Sarasota, Florida is positively one of the best hidden gems anywhere in America.
Part of our mission, as a business promotion network, is to convince people of this lesser-known secret, and entice folks to come visit and see it for themselves. While you may already know about the gorgeous and pristine beachfronts, like Siesta Key or Lido Key, there’s still plenty to do as you move toward our community’s interior. We have no shortage of hiking trails, children’s parks, boat ramps, fishing piers, and almost limitless wildlife.
So, with that in mind, let’s check out some of Sarasota’s famous parks and trails, the ones well worth a day or two of dedicated exploration.
Seven Terrific Sarasota Parks & Trails
- Myakka River State Park – Myakka is one of the largest state parks and an opportunity for true adventurers to hit the wilderness for a while. The river meanders across dozens of miles, affording lots of room to hike, go fishing, kayak, and beyond.
- Legacy Trail – This is a solid and clean trail, ideal for joggers, cyclists, and walkers, connecting you from Sarasota to nearby Venice, FL. It has plenty of rest stops and places to park, including near the Historic Venice Train Depot and the Culverhouse Nature Park.
- The Bay Sarasota – Then, it’s time to go back to the beach, and what better way to do so than the immensely popular Bayfront Park or The Bay Sarasota areas? Both are close to downtown, which means you take in the scenic Gulf landscape and patronize nearby restaurants at your leisure. Among many sites you’ll want to see, the exquisite Fountain Garden should be high on the list.
- Celery Fields – Here we have a massive composite of trails situated farther away from the crowds and buildings. This earns stellar recognition for bird enthusiasts who enjoy its over 300 acres of wide open green space.
- Red Bug Slough Reserve – The Florida Communities Trust purchased this area as part of a conservation effort back in 2001. You may appreciate this one for its pet and child-friendly environment, complete with playgrounds, fishing areas, bird-watching, and more.
- Indian Mound Park – Visitors at this location can catch fish in the same precise location as Indian populations did for multiple millennia. It’s also a popular spot for canoeing, outdoor picnics, and other boating endeavors.
- Jelks Preserve – Finally, we round out the order with yet another hiker’s paradise. Fortunately, this extensive trail network has plenty of signposts, preventing you from getting lost. The parking availability is somewhat limited, but it does have fishing piers, restrooms, pet parks, and other nice amenities.
Which of these Sarasota hotspots will you conquer first?
Remember, that this list is far from exhaustive. We’re leaving out several other modest but splendid recreational locations such as Rottenbach Park (right down the road from us) or the tranquil Greenway trail on Siesta Drive. It would take quite a long time to explore every outdoor amusement in and around beautiful Sarasota.
SRQ Business Alliance invites you to do just that if you ever have the pleasure of visiting our community. Then, you’ll see why so many Americans opt to relocate here, either to retire or start a new business. If you’d like to learn more about the latter, or become one of our partners, then you’re welcome to reach us anytime at 800-807-0331.