Sarasota: Art, Gardens and Nature Experiences

More than 35 miles of coastline and six barrier islands are part of Sarasota County. For a trip to Sarasota, culture, nature, and trails offer a range of focuses: art collections and gardens, archaeological history, state parks, cycling routes, and connections on Siesta Key. If you’re looking for a hotel, first decide which of these experiences you want to shape your days, then compare the specific locations of the available options.

Art, Gardens, and History

The Ringling is Florida’s state art museum. John and Mable Ringling’s 66-acre estate includes the Circus Museum, Ca’ d’Zan, the Historic Asolo Theater, and the Bayfront Gardens. These gardens include Mable’s Rose Garden, banyan trees, and the Dwarf Garden. Together, the art museum, Circus Museum, theater, and gardens create a cultural focus with several distinct elements.

At Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, the Downtown Sarasota campus offers a specific botanical focus: it is the only botanical garden in the world dedicated to the display and study of epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads, and ferns, as well as other tropical plants. In total, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens cover 45 acres across the Downtown Sarasota campus and the Historic Spanish Point campus in Sarasota County. Historic Spanish Point also offers an archaeological perspective: its archaeological record spans about 5,000 years of Florida history. This approximate time span offers a different historical perspective from the botanical highlights.

Nature Parks and Trails

At Myakka River State Park, scenery and activity go hand in hand. Its landscapes include pristine wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and pine forests. Cyclists have seven miles of paved road to ride, winding through shaded hammocks and grassy marshes and along the shore of Upper Myakka Lake. When planning, you can take both the route length and the scenery along the way into account. The Myakka Canopy Walkway is North America’s first public treetop trail and adds another highlight to the park’s nature offerings.

Oscar Scherer State Park spans 1,381 acres. It is home to numerous Florida scrub-jays and has 15 miles of hiking trails. Wildlife watching and hiking offer different reasons to explore the park. It also provides access to the Legacy Trail, a paved former railroad corridor for walking, cycling, jogging, and roller skating. The trail runs from Venice to Sarasota through the park, connects communities in Sarasota County, and extends into neighboring Charlotte County. Rest areas, access points, and free parking are part of the visitor amenities; rest stops are located about every mile.

Regattas, Recreation, and Connections

The history of organized regattas at Nathan Benderson Park begins in 2009. There is also a 3.4-mile paved path for walking, running, and cycling. Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) is a 146,000-square-foot facility for marine science, education, and immersive public experiences at Nathan Benderson Park. Regattas, a path for a range of activities, and a large marine science facility offer different ways to experience the park.

Trolley 77 Siesta Islander connects Siesta Key Village, Siesta Beach, South Village, and Turtle Beach Park & Campground. According to current county information, all passengers ride for free. If you plan to use the connection, check the latest route and fare information before your trip.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Osprey, South Venice, Nokomis, North Port, Bee Ridge, Vamo, Longboat Key, Venice, Siesta Key, Venice Gardens, Kensington Park, Gulf Gate Estates, North Sarasota, Englewood, Sarasota, The Meadows.

Go to the main travel overview: Florida.