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Must Do Tours, Cruises, and Sightseeing in the Sarasota Area

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

A perfect way to kick-off your Sarasota, Florida visit is to take a tour to get a broad overview of the region and all its intriguing points of interest. Take advantage of the multitude of tour options and make arrangements to explore the Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Lido Key, and the Venice area.

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Wildlife & Nature Tours

From mangrove tunnels to the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf, the Gulf Coast’s breathtaking landscape offers an up-close opportunity for an enchanting encounter with exotic birds and marine life including manatees and bottlenose dolphins.

The bottlenose dolphin is one of the area’s most popular residents and Sarasota’s 150 identifiable resident dolphins have been observed and studied for more than 40 years! Dolphins often swim and play alongside sightseeing tours and an encounter with these fun-loving and smart creatures is sure to be one of the highlights of your visit.

Sightseeing Tours

Oftentimes, the ideal way to learn about an area is to sit back and let local experts take the wheel. Tops sightseeing tours include guided tours to secluded beaches, swampy areas to see alligators, spectacular sunset cruises, educational birding tours, and historian led tours of significant buildings.

Hop on an airboat or immerse yourself in a museum, whether you choose a private or group setting the area offers exhilarating, educational, and exciting tours for adults and kids of all ages.

Be sure to check the DEALS tab in the top MENU for great coupon savings on area Tours!

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

Must Do Tours, Cruises, and Sightseeing in the Sarasota Area

Ride & Paddle Kayak Tours and Rentals

Siesta Key Guided Eco-Tours Explore the exotic mangroves and grass flats of serene Little Sarasota Bay in Sarasota, Florida on a memorable, exciting, and family-friendly 2½ hour guided kayak tour with a stop at a secluded beach. See birds, dolphins, manatees, and other native wildlife. Beginners and children are welcome. Advance reservations are required.... Read More

Key Culinary Tours in Sarasota

Sarasota Area Culinary Tours Taste a variety of delicious selections of gourmet cuisine from area restaurants during a 3-hour walking culinary tour. Guests will enjoy generous servings and exclusive visits from restaurant managers or chefs. Water is provided at each stop but guests are welcome to purchase other beverages separately. Key Culinary Tours’ entertaining guides also share insight of the area’s unique history and cultural... Read More

Peace River Charters in Arcadia

Scenic and Exciting Peace River Airboat and Swamp Buggy Tours Native Floridian and USCG Captain Zac Varner and his knowledgeable guides offer safe, enjoyable, and family-friendly airboat and swamp buggy tours. Experience the beauty of Florida’s natural environment; observe wildlife such as alligators, deer, wild boar, and turkey, while learning the history of the Peace River. Each tour is personalized based on the group, from... Read More

Sarasota Suncoast Tours

Sarasota Suncoast Tours offers family-friendly shark tooth hunting, beachcombing, ghost, historical, and culinary tours. Tours are offered in St. Armands Circle, downtown Sarasota, Venice, and Anna Maria Island, Florida. Their entertaining guides share stories tailored to each tour’s theme. Reservations are required. Read Sarasota Suncoast Tours' featured blog post! Downtown Sarasota: Historic Women of Sarasota Tour... Read More

Marina Jack II Cruises in Sarasota

Cruise, dine and enjoy the sights aboard the luxurious 96 foot Marina Jack II cruising yacht. The boat's amenities include air-conditioned salons, restrooms, full bar, and an open-air deck—plus every seat offers a view of the water! With a family-friendly atmosphere, it is the perfect way to see marine wildlife such as dolphins. Plus, they offer discounts for children under the age of nine. The cruises... Read More

Siesta Key Watersports Cruises

Sunset, Dolphin, and Sightseeing Tours and Cruises The entire family will enjoy seeing dolphins and other wildlife in their natural environment or a scenic tour to watch a memorable Siesta Key Gulf of Mexico Florida sunset. Sunset & Dolphin Cruises depart daily approximately 1 hour before sunset. Siesta Key Watersports also offers fun morning and daytime cruises for all ages!... Read More

Sarasota Bay Explorers

Sea Life Encounter Eco Tours Both kids and adults will enjoy this fun and educational guided Sea Life Encounter boat cruise located at Mote Marine Aquarium. The 1 hour and 45-minute eco tour offers an opportunity to observe and learn about the area's resident dolphins, manatees, native birds, and more. Kids especially love the hands-on interaction and observation of marine life. The opportunity to... Read More

LeBarge Tropical Cruises in Sarasota

Offering a wide variety of family-friendly cruise tour options for over 30 years. Sightseeing and Nature Cruise Relax and enjoy an educational and fun Sightseeing and Nature Cruise. Discover Sarasota’s history, see local wildlife and spectacular waterfront homes on this two-hour narrated tour. Tours depart at 2 p.m. each afternoon Tuesday through Saturday and daily in season. Dolphin Watch Cruise The two-hour Dolphin Encounter Cruise is offered... Read More


Discover Sarasota Tours

Discover Sarasota Tours offers a fun, entertaining, & informative experience on one of 18 different tour themes. Each tour showcases a unique aspect of Sarasota’s rich history from the Amish Culture, to The Circus showman, to the legends of business and the arts. The daytime and nighttime 90-minute interactive narrated tours are led by professional entertainers who offer an educational and entertaining perspective into... Read More

Myakka River State Park Tours

A boat tour or wildlife tram tour offers a memorable opportunity to get up-close to Florida’s birds and wildlife in their own natural environment. The Myakka River is the only river in Florida to be designated a Wild and Scenic River, which guarantees the preservation and management of the river for many generations to come. It is set within the Myakka River State... Read More

The Ringling Ca' d’Zan Mansion in Sarasota

Located on Sarasota Bay, The Ringling Ca' d’Zan mansion was home to John and Mable Ringling. The 36,000-square-foot mansion reflects the splendor and romance of Italy. The five-story structure features 41 rooms and 15 bathrooms. The Venetian Gothic Sarasota Bay mansion is truly eye-catching with its decorative pink sandstone exterior and beautiful multi-colored marble terrace. The Ringling Ca' d'Zan is lavishly decorated with wrought-iron balconies,... Read More

Historic Venice Train Depot Tour

Discover Venice Train Depot’s rich history with a train depot tour. Stroll through Rollins W. Coakley Railroad Park, featuring scenic walkways, picnic tables, and a restored caboose. Volunteer docents from Venice Area Historical Society provide free docent-led tours of the historic Venice Train Depot and its surrounding campus. The length of tours can vary based on visitors needs. Self-guided tours are also offered. Learn... Read More

Marker 38 Cruises and Tours

Dolphin Tours and Sunset Cruises Marker 38 offers scenic, narrated, 3-hour Sunset Cruises and 2-hour Dolphin Tours of Little Sarasota Bay and surrounding coastal estuaries aboard a smooth riding, 40-foot covered boat with unobstructed views.  Watch for dolphins, manatees, and other native Florida wildlife, and experience a beautiful sunset at Big Pass on... Read More