Family vacations can be challenging. How do you keep the kids happy while still having a chance to kick back and relax? Fortunately, Siesta Key Beach and neighboring Sarasota offer plenty of things to do for families. Here are 20 ways to spend your next vacation. 

MOTE Aquarium 

The Mote Marine Aquarium will be a highlight of the trip for your kids. More than 100 marine animals are featured, which will keep the kids entertained for hours. The 135,000-gallon shark habitat is one of our most popular exhibits. Check out The Teeth Beneath to catch a glimpse of the alligators and caimans. You can also meet our resident manatees and sea turtles or explore habitats featuring playful river otters. 

Wild Bird Learning Center

After a trip to MOTE Aquarium, stop by the Wild Bird Learning Center, which is just across the parking lot. The center provides a home to wild birds that have been injured and treated but are unable to return to the wild. Follow the birdwalk to learn more about these beautiful creatures and how to help protect them. The center is the only one of its kind in Sarasota!

Sarasota Bay Explorers

In conjunction with the Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota Bay Explorers provides interactive marine science boat trips for both public and private use. Several eco-tours are available, including the popular Sea Life Encounter Cruise, which brings participants through the Sarasota and Roberts Bays in search of Florida manatees and resident bottlenose dolphins. An experienced marine biologist will act as your guide, briefing you on the ecology, history, and folklore of the area. A short nature walk will give you the unique opportunity to see a variety of shorebirds in their nesting habitat. Kids will especially enjoy the collection of marine life in a trawl net where they will be able to observe and handle puffer fish, sea horses, stone crabs, cow fish, and more. 

Play at Sarasota Bay Island Park

For a relaxing afternoon of fun, take the kids to Nora Patterson Bay Island Park. It is usually not crowded, so it is the perfect place to find a little privacy, and as an added plus, it is also dog friendly! There are tables for picnics, facilities, and water access, allowing you to fish, birdwatch, view wildlife, or go for a boat ride. Most appealing to children, there is a playground, so parents can relax while children entertain themselves for hours. 

Livingston’s Amusements

Visit Livingston’s Amusements for one of the best kid-friendly sources of entertainment in Sarasota. You’ll have a tough time deciding between the SpinZone, Bumper Cars, Bazooka Ball, massive Arcade, Naskart Racing, and Billiards Hall. Anywhere you turn, fun awaits! When you get hungry or thirsty, you won’t have to look far – the Full Bar & Grill offers burgers, pizza, sandwiches, salads and more. And when the kids go back to play, Mom and Dad can entertain themselves at the bar with high definition TVs. 

Siesta Key Beach

Siesta Key Beach is the island’s top attraction; it is the number-one ranked beach in the United States and consistently ranked in the top five worldwide! While children might not appreciate such rankings as much as their parents, they will still have a blast building sandcastles, splashing around, and searching for seashells and sand dollars! Snacks and beach toys are available at the public beach pavilion. 

Lido Mangrove Tunnels Tour

Explore Sarasota’s stunning mangrove tunnels up close in a kayak excursion. You’ll see a host of shorebirds and marine life – possibly even the bottlenose dolphin up close! Tours last for two hours and cost $55 for a single kayak and $110 for a tandem. 

St. Armand’s Circle

The most popular destination for tourists is St. Armand’s Circle, the cultural center of Sarasota. Cross the scenic John Ringling Causeway and find yourself amidst local boutiques selling everything from high-end fashion to antiques and cheap souvenirs. It’s a great place to explore with kids, and there are many great places to eat when they get hungry. 

Sarasota’s Children Garden

This is an exciting place for younger children to learn more about nature, gardening, and art. From painting wooden gnomes to building a bird nest, there is always something happening, so check out their events page to see what is coming up. Prices vary upon activity. 

Marie Selby Botanical Garden

With over 5,000 species of plants, the garden is renowned worldwide as a hub for scientific research. Gardens contain bamboo, epiphytes, bromeliads, orchids, meat-eating pitcher plants, and much more. Kids will especially appreciate the butterfly garden and the Children’s Rainforest Garden, where they can reinvent themselves as brave explorers in the jungle!

South Lido County Park

With 100 acres of pristine environmentally protected coastal habitats, this is a great place to get away from the crowds of Siesta Key Beach for picnicking, swimming, hiking, bird watching, canoeing, and more. Brushy Bayou, the center of the park, is an especially dynamic estuarine environment where you will be sure to spot unique wildlife. Visit at 2201 Ben Franklin Dr., near the South end of Lido Key. 

Myakka River State Park 

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to walk through the treetops, pay a visit to Myakka River State Park. The Canopy Walkway is suspended 35 feet above the ground and extends 100 feet. Take a stroll through the treetops for a bird’s eye view. 

The Circus Arts Conservatory

Prepare to be amazed at the Circus Arts Conservatory in downtown Sarasota. Purchase a ticket to one of their year-round performances which engage audiences of all ages in a variety of settings: One-ring European-style big top, Sailor Circus arena, and an intimate historic theater. 

Sarasota Classic Car Museum

The car aficionados of the family will love Sarasota’s car museum, which is recognized as the second oldest continuously operating antique car museum in the country. Stroll back in time to witness antique, exotic, European, and one-of-a-kind classics featured in rotating exhibits. 

Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsey

Celebrate the creative human spirit at the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy, which represents a growing collection of whimsical works of art. There are paintings, sculptures, and stained glass, among others. This is a fun place to introduce your children to art! 

The museum is open from November to May on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. A $5 donation is suggested.

Visit Labyrinths

Both sacred and mystical, labyrinths have been featured in religious practice for over thousands of years. Saint Boniface Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian’s Church, the Unity of Sarasota, among other churches in Sarasota, all include labyrinths free to the public. While it is important to be respectful, children will certainly marvel at these religious mazes! 

Go Shopping

If you forgot something at home or just want to get out and shop, the multi-level, 888,000 square foot mall at University Town Center is the place to go. With over 100 stores, you’re sure to find what you need! Or head back to Siesta Key Village where you can stroll the downtown area shops.

Red Barn Flea Market

For some unique shopping, try the Red Barn Flea Market, which combines a traditional flea market, plaza shops, food courts, and open-air farmers markets. Here you’ll find indoor shopping, fresh produce, and entertainment. With over 600 flea market booths, you’re sure to find a treasure!

Mixon Fruit Farms

Featuring tropical gardens, a butterfly garden, a maze, and citrus fruit processing plant, the Mixon Fruit Farms displays the very best of Florida. The farm, which includes a huge play area for kids, is truly a local attraction that the entire family can enjoy! Try fresh squeezed 100 percent Florida juices or (for the adults) fine Florida wines.

Ice Cream 

After a day in the sun, everyone deserves to cool off with a fresh cone of ice cream! There are plenty of places to find finger-licking treats. Our favorites are Gelato-Go, Local Chill, Orange Octopus, Nokomis Groves, and Big Olaf.