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5 Sarasota and Venice, Florida Day Trips

Day trips can make worthwhile detours even if you planned your visit to the Sarasota and Venice, Florida area because of the warm sunshine and beautiful beaches. Go out and explore!

Key West, Florida

Go to Key West for the ultimate Sarasota, Florida vacation day trip! From lazy lounging on the beach to exhilarating activities on the water, there’s always something fun happening in Key West.

A cruise on the Key West Express ferry is the fast and fun way to visit the southernmost point in the United States. Passengers leave in the morning and are in Key West for lunch! 

Ferry’s depart from port early each morning and return in the early evening the same day. 

Key West Express sails from Fort Myers Beach year-round. 

Fishermen’s Village in Punta Gorda

Located on pristine Charlotte Harbor in Punta Gorda, Fishermen’s Village is just a short drive from Sarasota and Venice, Florida making it an easy day trip. 

You can enjoy an array of boutique and specialty shopping, waterfront restaurants, and a variety of recreational activities including fishing charters, out island sightseeing tours, sunset cruises, boat and kayak rentals from the marina, as well as tours of the nearby Military Heritage Museum.

Edison & Ford Winter Estates’ Gardens, Laboratory, and Museum

Edison & Ford Winter Estates features over 20 acres of lush botanical gardens boasting over 1,700 plants and one of the largest Banyan trees in the U.S. 

Also, unique to the estate is Edison’s Botanic Research Laboratory, which was built for researching a domestic source for organic rubber and is now filled with the actual equipment Edison used to conduct his research! 

A 15,000 square foot air-conditioned museum displays some of Edison’s inventions, artifacts, and exhibits as well as a Model-T Ford, which was a gift from Henry Ford. 

Edison and Ford Winter Estates is located in Fort Myers, Florida which is approximately a one hour and thirty-minute drive from Sarasota. 

Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales

Located just two hours from Sarasota, Florida, Bok Tower Gardens transports visitors into a tranquil respite. Guests can wander through 50 acres of meandering pathways and gardens, listen to the beautiful bells of the Singing Tower carillon, and stroll through an exquisite Mediterranean-style mansion.

The crown jewel of Bok Tower Gardens is most certainly the Singing Tower and its Carillon shows. Standing at 205-feet tall, the tower was designed in the neo-Gothic and art deco styles by famed stone sculptor Lee Lawrie. Concerts can be heard at 1 and 3 p.m. daily and are not to be missed. The carillon is one of four in the state of Florida and only 200 in North America!

Tarpon Springs World Famous Sponge Docks

There is plenty to see and do in Tarpon Springs, from the world famous Sponge Docks, to deep sea fishing, and experiencing Greek culture and delicious Greek cuisine. While exploring the historic downtown area antique shops, shop for sponges or take a boat ride on an original Sponge Boat.

Written by:

Nita Ettinger is Co-publisher for Siesta Publications Inc. and the Editor in Chief for Must Do Visitor Guides. Must Do Visitor Guides provides Southwest Florida visitor information through printed magazines and the website MustDo.com. Must Do magazines are published bi-annually and are available at no cost in Sarasota, Lee, and Collier County Chamber of Commerce, visitor information centers, select Southwest Florida hotels, and wherever free publications can be found.