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AREA GUIDE / PARKS, BEACHES & TRAILS

Parks, Beaches & Trails worth the trip

Parks, Beaches & Trails across the Sarasota Gulf Coast — the full regional list, wherever it takes you.

All areasAnna Maria IslandBradentonDowntown SarasotaEast SarasotaLido KeyLongboat KeyOsprey / NokomisSarasotaUniversity Town CenterVenice
MOST RECOMMENDED
Formal gardens, sculpture and colonnade within The Ringling's Bayfront Gardens in Sarasota. Sarasota

Bayfront Gardens at The Ringling

Botanical Garden

Landscaped bayfront grounds with banyans, sculpture, Mable's rose garden and views across Sarasota Bay.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens entrance sign surrounded by tropical foliage in Sarasota. Downtown Sarasota

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens - Downtown Campus

Botanical Garden

A world-renowned bayfront botanical garden specializing in epiphytes, orchids and immersive garden exhibitions.
Pergola and sunken garden overlooking Little Sarasota Bay at Selby Gardens Historic Spanish Point. Osprey / Nokomis

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens - Historic Spanish Point

Historic Garden & Museum

A 30-acre waterfront campus combining native nature, archaeological history, pioneer heritage and gardens.
Visitor crossing the wooden canopy walkway high among the trees at Myakka River State Park. East Sarasota

Myakka River State Park

State Park

One of Florida's oldest and largest state parks, known for wetlands, wildlife, trails, boat tours and expansive natural scenery.

ALL 18 PARKS, BEACHES & TRAILS
Wooden boardwalk through oak and palmetto habitat at Oscar Scherer State Park. Osprey / Nokomis

Oscar Scherer State Park

State Park

A state park with hiking and biking trails, paddling, camping and protected Florida scrub habitat.
Aerial view of Robinson Preserve's mangroves, wetlands and tidal waterways. Bradenton

Robinson Preserve

Nature Preserve

A major coastal preserve with mangrove waterways, paved and natural trails, wildlife habitat and an observation tower.
Aerial view of the Celery Fields mound, trails and wetlands in Sarasota. East Sarasota

Celery Fields

Nature Preserve

A renowned birding and walking destination with wetlands and one of Sarasota's rare elevated viewpoints.
Aerial view of The Bay Park's mangrove waterways and Sarasota Bay waterfront at sunset. Downtown Sarasota

The Bay Park

Waterfront Park

A free, inclusive waterfront park with trails, gardens, playgrounds, paddling access and hundreds of annual programs.
Nathan Benderson Park rowing course and lake in the University Town Center area. University Town Center

Nathan Benderson Park

Regional Park & Sports Venue

A 600-acre community and international rowing park with a 3.5-mile loop and major sporting events.
Whimsical outdoor play garden at Sarasota Children's Garden. Sarasota

Sarasota Children's Garden

Children's Garden

A whimsical outdoor garden designed for imaginative children's play with themed paths, structures and creative spaces.
Bayfront Park and Marina Jack waterfront in downtown Sarasota. Downtown Sarasota

Bayfront Park and Marina Jack Trail

Waterfront Park

A downtown waterfront park and walking area with bay views, public art, playgrounds and marina activity.
Wooden boardwalk through mangroves at Joan M. Durante Park on Longboat Key Lido Key

Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach

Waterfront Park

Natural waterfront park at the south end of Lido Key with beach access, picnic facilities, playground, canoe launch and wildlife viewing.
Boardwalk through coastal vegetation at Quick Point Nature Preserve on Longboat Key Longboat Key

Joan M. Durante Park

Nature Preserve

Thirty-two-acre Longboat Key nature park protecting wetlands, mangroves and coastal hammock habitat along Sarasota Bay.
☉ Longboat Key

Quick Point Nature Preserve

Nature Preserve

Restored mangrove and wetland preserve at the southeast end of Longboat Key with lagoons, birdlife and Sarasota Bay views.
White-sand beach and Gulf shoreline at Coquina Beach. Anna Maria Island

Coquina Beach

Beach

Popular south Anna Maria Island beach with wide Gulf frontage, sunsets, picnic facilities and recreational amenities.
Bayfront picnic area and water view at Anna Maria Bayfront Park. Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Bayfront Park

Waterfront Park

Scenic north-island waterfront park with views of Tampa Bay, Egmont Key and the Sunshine Skyway, plus shaded picnic areas and a pavilion.
Aerial shoreline view at Manatee Public Beach on Anna Maria Island. Anna Maria Island

Manatee Public Beach

Beach

Popular Holmes Beach public beach with year-round lifeguards, concessions, playground, volleyball, accessible beach features and trolley access.
☉ Venice

Venice Beach

Beach

Certified Blue Wave Beach close to Historic Downtown Venice, popular for Gulf swimming, sunsets and shark-tooth hunting.