Things to Do Outdoors in Sarasota
Sarasota is defined by water and sky. You're never more than a few minutes from a beach, a nature preserve, a paddle-worthy waterway, or a trail cut through Florida scrub. Here's how to experience the best of the area's outdoors.
Beaches
Sarasota's beaches range from world-famous to delightfully under-the-radar. The sand is 99% quartz (not shell), which is why it stays cool underfoot even in July — a genuine rarity for Florida.
Siesta Key Beach
America's #1 rated beach with powdery quartz sand that stays cool underfoot. Crystal-clear water, free parking, lifeguards, concessions, and a free trolley from Siesta Village.
Lido Beach
A quieter alternative to Siesta Key with a public pool, picnic shelters, and soft white sand — just steps from the shops and restaurants of St. Armands Circle.
Nokomis Beach
The locals' beach — less crowded, with a legendary drum circle on Wednesday and Saturday nights and daily yoga.
Turtle Beach
The quiet, shaded end of Siesta Key with a boat ramp, kayak launch, playground, and the only beachside campground in the area.
Caspersen Beach
A secluded nature lover's paradise south of Venice, famous for shark tooth hunting at low tide. The southern stretch is wild and undeveloped with mangroves and tidal flats.
Coquina Beach
A wide, family-friendly beach on the southern tip of Anna Maria Island with a café, picnic areas, a playground, and free parking — often less crowded than the island's north end.
Venice Beach
A Blue Wave-certified beach just steps from downtown Venice, with an iconic 1960s Space Age pavilion, volleyball courts, and soft cocoa-colored sand.
State Parks & Nature Preserves
These are the spots for real Florida wilderness — not manicured parks, but genuine preserves where you'll see alligators, gopher tortoises, and wading birds in their habitat.
Myakka River State Park
One of Florida's oldest state parks with a canopy walkway above the treetops, airboat tours, and 37,000 acres of wild Florida that most tourists never see.
The Celery Fields
A 440-acre birding hotspot with 250+ species, walking trails, and an observation mound. Peak season is November through March for migratory birds.
Oscar Scherer State Park
A quieter state park along the Legacy Trail with freshwater swimming in Lake Osprey, kayaking, and one of the best spots to see Florida scrub-jays.
Parks & Gardens
For greenspace with a bit more polish — walking paths, playgrounds, public art, and places to stop for a coffee nearby.
Bayfront Park
Downtown's waterfront playground with a pirate-themed play area, splash pad, and marina views — the best spot to watch pelicans and sunsets without leaving the city.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
A stunning downtown waterfront garden with world-renowned orchid and bromeliad collections, plus rotating art installations woven through the plantings.
The Bay Park
A 53-acre waterfront park along Sarasota Bay with free programming, playgrounds, art installations, walking paths, and stunning bay views. One Park for All.
Nathan Benderson Park
A 600-acre park built around a world-class rowing lake, with a 3.5-mile loop trail perfect for running, biking, or walking the dog.
Payne Park
A downtown park with a circus-themed playground, skate park, splash area, and tennis center — one of the most popular parks for families in central Sarasota.
Waterside Place
A lakefront town center in Lakewood Ranch with waterfront dining, boutique shopping, a scenic park, and regular community events on a 36-acre peninsula.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Old-Florida roadside charm with flamingos, reptile shows, and shaded garden paths. It's been here since 1939 and feels refreshingly un-corporate.
Biking & Walking
For a long paved path to walk, run, or bike, nothing beats The Legacy Trail — an 18-mile rail-trail stretching from Sarasota south to Venice. Flat, well-maintained, and dotted with access points every few miles so you can pick your distance.
Kayaking & Paddleboarding
Sarasota Bay is the obvious choice for paddleboarding and kayaking, but the real gems are the quieter waterways — Lido Key's mangrove tunnels, the Myakka River, and the backwaters around Anna Maria Island. For a guided experience, Ride and Paddle at The Bay runs kayak tours through restored mangroves on weekends.
Fishing
You don't need a boat to fish here — between the beaches, bridges, and piers, there's plenty of shore access. The Venice Fishing Pier is the area's standout: 700 feet of pier, bait shop on-site, and no license needed when fishing from it.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
Sarasota is one of Florida's best birding destinations. The Celery Fields alone draws birders from across the state with its roseate spoonbills and wading birds. Beyond that, keep an eye out for manatees in Lido's mangroves during cooler months, dolphins in Sarasota Bay year-round, and gopher tortoises at Oscar Scherer State Park.
