Sarasota Activities
Sarasota has a variety of attractions appropriate for family enjoyment. Visitors to the area can visit Mote Marine Laboratory, G.WIZ (Gulfcoast Wonder & Imagination Zone), Sarasota Jungle Gardens, Sarasota Classic Car Museum, and more.
Mote Marine Aquarium
At Mote, you can 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, dolphins, manatees and sea turtles, along with more than 100 other species of marine life. Mote Marine Laboratory includes a 135,000 gallon outdoor tank for sharks and other marine species. Touch stingrays, learn about sea turtles, see the interactive multimedia, Shark Attack,
and take Eco boat tours.
Gulfcoast Wonder & Imagination Zone, G. WIZ
Gulfcoast Wonder & Imagination Zone, G. WIZ- A world-class science and technology center, began as the Gulf Coast World of Science (GCWS). GCWS opened to the public with only 1,000 square feet and just ten hands-on exhibits. GCWS was soon granted membership in the Association of Science & Technology Centers (ASTC) and shortly after, GCWS expanded to 6,000 feet. In May 1998 the Hands-on Science and Technology Center was reborn with a name change to the Gulfcoast Wonder & Imagination Zone, G.WIZ
G. WIZ is currently in a 33,000 sq.ft. facility on Sarasota's bayfront.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Sarasota Jungle Gardens is one of the oldest continuously operating attractions in the State of Florida. Open to the public in December of 1940, the Gardens
has retained its old Florida charm and very little has changed over the past sixty-eight years. A visit to the Gardens will bring back the memories of Florida days gone by. Sarasota Jungle Gardens features 10 acres of lush tropical vegetation, winding jungle trails and entertaining, educational bird and reptile shows.
Sarasota Classic Car Museum
The Museum features a living
collection of over 100 automobiles, constantly being updated through acquisitions, exchanges with other car museums, and through donations of vehicles from collectors. The collection spans over 100 manufacturing years. Vintage, classic, muscle, exotic cars... they're all here. We have the Beatles' Psychedelic Bentley, John Lennon's Mercedes Roadster, Paul McCartney's Mini Cooper, a dragster belonging to Don Garlits, and much more.
Golf In Sarasota
There's an abundance of golf courses in the Sarasota area. From public to private, you will find one for every level of ability. With many courses dotting the area, the central gulf coast is a picture of perfection in the eyes of any avid golfer. From island-style layouts to venues lined with mature trees, Sarasota has it all.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
The 9.5-acre bayfront property is an open-air and under-glass museum of more than 20,000 colorful plants, many collected in the wild on over 150 scientific expeditions to tropical rain forests by Selby Gardens research staff. Seven greenhouses are the heart of botanical research and plant identification, for which Selby Gardens is internationally recognized. Selby Gardens is perhaps best known for its living collection of more than 6,000 orchids. Children will delight in our indoor rainforest,
brilliant dart frog collection, and our gardens abundant with tropical flora and fauna. The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a not-for-profit institution fostering understanding and appreciation of tropical plants, especially epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants).
Myakka River State Park
One of the oldest and largest state parks, Myakka protects one of the state's most diverse natural areas. The Myakka River, designated as a Florida Wild and Scenic River, flows through 58 square miles of wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and pinelands. Visitors can enjoy wildlife viewing from a boardwalk that stretches out over the Upper Myakka Lake, then take to the treetops with a stroll along the canopy walkway. The park's river and two lakes provide ample opportunities for boating, freshwater fishing, canoeing, and kayaking; a boat ramp provides access to Upper Myakka Lake. Hikers can explore trails that cross large expanses of rare Florida dry prairie. Scenic lake tours are offered daily on the world's two largest airboats. Safari tram tours of the park's backcountry are offered from mid-December through May.
These are but a few of Sarasota's offerings. For more information visit
The Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau.