Saint Armands Circle-a sophisticated outdoor dining and shopping area with distinct European flair, iconic examples of mid-century modern architecture and the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Mixon Fruit Farm– Mixon Fruit Farms is a Florida attraction the entire family will enjoy. Mixon’s features tropical gardens, a butterfly garden and magical maze, and citrus fruit processing plant. Tram Tours run Tuesday through Saturday at 11:00, 1:00, and 3:00, weather permitting. Tours last about an hour. There is also a huge play area for kids! Don’t forget to try the delicious orange swirl ice cream.
Marie Selby Botanical Garden– Selby Gardens is a Bayfront garden oasis made up of many smaller gardens containing plants from our world-renowned living plant collection, The Children’s Rainforest Garden is a family-friendly elevated, one-acre horticultural feature simulating one of the wildest places on earth— the tropical rainforest.
Sarasota Jungle Garden– Sarasota Jungle Gardens is home to more than 200 native and exotic animals including birds of prey, many different species of parrots and macaws, primates, small mammals, dozens of snakes, lizards, iguanas, alligators, crocodiles and other reptiles – many of them rescued or donated – including Florida’s noted pink flamingos. All nestled within 10 acres of lush tropical landscaping connected by winding jungle trails. The fascinating flamingos are a favorite among visitors who travel from all over the world to see the long-legged, pink-hued wading birds.
Tampa Aquarium– Come see why The Florida Aquarium is one of the top aquariums in the country! Experience sharks, alligators, penguins and much more! Immerse yourself in interactive programs like Dive with the Sharks, Shark Swim and Swim with the Fishes or take a Wild Dolphin Tour on board the Bay Spirit II, a 72-foot powered catamaran. Special Behind the Scenes experiences like Penguins: Backstage Pass are unique and exciting as you come face to beak with our adorable penguins. After exploring all the exhibits inside, splash away at the Aquarium’s new water play area, The Splash Pad! (One of the best splash pads we have ever taken our children to)
Clearwater Marine Center and Aquarium– A visit to Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a must-do for the whole family. This is not your typical aquarium! Our marine life rescue center is home to Winter the Dolphin, star of the popular Dolphin Tale movies, filmed on location in Clearwater, Florida. Come be inspired and learn about our ongoing work of rescue, rehabilitation and release. A visit to Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a must-do for the whole family.
Busch Gardens– This is a family favorite for many. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a 335-acre African-themed animal theme park located in the city of Tampa, Florida. Busch Gardens Tampa is owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Alongside is sister waterpark Adventure Island. Be sure to check out the Tampa City Pass that gives you access to several area attractions, including Busch Gardens, for one low price.
Lowry Zoo– ZooTampa at Lowry Park is home to more than 1300 animals and famous for having one of the most beautiful, tropical zoological settings in the world. The Zoo brings together animals and visitors to create unforgettable, natural connections. Guests get closer to wildlife than ever before by touching a giant tortoise, feeding a giraffe, getting nose-to-horn with an Indian rhino, hand-to-fin with slippery stingrays and more! Families can also splash in water play areas, feel thrills on rides and take in educational shows. Love manatees? The Zoo is the only place in Tampa where guests can see Florida manatees year-round. At the David A. Straz Jr. Manatee Hospital, the Zoo’s veterinary and animal-care staff treat sick, injured and orphaned manatees, and return them to the wild after rehabilitation. The Zoo also cares for the most diverse group of Florida wildlife anywhere, and has won numerous awards for animal preservation.
John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art– The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is the state art museum of Florida, located in Sarasota, Florida.[2] It was established in 1927 as the legacy of Mable Burton Ringling and John Ringling for the people of Florida. Designated as the official state art museum for Florida,[4] the institution offers twenty-one galleries of European paintings as well as Cypriot antiquities and Asian, American, and contemporary art. The museum’s art collection currently consists of more than 10,000 objects that include a variety of paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints, photographs, and decorative arts from ancient through contemporary periods and from around the world. The most celebrated items in the museum are 16th–20th-century European paintings.
In all, more than 150,000 square feet (14,000 m2) have been added to the campus, which includes the art museum, circus museum, and Ca’ d’Zan, the Ringlings’ mansion, which has been restored, along with the historic Asolo Theater. New additions to the campus include the Visitor’s Pavilion, the Education, Library, and Conservation Complex
Mote Marine Lab & aquarium– Explore the secrets of the sea through touch pools, viewable working labs and high-tech interactive exhibits that showcase the world-renowned research of Mote Marine Laboratory. See sharks, manatees and sea turtles, along with more than 100 other species of marine life.
Circus Museum at The Ringling– Walk the wire. Squeeze into a clown car. Snap photos with a ferocious (faux) tiger. Thrill to it all: the parade wagons, the posters, the glittering costumes, and the cannon that shot daring performers through the air. Wonder at the must-be-seen-to-be-believed 44,000-piece Howard Bros. Circus Model and the Greatest Show on Earth Mural celebrating the entertainment that has delighted packed houses in great cities and small towns across America for generations.
Big Cat Habitat Gulf Coast– Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary is an ever-growing large-animal rescue in eastern Sarasota County. Founded in 1987 by Kay Rosaire, the nonprofit sanctuary is a permanent home for dozens of exotic animals, offers placement for animals in need, and works to educate the public about animal care and conservation. Big Cat Habitat is a labor of love, with all income generated by admission going to the feeding and care of the animals.
Marietta Museum of Art and Whimsey– The Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy is dedicated to the creative human spirit and raising the importance of Whimsical Art. This extraordinary Museum represents a growing collection of works of artistic and whimsical importance by mostly living artists. Marietta, an artist herself and a graduate of Ringling College of Art & Design, is passionate about having female artists displayed equally among the Museum’s collection of artwork. The exhibit is a collection of light-hearted paintings, sculpture and stained glass. The outdoor Gardens feature grand pink flamingos, a dancing ballerina and a stainless steel rocket ship. They’re nestled within a canopied historic oak grove with cascading orchids and indigenous tropical plants. Being here will inspire your creativity and touch your heart!!!
Sunken Garden St. Petersburg– Sunken Gardens is a botanical paradise in the midst of a bustling city. As St. Petersburg’s oldest living museum, this 100-year-old garden is home to some of the oldest tropical plants in the region. Unwind as you stroll through meandering paths, lush with exotic plants from around the world. Explore cascading waterfalls, beautiful demonstration gardens, more than 50,000 tropical plants, and flowers. Sunken Gardens provides garden tours, horticultural programs, special events, field trips, weddings, private and corporate rentals.
Sarasota Bayfront Park– Waterfront green space with a promenade, playground, tiki bar & dramatic views of the bay & city. Great place to bike, walk and see boats in the marina.