Sunshine and Hurricanes

Smart Parenting with Purpose

  • Mom Life
  • Young Kids
  • Tweens & Teens
  • Technology
    • Apps for Kids – The Ultimate Guide
    • Safety
  • Family Resources
    • Recipes
      • Meal Plans
      • Snacks
      • Dessert
      • Holiday Recipes
    • Travel
      • Florida
      • Disney
    • Savings
      • Monthly Best Buys
    • Holidays
  • Gift Guides
  • About S & H
    • Contact Sunshine and Hurricanes
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Shop

Florida Family Travel Sarasota

By Kira Lewis 1 Comment

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Florida Family Travel Sarasota

Looking for a fun Florida family getaway? Whether you live in Florida and want a great staycation or if you are traveling to Florida for lots of fun in the sun, Sarasota is a destination not to be missed. In this post, we'll tell you where to find the award winning beaches, why you don't want to miss the Ringling Circus Museum and all the best family friendly attractions, dining option and more. Florida Family Travel Sarasota. SunshineandHurricanes.com

Living in South West Florida, I sometimes forget how fortunate we are to have so many sought after destinations that are all at most a few hours drive.  One such vacation spot to consider for a family getaway is Sarasota. This city boasts everything from one of the nations top beaches, to a museum all about the circus, outdoor adventures and then of course an eclectic range of shopping and dining options.

Run Away with the Circus

Florida Family Travel Sarasota The Ringling Museum Miniature Circus. SunshineandHurricanes.com

Photo Credit: BeyondtheO.com

Earlier this year, my family, including my two children (5, and 9), spent several days exploring the Sarasota area and left with things still on our “to do” list. By far, the experience we enjoyed most was the Ringling Museum, which actually surprised me a little bit. Museums aren’t always a big hit with younger kids, even if they feature something as engaging as the “Greatest Show on Earth.” However, all of us were completely absorbed in examining the 44,000-piece miniature circus exhibit all created by one man. Howard Tibbals started in high school and meticulously replicated in astonishing detail the many different facets of life under the big top at the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus.

One of the best attractions to visit in Sarasota is the Ringling Circus Museum. Children and Adults alike will be charmed learning all about life under the big top. Florida Family Travel Sarasota. SunshineandHurricanes.com

Beyond the miniatures there is also an interactive room that provides a more hands-on environment for kids where then can attempt a hire wire act (on a much less dangerous scale), check out the inside of a real clown car and take their picture up close with a ferocious tiger. There are several additional parts of the Ringling including Ca’ d’Zan, the elaborately designed home of John and Mable Ringling, a second museum that features their extensive art collection and the Historic Asolo Theater. If you ask when you purchase tickets, children can participate in scavenger hunt throughout The Ringling grounds. If they are successful in locating the different items, they’ll receive a prize at the end of the visit.

Explore the Sea

The Mote Marine Aquarium in Sarasota  features all sorts of wondrous sea creatures. Children will love learning while they explore. Florida Family Travel Sarasota. SunshineandHurricanes.com

Another popular activity for families in Sarasota is the Mote Aquarium and Marine Laboratory. Housed in multiple buildings on an expansive campus, there are hundreds of different types of marine life on display including sharks, manatee, dolphins and sea turtles. Plenty of opportunities for interaction are provided including touch tanks, shark feedings, and live educational demonstrations.

Currently, the aquarium has a special exhibit, “Survivors, Beautiful and Extreme Adaptations”, running through September 14th. Here all visitors are introduced to a host of strange species that have changed and evolved over time to ensure their survival. While my husband and I were fascinated by all the facts, my children were completely captivated by the weird and wonderful variation of creatures.

Eco- Tourism

On the Mote grounds there are also other attractions available for a separate admission fee. Save Our Seabirds, is a rescue and rehabilitation facility that houses approximately 250 birds consisting of more than 30 species both native and exotic. Eco-Tours by Sarasota Bay Explorers are boating adventures offered in partnership with Mote. Visitors can choose from sea life encounter cruises, guided kayak tours and nature safaris all operated by a U.S. Coast Guard-certified boat captain, narrated by a biologist and staffed by Mote-trained volunteers.

See a State Park

Myakka River State Park

If the weather is cooperating, and unfortunately it wasn’t a large part of our visit, there is plenty of outdoor fun in Sarasota. We had really hoped to spend at least part of one day at Myakka River State Park. Gators and other Florida wildlife can be viewed in their natural habitat from a number of observation platforms, hiking trails, safari tram tours or aboard one of the world’s largest airboats. Other treasures to check out include an historic one-room schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, a working sugar cane mill and a restored 1889 Florida cracker house. Camping spots as well as five log cabins are available as a lodging option for all or part of your visit.

Beautiful Beaches

Sarasota's Siesta Key has beaches that rank as some of the most beautiful in the world. Sugar sand and year round sunshine make this a sought after vacation spot. Florida Family Travel Sarasota. SunshineandHurricanes.com

Since we had such little sun while we were in Sarasota we chose to use our one ideal weather day to hit the beach. Siesta Key is known to have one of the most beautiful beaches in the world with its 99% quartz sand, which is some of the finest and whitest you will find anywhere. The dazzling blue water doesn’t hurt its status either and full-time life guards make it a safer selection, especially if you have younger children. However, don’t overlook the many other beaches such as Turtle Beach also on Siesta Key and also Lido Key and Longboat Key. Here you’re likely to find fewer crowds and little more laid back atmosphere.

Eat a Little, Shop a Little

Once you’ve worked up an appetite or perhaps are ready for a little shopping side trip, you can either head to the charming village on Siesta Key or downtown to the St. Armand’s Circle area. Siesta Key has more of a small beach town feel with tourist friendly shops and seaside inspired dining. We enjoyed eating outside on the patio at the very lively and kid friendly Hub Baja Grill, but we were also told that the Lobster Pot restaurant offered fun family dining.

St. Armand’s circle is a more upscale outdoor shopping and dining mecca with many well-known chain stores and then a range of restaurants from casual to gourmet. We had fun at the colorful Cha Cha Coconuts and then splurged afterward on ice cream and fudge at Kilwin’s. Overall, I think my husband and I would have enjoyed St. Armand’s more on our own. It would be a perfect place for a date night if you’ve got grandparents along who would babysit for an evening.

Heading to Florida? Don't miss out on a stop in Sarasota and definitely stop by the Toasted Mango Cafe for the best breakfast you'll find just about anywhere. The mango butter is to die for! Florida Family Travel Sarasota. SunshineandHurricanes.com

Overall, the restaurant that ended up being our family favorite was a small little diner not far from St. Armand’s Circle called the Toasted Mango Café. We actually ate breakfast/brunch here two of the four mornings we were in Sarasota. The Toasted Mango Waffles were scrumptious, but so were many other griddle favorites like pancakes, served up with their house mango butter.

Despite very un-Florida like weather, this trip was a perfect long weekend escape for us. We weren’t able to squeeze in a trip to Yoder’s Amish Village to learn more about the Amish population that has settled in Sarasota (and we hear they make some of the best fried chicken found in Florida). Plus, I really wanted to check out the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, but I was over ruled on this one by the rest of my family. Hopefully, we’ll get to it next time.

If You Go:

The Ringling Museum:

Adult $25/ Children 6-17: $5/ under 5Free
Florida Teacher with ID $10/ US Active Military$10

Mote Aquarium:

  • Hours: Everyday 10 -5
  • Adults (13 & older) $19.75/ Seniors (65 & older) $18.75/
Youth (age 4-12) $14.75/
Children (age 0-3) Free

Save Our Seabirds:

Hours: Everyday 10-5

Adults $6/ Children $4 (4-12) / Under 4 Free

Sarasota Bay Explorers – Eco Tours

Sea Life Encounter – Adults $27/ Children $23/ Under 3 Free

Kayak Tours – Adults $55/Children $45/ (not suggested for children under 6)

Nature Safari – Adult $45/ Children $40 6-12 / (not suggested for children under 6)

Combo tickets that include Aquarium admission and an eco-tour are also available.

Myakka State Park:

floridastateparks.org/myakkariver

Hours 8a.m. – sundown

Camping $60 per night

Log Cabins $70 per night

Tours available by reservation at myakkawildlife.com

Looking for other great Florida Family Travel Destinations?
Check out these other posts!

Weeki Wachee Springs

Florida Family Travel: Weeki Wachee Springs

Searching for Shark Teeth

Florida Family Travel Hunting Shark's Teeth

 

Treasure Island

Looking for a unique Florida destination with pristine beaches and a little retro beach movie feel? Treasure Island right near St. Petersburg Florida is a beach lover's paradise that the whole family will enjoy. Not too far from Tampa to provide a great location for day trips into the city, while still enjoying the more laid back beach town. Florida Family Travel - Treasure Island. sunshineandhurricanes.com

Filed Under: Florida, Travel Tagged With: Budget Travel, Florida, Florida Beaches, Florida Travel, Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Siesta Key, Traveling with Kids

About Kira Lewis

Kira Lewis is a mom to a strong and sassy 8 year old girl and a funny, soccer playing teen boy.  Her career has included everything from corporate ladder climbing to teaching yoga. She's settled for now on free-lance writing and blogging where she covers topics like motherhood, parenting, technology, Florida travel and raising tweens and teens.Keep up with her parental musings by subscribing to sunshine and hurricane's weekly newsletter HERE.

You can also find her on social media:

Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Pinterest 

« Parenting From The News Desk
10 Free Road Trip Apps »

Comments

  1. Jenna @ A Savory Feast says

    June 2, 2015 at 9:39 am

    Sarasota is the best! I always feel lucky to live here. There is so much to do! You highlighted a lot of fun things to do. I love spending the day on Siesta Key Beach, exploring St. Armands Circle or the Ringling Museum, trying local restaurants downtown and getting coffee at Perq.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
Hi There! We’re Michelle and Kira, two Florida moms who know that parenting is full of sunshine and hurricanes. So glad you are here. >>>LEARN MORE





Pinterest

Follow Sunshine and Hurricanes Best of S&H on Pinterest.

INSTAGRAM

Truth • • • #truth #parentingtips #parenting Truth
•
•
•
#truth #parentingtips #parentingkids #momlife
One & the same ☕️ (via @fowllanguagecomics )
•
•
•
#momhumor #funnymom #raisingkids #littleones #lovemykids #momlife
Never doubt that (via @michelle.merenda ) • • Never doubt that (via @michelle.merenda )
•
•
•
#parentingkids #parentingteens #raisinglittleones #momsofinstagram #momlife
We all had a playroom growing up...it was called o We all had a playroom growing up...it was called outside
*
*
*
#momhumor #parentingwithpurpose #raisingkids
Ever wonder what to say when your child is feeling Ever wonder what to say when your child is feeling left out?  A few years ago, I watched from my park bench as a young mother tried to console her sobbing daughter. “I’m sorry, honey. I don’t blame you for being upset.”  “I don’t know why they won’t let me be in their group for the talent show. They just said they already had enough people and their routine was done and there wasn’t anything they could do about it. I told them I would make a new one up, but they wouldn’t do it.”  I tried to focus on my kindle while occasionally looking for my kids to exit the school door. But as much as I tried not to eavesdrop, I had to admit I was interested to hear how the mom would handle this all-too-common situation of a child feeling left out.  “Well, they’re probably just jealous of you honey, because you are such a good gymnast and they aren’t. They probably don’t want you in their group because you’ll show them up,” the mom stated matter-of-factly. “You should do a solo routine. Or maybe one with Chloe.”  “You think?” the girl replied, her tears slowing down. “You think they’re just jealous of my tumbling?”  “Totally.”  Several minutes passed before my girls came out, but the interaction between the mother and daughter stuck with me for a lot longer.  Maybe the girls were jealous, or maybe they honestly had their routine finished.  To continue reading check the link in bio.
Repeat after me! * * * #momsofinstagram #parenting Repeat after me!
*
*
*
#momsofinstagram #parentingkids #raisingkids #momsofinstagram
Where did all of our money go?? * * * #momhumor #r Where did all of our money go??
*
*
*
#momhumor #raisingkids #funnymom #momofinstagram #momsofinstagram #momlife
Instagram post 17870490628965807 Instagram post 17870490628965807
This is an awesome way to keep track of height * * This is an awesome way to keep track of height
*
*
*
#cleverparents #parentingwithpurpose #momlife #momsofinstagram
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · PRIVACY POLICY · Website by Moritz Fine Designs LLC

Copyright © 2022 · Tasteful Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • 17