Whether you want to log some serious time on the sand, spot some of Florida’s signature flora and fauna, or get out on the water, Sarasota is one of the best family vacation ideas in the Sunshine State. This small city on Florida’s central Gulf Coast offers an escape everyone in the family will enjoy, from toddlers all the way up to the grandparents.
You really can’t go wrong with Sarasota, whether you’re into the arts, the outdoors, or what’s on your plate. I’ve lived here for 20 years, and these are eight reasons why I think Sarasota makes an ideal destination for a Florida family vacation.
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1. The beaches are true winners.
The beaches draw a lot of visitors to Sarasota, and for good reason. Siesta Beach is widely recognized as one of the best family beaches in Florida and, in fact, the whole country. It’s been named the best beach in America by both “Dr. Beach” (2011 and 2017) and Tripadvisor (2025).
The wide swath of powdery white sand on Sarasota’s Siesta Key barrier island is great for sandcastle building and Frisbee tossing—and the sand doesn’t get hot even when the temperature does. With concession stands, a playground, and beach volleyball courts at the ready for visitors, it’s easy to see why so many people spend long beach days here. It’s also a popular spot around sunset on Sunday nights, when the colorful Siesta Key Drum Circle takes to the sand and musically marks the passage of another day.
Turtle Beach can be a less-crowded option on Siesta Key where you might share the sand with nests laid by its namesake reptile. Lido Beach near upscale St. Armands Circle is another great beach spot with good people-watching.
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2. Family-friendly attractions offer unique experiences.
For an only-in-Florida experience, visit Sarasota Jungle Gardens and feed its resident flamingoes. The site hearkens back to Florida roadside attractions of the past but offers plenty of present-day opportunities for animal encounters amid a backdrop of tropical foliage.
Then head underwater (figuratively, that is) at the new Mote SEA (Science Education Aquarium), a 146,000-square-foot facility home to sharks, rays, sea turtles, and other aquatic creatures found along the Gulf Coast. You can also see science in action through windows peeking into Mote labs focused on aquaculture, conservation, coral, and other subjects.
At Marie Selby Botanical Gardens‘ downtown Sarasota campus, the kids can play among the tree canopy at the Children’s Rainforest Garden, then the whole family can stroll through the lush 15-acre site situated along Sarasota Bay. And this spot is truly one of a kind: Selby Gardens is the only botanical garden in the world dedicated to the display and study of epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads and ferns, and other tropical plants, and its campus features the world’s first net positive energy botanical garden complex.
The Bay is an innovative redevelopment project that’s created a signature public park along Sarasota Bay. Kids will love the Ibis Playground with two larger-than-life birds named Sara and Zota, and the whole family can stroll the Mangrove Bayou Walkway or cozy up with a good book in the outdoor Reading Room. The park offers a full calendar of events that includes live music and outdoor movies.
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3. It’s easy to embrace the great outdoors.
There’s a park for every personality in Sarasota. Head to 58-square-mile Myakka River State Park, one of the oldest and largest parks in Florida, to spot alligators gliding through the water or sunning on the shores of Florida’s first state-designated “wild and scenic river.” Don’t miss the park’s Canopy Walkway, which includes a 100-foot expanse suspended 25 feet in the air that travels through the treetops and a 74-foot tower that offers a literal bird’s-eye view of the expansive park.
Climb the manmade hill at the Celery Fields and see how many different kinds of birds you can spot at the park; more than 240 species have been observed there. Learn about Sarasota’s ancient past at Phillippi Estate Park or look for the resident deer at Rothenbach Park. Bayfront Park in downtown Sarasota offers scenic water views and a good playground and seasonal children’s fountain for the kiddos, plus two nearby restaurant options for a waterfront family meal.
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4. The circus is always in town.
John Ringling, one of the five siblings of Ringling Bros. circus fame, called Sarasota home in the early 1900s. His former estate is now The Ringling museum complex, where visitors can tour his Venetian Gothic mansion Ca’ d’Zan and check out his impressive collection of Old Masters paintings at the Museum of Art. The kids will love the site’s Circus Museum, where they can cram themselves into a clown car, test their tightrope-walking skills, and marvel at the intricate Howard Bros. Circus Model, a more than 42,000-piece re-creation of an early 20th-century circus.
The Circus Arts Conservatory and its Sailor Circus Academy for young performers stage shows throughout the year that keep the city’s big-top history alive, while the playground at downtown Sarasota’s Payne Park boasts an imaginative circus theme that appeals to kids of all ages.
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5. You can exercise your sporty side or cheer from the sidelines.
The Baltimore Orioles make their spring-training home in Sarasota, and several other MLB teams have spring-training spots nearby if you want to pack your vacation schedule with ballgames. You also might find yourself in town when collegiate or Olympic rowers are competing at Nathan Benderson Park or the Senior PGA Championship is taking place in the area.
If you’d rather be the one flexing your athletic muscles, there are lots of golf courses and tennis courts in Sarasota where the whole family can get in on the action. Volleyball courts can be found at several local beaches, some of which also host beach volleyball tournaments throughout the year. Rent bikes to pedal the Legacy Trail, a 20-mile paved pathway that runs along a former railroad corridor from downtown Sarasota to the city of Venice, or go for a jog over the picturesque John Ringling Causeway bridge.
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6. You can discover what floats your boat.
It’s not just the Orlando theme parks that deliver the thrills in Florida. In Sarasota, you can kayak through mangrove tunnels on a guided tour, or rent your own kayak or standup paddleboard to explore the Gulf of Mexico, Intracoastal Waterway, or Sarasota Bay at your own pace. You can also rent canoes and kayaks to peacefully paddle the Myakka River.
For something with a little more oomph, local marinas offer boat rentals ranging from pontoons to deck boats. If you’d rather have someone else take the wheel, book a fishing charter or sunset cruise. Sarasota Bay Explorers’ Sea Life Encounter Cruise helps kids get up close and personal with puffer fish, stone crabs, and other local marine life that’s temporarily brought onboard with a trawl net for observation and education.
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7. No one will leave hungry.
You can find plenty of Sarasota restaurants that deliver good eats and accommodate the whole family. Enjoy fresh local seafood at the Old Florida-inspired Owen’s Fish Camp or laid-back Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar. Or head to The Old Salty Dog on City Island for sweeping water views and a menu that includes not only a fish sandwich and grouper tacos but also the restaurant’s famous “Salty Dog” hot dog dipped in batter and fried.
There are lots of great options for pizza and pasta, including Bavaro’s and Il Panificio. Yoder’s of Pinecraft, located in a neighborhood home to a longtime Amish community, serves up decadent fried chicken and peanut butter pie.
Got a sweet tooth? Try the indulgent creations at Five-O Donut Co., sample the bite-sized treats at Meaney’s Mini Donuts, or grab a scoop of brownie s’mores or oatmeal cookie ice cream at Great Heights Creamery.
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8. Hotel options offer something for the whole family.
The elegant Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota offers a best-of-both-worlds kind of stay. It’s situated in downtown Sarasota near Sarasota Bay, putting you close to an array of restaurants and attractions like The Bay park and Selby Gardens. But guests also have access to The Ritz-Carlton Beach Club on Lido Key, which includes a private stretch of Gulf-front beach, a zero-entry pool, a recently reopened historic tiki bar, and a market serving house-made gelato.
The colorful Cirque St. Armands Beachside puts a sophisticated spin on the city’s circus history. Think ostrich feather chandeliers, dining nooks flanked with red velvet curtains, and stripes everywhere. Instagram-loving teens will feel like a star. Parents will appreciate the hotel’s proximity St. Armands Circle and the shuttle that takes guests to a private stretch of Lido Key beach at sister property Lido Beach Resort.
The luxe St. Regis Longboat Key Resort takes full advantage of its barrier-island setting, with 800 feet of private beach and water views from its rooms, restaurants, and spectacular spa. Kids might be more entranced by the family-friendly Resort Pool and Winding River, the activities at the Reef Rangers Club, and the 500,000-gallon Under the Sea Lagoon that’s home to stingrays, reef fish, and Aldabra tortoises.
Big families will feel at home at Embassy Suites by Hilton Sarasota, which offers suites that sleep up to six, free made-to-order breakfast daily, and a nightly evening reception with complimentary drinks and snacks. The eighth-floor outdoor pool has amazing views, and the hotel sits in walking distance of shops and restaurants.
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