Residence to quite a few stunning Gulf Coast seashores, Sarasota, Florida is an excellent place to go to for a soothing household trip. With a small, easy-to-access airport that has day by day flights from main carriers, it’s additionally a handy place to go to.
If you’re in search of a improbable vacation spot with seashores, outside actions, tradition, and household resorts, Sarasota is a superb possibility. On a current press journey to the world, I had the chance to expertise just a few nice issues to do with children in Sarasota.
Sarasota is thought for its stunning seashores, the thriving arts scene, and the Ringling Circus Museum. Questioning what to do in Sarasota with children? Listed below are just a few of the issues I noticed, in addition to just a few that I didn’t have the prospect to expertise.
Disclosure: This issues to do in Sarasota put up is a part of a hosted keep without charge to me. All opinions are my very own. This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks and a purchase order/click on by means of certainly one of these hyperlinks might lead to a fee paid to us at no further value to you.

The Greatest Issues to Do in Sarasota With Children
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
I didn’t go to the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium throughout my go to, however I’d like to return sooner or later with my children. This not-for-profit facility showcases over 100 species of marine life, together with manatees and sea turtles.
You’ll discover quite a few displays, together with a shark zone and a touchable ray tank. It’s a fantastic place to go to when the climate isn’t cooperating along with your seashore plans, as a result of the displays are indoors or with coated viewing areas outside.
Every day, there are a number of animal shows to see, together with manatees, river otters, and sea turtles. A shark exhibit takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Test the net schedule upfront should you positively need to attend certainly one of these, to verify your go to coincides with the exhibit time.
Tickets are bought each in individual and on-line.

Kayaking at Ted Sperling Park in Lido Key
One of many highlights of my journey to Sarasota was kayaking with Kayaking SRQ at Ted Sperling Park in Lido Key. If you’re in search of outside issues to do in Sarasota, you’ll positively need to do that!
The park, which is positioned close to the Lido Seashore Resort, gives a free kayak launch. When you have your individual, you’ll be able to launch from there, or you’ll be able to e-book a tour or hire a kayak.
We took the two-hour mangrove tunnel tour with Kayaking SRQ. Company have the choice of reserving a personal tour or becoming a member of a scheduled tour.
Kids are welcome on the tour, and tandem kayaks can be found, which makes it simpler for youths. The very first thing you’ll do within the tour is seek for manatees, cormorants, and osprey.
Throughout our tour, we didn’t see any manatee, however we did see a number of cormorants, in addition to a ravishing osprey that swooped down amongst our kayaks to seize a fish. I loved this a part of the tour, particularly as a result of it was so enjoyable to seek for the totally different animals.
After that a part of the tour, we headed to the mangrove tunnels, which was the spotlight for me. The tunnels are so stunning and so distinctive, that I needed to cease to take a number of pictures. It’s such a unique technique to kayak – in a single file line, by means of some very slim tunnels. It’s such a singular spot, and so definitely worth the journey. I positively need to return with my household.
In case you do plan to do that journey, I’d advocate bringing some waterproof luggage to carry your belongings. I had a water-proof pouch round my neck to carry my telephone. That’s how I used to be in a position to get pictures. A water-resistant digicam is an alternative choice, however be certain that it has one thing that floats connected to it.
You too can e-book your mangrove tour with Surfit right here.
Selby Botanical Gardens
I want I had the chance to take a look at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, however sadly, I didn’t. These gardens embrace some family-friendly actions, together with a youngsters’s rainforest backyard and a plant scavenger hunt. There are additionally household occasions supplied at choose occasions. Test the web site upfront.
Strollers are allowed, you probably have younger youngsters. Tickets can be found onsite. The Selby Botanical Gardens is open day-after-day, apart from Christmas Day.

The Ringling
I wasn’t ready for a way completely wonderful the Ringling Museum is. I do know that it could have some displays centered on the circus, however I didn’t count on to see so many nice issues.
This museum, based by John and Mable Ringling (of the famed Ringling Brothers circus) is definitely extra like three museums in a single. Children will completely love the Circus Museum, which incorporates a tremendous room stuffed with a miniature circus.
There are additionally quite a few displays, together with a clown automotive that you would be able to get it. I may have watched the miniature circus for some time – there are such a lot of neat little particulars to discover. That is the a part of the museum that children are almost certainly to get pleasure from.

Past the circus museum, the Ringling additionally features a improbable tremendous artwork museum – the Ringling Museum of Artwork. Whereas children might not need to discover all the artwork museum, there are specialised children’ packages supplied that may assist introduce them to artwork appreciation. You possibly can see the children’ packages right here.
The Ringling additionally gives an outside play area. If the climate is good, it’s the proper spot to get out your children’ vitality throughout your museum go to. There’s additionally a stunning rose backyard that’s nice to discover.
Your museum ticket will permit for admission to each the Circus Museum and the artwork museum. In case you select, you may as well add on a tour of Ca’ d’Zan, John Ringling and his spouse Mable’s stunning 56-room residence. Even should you don’t tour the home, you’ll be able to discover the outside, which sits on the Sarasota Bay.
In case your children are younger, I’d in all probability keep on with simply the circus museum. However, in case you are touring with older children, or with out youngsters, it’s positively price visiting all the property. I might positively advocate visiting the Ringling throughout your journey to Sarasota with children.
Massive Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary
The Massive Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary is a nonprofit animal sanctuary that homes over 150 animals. Animal lovers will particularly like to see dwell animal demonstrations. When you are there, you’ll see quite a lot of unique animals, together with tortoises, lions, primates, and birds. There’s additionally a petting zoo.
Tickets can be found on-line and in individual. It can save you time in line by buying tickets upfront on-line.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
One other animal attraction in Sarasota is the Sarasota Jungle Gardens. This attraction contains Alligator/Crocodile displays, a Flamingo feeding space, Butterfly gardens, and extra. There are additionally animal exhibits scheduled all through the day. Tickets can be found on-line or in individual.
Myakka River State Park
If you wish to discover nature in your journey, you might also need to add a visit to the Myakka River State Park to your Sarasota household trip. There, you’ll be able to hike, view wildlife, experience bikes, and take a ship tour. Tenting can be supplied.
St. Armands Circle
This upscale procuring space in Sarasota is a superb place to go to. It gives a number of locations that children will need to take a look at, together with ice cream, macaron, and shaved ice outlets. There are additionally a number of totally different eating places providing pizza, seafood, burgers, pasta, and extra.Â
St. Armands Circle additionally options a variety of in style chain outlets together with unbiased boutiques. You’ll discover outlets like Sunglass Hut, the Black Canine, Loopy Shirts, and Tommy Bahama.Â

Go to the Seashore
After all, no Sarasota household trip is full and not using a journey to the seashore. I’d advocate staying at a resort with seashore entry after which taking small drives to the assorted sights listed right here. We’ve opinions of each the Lido Seashore Resort and the Resort at Longboat Key Membership, which I’d positively advocate.
Siesta Seashore, positioned on Siesta Key, can be an especially in style seashore. It’s manufactured from 99% pure Quartz sand, which is so distinctive. There are resorts positioned in that space as effectively.
Yow will discover resorts in Sarasota right here.
Extra Sources: Need to learn extra Gulf Coast journey suggestions and opinions? Click on to learn our put up with vacation spot suggestions, concepts on what issues to do, lodge opinions, and extra.
