Sarasota is a southwestern Florida city located just south of Tampa.
It is well-known for its link to the Ringling Brothers Circus and is a fascinating destination with numerous vacation options.
But what types of tourist things to do in Sarasota can you find here?
What activities are available, and where are the best spots for sightseeing?
Here are the most exciting and fun things to do in Sarasota, Florida.
1. Ca’ d’Zan Mansion
The Ca d’Zan Mansion is among Sarasota, Florida’s most popular tourist attractions.
It was the winter home of John and Mable Ringling, as detailed in a previous post.
The circus owner and his wife would remain here after it was finished in 1926.
The mansion is five stories tall, with 36,000 square feet of room within.
Its riverside setting is there to evoke Venice, one of the married couple’s favorite things to do in Sarasota.
It is in a Mediterranean Revival style, reminiscent of a Venetian edifice, called Doge’s Palace.
Address:5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243, United States
Phone: +19413595700
2. Myakka River State Park
Myakka River State Park is one of Florida’s best, largest, and oldest parks, spanning Manatee County and sections of Sarasota.
It covers 37,000 acres and is there for the Myakka River, which flows through it for 58 square miles, watering prairies, hammocks, wetlands, and pinelands. While in Florida, this breathtaking location is unquestionably one of the most soothing locations to visit
Address: Sarasota, FL 34241, United States
Phone:Not Available
3. Sarasota Jungle Gardens
The Sarasota Jungle Gardens may be on Bayshore Road.
As the name suggests, it is one of Sarasota’s attractions focusing on flora and animals.
It was founded in 1939 on just 10 acres of land and has thousands of wonderful tropical plants and flowers from all over the world, not just Florida.
Decades later, in the 1970s, the Sarasota Jungle Gardens had an Exotic Bird Show with macaws and cockatoos.
It was the first of several animal and bird shows on the venue’s schedule.
If you visit the Sarasota Jungle Gardens in Florida today, you will be entering one of the state’s oldest attractions that is still in operation.
Address:3701 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34234, United States
Phone: 19413555305
4.Central Sarasota Farmers’ Market
Since 1979, the Central Sarasota Farmers Market has been a Saturday highlight in the Florida region.
Open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., it’s the ideal place to visit this weekend, no matter what the weather is like.
Cheesecake, coffee, orange juice, pasta sauce, honey, salsa, and other commodities are available from merchants of various types!
But it isn’t the only reason visiting this market is one of the exciting things to do in Sarasota.
Products that cannot be elsewhere in the region are here.
Address: N Lemon Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236, United States
Phone: +19412259256
5. Florida Maritime Museum
It lives in Cortez, one of the region’s best historic towns in a century-old schoolhouse.
The museum concentrates on the state’s rich maritime heritage, making it one of the more popular tourist destinations.
View images, nautical equipment, commercial fishing information, maritime transportation information, and even ship logs in the museum.
Before you go, visit the Maritime Museum’s research library.
It is one of the largest varieties available anywhere in the globe, not just Sarasota!
Address: 4415 119th St W, Cortez, FL 34215, United States
Phone:+19412259256
6. Van Wezel Performance Arts Hall
A visit to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is one of the top things to do in Sarasota, Florida.
Not only is it an architectural masterpiece, but it’s also a lively, entertaining venue that hosts a variety of theatre, comedy, music, and dance performances.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall was there between 1968 and 1969, with monies contributed by the namesake Lewis and Eugenia Van Wezel.
Renovations completed in 2000 brought the location up to current, and it now features a 6,000-square-foot Grand Foyer that seats 350 people, while the entire hall can seat 1,736 people thanks to the Bayfront lawn and terrace.
Address: 777 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236, United States
Phone: +19412636799
7.Marie Selby Botanical Garden
It’s one of the top things to do in Sarasota, and with good reason!
The gardens span seven acres, and each has a rich history.
Marie and William Selby originally owned the land where the gardens are now.
They host an intricate collection of flowering plants known as bromeliads, and they are proud to have the world’s largest and most diverse collection of this flora.
The gardens are home to about 6,000 different plant species spread across 20 ecosystems, totaling 20,000 plants that live and thrive.
These environments include mangroves, bamboo lands, succulent habitats, and others.
This Florida attraction also features a research library, a herbarium, and several greenhouses.
Address:1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236, United States
Phone: +19413665731
8. Legacy Trail
The Legacy Trail is a 10.8-mile-long paved path that connects Sarasota with Venice.
It is also widely regarded as one of Florida’s best bike paths.
The route opened in 2008 and runs alongside a historically significant rail track.
The railway line was operational in 1911 until the early 2000s.
The fun route, one of the things to do in Sarasota for active travelers in Florida, begins near Palmer Ranch.
Address:Central Sarasota Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34238, United States
Phone:Not Available
9.Sarasota Opera
The Sarasota Opera is a professional opera company based on North Pineapple Avenue in Florida.
The company was once known as the Asolo Opera Guild, and the venue was the Edwards Theatre.
Renovation and reopening resulted in the house’s appearance, which has remained unchanged since 2009.
If you want to see some interesting live shows while you are here, the Sarasota Opera has some of the best.
Four fully staged operas are there in the opera house.
Address:61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236, United States
Phone:+19413281300
10.Ed Smith Stadium
Ed Smith Stadium is now home to the Baltimore Orioles, who train here in the spring; before, it was a Chicago White Sox training field until 1997 and a Cincinnati Reds one until 2008.
Ed Smith Stadium was renovated in 2011, and all of the seats, with the entire stadium, are new and updated.
It has a seating capacity of 7,429 and is unquestionably one of Florida’s greatest stadiums.
Address:2700 12th St, Sarasota, FL 34237, United States
Phone:+19418936300
11. Saint Armands Circle
St. Armands Circle is a terrific, family-friendly destination with plenty to do.
It’s one of Sarasota’s most popular restaurants and shopping destinations for families.
St. Armands Circle first opened in the 1800s, after being owned by Charles St. Armand.
John Ringling (yep, him again!) purchased the property in 1917 and converted it into a shopping center, complete with restaurants and boutiques that make it a must-see destination in this Florida county.
St. Armand’s Key is St. Armands Circle’s residence, only accessible by bridge.
Address:300 Madison Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236, United States
Phone +19413881554
12.Bradenton Riverwal
The Bradenton Riverwalk stretches alongside the Manatee River in Sarasota, Florida.
It’s around 1.5 miles long – some say closer to two – and things to do in Sarasota keep you entertained.
It is handicapped accessible and combines both pleasure and workout.
The Bradenton Riverwalk offers a wide range of activities.
Volleyball courts, open spaces, and skate parks provide numerous possibilities, while youngsters can feel pleasure in a splash pad or playground.
An outdoor amphitheater with a capacity of 400 persons hosts infrequent events.
A fishing pier is also available, and festivals and live music are popular during the summer!
Visitors at educational stops and stores learn about native butterflies, tidal zones, native tribes, science, and native plants. There’s also a chance you’ll catch sight of the railway bridge that spans the river, with a train passing through it!
Address:300 Madison Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236, United States
Phone +194138815540
13.Siesta Key Beach
Siesta Key Beach is just a short distance from downtown Sarasota.
Siesta Key is essentially a barrier island that stretches 8 miles along Florida’s Gulf Coast and is home to pure white quartz sand that many consider among the world’s best and most pristine.
It nearly feels like magic, and the beach has even received accolades!
The sugary sand also prevents overheating.
Blue waves and beautiful sand are ideal for both beachgoers and adventurers.
Address: Sarasota, FL 34242, United States
Phone: +19418615000
14.The Sarasota Classic Car Museum
If you enjoy cars, the Sarasota Classic Car Museum should be at the top of your list of things to do in Sarasota.
It is one of America’s oldest classic vehicle museums and the second oldest!
This museum spans over 60,000 square feet and shows rare, historic cars.
These are incredibly distinctive, with the vehicles on display rotating regularly.
Some cars on exhibit include John Lennon’s 1965 Mercedes Benz and a significant collection of Rolls Royce vehicles once owned by John and Mable Ringling.
Address:5500 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243, United States
Phone:+19413556228
15. Lake Manatee State Park
Lake Manatee State Park is only around 20 minutes from Bradenton.
It comprises 556 acres of property, much of which has many landscapes that provide unique and enjoyable options for things to do in Sarasota, Florida.
The state park was initially opened in the 1960s, when the famous Sarasota River, the Manatee River, was dammed.
Lake Manatee State Park is a natural sanctuary popular among swimmers, boaters, and freshwater fishing enthusiasts.
However, if you wish to fish here, you must first obtain an official license to fish in Florida’s fresh waters.
Aside from water sports, you can camp here and observe many species.
Address:20007 FL-64, Bradenton, FL 34212, United States
Phone: +19417413028
Final words
Sarasota is one of the most beautiful towns in America, with many areas of interest, so if you’re looking for things to do in Sarasota, you’ll have many options.
Hopefully, this list of the finest things to do in Sarasota will help you pick where you want to go when planning your trip!