Sarasota is located on Florida's Gulf Coast, southwest of Tampa. It’s a fascinating destination with a wealth of tourist attractions and is famous for its association with the Ringling Brothers Circus. The question is, though, what kinds of tourist activities are available. In what ways may You spend your time, and where should You go to see the most of what the area has to offer? Read on for a list of Sarasota, Florida's top activities and entertainment options.

Aquarium And Marine Laboratory at Mote

City Island in Sarasota is home to the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, a marine research facility on Ken Thompson Parkway. Originally established in 1955 under Cape Haze Marine Laboratory, it was renamed in 1967 to commemorate founding donors Lenore and William R. Mote and William R. Mote's sister, Betty Mote Rose. The lab investigates marine and estuarine environments.

Over one hundred marine species, with an emphasis on local marine creatures, call the aquarium home. Jellyfish, manatees, rays, seahorses, sea turtles, and more may be seen at this aquarium that opened in 1980. One of the aquarium's most popular activities is the narrated shark feedings. This is a fantastic spot to take children if you're looking for things to do in Sarasota with youngsters. Camps, field trips, and in-class presentations are part of the curriculum.

Gulf Coast Sanctuary and Big Cat Habitat

Palmer Boulevard is where you'll find the Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary. Kay Rosaire founded it in 1987; it morphed into a nonprofit in 2005, and now, it is one of the most visited attractions in Sarasota, Florida. The sanctuary's primary mission is to provide shelter and medical attention to rescued exotic cats, as the name suggests. Birds, apes, and bears are among the other species cared for here. Altogether, the facility is home to three sizable indoor and outdoor ecosystems. The native environments of the animals can be re-created with the use of swimming pools and natural vegetation. Both the Big Cat Habitat and the Gulf Coast Sanctuary are dedicated to spreading awareness about the need for animal protection.

Botanical Gardens of Marie Selby

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, a vast botanical garden in the Hudson Bayou district, may be found on South Palm Avenue at the water's edge of Sarasota Bay. The gardens, spread across seven acres, may be found on the property that once belonged to Marie and William Selby. The gardens are dedicated to preserving and exhibiting epiphytic plant communities, such as those seen in bromeliads and orchids. The gardens house the world's largest collection of bromeliad species. There are around 6,000 different plant species, which over 20,000 individual plants represent. A wide variety of plant communities—more than 20 in all—are represented in the gardens. Greenhouses, a research library, and a herbarium are only some of the facilities available.

Jungle Gardens of Sarasota

You'll find the Sarasota Jungle Gardens on Bay Shore Road. The name gives it away: it's a Sarasota landmark that features plants and animals. It opened in 1939 with only 10 acres of land, but now it's covered in hundreds of beautiful trees and tropical flowers from all over the world, including Florida. Later, in the 1970s, the Sarasota Jungle Gardens had an Exotic Bird Show with macaws and cockatoos. This was the first of many animal and bird-themed shows to be performed there. The Sarasota Jungle Gardens is one of the oldest tourist destinations in Florida that is still open.

The National Cemetery in Sarasota

In 2007, a national cemetery was constructed in Sarasota to provide a last resting place for American servicemen and women. The new 295-acre cemetery can accommodate around 18,200 people over 15,200 crypts, 9,000 in-ground burial spaces, and nearly 7,200 cremation niches above ground. A large facility housing a public information office and administrative offices may also be found within the cemetery grounds. The facility has a flag assembly space, bathrooms, a maintenance building, a memorial pathway, and an automated gravestone finder. All the events will be held in Patriot Plaza, a 2,800-seat theater generously given by the Patterson Foundation of Sarasota. You may take a tour around the plaza and explore the many works of art that were commissioned just for this space.

The Legacy Trail

The Legacy Trail is a long-paved pathway that extends from Sarasota to Venice. It’s also widely regarded as one of the best biking paths in the Sunshine State. It launched in 2008 and followed a historic rail line. The rail line was in operation from its inception in 1911 until the early 2000s.Near Palmer Ranch is where you'll find the beginning of the fun trail, one of the most exciting spots for energetic travelers to visit in all of Florida. It starts in the Venetian Waterway Park and travels through Nokomis, Dona Bay, and a few more parks before ending at the park's namesake.