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Sarasota bustles with a multitude
of recreational and leisure activities. Gulf and Bay waters invite
boating, fishing, canoeing,
swimming and a variety of other water sports. There are more than 60
golf courses and hundreds of
tennis facilities. Numerous
parks offer hiking, biking, bird-watching and eco-activities.
Sporting activities include major-league baseball spring training
games, polo, professional volleyball and ice hockey.
With its Gulf Coast location and subtropical climate, Sarasota is a
natural center for the study of avian and marine life and tropical
plants. Mote Marine Aquarium combines real research with
opportunities to learn about sharks, pet stingrays in the touch
pool, and view manatees, sea turtles and other marine life. Plants
and birds are on display at Sarasota Jungle Gardens, which also
holds regular reptile and bird shows. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
showcases tropical plants and more than 6,000 orchids.
ATTRACTIONS
Bishop Planetarium
Circus Sarasota
Ed Smith Stadium
Gulfcoast Wonder and
Imagination Zone
Mote Marine
Laboratory
Marie
Selby Botanical Gardens
Museum of
Cars and Music
The Parker
Manatee Aquarium
Pelican Man Bird
Sanctuary
Sarasota Convention & Visitor's Bureau
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Sarasota Polo
Club
Sarasota
Red Sox
South
Florida Museum
PARKS
Southwest Florida offers a number
of parks and recreation areas, some of them along the waterfront.
From shelling on Egmont Key to birdwatching on Leffis Key to a
treetop canopy walk at Myakka River State Park, numerous
eco-activities await the nature lover.
Myakka
River State Park
is Florida's largest natural park, offering canoeing, fishing,
camping, an airboat cruise, a canopy walk and biking among a
diversity of bird and wildlife.
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Safari tram tours of the park’s back country are offered from
mid-December through May. The Myakka River flows through 58 square
miles of wetlands, prairies and woodlands.
Historic
Spanish Point,
overlooking Sarasota Bay, provides a window into 5,000 years of
human history, with Native American shell middens, preserved pioneer
structures, nature trails and formal gardens.
Oscar Scherer State Park
is one of
the best places to see Florida scrub-jays, a threatened species
found only in Florida. Hike or bike through 15 miles of nature
trails or kayak or canoe along South Creek,
a blackwater stream that
flows to the Gulf of Mexico. Fishing is available along the creek or
the shores of Lake Osprey. The park has picnic areas; pavilions,
full-facility campsites and a youth/group campground.
Anna Maria
Bayfront Park, is situated along Anna Maria Sound, Bayfront Park
is ideal for fishing, swimming, shelling, picnicking or just
exploring by boat.
Beer Can Island, inhabited only by
native vegetation, this remote island located in Longboat Pass is
reachable only by boat, the perfect spot for quiet picnics or
sunning.
Cortez Beach on Anna Maria Island, with
its many jetties located just offshore draw many fishermen.
Coquina Beach, has many recreational
and picnic facilities located within this 96-acre park situated on
Anna Maria Island’s southernmost point.
G.T. Bray Park, is one of Manatee County’s largest public areas, this
140‑acre park features jogging and bike paths, a tennis complex,
various athletic fields, a swimming pool, a gymnasium with programs
for all ages, two full-size golf courses and two gulf-side beaches
staffed by lifeguards.
Happy Trails Canine Park, is located within G.T. Bray Park, this 3-acre
fenced-in area features amenities like a doggie drinking fountain
and free waste bags. Canines must have current license tag and
rabies vaccination.
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