-up breathtaking.

2. Myakka River State Park: Wild Florida at Its Finest

Looking for something different from the beaches? Well, Myakka River State Park gives you a totally wild view into Florida’s natural side, for example. It’s one of the largest and pretty much one of the oldest state parks in Florida. I think that you could spend days exploring it!

There’s really lots to do. You can walk, like your feet are in charge of your destiny, through lots of pretty nature trails. Watch birds–the bird watching is stellar! The crazy, fun gators like to bask along the shores. Seriously, it can be pretty amazing, anyway. The local wildlife really does come out to say hello if you look close.

The Myakka Canopy Walkway is just awesome! That lets you get up high above the ground to almost see things like a bird–a great bird with awesome vision. They run airboat tours here, too, so that, is something you might really, really think about. That’s like, so cool, really. You kind of glide right across Upper Myakka Lake and get to see tons of plants and creatures.

3. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens: A Tropical Oasis

If you’re a bit into plants, for instance, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens should be on your list, seemingly. Located right on Sarasota Bay, it gives you pretty sweet views and some incredibly cool collections of all sorts of tropical plants. You get to check into various gardens and landscapes.

They almost often have different things happening, different things for exhibits and events, which can certainly be cool to get to check out. There are gardens almost specializing in orchids and bromeliads–if those really fascinate you, anyway. There’s a cool children’s garden that might keep the little ones interested, might be.

The vibe there? In some respects, super chill. Strolling among the flowers and plants, seeing what all is happening there…that alone can be incredibly restorative.

4. Kayaking or Paddleboarding Through Mangrove Tunnels

For those of you who like that thing, being on the water, something you will pretty likely, very seriously enjoy is kayaking or paddleboarding through some of the awesome mangrove tunnels around Sarasota. You can find rentals all over the place! Very seriously, you don’t need to be, that, extremely experienced to give it a whirl.

I like South Lido Key Park or Ted Sperling Park for setting off. Kayaking here? Just like, just picture, so peacefully making your way through these tunnels the mangroves made! Just awesome, really. These natural tunnels are like, so magical in a way. The tangled roots and tree branches really do a pretty awesome job of keeping everything shaded.

As you like your glide, too it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll see tons of different critters. Watch fish jumping. Watch birds flying from tree to tree. I am sure, for example, you might even get a look at some manatees! Those gentle, great sea cows–I really love seeing them! Be sure you respect the water, though, to begin with. Be sure you aren’t touching or feeding those great animals.

5. Oscar Scherer State Park: Nature Trails and Freshwater Fun

South of Sarasota, Oscar Scherer State Park gives you a different way to check into some of Florida’s wild outdoors. It might be that a good fit is what you are after! There’s some beautiful, awesome nature trails running every which way through the park, like your hiking boots have no regrets for buying them, I am certain!

I am pretty serious when I tell you that there’s quite a few kinds of birds flitting around, for instance. It is a spot the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail even recognizes. Keep your eyes wide for a look at the Florida scrub-jay, very, very seriously. Those awesome little blue birds just can’t be found in very many places! Like you want more, you are set since there’s spots for excellent fishing to catch the catch of the day.

The park, anyway, lets you access a part of the pretty, cool, very awesome South Creek. You might just cool off with a swimming sesh in those refreshingly great, cool waters.