Haven’t been here in many years since I was younger. New buildings, everything even nicer than I remember. Took the family for the day when the weather was nice, had a playground in the center in the park and the kiddo loved that. I loved the dioramas of the old circus setups. The grounds are as beautiful as ever and it was a great day to walk the grounds and see the many beautiful types of plants and flowers. As every time I’ve ever been always need more time, just means we will be back soon. There is so much to see, the grounds are worth the trip alone and then the museum for circus items and the art collection. You could easily fill several days or many trips to see it all.

A nice chance to walk around a Franco-Italian piazza from 100 years ago, managed and maintained very nicely. One ticket gets you into almost the entire grounds usually, and my little nephews (7 & 8) and I really enjoyed the Summer Circus Spectacular before making the most of our day. The show was excellent. It’s very intimate in a small theater, no three-ring circus. This is so much the better! The clowns draw you in and make you feel they’ve prepared the show for you alone. The woman from Ethiopia is an incredible juggler, and we also loved seeing the balancing act, acrobats from Ukraine on the double swings, and the acrobat on the long silk rope. We had cheesy macaroni and fish tacos respectively for lunch, but the museum and playground, and we walked through the mansion turned art museum. Fantastic day even in 100 degrees. A great place to talk a walk-and-talk! We bought tickets when we walked up, but we got there exactly at 10AM.

Mondays are "free museum day" to enter the art galleries. Huge tapestry size paintings and nice collection of art. The Center of the U-shaped museum has a large outdoor courtyard with statues, greenery, and shaded walking areas on the building's inner edges. Restoration efforts have preserved the original charm of this building and surrounding gardens. Many sights to see on the Ringling estate in addition to the art. Visitor's entrance to the museum grounds includes a gift shop and sit-down restaurant.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum is an absolute gem! From the moment you arrive, you’re greeted with a sense of wonder and excitement. The stunning water views add a touch of magic to the whole experience, making it truly unforgettable. Walking through the museum, you can feel the passion and dedication that went into creating such a beautiful place. Every exhibit is thoughtfully curated, showcasing a rich tapestry of art and history that captivates the imagination. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or just looking for a delightful day out, this museum has something for everyone. It’s not just a museum; it’s a journey through creativity and inspiration. Highly recommended!

Absolutely beautiful place we visited it in the middle of December. Natural setting with beautiful art galleries and mansion which looks like piece of Europe. There are art gallery, botanical garden and the circus museum in one place. For extra cost you can see the first floor of Ringling’s mansion which I found very interesting. The Circus museum has miniature model of the circus from the beginning to the end. I really liked the Glass exhibition.

Gardens are amazing! Went late in the afternoon, so I didn't have time for a full visit. Will definitely be back to see the museum and mansion. Free admission to gardens and museum on Mondays.

This place is much bigger than it looks. It was clean, nice and cool. Lots of great art to look at and the circus to learn about. It will take a few hours to get through this property. Beautiful gardens and property. You are not allowed to take photos inside so I took a few outside.

Worth it! The garden and three museums are wonderful. The view for the Sarasota Bay is stunning. For the exhibition, I love the art museum section, lots of paintings and well maintained for the whole area. Parking is super easy, with plenty of space. Just make sure you are hydrated enough since Florida is always hot!

I lived in Sarasota for 5 years and I never went to this place. However after having move away I always come back every year to visit, and this year I made sure to visit to John and Mabel Ringling aren't museum. Just so you know, admission is free on Mondays so we decided to go on a Monday. Even though there were a lot of people there, the place is so massive that you never really feel crowded. I was able to leisurely view the entire grounds without feeling rushed or crowded. The inside of this place is just as beautiful as the outside. Be sure to hit up all of the wings of the museum. If you're facing the courtyard they are both to the right and left. The house is also gorgeous (Ca d' Zan), But we did not pay to actually tour it. Despite this you can still walk out on the back porch of the home and enjoy the beautiful views. Definitely would recommend!

I thoroughly enjoy taking day trips to the museum. The restaurant is a true delight, with an incredible chef who never fails to impress. The bar offers a wide variety of options to choose from. And I always find great joy in exploring the stunning art and landscaping on display.

Loved the gardens and the employees art! Really enjoyed the new glass gallery. Overall, most paintings didn't appeal to me. They have too dark or violent themes for me. I personally like uplifting artwork! I found enough to enjoy to make it a nice visit. I'm glad, however, that I hadn't paid to view the art. The rest of the complex is awesome!

Wonderful collection of circus memories and modern art and other items collected by John and Mabel Ringling. Great incite into their lives as well as the lives of some of the performers in their circuses. The park is large, well kept and beautiful. Plan to spend an entire day here. We arrived as soon as they opened and stayed till close. Still didn't get to see everything tho, so the art museum is a two day trip if you want to experience all of it.

I’m glad to visit this museum during our stay in Sarasota. I learned a lot of interesting facts about cirques industry back in the beginning of 20 century. I couldn’t imagine how big was the scale of running cirques for just one day performance for public. Amazing!! The only sad fact is that the cirques king died completely broke having having such a huge and beautiful collection of art.

This place is awesome. There are multiple museums on the grounds, along with the mansion and beautiful gardens. You can easily spend a full day here in order to be able to see everything. The coffee shop above the gift shop has really good coffee.

We only went to the art museum ✨️ It was huge and wow, what a selection 👏. We are members of the Bishop and it has a reciprocal admission with The Ringling so it was free. We plan to go back to see the other buildings. There is a ton of cool things to see. Very well done and worth going to. Free parking, and they have a nice Cafe above the visitor center and gift shop. There are many ponds, gardens, and statues(art) outside as well. It is right on Sarasota Bay with beautiful views 😍

Beautiful gardens to walk through! atmosphere amazing ! art museum amazing painting specially the ones John Ringling requested! We where there 10am to 430pm make sure to wear comfortable shoes!

Very beautiful place. It really is like being temporarily transported to Europe. The gardens are nice but the best part for me was the art gallery. Incredible paintings with some descriptions on their origin. Some paintings are so large they take up a whole wall. Wonderful place to visit! There was a moderate amount of people there on the day we went, though the area is so big it almost feels like you’re the only person there

I didn't think I would like this place but...Wow! The miniature model of a working circus (at least 1500 square ft), and the incredible detail, was worth the price of admission alone. Very interesting place with beautiful gardens/grounds to walk around and relax. Nice little restaurant overlooking a pond that has pretty good food too.

Absolutely 😍 loved the Ringling Museum. This was an experience for the entire family (including my 19 year old son who Never hangs out). We had a blast, from the miniature circus recreation to the galleries to the garden to the Grill. It's just wonderful. You could visit this place two to three times and discover something new each time.

Such a great place to visit. Art museum has a lot of old paintings mostly with Biblical references. The inner garden is tranquil and beautiful. They always have different exhibitions that show the artworks from world around. If you like the history of circus the museum will definitely your place. But the most lovely place for me is a house of Ringlings. Castle… Nest.. I don’t know how to name it. It’s amazing. Till today. If you are nearby, you have to visit it. Read the history of John Ringling before to visit this place.

Went to Ringling for the first time, I was very impressed with the entire complex. There are so many different ways to spend your time, from the art museum, circus museums, gardens and walking through the Mansion. I thought it was very unexpected to have such a nice restaurant at that location. The Ringling Grill room overlooks the pond and has a fabulous menu to choose from. Sitting on the terrace with a cocktail and a delicious lunch is the perfect way to spend a leisurely afternoon. What is so unique is that you could spend a few hours or an entire day at this location, it is all dependent on your whims.

The Ringling museum was very interesting. The House "Ca' d'zan was really cool. The museum had a ton of painting and other art. We wanted to do the 40 minute tour with the upstairs of the house, but it was sold out. The house is right on the water. It was $35 for the museums and the first floor of the house self tour. I guess you can buy them online if you want to do a tour.

What a fabulous experience! Easy and plentiful parking! There used to be so much to see. Very short wait for ticket purchase. On Monday, the art gallery is free and the outdoor gardens are spectacular, with nature mixed with art and sculpture. There used to be something to entice your eyes from every view. Great art, interesting mix of cloth art, sculpture and paintings.

100% worth the visit! The entire place is gorgeous and massive so it doesn’t feel crowded. We went on a Monday when entrance to the art museum and the gardens are free. The art museum is wonderful-my partner and I like vastly different styles of art, but this museum had both the styles we love. The view of the water and the gardens was beyond beautiful, just walking around and spotting the turtles and watching for dolphins was amazing. I would suggest spending about 5 hours here if you want to see and do everything. We will definitely be returning to do the circus museum and the house tour at some point.

Wonderful first visit! Miniature circus display was amazing!!! Actual circus museum less so... Beautiful house tour with audio. Take a guided tour for upper floor access. Excellent fine art museum, special exhibits and sculpture garden. Bistro was very good as well. So much to see!

Awesome marine lab and aquarium. Both in and outdoor display are well organized. Kids loved the petting places where they could touch the sting rays, sharks, starfish, sea cucumbers etc Manatees are such a huge attraction. The volunteers and staff are very helpful. The tickets can be expensive but you get 50% off if you have a zoo membership somewhere. You can also get discounts for your boat tours with your mote tickets if you want to do the tour next or later. No food allowed inside but water is welcome. There are places for your to get your water refilled. And a cafeteria in case you get hungry. Expect a couple hours to go over everything. Lot of walking involved for sure. But come have fun with your kids.

Second timer, but it's been a while. Pretty stellar spot -- was pretty spread out and they now have two buildings that you can walk between. Definitely thought that was a cool new addition. Had several exhibits that I felt you could sit and enjoy for a while, including the river otters that were quite amusing. Different activities for all ages, including a virtual reality experience, several touch tanks, opportunities to feed some birds, and a gem mining experience to name a few. They have a restaurant on site with basic items and have both inside and outdoor seating areas. There is also a very large area for events and/or kiddos to get the wiggles out. Highly recommend.

This is a nice aquarium. We got there early so parking wasn't an issue. We also ordered online so we didn't have to go through the ticket line. All we had to do was show the door attendant our phone or proof of purchase. Walkong through the exhibits was easy and straightforward. It would be hard to get lost in this place. They had a virtual tour where you sit in this egg shaped seat and put on virtual goggles. The seat would move as you explored the ocean. It was 6 dollars a person. They also, had many stations for touching marine life for free. Sting rays, a Dogfish, and even little sharks. It was very cool. We also sifted for shark's teeth. I think it was 10 bucks a bag. It was a bag of sand you sifted in running water. You get a handful of teeth and you get to keep the bag they came in. Mote also has gators, river otters, manatees, and live sea turtles. Those are in a different building so be prepared to walk about a quarter mile to get there. We had a baby so we just drove to the other parking lot closer to that building because it was hot outside. Overall the experience was great. Our family highly recommends making to Mote if you're in Sarasota. It's worth trip. Takes about 2 to 2.5 hours to see everything. Have fun!

Before our trip, we heard such great things about the Mote Aquarium. Our visit lived up to the hype and more. On the surface, the aquarium doesn’t seem like much but it’s packed with interesting displays! Some of our favorites included the sharks, eels, river otters, turtles, and alligators. On top of those, there is plenty more to experience. The staff is more than friendly and were always there to lend a hand, give advice, or teach us a mini lesson. We spent about 2-3 hours going through both buildings. Overall, a great trip and experience and a place I think everyone should, especially with kids.

Extremely interesting and educational. Loads of opportunities to interact with the sea life. There are indoor and outdoor exhibits between several buildings. It may be slightly expensive for some. However, what they do with your money is priceless and well worth donating a few extra dollars towards. Especially their research programs. Mote is a global marine science institution, leading more than 27 diverse, programs. Again, well worth the investment. My favorite area was the jellyfish reproduction lab. Great for families and kids. Don’t forget your water if you go in the summertime, especially for the kids, as you need to walk outside to get to other buildings and their exhibits. ENJOY!

This is a very cool place to visit if you have a fear of open water but still want to experience creatures of the sea. The on-site restaurant is a little pricy for being concession stand food, but it is good. One thing that may be an important detail is that the gift shops close early. I love this place and will be back again.

Decided to visit the aquarium and we were not disappointed. Once you walk in and round the corner, it shows you all the different tanks of fish they have. They also had small pools meant for gently handling the different species. That took us and hour. But wait, there's another building! Manatee, otters, turtles and more. The whole experience took roughly 2 hours and it was fun! Highly recommend to all ages.

We went on a Sunday and it was not that crowded. This place was clean and well staffed with knowledgeable people to ask questions of. They had way more marine life there to enjoy than I expected. They even had some interactive displays for the kids to play with including 3D headsets. They are building a new bigger and fancier Aquarium, opening some time in 2026. This one is well worth a visit in the meantime. We will be back.

Very nice and fun place to walk around. I’m happy that they are trying to keep this place clean. At this place, you can learn about many marine life and see the laboratory. You can touch some of the sea creatures and the staff explains about the creatures. One thing is the manatees place was little dirty Water and couldn’t see them well. Other than that, it was very well managed. Also they have place to sit and eat and souvenir shop

Not sure if it was because I had low expectations for this place, but I was very impressed with this aquarium. The layout flows nicely, with no bottlenecks. Both indoor and outdoor areas are fun and well designed. The food area is well placed, and has a nice menu. Walking to the second building could be an issue during rainy days, though. But once you're there you'll be treated to cool turtle and manatee exhibits. Overall a fun time if you have a couple of hours to burn.

Nice aquarium with two different buildings to check out. Great for kids and adults. They have a kit you can buy for $11 that your kids can sift for shark teeth, fossils, and possibly a Megladon tooth. Was a good time all around. Would recommend stopping by and checking his place out!

I have visited Mote Marine on several occasions, and each time, I feel there is something new that I missed from previous visits. I could stand in front of the octopus tank for hours, watching this fascinating creature who seems to have a personality of his own. The jellyfish are mesmerizing, and the otters are a laughable bunch who want to entertain as they frolic, slide and wobble about. There is plenty to see, and don't miss the rays touch tank or the shark exhibit. We even thought our burgers at the on-site diner were as good as any we've had elsewhere and far better than any of our local fast food joints. If you're looking for summer entertainment for the kids, Mote will never disappoint!

My kids love ocean creatures and this was the perfect place to visit with toddlers. There was a lot to see and touch, which kept them engaged. At first we had trouble parking, until we saw the sign for additional parking. The additional parking turned out to be a great location because we started in the marine mammal center, which was less crowded. Also zoo and aquarium food can be hit or miss, but the Deep Sea Cafe was amazing. The onion rings were the best I've had in a very long time.

Absolutely awesome aquarium and one of my favorite I've ever been to. I'm not from the coast t, so I can't claim to be authoritative on how great it is, but man I loved it. I could have petted a loggerhead turtle! Price was a bit much, but I thought it was a good value. They have discounts if you gave a zoo membership at other locations too, so that helped. They also had a nice aviary to see as well.

OMG, this aquarium is awesome! Staffs and volunteers are very kind, and we loved watching sharks and one big cute manatee! 😍 It is truly worth visiting here if you live in Florida! Don't forget to touch baby sharks, too!

I think the price ($26 per adult) is reasonable for what you experience. The grounds are spread out and you must traverse from one exhibit another. The exhibits are bright and interactive - perfect for young kids. There are several hands- in areas where the kids can grab horseshoe crabs, starfish, etc. There is lots of parking. The bird area is very nice with a red tail Hawk, vultures and owls. There are 2 gift shops and diner like restaurant.

I have been upwards of four times and loved it each visit! Wide variety of wildlife, information, and interactive activities. I spoke to a few volunteers, who were all super knowledgeable and sweet- one had been volunteering there for 15 years! There was also a section on the history of the research center and aquarium that was fascinating. It was very crowded, as I went on a holiday, but that did not affect my experience. Points off for the cost (I understand that aquarium upkeep takes funding) and the fact that there were countless additional activities that cost extra. Would definitely go again, but it would be much more frequent with a reduced cost/student discount!

This was my third visit to this aquarium, each time taking visiting family members. We had two kids under 10 in our party. I was disappointed in the pricing for kids at $21. Nevertheless, the aquarium is cool, with a manatee, sharks, rays, and huge turtles. Some of the exhibits (like the Ray tank) are interactive. There are many volunteers who are helpful in describing things and were quite informative. Overall, it was a good place and cool experience. I'm sure I'll be back.

Such an amazing adventure and experience! So much closer up encounters and education. And a lot of focus on keeping young ones entertained. This might be one of my favorite aquariums!

Mote is an absolute blessing. Their animals are so well taken care of and you can tell this is a place built on love and dedication to sea life. I always feel joyous and fulfilled coming here, and it never gets old. There’s also a bird section which is a lot bigger than it looks from the outside! There’s also a park on the beach a short walk away with boardwalks through mangroves which is always a must.

Very educational for all ages, All types of sealife but bring your walking shoes after you finish 1st section you will walk outside to the Birds area(fun to talk to the parrots) then onto the otter section across the way. Yes you can take a break between exhibits & you can drive/walk to the otter building then show tix to get in. Walk at your pace. We spent 3 to 4 hours really looking at all the exhibits & animals. Clean environment for all all animals. ❤️ Lots of parking areas including ♿️ & elevators when needed. Keep up the great work, FUN day in Florida.

My friend and I had an absolute blast at Mote! It was really fun seeing all the sea creatures… The staff members at the exhibits were very informative and friendly.

I’m surprised the ratings are so high here. Nice volunteers, nice hands on exhibits for kids, but we had 3 adults for $87, and I’ve seen better exhibits in the Midwest. One reviewer said he felt sorry for the animals, and I concur. It’s a bit pricy for the experience. I was happy to see that there are plans for a remodel/expansion.

Amazing way to spend Mother's Day...any day really! Enjoyed the narrated boat tour...galloping gators, feral hogs, and fauna galore...something for everyone!

beautiful place for enjoy the nature and the real Florida landscape and animals!

Wonderful campground with plenty of space.

Excellent camp ground for youth scout camping and to the looks of it great for family camping. Gas stations within 15 min drive for ice and other things along with a Walmart about 20 minutes away. Great roads for bike rides and also plenty of good views with alot of alligator sitings. Make the 1 hr trip to peace river if you can and dig for some fossils when the water is low!

Great for kids! Airboat tour with gators, birds, wild pigs in sight. Tram ride with excellent description of flora, fauna, and history. Great restaurant and gift shop. Camping facilities look nice and we'll kept. Many opportunities for walks and bicycle rides.

The campsite was huge and well cleared with plenty of flat spots for tents; the water out of the spigot was delicious and clean and didn't have that standard Florida sulfur taste; the state park staff was extremely accommodating and helpful; and the site was secluded from other campers. Overall, a fantastic experience!

Its better just putting anything modern away and imagine it being 90 years ago. Get the real feel for the real Florida

Beautiful & peaceful. Easily accessible. Has a great kids area! We were there at the end of April when had a Tiffany collection display; lamps & vases were so neat to see. There were large artist creations, like Tiffany, through out the garden. We spent 5 hrs enjoying this great place! The water view was incredible. Volunteers were friendly & helpful!

Very nice botanical garden, definitely worth a visit. They have some epiphytes I have not seen in other botanical gardens. You can spend about 3 hours there and see everything in depth. They have free parking and it is 26 bucks a person. There are good ocean views and good walking trails. The mansion houses a mask exhibit and when I went they were auctioning the masks. The workers are very ready to answer questions and look like they are enjoying themselves.

Selby Gardens is a fantastic botanical jewel. En extremely interesting venue that has options for every nature lover. Winding paths with banyon and other trees overhead, colorful flowering plants, exhibits, a tropical greenhouse, fantastic vistas and so much more. There's a children's play area (more like a huge tree house city) that is elevated and has interactive exhibits that frankly, adults can enjoy as well. Selby Gardens also has several restaurants to dine in. The Orchid is very good, but know that it's expensive and may not be your best option for your dollar. If you're Sarasota and looking for a location to spend a relaxing and enjoyable afternoon at, check this place out.

Beautiful gardens of all different types with beautiful trails right on the Sarasota Bay. Had multiple bathrooms with easy access and all different places to explore. Cute little gift shop full of nice souvenirs Only trouble was parking as they are doing construction and the parking lot was fenced off and rock. My first time going and it was great! Beautiful!

What a delightful place to visit, brought my mom with me and when I asked if teachers got a discount,the person working the counter was eager and happy to tell us that teachers are free. They had free valet parking due to construction in their typical parking area, I had a little snack and a drink at the café. Although it was 93° out the breeze from off the water and the shaded areas provide much comfort from the heat. I was a little disappointed to find the greenhouse was closed, even though I had looked on the website I did not know this in advance. But I enjoyed it so much I’ll definitely make the two hour trip to visit again.

Fun day at the gardens with the family. Lots of really fun things to see if you like plants! Kids might have a bit of a tough time here but they still had a good time and enjoyed the koi fish pond. The butterfly gardens were also neat to see. Definitely recommend an afternoon here.

Absolutely beautiful. There are so many plants to explore. Tiffany exhibit was educational and beautiful. Property is huge so wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle. On the water, so the breeze is appreciated. Different places to sit and take a moment to soak it all it. You can purchase food and drinks on the property in the adorable house cafe. Seating inside if you need to cool off and plenty outside. A very peaceful relaxing time ❣️

The garden is nice but quite a bit of mosquitoes and bugs. My arms and legs got bitten even with spread on. Most of the volunteers were very nice and friendly. The Garden's cafe Michael's was a surprise with excellent sandwiches and choices.

Attending Matt and Maggie Dorn's wedding at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota was an unforgettable experience. The venue, a picturesque garden overlooking tranquil waters, was breathtaking, especially as the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The atmosphere was magical, almost surreal, and Annemarie and I were spellbound by the beauty of it all. The ceremony itself was intimate and heartfelt, with every detail meticulously planned. Matt and Maggie, surrounded by the love of their family and friends, exchanged vows against the backdrop of the setting sun, making the moment even more special. The air was filled with emotions, joy, and laughter, creating an ambiance of pure happiness. As the evening progressed, the celebration moved into a beautifully decorated area, where tables were adorned with elegant centerpieces and soft, ambient lighting. The dinner was a culinary delight, each dish more exquisite than the last, complementing the upscale yet intimate theme of the wedding. The music was a perfect blend of classic and contemporary, setting the tone for a night of dancing and merriment. Annemarie and I shared dances under the starlit sky, the melodies creating a romantic and enchanting atmosphere. We chatted with old friends and made new ones, reveling in the joyous occasion. The entire night was unlike anything we had ever experienced. The combination of the stunning setting, the delicious food, the wonderful music, and the great company made it a truly epic celebration. It was a night to remember, not just for Matt and Maggie, but for every guest who had the privilege of being a part of their special day.

I was thrilled to return to Marie Shelby Botanical Gardens long absence of 10 years. This place held a special significance for me and my husband as it was where he proposed to me. We were filled with excitement as we embarked on this journey down memory lane. To our delight, we discovered that the garden had undergone significant transformations and welcomed several remarkable additions to its property. The abundance of beautiful plants and trees was a sight to behold. The meticulous care and attention to detail were evident in every corner of the garden. One particular highlight was the introduction of stunning boardwalks that enhanced the overall experience. These pathways offered a sense of tranquility and serenity, providing visitors with the perfect opportunity to immerse themselves in the peaceful surroundings. It was a truly rejuvenating experience to wander along these paths, basking in the natural beauty that surrounded us. The exceptional staff at Marie Shelby Botanical Gardens further enhanced our experience. Their friendliness and warmth made us feel truly welcome, and their dedication to maintaining the garden was evident. We appreciated their efforts in ensuring that every visitor had a memorable and enjoyable time. I highly recommend a visit to Marie Shelby Botanical Gardens. Whether you are seeking a romantic afternoon or simply desire a moment of quiet contemplation amidst nature, this garden will exceed your expectations. Its remarkable transformations and stunning additions make it a sanctuary worth exploring.

Such a beautiful place to enjoy the beautiful plants and flowers of FL! You can walk out and get a wonderful view of Sarasota Bay as well. Don’t miss it if your visiting.

Wonderful, lush garden that’s surrounded with exotic plants, the ocean, and kind people. The Shelby Gardens is a great place to visit if you’re from out of town, want to spend a day with the kids and family, or just enjoy plants itself. The facility is clean and well managed. When you come into the gardens, you’ll have your car valeted and returned at the end. We just happened to come the day after their newest exhibit opened which included these colorful Costa Rican masks. Plenty of areas to sit and enjoy the landscape. Definitely check it out!

Very nice. We were there during Tiffany Exhibit which was great. Not sure if special large stained glass decor throughout park was there because of Tiffany or they are standard displays, but loved them. Great that it sits along the bay. Orchid section was wonderful. I highly recommend it mostly for adults, not small children though there is a small kids section.

Beautiful gardens. There is an awesome area for kids to play. They have concerts for members and an amazing greenhouse. I love how they always have a revolving collection of artwork that they incorporate into the gardens.

Nice quiet stroll through beautiful gardens. Make sure you take your camera or have your phone ready - lots to capture. Kids area has lots to climb on and nooks for them to explore. Cafe has cold drinks and food. Brst way to spend the day.

Wonderful garden. The Orchids were fabulous. We took our time and strolled through everything and it took about 2.5 hours. Worth every penny.

This place is a must see! If you like orchids you especially need to come see their orchid exhibit. They have an outdoor botanical garden that is beautifully maintained and raised wooden paths that give you a sense of adventure. The view of the ocean is particularly stunning and I’m sure must be wonderful at sunset (although we were there at midday). They have left the natural mangroves along most of the sea’s edge so it’s a great place to see that type of habitat as well. I was particularly fascinated be some of the really old mangrove trees with their roots so big that I didn’t think that still existed except maybe in the Everglades or abandoned islands. There is a cafeteria, and a visitor center which is all being replaced with a huge building across the street which is also part of the compound (probably the new visitor complex). I can’t wait to come back as my wife bought us a membership.

First time going to night in Bloom at the gardens. We did buy advanced tickets and included the parking which was super helpful. Really enjoyed the experience in the atmosphere. The lights, the music, and the garden itself was all beautiful. Lots of different areas to walk through and enjoy, they had games to play for the young ones. It was nice that they had the ability to buy cocktails in food while you walk through the garden. Highly recommend as a family Christmas activity.

An Amazing place to spend the whole day. Beautiful. Like a whole different world. Educational. Amazing orchids. Plants from many contents. I have 250 I wish I could share. They also have a flower shop. Should be on your bucket list good.

Absolutely spectacular! Right in the heart of downtown Sarasota, the Selby gardens is a lovely asset to the city. Beautiful gardens and unmatched views of the bay. I can visit again and again and it’s different every time. We went for the holiday light event this year and i was blown away! It will absolutely be a yearly visit to see the lights from now on! I do recommend buying tickets ahead of time as they sell out, especially right around Christmas. Great for families, people of all ages and interests!

A beautiful afternoon at the botanical gardens. Be prepared to walk thru all the gardens and special exhibits overlooking the beautiful beaches and surrounding areas of beautiful plants and trees and landscapes. It was an awesome afternoon of casually strolling the magnificent grounds and witnessing mother nature in her finest. Kudos to the expansion project, which seems to be complete. Such a beautiful peaceful date with mother nature.

We haven’t been in almost 10 years and was pleasantly surprised. We enjoyed walking around the gardens and the interactive exhibits. Impressed with the number of volunteers and many are so friendly and willing to share their knowledge. Nice, parking garage (free)

The new and extended Gardens are just wonderful! The added space really has made such a difference, and the new restaurant is marvellous. Light, airy, welcoming and friendly, the food is sublime. Can't wait to go again!

Spent a lovely afternoon roaming around the gardens. Extensive tropical garden indoors with water trickling over the stone walls. Waterfront along the estuary with views of Sarasota have extensive mangroves. They close at 430. Allow a couple of hours. There's a restaurant in one of the buildings. The mansion has a small tour inside. It's 26 dollars for adults, admission. It's definitely a great way to spend a day

What an oasis! To think all of this beauty, diversity, art and natural tranquility is minutes from downtown Sarasota is staggering. The parking is incredibly convenient. The volunteers were beyond helpful. And our visit was free because we’re members of another Florida garden — Bok Tower in Lake Wales. Such a gem.

Parking was a little confusing. It wasn't evident to me that the ramp was for the garden. It is. They don't allow outside food which was a shame because we packed a picnic lunch that we had to enjoy on a bench right outside the park instead of in the magnificent gardens. Even if you buy tickets online you still have to stop at the main entrance to get your sticker.

Really enjoyed this garden. It was beautiful! Wonderful display of orchids and all sorts of beautiful flora. Very well put together, the kids section is super interactive and my niece and nephew loved it! We got to explore nearly every part except for the education center/museum which I'll have to check out next time. They also had a great little bonsai display and I enjoyed the cactus garden too. They had a beautiful Christmas display up and whole array of lights that must look amazing at night. Really enjoyed it!

Opulent Gilded Age Mediterranean Revival mansion built for a famous circus mogul. It is self-guided and includes an audio tour accessible via QR code. Only the 1st floor and outside are accessible but it is still impressive and there are photos of the other levels at the end. The estate overlooks the Sarasota Bay and the terrace has steps that lead down close to the water - a nice place to take a break and relax. If you’re into architecture, you may find it interesting to see the eclectic array of styles that influenced this house.

I have been to italy and this home is of beautiful italian design. Loved the house and grounds. Beautiful tile patio. Want to come back when more roses are blooming. Check out the roof and the outside walk way to the top bedroom

The weather was perfect! 86 and the constant breeze was great. There are golf carts that can drive you to the house if you don't want to walk. The grounds are beautiful. We went on Monday when the gallery and grounds were free to see.

The walk through of this place is absolutely stunning. It makes me think of a more tropical Great Gatsby, from looks and time period! The staff is also very knowledgeable on the specific rooms and decor that inhabit it. You can also sit out on the patio and look out at the ocean (reaching toward a green light if you wish) I will definitely be coming back here, it’s too stunning not to!

The home is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful and well preserved. Stunning views from the bay and stained glass windows. Truly an awesome experience touring through this. However, the staff at the entrance could use some polishing skills. They come off as rude and unwelcoming. I walked in with my backpack and instead of politely asking me to carry it by the handle. They were very rude to be and even raised their voices. Their tone of voice was condescending and not polite at all. Will definitely not be returning due to those older female employees. They need to be retrained they seem to be out of touch with reality.

Stunningly beautiful a must see every room marble crystal intricately decorated from the hand painted ceiling to the inlaid marble walls and floors Loads of History

On Mondays, gardens are free, plus outside mansion. The rose garden is beautiful, plus over 200 types of trees! We packed a picnic, no issues. Lots of places for picnic. I did read that museum of art is free Mondays as well, but I'm not sure. Expansive art. Before going to Ringling, look up history, very interesting.

Absolutely gorgeous. They offer audio tours you can get through a qr code inside the house. You do have to buy a dual ticket to see the home. It is breath taking and completely worth any extra cost. Will come again.

April 2023 Very nice beautiful place. The only first floor open to view. To visit all floors you need to buy tour, which own schedule. The Ca' d'Zan looks amazing outside and inside. It's worth to visit. Next to it there are benches, where you can seat and enjoy Sarasota Bay view. You need to pay $10 addition at the entrance of the park if you would like to view it inside.

monday is partly free. we are the on road trip and it's a good place to stop by. take one to two hour to tour the museum and take a look around outside of Ca' d'Zan. impressive pink print and nice sea view.

Visited Thursday after 5pm. ($15 ticket). we did the museum and the gardens . They had an event where you can buy drinks and hear a live band. The sunset from that place is amazing, I think you can have beautiful pictures from that place and have a nice walk around green areas. The place is beautiful.

gorgeous venetian style mansion that was the home of john ringling. we did not purchase tickets to tour the interior, but the the exterior was absolutely stunning. right on the waterfront with ornate details on every inch of the home.

Amazing views indoors and outside on the bay side of the building. This historic building has been well maintained and is glamorous! The yards around Ca' d'Zan are filled with lush trees and shaded paths for walking, or you can catch a free golf cart ride from the visitor center to the residence and back. Self guided tour of first floor, or longer guided tours with additional areas to see in the house. If you love architecture, this (the largest home in Sarasota) is a must see!

There are not enough words to describe the beauty of this place!! A trip back to the Great Gatsby era: with furnishings that were meant to astound d you, and each room a roof of excess! The surroundings are beyond compare! The peaceful waters of the Sarasota Bay, and pathways filled with greenery, sculptures and an art deco pool. This place was meant to amaze their friends and be a showplace of money and grandeur. It was like walking back through time.

We were on a short timeline, so don't think that is a deterrent. We started at the "summer home" and worked our way back. The architecture of the building is eclectic inside and out. We've been in other historic homes: Biltmore Estate (NC) and Hearst Castle (CA), so the elaborate (dare I say gaudy) interior is not surprising or necessarily unique. The most beautiful part of this home is the back veranda. Right on the water and stunning! After the home we went through the two museums. In our opinion, these are far more fascinating than the home. The history of circuses (in general) I fascinating and enlightening. The scale model of the circus "village" is unbelievable!!! These people were logistics geniuses. With more time, we would have spent more time in the museums and strolling the gardens. Go and enjoy!!

The beautiful historic Asolo Theater is magical. It boasts a cozy feel with a grandeur experience. The 4 tier theater has a bird's eye view from every angle. Such a treat.

The house has been impressively restored. The Tap Room is impressive. The entire estate is breathtaking. The views are spectacular from the terrace looking out to the bay. We took the guided tour the upstairs bedrooms are spectacular.

Love this place, so beautiful and the views are breathtaking. Nice for a walk or just to sit down and enjoy the area. A water view and a park make this place my number one in the area. There are two options to see the inside but you need to pay extra for it. The place offers a military discount.

In a league of its own for historic homes. Only similar properties I have experienced were those built by guilded age robber barons in NY tri-state area. Ringling museum itself is also In league of its own for non major city museums and collections and artifacts reflect that.

Amazing mansion, I highly recommend doing the whole tour and viewing all the museums. Expect to spend a full day from open to close to see it all. It's well worth the money!

Interesting home with fascinating history. Nice views of the water and the surrounding ground are beautiful. Worth the trip.

Great organization that really cares for the animals. They have some beautiful tigers and lions as well as many other species roaming around the facility you can meet. We enjoyed the variety show a lot and the host was very knowledgeable and funny. Overall they are a non profit and trying to get by so a lot of the little things like pictures or feeding of the tigers cost extra but who can blame them. Its still a very spend what you want environment and the entry alone doesn't limit the experience at all. They support the best causes and lawmakers as well who are willing to do what is needed to protect these animals. Highly recommend

Or first visit was a Saturday in July 2023. The staff was very friendly to us. There are a lot more animals besides big cats. They literally had lions and tigers and bears. They have snacks and drink options from their vendor. We caught a show at 2 PM that was fun to watch. The day we went it started to thunder and we quickly checked out as much as we could before running out for two possible lightning. I'll have to suggest this place to visitors as a cool place to see. Nice that it is local.

Great place to take the little ones, not to be confused with that evil Carol Baskin's place as well. Bring sunscreen for sure but there are lots of shaded areas for both shorter or longer rests. Good mix of paved and hard pack ground which would suit strollers and wheelchairs too. Probably more animals than we could see in a day, they rotate some animals so it's not the same fellas every day up front with visitors. Bring a little cash and feed the tigers or bears or lions a snack 🤙 Great experience, will return

I planned a trip to this park before coming down here because I was excited to see the wildlife. I liked that the price was reasonable, and you could see all of the animals up close very easily. I don’t normally care about this stuff, but the cages seemed VERY small. I am no professional so I’m sure they’re adequate, but I couldn’t help but feel bad for the big bears and cats being stuck in these small enclosures. The silver lining to that was that we were able to walk through the entire park in under 30 minutes. I don’t think I would return here only because it made me a little sad.

This place is definitely worth checking out. Lots to see. However definitely do not waste your time with the show on the giant tent. We sat down expecting to see big cats like lions and tigers in the show but at a painful 1/2 hour all we saw was dogs doing tricks and a couple of lemurs. We walked back out to see the animals in their exhibits, as we couldn't take the incredibly boring show. Kids loved that they could feed a 🐻!

Honestly hands down! The BEST WILD LIFE SANCTUARY IN FLORIDA! World the drive down. Great staff, wonderful atmosphere and so much to see! With over 300 animals and 60 different species, I could literally be here every day! Family ran for over 9 generations, We were obsessed! Thank you for having us and cannot wait to come again! My dream in life is to do what these people do everyday ❤️🐅

This has to be the cruelest looking place ever. The animals look starved and are in tiny enclosures. I don’t know how it is allowed. My partner and I left after 15 min as we couldn’t stand to look at the animals. Would not recommend going as no one should be funding this place. The animals should be in large enclosures with plenty of space and freedom, or in the wild if able to. This is the furthest thing from a sanctuary, if you want tips for a sanctuary you should check out the Australia Zoo.

Our family enjoyed a short afternoon at the Big Cat Habitat. Many animals close up to see. The facility was clean and easy to navigate around. We got there Saturday at noon when they opened and spent about 90 minutes seeing everything and the bird show at 1pm. We didn't stay for the cat show at 2pm due to our flight schedule.

Staff was nice & welcoming. The shows were fun & a great way to cool off. (Along with the icecream which was only $3!!) You can tell they do love their animals. My daughter loved the dogs and my son was so excited to meet Clayton and watch him with his big cats. Here on vacation but will plan on visiting again next year.

Great experience and a good value for the ticket price. To be so close to lions, tigers, bears and monkeys was cool! The animals seemed well cared for with large habitats and toys. Feeding the tigers was entertaining. How often can you do that?! We missed the bird show but saw the dog and tiger show. Clayton, the narrator, discussed conservation efforts and humorously entertained us. I will visit again.

Had such a wonderful time seeing these beautiful animals up close! You can feed the tigers a treat for a small fee and what a lovely experience it is, they were so gentle taking the treat off the stick. I absolutely recommend spending some time here!

Great place to see animals up close. The habitat was fun and saw the animals' personalities. Everything is close, and we did not have to walk far between see other animals. The habitat is what it says and takes care of the animals. I would suggest this habitat over a big zoo.

Loved this place. Glad we went. They have a Bird Show and Cat show also. The Tigers are awesome. Great Family place. Animals are well taken care of.

Open noon to four Wednesday through Sunday. Bird Show at 1pm and Big Animal Show at 2 in the air conditioned show building. This is an operating big animal rescue facility. The bears are former circus performers and the big cats are rescues from unlicensed owners. Lots of other animals. Basically a small zoo with the majority of the animals not on public display. $25 per adult and about half that children thirteen and under. Don't miss the shows. Four hours is plenty of time to see everything/everyone. Noticed a pony ride, a petting zoo, and an area to reserve for celebrations. Pleasant experience.

If you want to just see big cats, then this place surely has them. The animals are beautiful and looked pretty healthy. The admission is $25 a head and it is certainly not worth that. The place is very small. The cages are so small, although they say they meet state standards. Why I really gave such a poor score is the fact that they claim to be a sanctuary/animal welfare. The actions didn't seem to support this claim. They had the big cats performing, they encouraged people to buy food on a stick to stab at the big cats, they charge for private animal encounters, they have their animals reproduce, etc. These "events" all seem a little Tiger King like to me and not animal sanctuary/animal welfare like.

We went as a family, each found a part of the habitat they loved. I loved all of it. The staff are friendly and pleasant. The animals are well taken care of. I highly recommend the experience.

Lots of fun. Clean. No stink. Animals are well secured. Nice visit.

Really cool place!! We caught the two o'clock show and could really tell that these animals are loved and cared for. Was shocked walking around seeing the different animals they had. So many I've never seen in real life before. Very cool! Then we had paid for a fox encounter. That was absolutely incredible!! Really worth it. The price is for up to four people to join the encounter and have general admittance. Definitely a once in a life time experience. The person who did it with us (sorry terrible with names) gave us so much interesting information during the experience about foxes in general, those specific foxes, and about the organization in general. Getting to feed and pet a fox was definitely something I'll never forget and has me viewing foxes in a whole new way. Also the person was really kind and took photos of all of us with the fox on my phone and they came out really nice! Really great experience over all, definitely recommend.

Big cat habitat, really nice place. Saw lots of tigers and other animals. Monkey, birds, lion,bear, turtles. They had 2 shows that we watched as well. Birds show and tigers show both very good and funny. Would recommend going.

No words can explain how much my family and I enjoyed this place. The walk is beautiful to look at. Feeding Flamingos was AWESOME. Super gentle when feeding we loved it. Wishing some of the enclosures were larger for the animals but for the most part they all looked pretty healthy and comfortable. The bird show was great. We had the opportunity to do an interaction with the black and white lemurs and let me tell you it is worth every penny! My family was so thrilled that they had personal time with a lemur and learn more about these amazing creatures. Things I didn't know. We were so in awe of everything else we forgot to check out the reptiles. Their front office air conditioning was not working so it got pretty hot inside and out yet their restrooms and area were clean. We hope to come again and enjoy the feed the Flamingos again. 😁 Oh and Emma our lemur handler was very sweet. Knowledgeable about her baby girl Wendy. They both made the experience so worth it.

With added experiences, such as holding a baby alligator, it cost over $100 for two adults and one child. This included *small* bags of food for the petting zoo, flamingos, and alligators. TIPS: - if you pay extra for encounters, MAKE SURE you receive your ticket(s)! - There are small kiosks throughout where you can purchase feed for the animals. - WEAR SUNSCREEN! - Parking is at the entrance and is free. - There are animals that wander freely around the park. This particular day was *incredibly* hot and humid. We arrived around 11:30am and did the petting zoo first. The walk there was shaded by dense tropical foliage which was beautiful and nice that we weren't in direct sunlight but there was almost no breeze because of the dense foliage. We attended the 12pm bird show located under a covered pavilion. I did very much appreciate how the staff member explained that these are animals and if they don't want to perform then they won't, and he didn't force them. Midway through the show he stopped and turned on the fans because he realized they weren't on and noticed the audience was dying in the heat with no breeze. Minor gripe and one that I truly understand but it was *very* difficult to hear the birds speaking, even into the microphone. He did tell us they liked to eat the mic (and one even attempted to) so like I said, a minor gripe. We next moved onto the ticketed alligator holding encounter where it seemed nearly everyone else in the park had also paid for the encounter and the line was quite long. Thankfully there was shade and the line moved quickly. The staff member wasn't necessarily rushing us but I think we felt rushed due to the number of people in line. We were able to take several photos though and the attending staff member was very patient explaining how to properly hold it for the animal's safety and comfort. We then moved on to feeding the flamingos. This was definitely the highlight of the trip. There was very little shade and the small area of shade there was was packed with people. Despite that, we were still able to feed two flamingos for the better part of 15-20 minutes before the food ran out. After the food ran out, one flamingo did "bite" my daughter's arm. These are animals and anything with a mouth can bite, so respect them and use caution. At this point, we decided the heat was unbearable and went to seek air conditioned refuge in the Cafe. Staff were very nice, food was exactly what you'd expect. However, indoor seating is very limited so we had to find seating outside under the covered patio. Once again, no breeze. There were fans but they were not turned on. It was miserable. After lunch we went into the "reptile house" which is NOT air conditioned (for obvious reasons), but there was at least a fan to circulate some air. Many of the enclosures were very poorly lit, making it difficult to tell if it was empty or not, and many actually were empty. Most enclosures had the species listed but not all, especially the large one at the end that houses multiple species. From there we moved on to feeding the baby alligators. This enclosure was PACKED with babies and visitors were literally dumping their bags of alligator food into the enclosure, so there was tons of food already floating around and they weren't really interested in more. We stopped by a few more exhibits before throwing in the towel because the heat & humidity was just too much to bear. We spent about 3-3.5 hours there. Overall, I feel like the admission price is a little high for what you're getting, especially when all of the other encounters are extra and it adds up quickly. Suggestions... have cooling areas for visitors or at least turn on the fans that you do have!

What a great place to bring the kids. Petting zoos, hold an alligator, feed flamingos. Lots and lots of other animals to see and feed as well! Lots of baby birds all around. Defiantly will be back. Make it your business to visit!!

I stopped by around 3:00 on Easter with my mother. There was plenty of parking, the entrance was through the gift shop where three cashiers were located. We were not greeted at all and had to ask where to pay the entrance fee. One lady motioned for us to go to another register and where she helped us. The entrance fee came to approximately $50 for two people, there were no senior discounts (my mom is 80). There were however discounts for very young children. My mom headed to the restroom and found it lacked toilet paper. The gift shop was a little messy as well, with some items on the floor. It was the end of the day so that was likely the reason, the store closed in an hour. We headed out to the gardens. The animals and birds all seemed content. Some were in large confined areas and there were free roaming birds. The park had many places to picnic along the route and there was a cafe as well. The one thing I would have liked is a few more directional signs. The grounds were kept up but did have a couple areas under repair. The area with the flamingos were definitely the highlight. There was a feeding station and the birds were not shy to approach you. I did miss the butterfly garden which I would have liked to see. The area with the parrots was interesting to see and there were peacocks roaming around. The caged animals had informational signs with details which my mother appreciated. The only downside to this garden was that it wasn’t very handicapped friendly. By this I mean, the walkways were not flat and they were somewhat narrow so anyone walking who has stability issues will have some difficulty. It was a very nice way to spend the day and I think children will love it.

We came today for the first time. We spent about 4 hours here including time eating our picnic lunch in the car. Pros: We had alot of fun feeding the flamingos and exploring the animal exhibits. We watched the bird show and thought it was great! Fortune, Andy and Roxanne were our favorite birds and we really liked holding the albino alligator too! All the staff were very nice and you could tell they enjoyed working with the animals. Cons: We thought the check in process could be smoother. We purchased tickets online in advance so we got to skip the main line. But otherwise it was a long line. So definitely buy online if you can! Also, there were no staff members by the flamingo pond to assist costumers with how to feed the flamingos. People kept throwing food on the ground and then the birds wouldn't eat from your hand. The hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the park were all empty too. So be prepared with your own. All in all a great little place. We enjoyed our day. Thank you!

Even in 105° heat, our family of three enjoyed this park. Be prepared to walk! Fun shows for kids and animal encounters. My daughters favorite part was holding the butterflies.. Flamingo Cafe is a great place to cool off but be prepared to buy $3.75 ice cream sandwiches. I was able to get the father's day coupon for a free ticket via online. And no mosquitoes...a big plus!

A Family Paradise: Sarasota Jungle Garden I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Sarasota Jungle Garden with my family, and it exceeded all our expectations! As a family-friendly destination, this enchanting garden offers a delightful experience for both young and old. One of the highlights for my kids was the amazing bird and reptile shows. The trainer demonstrated remarkable skills as he introduced us to an array of colorful parrots, and fascinating reptiles. The shows were both educational and entertaining, providing insights into the natural behavior and habitats of these incredible creatures. We were truly in awe of the talent and knowledge showcased during these performances. Another memorable experience was the opportunity to feed the flamingos. Watching these elegant and graceful birds up close was truly enchanting. We were provided with special food and had the chance to interact with the flamingos, learning about their unique characteristics and behaviors. It was an interactive and immersive encounter that left a lasting impression on all of us. The Sarasota Jungle Garden is a perfect recommendation for families in the area. It offers a wonderful blend of education, entertainment, and outdoor exploration. The garden provides a safe and engaging environment for children to learn about nature while having a blast. Whether it's marveling at the colorful plants, being mesmerized by the bird and reptile shows, or feeding the flamingos or alligators this place is guaranteed to create treasured memories for the whole family. We highly recommend it to families seeking a fun-filled adventure in a stunning natural setting.

The animal show was really well done. The property is beautiful (some things are a bit dated) but animals all seemed well cared for. The trainer doing the presentation was very knowledgeable and great with kids. Being able to get up close and feed flamingos was amazing. Take water bottles- it was very hot and humid.

Sensory Overload for photos!!! Such a great place to get great pictures, I will be gradually adding more and more to my review. Very cool Flamingo experience! Definitely buy the food to feed and become immersed in a sea of pink, gentle creatures. The paths are shaded and its a breeze to walk through on a hot day. Worth the money and time coming here to enjoy an amazing animal experience.

What great experience that was! We loved the Sarasota Jungle Gardens! To feed the birds and flamingos was just awesome! The whole area is absolutely beautiful! It is a tropical dream! The staff was nice and helpful. We will come back for sure!

Had a blast bringing my three children here. They loved talking to the birds, feeding the flamingos and playing on the playground. It was a fairly hot day outside, but there is a large amount of shaded areas to relax and enjoy things. I think the maps and signs could use a little TLC, but weren't much of an issue. I was able to take some beautiful photos of the inhabitants as well. Certainly recommend to anyone in the area!

Very good garden cum zoo. Not so big, they have some parrots, crocodiles, small animals, snakes and all. But the highlight is flamingos. You can feed them and watch them moving freely around you. Such a wonderful experience.

We try to visit the Jungle Gardens at least once a year, and we are always so pleased! If you have never hand-fed a flock of flamingos, you are in for a treat! The lemurs are absolutely beautiful and even the peacocks are friendly. The winding garden paths through the lush foliage of the native trees and flowers are so lovely. It’s a zoo without feeling like a zoo. Highly recommend!

Had medium expectations and was very impressed! While 10 acres isn’t that big, they filled it with lots of great items from botanical gardens to unique animals to special experiences (like feeding flamingos) to great shows. Allen was awesome in all of his wildlife shows! Don’t let the size and lower cost full you because this place is great!!

My wife and I enjoyed our visit at Sarasota Jungle Gardens. We arrived just prior to opening. We found the cost of entry to be about what one would expect now days. There is an additional cost for food pellets if you wish to feed the flamingos. It is suggested that you arrive early and immediately proceed to the flamingo feeding area if you want to hand feed them. Although the main attraction is the flamingos we greatly enjoyed the walk through the gardens which is mostly shaded due to the large tropical vegetation and trees. There were plenty of park benches available along the way. The young gentleman who presented the reptile presentation provided a very informative talk which the assembled crowd seemed to appreciate. The butterfly garden was a treat as were the various plantings throughout the park. Overall, it was a very pleasant visit.

What an awesome place to bring the kids. When we went they only were taking card or exact change cash. It was 21$ for adult ticket kids under 3 were free! The flamingos were the absolute coolest to feed! The kids loved it. The animals in the petting zoo were so cute but I didn't feed them because they seemed super over fed. Overall enjoyed and will go back again 🙂

AMAZING! this place was so cool! My 5 y/o LOVED feeding the flamingos! They were so gentle. We were there for about 4 hours, stayed until closing & had so much fun the whole time. I can’t get over how cool it was! All of the animals looked well cared for & happy. After we walked the whole park, we stopped back at the cafe, had some ice pops and played on the playground. Great way to end the day! The peacocks also enjoyed playing, haha! All of the employees were so nice!

This facility is one of the oldest in Sarasota. Why? Because it is a very entertaining and educational venue for people of all ages. There are a variety exhibits and animals. Make sure to participate in the alligator encounter. Enjoy the cafeteria and the gift shop!

What a beautiful park! Our children thoroughly enjoyed their time here. The lush surroundings and play areas are a treat. Feeding the flamingos was an absolute highlight for us – a truly unique experience. One small suggestion for further improvement: It would be wonderful if the community could come together to rejuvenate some of the statues, like the elephant in the children's section. A little refurbishment could ensure they remain in prime condition for all to enjoy. Overall, a delightful place for families.

This is an amazing place to have a child’s birthday party! There is so much included in the party packages. All of the staff was very nice and helpful. Everything was so easy and all of our guests had a great time. Aaron was our animal guide and helped with everything for the duration of the party. He was very knowledgeable and has great communication skills. He also went above and beyond to us anything we needed and make our son feel special on his big day.

We had a fantastic time at the jungle gardens and would def come back! Our family (all ages) had a lot of fun! The staff were kind, friendly, and knowledgeable on the animals. We enjoyed the shows and encounters as well! Highly recommend

Lovely small zoo with close encounters with animals. The flamingos are charming and getting to feed a crocodile was a highlight. It's an older zoo and it shows, but if you get past the deferred maintenance, the charm of the staff and grounds shines bright.

Feeding the flamingos is excellent. Nice bird show. The birds are beautiful. Many of the other exhibits are closed for renovation. Not too crowded. A fun place to visit. Good for the younger kids because you're not there all day. 2 to 3 hours is plenty to see everything.

It was fun and interactive not crowded. I bought my tickets in the store and it didn’t take long to get in. The goats are so cute 🐐. Sadly the cafe was closed (for remodeling I think) hopefully it’s opened next time we go. I recommend for anyone who likes animals.

My toddler had a fun time there. We forgot our stroller and luckily they have stroller rentals. It only cost $7.50 to rent a stroller which I was surprised that is wasn’t a crazy amount since places like this usually charge a lot for that type of stuff. I bought some water bottles too and it was not outrageous like I was thinking it would be. It’s a good time for different age groups. Lots of animals. There are trees everywhere so there is good shade almost in every single area of the park which is super convenient considering the Florida heat.

We have been to the Sarasota Jungle Gardens many times and have always enjoyed our visits, but this time it was overcrowded (due to spring break) and there were only two cashiers open to handle both entry tickets and gift shop purchases. We were able to find seating for the first show at 11 a.m. and that was fun. We also really enjoyed feeding the flamingos. My only suggestion would be to go during quieter times - but that's not the fault of the Sarasota Jungle Gardens.

This was my fourth time back as I tried to visit every time I came back to Sarasota. This place is one of my favorite spots to visit. I had a lot of fun and enjoyed myself taking photos and seeing everything. There were a lot of renovations going on, and there were no butterflies, and that did disappoint me since I love butterflies. My favorite moments were the shows and learning about everything ( I attended all three) and had the best seat in the house. I enjoyed the flamingos and spent the most time with them. It's absolutely my favorite part of the whole park. I even had some good laughs because a couple of kids got bit, and they well deserved it since there are signs plastered everywhere that says don't pet the flamingos and kids were always trying to do it. Another downside of my visit was seeing non-stop kids terrorizing the animals, birds, and reptiles. Even the employees saw it and told them to stop, and they kept doing it. In my opinion, these kids and whoever their guaridans are need to be kicked out and never welcome back into the park. During my visit, there was not one but two field trips, which made it very hard to enjoy the surroundings around me, and I can't imagine how the animals feel. Poor babies with all that screaming, screeching, and pounding on the glass, which also states to not do but it happens A LOT! Feeding the alligators was fun but different from the last time I was there. Holding a baby alligator was a lot of fun, I fell in love. I loved the bird experience but wish I could've gotten the bird that I wanted, I would've waited longer since I know the birds are in rotation. The petting zoo was fun, but the employee that was sitting at the petting zoo acted like she wanted to be anywhere else but there, which made my experience not so fun as she didn't even want to answer our questions and rolled her eyes more than once. I do recommend getting there when they open and explore the park before it gets busy, especially if there's field trips coming and if you have sensitive hearing like me, bring ear plugs or music. It sucks that we have to do that and not hear the beautiful nature and animals around us, but sadly, we must. The flamingo cafe was under renovation, so I was starving all day as it said on the site we couldn't bring food inside, and I didn't want to go back out to my car and eat so I didn't pack a lunch. It showed no one listened as I saw many people with packed lunches inside. If I ever get to take another trip back to Sarasota, I'll definitely be back and make sure to prepare myself more.

Fantastic up-close animal experiences! We are repeat family visitors for over 40+ years. Excited to see all the updates when we came in in 2024: climbing area and playground for small kids, nicely shaded walking paths, and still so many beautiful assorted tropical birds in the bird show. A MUST SEE destination in Sarasota.

Don't get me wrong, this place is pretty nice. I mean you can interact with flamingos, talk to parrots and macaws, look at some gators, etc... My biggest complaint is the heat along with the price. I went with my family of 3 on a trip, and we ended up spending over $80. The price should be that much to walk around and see a couple of animals.

Have you ever fed a flamingo? How about a Peacock? Or, a goat? Want to feed some alligators? You can do it right here in Sarasota, FL!!! This place is perfect for kids of all ages!!! I could have stayed all day, it's amazing & fun. Truly, an experience you'll never forget. Make some precious memories that you'll treasure for a lifetime. Definitely worth the cost of admission (approximately $25 for an adult).

I have been going to Jungle Gardens since I was a kid, and now I bring my kids here. I have a soft spot for this little hidden gem. They have reptile and bird shows, you can feed the Alligators or Flamingos, and there is a petting zoo with goats and lots of other critters to enjoy. Take a nice walk in amazing winding paths through a Sarasota Jungle. This place was established in 1939 and is a fun little treasure for your family to enjoy!

Great way to start a roadtrip to Sarasota! The workers were friendly, knowledgeable, and good hosts; the tour was fun and to the point, and the rums tasted so good... I recommend the coffee and coconut flakes flavors. We'll come back to get the different rum cake versions!

I decided to do this while on vacation as it was recommended by family. I had fun as it was cool to experience different kinds of rum and learning how Rum was made. I was expecting more of a tour more it's more of a sit down, drink, and learn sort of tour, but overall, it was a lot of fun! I loved the decorations all around the area and the souvenirs. I ended up getting a cup and coffee Rum cake (wish I could get some mailed to me). 😄 I also enjoyed that there were no children, which made the experience 10 times better. The employees (forgot their names, I apologize) were very friendly and very informative. I definitely recommend this place if you're up for some fun and a neat experience, and the best part is it's free to have fun here. Go for it! You won't be disappointed. 😄

Stopped in for another tour/tasting with which may be our favorite Rum distiller. Very informative history and amazing spirits. We reviewed their coconut rum and spiced rums on our Spirit'ed Wrenchers YT channel if you haven't had the chance to try them yet. It's must visit/taste/buy.

Siesta Key Rum offers a very informarive tour - a unique rum factory! We enjoyed this very much and are very glad we looked at the website and booked a tour! If you have a liking for rum, or not, you would like this. Their four rums they sell are excellent!!! Best to have a driver that does not care for rum or liquor (hmmm??) that way you could enjoy maybe an extra tasting or two!!

Another free adventure! The ample parking is free, the tour is free, and the rum sampling is free. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The tour was a hoot. They have a small gift shop where you can purchase gifts as well as their rum. You will need to sample the Siesta Key Toasted Coconut Rum, it is the BEST!

As a rum drinker, I have a discerning taste and have been to many distilleries. This was by far the best to which I've been or tasted! They use all natural ingredients instead of "flavorings" so the result is a smooth, delicious, flavorful product. The tour was about 30-40 minutes and really went into how the products were started, made, and bottled or barreled. The team was funny, friendly and extremely knowledgeable so made it fun and so interesting. If you are local and never been or visiting, this is definitely a visit and tour you need to take. BTW, at the bar, you got to try their infused drinks... the Butterbeer was by far the most delicious drink I've ever had!!!

I love this place, the staff, the spirits, the tour. Everyone needs to do the tour and frequent the tasting room. The entire line of rum is amazing but the toasted coconut is my favorite. They offer RIPE all natural mixers from CT. Very hard to find but the best mixers available. Support local and never buy a non Florida made rum again!!!!

I went on the Tour here and found it Fantastic! I bought some #RUM and all is well. Silver, Toasted Coconut, Spiced, & #Coffee too It’s All great Rum to me

This is a fantastic way to spend an hour or so. Our tour guide was awesome at explaining the history of Siesta Key rum and rum making process. Today was day 1 of their on location tasting room bar and it was awesome. Everyone here is super friendly, like family.

First of all the rum is delicious. We bought two bottles, the distillers reserve and the coconut. I’ve been to several craft distilleries that just really didn’t make very good stuff, this was the exception, the rum is fantastic. They use all natural ingredients for their flavoring, actual coffee, real spices, and actual coconut. Great tour. Somewhat entertaining even with the dad jokes, but informative. You can buy cocktails on site, free tasting, of course, you can buy swag, rum, glasses, rum, cake. The directions on GPS navigation brought us essentially to the opposite side of the building where the entry is. Industrial Drive makes a big loop so the address was a little confusing. I edited the pin on Google maps today so hopefully that will make it easier.

Great experience! I have been to alot of distillery tours. This is one of the most educational and loved all the samples! There is also the oldest bar in FL inside which is an amazing hangout spot. The staff are all amazing and very friendly. They definitely know their rum! We will be back and this is by far my favorite rum!

This is the first place in awhile that I’ve gone and not been charged for a tasting. They have a bar in the back where you can order mixed drinks. All staff members were very friendly and open to answering our questions. There is a tour however we missed that. They do close at 5pm. This is run by a group of retired friends so the hours are limited and the rum is very good!

Went to Siesta Key Rum Distillery...after a short tour/ history lesson from the friendly staff we sampled some products and will definitely be bringing home some award winning rums! These folks are doing it right and the awards and flavors prove it!

Thank you Siesta Key Rum for a great time! Great drinks and bartender experience! Even got to chat with the owner at the end! Will be visiting Total Wine in NJ for future purchases as visitors from NJ!

Free tastings. Nice atmosphere. Friendly staff. We missed the tour but still had fun.

It's ALWAYS a great day for a Spring Training baseball game! Sarasota, FL is the home of the Baltimore Orioles. Ed Smith Stadium is architecturally beautiful. All of the attendants working today were very friendly. In fact, they are the friendliest when compared to all of the other attendants in the numerous stadiums we've visited during Spring Training. What a joy, and so much fun!!! The only downside was the poor quality scoreboard; it was very difficult to read. Everyone sitting in our section was complaining about it.

Great Spring training facility. Fan friendly except for the terrible score board. It is hard to see and provides limited information. It seems time for an upgrade and better management of the information on the board.Lots of palm tree imagery and limited game information.An announcement of a hit replay shows the player running to 1st base not the hit.

What a beautiful stadium and experience. We enjoyed a Tampa Bay Rays and Orioles game. Great food and beverage choices-most were cashless. Hot dogs, brats, nachos, chik fila. You are not allowed to bring in bags unless it is a clear plastic gallon bag. You can bring 2 waters, snacks and sunscreen and a sandwich if it fits in the bag. I wore a small cellphone purse.

You’ll be driving through Sarasota on a Sunny day, appreciating all the beautiful homes this lovely city has to offer when Ed Smith Stadium appears. It’s a very humble little stadium that fits right in with the surrounding area. Great architecture. On the inside, it’s Baltimore through and through, hon. Staff are friendly, fans are passionate and knowledge, and the Os don’t hit the ball too much. If you’re a baseball fan, and especially a Baltimore fan, you need to put this one on your list.

Awesome stadium, everything was real convenient! Parking super easy and seats are close to the field. Lots of shade on 3rd base side to beat the heat. Stadium could use a new Jumbotron but everything else was great, even was easy to get out of parking lot after game.

First, I suggest buy the parking pass. Parking is very difficult in the area. Parking is $12. Stadium is a short walk from parking area. The stadium is beautiful and extremely clean. Lots of spots to purchase food and drinks. They do have a healthy option concession. Most options are as expected and expensive! You cannot bring food or drinks into the park. If going to a daytime game sit in the area by right field for shade. Section to the left of 212 are in sun all day.

Ballpark is in a super crowded area. The Stadium will need a renewal soon. Was fun but I seen better Spring Training locations.

Great, easy stadium to see a spring training baseball game. Really enjoyed our visit.

Great day at the ball park today! Recommend seats in upper section 1st base side up 5 rows or more, it is shaded the whole time! The game was fun, not expensive, and we even enjoyed a hot dog!

Wonderful stadium..clean..I will say that the seats hurt your butts..bringva pad, lol..it's new and fresh and has many food choices but only during springvtraining..pretty good concession dogs and fries.. shady inside..nice bathroom facilities. Saw the sarasota orchestra back to the 80s there. Spectacular!

Very nice stadium with plenty of seating, food options and merchandise. The best part about this place is there are sooooo many shaded areas to beat the searing Florida sun. We had seats on the first base side and that turned out to be a great plan, as we were in the shade the entire game.

Fun Night at Spring Training Baltimore vs Toronto. Pro Tip - get the „Walking Ticket“ for 11$ There is a lot of Bar Like tables in the upper level, choose whichever view is best for you or move with the sun. It’s great. The Staff is very friendly and helpful, food and Bev was quick and easy to get.

An amazing spring training facility. Great architecture, very clean, and staff are exceptional. Highly recommend you visit whether you're Baltimore Orioles fan or not.

We got in area for the O's last home game of Spring Training. It was my 1st visit to Ed Smith. The stadium was bigger than I imagined. And the field seeed big league. Parking was a bit pricy if walking was a problem. $25 for the same block. We were running late, so our choices were limited. Our seats were about half way up on the third base side. I'm tall & found the seat & legroom fine. Food & drink was redily available, reasonably edible, & priced in line. Since it was the last game there, fireworks followed the game. Woo Hoo! I'd like to return & get an earlier start frlm Largo. Or stay closer. I give it a thumbs up.

Where else can you get Yankee tickets for under $25? Certainly not in The Bronx. Nice stadium with comfortable seats. Parking is $12. Spring training games through March.

Great place to see the Baltimore Orioles in Sping training. Very good facilities for a fan with excellent views. You are able to bring in outside food and sealed non alcoholic beverages in a 1 gallon size clear 0lastic bag if you choose.

I really liked this park. Nicely laid out. Every seat has a good view. Reserve a seat in the shade as it can get warm. Free general parking.

My dog and I loved this natural Florida trail. He smelled and peed while I looked for unusual plants and wildlife. I am 74 and more careful about footing, so I appreciate the paving. A local gem.

We biked 20 miles ( 10 out and 10 back). The Legacy trail is fantastic. We parked our vehicle at Payne park and ride south towards Venice. We found this trail to be outstanding. 1- It is 100% flat so it is an easy bike ride 2- The trail is paved, marked, and wide. 3- There are bathrooms and rest stops along the way. 4- It is very safe. There are traffic lights at every crossing. They work great but highly recommend you verify cars stop before you attempt to cross. 5- We saw lots of walkers, runners, bikers, and even one rollerblader. Lots of people walking their dog on a leash. 6- The scenery was quite nice for the majority of the ride but there were some areas less scenic such as industrial areas. Overall kudos to the folks who developed and maintain this trail. We are visiting from NC and plan to ride the rest of the trail tomorrow.

Great trail to ride with the family. We biked from Palmer Ranch/McIntosh area to Osprey to eat at one of our favorite breakfast places Max's Table. Our ride was mostly all shaded during the morning which helped tremendously during the summer.

Super neat walkway/bike path to go on. Quiet and relaxing. Smells like nature, and peaceful.

Such an enjoyable riding trail. Easy to navigate and well maintained. We did over 10 miles and saw a Fla Bob Cat on the trail, amazing.

Great trail for biking, hiking, walking, running. Paved from Sarasota to Venice. Great crosswalks across the major roads. Always see some tortoise along the way.

Great Trail, it was nicely shaded and enjoyed the scenery and the crossovers with the signals. Rode from McIntosh parking area all the way down to the Venice Waterway Park. I didn't realize the trail went North of the McIntosh parking area until I was leaving, needs better signs showing where the trail pics up.

Beautiful, flat straight trail, except for one large higher bridge near Venice. Scenery along the way is mostly all natural vegetation and waterways. Ride, walk, run, a perfect place to soak up nature.

Love this Trail for cycling!! You can head north to Webber st or South to Venice Train Station. There's plenty of parking. There's facilities, picnic tables, benches throughout the trail. All crossing intersections have the button to change traffic lights and are reasonably quick. There's parking at Bay St. Asthon Rd has a nice facility and park under construction. Laurel Rd has a nice bridge to go over and Shakett Creek is a beautiful bridge to stop along your travel. 🤘🐬🐊

Great feature, way to go Sarasota County! Connects to whole network of trail in and around Venice. Well maintained, plentiful rest areas and water, even volunteers riding along. Awesome!

This was the best trail I have done in a long time. So well maintained and full of fun, active people! I started in Sarasota on the McIntosh Road trail head, went south about 14 miles to the venitian waterway turn around and then all the way up to Sarasota, near the fair grounds. Ended up being about 33 miles and each mile was fantastic, clean, and enjoyable.

The Legacy trail is a paved multi use path that currently extends from the old Venice train station almost to the north intersection of Macintosh and Palmer. What a delight to ride safely ( except for road intersections which require caution!) for 11 miles. If this isn’t enough for you, the south end connects with the Venice Waterway trail. Work is underway to extend the Legacy trail north all the way to Payne park in downtown Sarasota. From there it is a short ride to Bayfront park which has nice access to the Ringling bridge! The prediction I heard is that by next spring ( 2022) the flat part of the path will be completed, along with cross walks, but overpasses for the busiest roads will take longer. I love riding the small bridge overlooking Dona Bay and Roberts. The subtropical scenery is delightful and I also enjoy seeing all the kinds of bikes that traverse the trail. We have a local hero on the trail who has ridden over 100,000 miles just on the Legacy and is now working on his second hundred thousand - the unofficial Mayor of the Legacy! I often ride from my home, but there are easy places to park and ride: Culverhouse Nature park has a parking lot next to the trail. There is a nice parking lot at Bay street east of Honore - my favorite views along the trail are south of this lot. There are many parks along the trail, great for taking a break, finding a restroom or refilling water. On Saturdays before it gets too hot, the Friends of the Legacy Trail have a booth at Bay road along the trail from 9AM to noon. They have great information about work on the trail, the trail system connections and how they are supporting progress on the trail. Great shirts for sale - nice and light for riding in the heat! The trail cuts through Oscar Scherer State park. This is a great way to enter the park which is only $2.00. This park is a must see for nature lovers. One of the staff there told us about the gopher tortoise-they dig such extensive tunnels that over 300 other species find shelter in them during extreme weather conditions. They are called a keystone species. I enjoy the highway overpasses for a tiny experience of hills on my bike! There is something for everyone on the path. We all watch out for each other to keep it safe!

Great variety of cars and worth stopping in if it's your thing. Knocked off one star because not all cars have information about them, and you can't get up close to look at the interiors. Would be cool if they restored the old arcade cabinets and card machines they have there, and gave information about the motorcycles. To the people who said it "stinks in there,", that's just the smell of old wood, oil, and gas.

My husband really wanted to go here, so we went. Afterwards he stated he was disappointed that there were not more American cars and that most were foreign. He still enjoyed it just not as much as he was hoping. I was impressed that they gave military discounts. Not very often you get places these days that even ask.

Super awesome collection. Viper ACR, Ferrari, Buick regal gn, all super nice cars to see.

Interesting collection of cars at the second oldest automobile museum in the United States. Very friendly staff. Be sure to walk next door into Sarasota Vintage Motors to view additional classic cars that are also for sale. Even if you are not a "gear head," this exhibit is worth seeing at least once.

Have been driving past this place for years. Finally made a point of going in. I am so glad I did. The collection is terrific! Definitely worth the time and entry fee. Beautiful cars. Many of which I had never seen before.

Looks like they will be moving to a different location. Several very beautiful Italian cars I'd never heard of. Small collection but interesting. 👍🏼

At first glance pulling up, I thought it was going to be very small. But after getting admission inside, I was absolutely blown away by all the rare and collectable cars they had. I wish I could rate the place 10 stars.

My daughter was in town visiting so I decided to take her to this car museum. There were so many historical and interesting cars! Some of them are just beautiful, including the James Bond Asten Martin. I definitely recommend this museum.

Fascinating museum. Older models were so different. There were some included whose names I've never heard of. I took off one star just because some cars didn't have any info on them or much accessibility to view. Overall, was an enjoyable visit.

Fantastic. Highly recommend. Like that atmosphere of a barn and smell of old car shop. Nice selection of vintage cars. Do you know who was Maxwell-Briscoe? No, go there to learn something. Take some cash, there's a sale shop of vintage cars, you might fall in love with one.

Great collection of cars. If you love cars, highly recommend! Worth the stop, it’s a hidden gem. Staff is nice/friendly. Well done w/displaying a wide array of cars & there is a bonus room w/even more 😎cars. 😍🤓

Best collection of classic cars I've ever seen. Well worth the price of admission. Having heard the rumors that after 70 years, the landlord needed the space back, I decided to see the collection before it was too late. Given notice to vacate by June 30th, they have managed to extend the lease to at least October. But clearly time is running out. I like the fact that the museum is registered as a non profit with the mission of acquiring and preserving 20th century cars for the purpose of education and entertainment. With ever changing exhibits, the current one is 'The Automotive Art of Ferdinand Porsche and Enzo Ferrari.' The exhibit was impressive as was the permanent collection of cars from years gone by with names, some I've heard of and some I have not. From John and Mable Ringling's Rolls Royce to Abraham Lincoln's Funeral Hearse to the Pontiac Shark to an ISO Rivolta Varedo, it is quite a collection. The gentleman that greeted us was friendly and knowledgable, the price was right, the space was well air conditioned and it was time well spent. So happy that I was able to see this impressive collection. Hoping they are able to relocate to a space nearby.

It's a good size and has a great selection of cars and other automotive memorabilia. It's a nice walk through time with cars as old as early 1900s, and as recent as a few years ago.

Very cool place, more so if you like Porsches and Ferraris. Building not in the best shape, but hopefully they’ll find a new place soon. They definitely have some unique cars.

Great place! My wife and I stopped by on our honeymoon in Siesta Key. The lady that runs the place was so kind and sweet. The cars are beautiful and there is a nice variety of cars to see. The neighboring car dealership tour was equally as cool. If you’re in the area, you should check it out.

It definitely was a bring back memory visit. The place had so many amazing antique cars and other Items. I read that they are facing closure. This so sad as to they really are trying to preserve all those cars that were part of our lives. You just don't see this cars often and to have them all under one roof was a treat of its own. I hope and pray they can keep the doors open for many more generations to come and enjoy.

Not the typical car museum we are used to, so it made it a little more interesting. I hope they find a new home, the cars and antique items need a good home.

Great collection of cars and other vehicles. The organization is being asked to leave the premises so, if you have the opportunity, go enjoy their collection and support them.

Don’t let the outside appearance of the building fool you. It’s a huge space with lots of unique automobiles, motorcycles, race cars and carriages that spans the ages.

What a surprising visit! This classic ride was a historic experience to test drive. Although it was a bit rockier than I expected and not quite as fast as I thought it would it was a joy for the whole family when it got rollin along and up to speed. This stone wheeled sedan seemed a little difficult to handle in a drive thru where no matter where they placed our order this bronto-buggy tilted. Very little trunk space for Dino & the baby or trips to the quarry when working on home repairs but plenty for a beer run for the Buffalo Lodge. I might have to pass up this T-Rex transporter but it does bring back the memories of the prehistoric people movers of my youth. It would be a joy to drive this home after a long day working the big equipment when the whistle squawks! Although it appear safe I worry about the day Pebbles starts to drive.

South Lido Beach has become my family's favorite beach in the Sarasota area. It's improved drastically from when I was a youth. Lots of white sand, plenty of parking, and a newer restroom tower make it easily accessible. Also, there are a good number of shells that wash up on the beach so it's fun for the kids to go beachcombing while we're there. There are multiple picnic tables and space for gatherings.

Beautiful scenic park and very quiet! I was staying nearby at the Sand Castle Resort, on my final day there, I decided to go for a walk. About a 5 minute walk is a park with Access to both sides of the beach. The trees are very interesting and are many varieties, the Squirrels are very friendly too

Best place for me and wife to chill, water is still cold in January though now

It was it bit crowded when launching the kayak, but once in the mangroves it was very beautiful! The water was the clearest I've ever seen. We really enjoyed the time in the park. Shout out to the person from Sarasota County that was helping organize the launch ramp and kept things going smoothly.

Great place to pull the boat up to. Driving here though is generally empty too.

We went to the beach after many years. Many more new buildings. The beach was nice and quiet. Regretted without swimsuit.

One of my favorite beaches. Low key, not too many people, showers, bathrooms, picnic tables, cute birds to watch. A lot of love to this place and great memories.

We had an awesome time kayaking. Parking can be a hassle. We were able to find a parking spot that didn't block anyone. We then paid to rent the kayaks (they got singles and doubles) for the whole day. We were taken to the launch point and from there, we just kayaked. We saw lots of jellyfishes. The mangroves were so much fun. It was tiring after maybe 2 hours. Please carry sunscreen and reapply as often as you can because you will be seating.

Beautiful beach on the gulf and Plymouth Bay. Plymouth bay was a great spot for my mother palm tree shaded beach close to water. Restrooms and free parking

Love this park been coming ever since I was a kid...if you can come during off season when the northerners leave it's one of the most peaceful places to walk or sun tan or just hangout with family and bbq the day away.

Wonderful spot to take a boat and enjoy a day at the beach. Clean restrooms and spots to picnic

Beautiful and dangerous. It's on a point to the open gulf where limitless volumes of tide water rush out. We lose people here every year who don't understand the quiet, relentless power of an outgoing tide. Be vigilant and enjoy this dynamic area but never, ever swim anywhere near the point.....ever.✌️

We love this park it's very easy to access has plenty of parking and nice clean restrooms. You can swim, fish, picnic or hang out with the birds.

This is the beach that is farthest south on Lido Key. It's less crowded than other Lido beaches and has more of a park atmosphere because you have to walk through some trees to get to the beach. This beach is more natural and wild, it forms the rounded southern tip of Lido, so it makes an interesting beach walk. You can walk around from the Gulf side to the Intracoastal side. The park also has a playground for children, plus bathrooms and showers.

Great experience - it is free and very nice. Fun for the whole Family.

Beautiful land and surroundings that feel like you are thousands of miles from civilization. This is what Florida used to be. See this amazing place and all of it's magical creatures. Time and nature are preserved here. Respect it and the creatures that call this place their home. Truly wonderful for your heart and soul.

I travel to different areas to Stay and do bike trails. Even if Myakka State Park is not big it had lots of things to see on the way. The main attraction would be the towers. Is call Canopy walk if you want to find the 70 feet towers, great views and very well made.. I challange myself and is definitely a good spot. 👍 15 miles bike trail. The only dissatisfaction for me was that the Cafe is a small trailer near the building.. That would of been nice to seat and look out the windows to the lakes. They do have a gift shop. I got my fridge magnet for my memories. Bathroom were everywhere.... camping, kayak, bike rentals, bring your own and pay a fee. Oh! Is $6,00 per vehicle.

The Myakka Canopy Walkway is easily the best thing to do at Myakka River State Park! It’s a short walk from the parking area through a pretty Florida forest, and the walkway itself is pretty high above the trees! Don’t worry - it’s quite a sturdy structure, and it’s entirely worth walking across the bridge. Not too often do you get a higher view of Florida scenery, so when you get a chance, take it! There are some other great attractions at Myakka River State Park too, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to do everything - not just the canopy walkway! It’s a hidden gem in South Florida!

Great state park, I found a video of the canopy walkway on tiktok and had to go! Make sure to get gas & water before because we we figured there would be a gas station nearby after we exited the expressway but there wasn't. They have 1 hr long boat tours, but it was raining when we went so it was canceled. But we were able to see multiple alligators from the balcony of the gift shop.

The park has trails of varying lengths, plenty of parking at each trail head. The trails are not marked, but the park rangers have decent maps that help. The canopy walk is about 100 feet in length and you must climb up 75 feet on wooden steps. The structure is well maintained and feels very safe. There are some wasps/bees on the structure (not aggressive if you don't bother them).

This state park is always beautiful to visit. Nice volunteers. And they have geocaching! If you don't know what it is google it. You won't be disappointed!

Excellent place to become familiar with the canopy niche. Plenty of aerophytes, birds and insects. Look closely for other plants and animals as well. In the distance you can see wetlands, prairies and the dense hammocks of South Florida. The nature trail leads you through the hammock at ground level. So keep your eyes and ears open for the animals.

Unfortunately still recovering from hurricane. Walkway is 25-30 feet in the air, but only about 40 yards long. Tower is another 30 feet up and probably has cool view of tree canopy. Seeing alligators on the river banks was the highlight for sure.

The whole park is lovely, but the canopy walk way is super fun. We visited during the week and had the place to ourselves. It's a lot of flights of stairs and if you have even a mild fear of heights, like myself, I recommend going when it is less crowded. You feel the movements of other people when you are on the tower so if that bothers you, again head out when is less busy. The top of the tower is quite small, only a few can be up there at a time, but that view is breathtaking.

Very nice park, lots of wildlife. The most alligators I've seen of the several times I've been to Florida. Boats were not running because of the drought and the lakes and ponds were very low. The canopy walkway was disappointing because I thought it was higher up and longer but still an interesting thing, mostly fun for kids, but the tower was pretty tall and you could see for a long distance.

Myakka never disappoints. We have camped here, but we came for a day trip, since we had to cancel our camping trip. I love the canopy trail, but there is so much to see in the way of birds and other wildlife. The boats weren't going out due to the high wind and chop, but plenty of people were enjoying the perfect sunny weather.

Nice place to relax, bike friendly, the main road is about 7 miles one way, plenty of restroom, the canopy walk has an excellent 360 degree view, the top is at iver 70 feet above ground.

Very neat and beautiful area! Climbing up the tower was a lot of work, being out of shape but well worth it. The canopy walk was fun too!

It's beautiful at Myakka State Park. Every area of the park is a different experience. The observation tower and bird walk are very relaxing. As you walk over, the preserve. And observe the birds in their natural habitat. The deer are my favorite. Especially at dusk, in the summer. That's when they come out as the Sun is setting. Mama Doe takes the kids out for dinner. In May, at Myakka State Park, the coreopis bloom. The river and The Preserves light up with color. Every year, they come back a little different color . This year, the bloom wasn't as beautiful as usual . Because of the severe drought here in Florida. Myakka State Park is beautiful at any time of the year. Especially after the drought. As the foliage dries out, it creates so much color and contrast in the forest and along the waterways. Of the Myakka River It's worth a ride from any part of the state. I am fortunate to be centrally located and surrounded by so many beautiful places, such as the Myakka State Park. SafeTravels 🏞 And also great Campground🏕

Great trails and beautiful scenery. 75+ ft tower provides an excellent view of the entire state park.