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Must Do Tourist Attractions in the Sarasota Area

Sarasota • Siesta Key • Longboat Key • Lido Key • Venice

Lively arts, extraordinary history, and interactive exhibits and shows provide one-of-a-kind opportunities to explore, learn, and be entertained at Sarasota, Florida area attractions.

Gardens, museums, an aquarium, zoo, and animal sanctuaries provide hours of fun the entire family will enjoy.

With a unique blend of history, entertainment, and interactive learning fun, there is something to entertain the entire family.

Circus and Historical Attractions

History enthusiasts will be fascinated to learn the region was once home to Mastodons, Saber-Toothed Tigers, Native Americans, Spanish explorers, pirates, and early American settlers.

Did you know that Sarasota was also the winter home of the famed Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus? In fact, many circuses and circus performers have called Sarasota home, including renowned Niagara Falls and Grand Canyon tightrope walker Nik Wallenda of the famous Flying Wallenda family.

Arts & Culture

In addition to the Sarasota area’s historical attractions, you’ll find a diverse array of culture and arts.

The Suncoast features top-ranked art festivals and a strong performing arts community with resident orchestra, ballet, and opera companies. Theater productions range from intimate to Broadway shows.

Check out the DEALS tab in the top MENU for great coupon savings on area Attractions!

See more things to do in Sarasota, Longboat Key, Lido Key, Siesta Key and Venice Florida.

Must Do Tourist Attractions in the Sarasota Area

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, located in Sarasota, Florida features more than 100 species of marine life and various exhibits such as touch pools for stingrays and sharks, a giant 135,000-gallon shark habitat and three species of resident sea turtles. Get $1.00 Off Admission with a coupon at the bottom of this page! Some resident species you can find in Mote Aquarium include... Read More

Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota

Houses One of The Finest Collections of Art in Florida The Ringling Museum of Art was built by John-Ringling to house his personal collection of masterpieces, the museum features paintings and sculptures by European, American, and Asian Old Masters, including Rubens, van Dyck, Gainsborough, and more. Admission to The Ringling Museum of Art and grounds are always FREE on Mondays! The Ringling's grounds and gardens are... Read More

Art Center Sarasota

National and local artists present their paintings, pottery, sculpture, and more in the three galleries at this downtown Sarasota, Florida community art center. Art Center Sarasota's four galleries offer an ever-changing display of artworks including some by emerging artists. Art demonstrations, special events and educational programs including lectures, art classes, and workshops are offered throughout the year. Art Center Sarasota also features... Read More

Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy in Sarasota

Art Museum and Sculpture Garden Marietta Museum is dedicated to raising the importance of positive and whimsical art. The museum exhibits a diverse collection of quality art from classic to lighthearted and fun. Enjoy paintings, sculptures, and mixed media from more than 250 by mostly living artists. Marietta, an artist herself and a graduate of Ringling College of Art &... Read More

Sarasota Art Museum

Sarasota's first contemporary art museum is a dynamic center for exhibiting innovative and compelling visual art of the 20th and 21st centuries. Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College is a contemporary art museum (known as a kunsthalle, an art museum without a permanent collection). The Sarasota Art Museum interweaves exhibitions, educational programs, and community outreach... Read More

Big Cat Habitat Conservation and Education Center in Sarasota

See and learn about exotic and endangered Siberian tigers, African lions, and rare White tigers at Sarasota's Big Cat Habitat Conservation and Education Center. Also encounter bears, primates, birds, and other animals. Be entertained by the individual personalities of the animals during educational training demonstrations. There is a petting zoo and special events throughout the year. Multi-year recipient of TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence.... Read More

Crowley Museum & Nature Center in Sarasota

Experience Old Florida at Crowley Museum & Nature Center in Sarasota. Discover pioneer history and artifacts as you explore the museum, pioneer cabin, blacksmith shop, working sugar cane mill and more. Children’s Discovery Path nature trail offers hands-on learning opportunities. A half-mile boardwalk takes visitors through 5 Florida habitats including Maple Branch Swamp, and Tatum Sawgrass Marsh ends with a two-story observation tower overlooking... Read More

Historic Spanish Point

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Historic Spanish Point Campus The first site in Sarasota County to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Historic Spanish Point is now a companion campus of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens! Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Historic Spanish Point campus offers leisurely walking tours of a 30-acre archaeological, historical, and environmental museum located on Little Sarasota Bay in charming Osprey, Florida. Visitors... Read More

Sarasota Classic Car Museum

See Antique, Exotic, European, and One-of-a-Kind Automobiles In operation since 1953, the Sarasota Classic Car Museum is the second oldest continually operating antique car museum in the U.S. and one of the oldest in the world! The 60,000-square foot facility features more than 75 antique, exotic, European and one-of-a-kind classic automobiles spanning over 100 years and are displayed in rotating exhibits throughout the museum. Sarasota... Read More

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota

This downtown Sarasota Bay bayfront property in an open-air and under-glass botanical garden featuring more than 20,000 colorful and exotic plants. The overall gardens and greenhouses at Selby occupy approximately 11 acres while the entire campus setting is comprised of 16 acres. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens downtown Sarasota campus features an outdoor butterfly garden, bromeliad garden, bamboo garden, epiphyte garden, fern garden, a mangrove... Read More

Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota

Contemporary Theatre Located in Downtown Sarasota Florida Studio Theatre's three theatres provide an intimate and engaging setting for professional, high-quality performances. FST’s Mainstage Series features seven annual productions that draw from new works, regionally produced works and the latest Off-Broadway and Broadway plays. The Cabaret series presents entertaining musical and improvisation performances in the intimate Cabaret Theatre. 2023-2024 Florida Studio Theatre 50th Anniversary Season MAINSTAGE: Little Shop of Horrors... Read More

Bishop Museum & Planetarium in Bradenton

Discover Florida’s story from the prehistoric to the present with life-sized casts of Ice Age mammals and fossils at the largest natural and cultural history museum on Florida's Gulf Coast at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature. Explore The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature's many exhibits and discover why there were no dinosaurs in Florida. Learn about Florida's environment and its first... Read More

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