Top Rated Parks to Visit in Sarasota

"Located on either side of the Intracoastal Waterway, the Venetian Waterway Park was developed by Venice Area Beautification Inc or VABI. Highly popular with locals, this attraction near Venice beach connects the heart of Venice to the park belonging to Caspersen beach and offers hiking and bicycle trails, picnic, and restroom facilities. This trail also connects to the Legacy Trail, which will take you into Sarasota."

"The Venetian Waterway Park is a fantastic place to explore the city’s beautiful canals and waterways. The park follows the waterways – in particular, the major Intracoastal Waterway, which separates the coast from the mainland. There are several miles of walking paths leading from downtown Venice, following a gentle route along the water that eventually leads all the way to Caspersen Beach to the south of the city."

"Walkers, joggers, bicyclists, nature lovers, and rollerbladers can enjoy the Venetian Waterway Trail running either side of the Intracoastal channel, and the Legacy Trail a paved recreational trail. See boats, birds, and even dolphins as you enjoy exercising in the fresh air."

"As soon as you see the bright blue waters and white sand beaches of this park, you’ll instantly be at peace. Take some time to ride a paddleboard across the waters, search for shells on the beach, or lie back and enjoy catching up on your suntan!. Wildlife abounds here, so keep an eye out for pelicans, especially at Brushy Bayou!"

"When Siesta Beach Park is packed, Glebe Park is the place to go for locals and visitors, located right behind the St. Michael the Archangel Church. It is a substantially sized 10-acre park offering a full range of amenities including a covered picnic area, a covered playground, baseball field, soccer field and basketball courts. Enjoy a picnic here, ride bikes, or play a few games of your favorite outdoor sport with the family a bit away from the noise of Siesta Beach on one of your vacation days at Glebe Park."

"Glebe Park is a small sports park with a soccer field, basketball court, and concession stand halfway up the island. It is clean and well-maintained, but provides little shade. Be sure to bring hats, sunscreen, and even an umbrella to stay cool and protect your skin from the sun."

"This is the big bridge that connects Downtown Sarasota to Bird Key. Make a morning of riding a bike or walking to the top of the bridge, and spend your afternoon exploring the beautiful houses and charming small town of Bird Key. When you head back up the bridge, don’t miss out on getting photos of the Sarasota city skyline!"

"Norma Lloyd came to Bradenton from Terre Haute, IN in 1971 and became a local hero for rallying local resources and volunteers to expand Little League and softball offerings in the city and county. After years of fighting for local kids to have a place to play, and of acting as coach, scorekeeper, umpire, administrator and doing any other thing that needed to be done, Norma Lloyd Park was named for her in1995. Amenities at the park include batting cages, picnic tables, a pond, playgrounds, a football field, little league and tee ball fields."

"A State historical marker at Manatee Mineral Springs (formerly known as Indian Spring) Park describes the rich history of this location, named after a natural spring used by American Indians. Now a traditional neighborhood park in the heart of the Old Manatee district, the park is one of the region’s oldest parks on record – and there are plans to add to it. The park has picnic tables, a gazebo, connected story plaques, and a vacant tract attached to the park is the future site of Reflections of Manatee Inc."

"Ca' d'Zan, (Venetian for "House of John"), is the waterfront residence built for Mable and John Ringling. The mansion was designed by architect Dwight James Baum with assistance from the Ringlings, built by Owen Burns, and was completed in 1926. It is designed in Venetian Gothic style."

"The winter home for the American circus owners John Ringling and his wife Mable, the Ca d’Zan Mansion is a stunning five-story Mediterranean Revival home overlooking Sarasota Bay."

"If you are a baseball fan, one of the must-dos for the spring season is stopping by LECOM Park to watch the Pittsburg Pirates complete their spring training. The park was initially called McKechnie Field when it was built in 1923, in honor of Bill McKechnie, who was a Pittsburg native and Hall of Fame manager. The park was renamed after receiving new sponsorship from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, shortened to the acronym LECOM."

"Neal Preserve is home to some of the best Anna Maria nature trails, with more than 120 acres for you to discover. Located on the mainland in nearby Bradenton, Neal Preserve is more than just a remarkable natural site – it also has a lot of historical significance. The preserve is home to reconstructed burial mounds, initially built by the Native Americans from 3000 BC to 1400 AD."

"On your way in to Anna Maria Island you’re sure to spot Neal Preserve while making your way across Perico Island. Neal Preserve is set against the stunning waterways around Anna Maria Island and offers fantastic examples of Florida’s natural wildlife and native plants. But there’s more to this 120 acre preserve than meets the eye."

"Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. A 120-acre (48.5 hectares) preserve, Neal Preserve in Manatee County is a combination of mesmerizing coastal habitat and oak hammock upland. The area comprises mangrove forests and salt terns."

"Various subjects in nature, in space and the cosmos, combined with my imagination have motivated me to continue to sharpen my artistic abilities."