Before the circus, arts and architecture arrived, before I-75 carved its way through Florida, our region’s greatest tourist attraction was something simpler: the outdoors. Sea breeze, shady hammocks and the turquoise waters of the Gulf have drawn people here for centuries. Today, even as the skyline climbs higher and streets grow busier, a connection to nature remains an enduring part of our region’s identity.

Parks preserve that original attraction. They’re spaces where biodiversity thrives, habitats connect and nature’s resilience is revealed. With these green havens as a backdrop, our lives unfold. Couples walk hand in hand along meandering trails; children learn how to take a tumble on playgrounds; and bayfront sunsets nudge us to pause and take a brief break from our hectic daily lives. Whether you seek contemplative calm, an adrenaline rush or simple family fun, Sarasota’s parks are reminders that the wonders of Florida aren’t relics of the past—they’re the foundation of how we live. The region has a wealth of these restorative spaces to enjoy, no matter what your passion. Here are 10 to explore.

BEST PARK FOR BIKES, BLADES AND BOARDS

The Legacy Trail

Almost 20 miles of former railroad corridor has become one of Sarasota’s most beloved spots for outdoor sports. Numerous trailheads provide parking, playgrounds and restrooms, and several offer everything you need to fix a bike on-the-go—from bike pumps to specialty repair tools. At its southern end, the trail blossoms into the Venetian Waterway Park system, allowing riders to continue past boats and colorful murals all the way to Caspersen Beach. With connections to other parks and countless “side quests,” the Legacy Trail is less single pathway than vessel to experience all Sarasota (and beyond) has to offer. A complete list of trailheads can be found on the Sarasota County Parks website at scgov.net.

BEST PARK FOR WATERSPORTS

Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach

Ted Sperling Nature Park is a launch spot for a peaceful paddle where you have a good chance of seeing manatees gliding through the water or dolphins leaping along the horizon. Situated at the southern tip of Lido Key, this 100-acre park offers access to four distinct bodies of water: the Gulf, Big Pass, Sarasota Bay and Brushy Bayou. Visitors can bring their own kayaks or paddleboards or take advantage of several nearby rental services. Guided tours are offered for visitors looking for a more tailored, educational experience. Meandering through the calm mangrove channels and bayous, you’ll discover impossibly quiet coves, bird-filled marshes and hidden sandbars that make you feel like you’re the first to discover them. Onshore, the park offers shaded picnic areas and short walking trails for those who prefer land-based exploration, making it a charming spot for families, solo adventurers and anyone craving a mix of relaxation and discovery. 190 Taft Drive, Sarasota

📍 Off The Beaten Path:

 While larger, charismatic fauna like manatees and birds get most of the hype, there’s an overlooked resident of the mangrove tunnels—the starfish. Paddle deep into the channels and keep a keen eye on the mangrove roots if you want to spot one.

🌳 Another Park to Consider

For a more fast-paced experience on the water, the city’s Centennial Park on Sarasota Bay provides double-lane boat ramps for motorized boats and jet skis. Canoes, kayaks and non-motorized vessels have separate launching areas.

BEST PARK FOR NATURE LOVERS

Oscar Scherer State Park

You might think the county’s only freshwater swimming lake or 15-plus miles of hiking trails through some of Florida’s most precious ecosystems are what put Oscar Scherer State Park on the map. Certainly, nature lovers will appreciate South Creek, the tidal blackwater stream that winds toward the Gulf, as well as the 1,381 acres of scrubby flatwoods, hardwood hammocks and mangrove forests that form the backbone of the park. But Oscar Scherer is equally cherished for being a critical sanctuary for the Florida scrub jay, the state’s only endemic bird species. With a population that’s declined by roughly 90 percent due to habitat loss, the gregarious scrub jay relies on the park as one of its few remaining refuges. The park also boasts more than 200 avian species, as well as several hundred other kinds of native flora and fauna. 1843 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey

📍 Off The Beaten Path:

VortexTours offers a unique way to experience the park. These guided walks incorporate meditation, breathwork and visualization exercises, inviting participants to engage with the natural world. srqvortex.com

🌳 Another Park to Consider

Robinson Preserve is an ideal coastal retreat for those craving a bit more salt in their air. The park includes seven miles of scenic walking trail, wildlife and a 53-foot-tall observation tower where you can view the Skyway Bridge, Manatee River and Anna Maria Island.

BEST PARK FOR KIDS

Bayfront Park

You can’t visit Bayfront Park without spotting kids having the time of their lives— so much so that adults might find themselves wishing they could join the fun. The playground has a shipwreck theme, complete with a kraken (or sea monster, for you land lubbers) and rope bridge. Coral tunnels invite crawling and hide-and-seek, while the splash pad (which has been recently renovated to allow kids to control the flow of water themselves) is an irresistible opportunity for wet fun on hot Florida days. Sprinkled beneath large shade sails are all sorts of structures for climbing, sliding and sitting when kids need a break from sailing the seas. With postcard-perfect views of Sarasota Bay, dozens of food options within walking distance, and thoughtfully designed play, this park is the ideal spot for kids and their families. 5 Bayfront Drive, Sarasota

📍Off The Beaten Path

 Step off the mangrove-lined path and enjoy an up-close glimpse of the tidal ecosystem, where kids can play “spot the species” with fiddler crabs and wading birds.

🌳 Another Park to Consider

Payne Park playground includes a circus-themed playground with interactive musical elements and skate park.

BEST PARK FOR MUSIC LOVERS

Bradenton Riverwalk

Not so long ago, Bradenton’s downtown waterfront was little more than a place to pass through. Today, the city’s Riverwalk has transformed it into a 2.03-mile ribbon of recreation with a skate park, sand volleyball courts and “outdoor living rooms” (equipped with shaded lounge chairs) with a view of Manatee River. Anchored by the 400-seat Mosaic Amphitheater, the Riverwalk also becomes a stage for free concerts, movie nights, cultural festivals and neighborhood celebrations. While the amphitheater provides the size to host large-scale events like BAM! (Bradenton Art & Music) Fest, the Riverwalk Pavilion near the splash pad provides a more relaxed, family-friendly setting for enjoying local bands. In the spring and fall, the Music in the Park series sets the dreamy sunset to the tune of rock ‘n’ roll classics and acoustic ballads. For nighttime grooves throughout the year, the popular Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille has a covered patio with a well-trodden dance floor and musical acts at various times throughout the week and on weekends. Once a month, the restaurant hosts a Blues Brunch that brings soul (and stellar bites) to Sundays. And while families gravitate toward the splash pad and jungle gym and anglers cast off the fishing pier, local musicians—unoffcial but ever-present—strum atop picnic blankets or with their backs to a tree. Quiet never lasts long here—nor should it. 452 Third Ave. W., Bradenton

📍Off The Beaten Path

The nearby Village of the Arts, an eclectic mix of Florida Cracker homes and early 20th-century bungalows (and later additions), offers flow arts, like fire-spinning, and more music.

🌳 Another Park to Consider

The Bay park hosts free concerts year-round, from silent discos and Sundays at The Bay brunches to headline acts that draw crowds in the thousands.

BEST PARK FOR YOU AND YOUR PUP

Brohard Paw Park and Dog Beach

Brohard Paw Park and Dog Beach is the only beach area in Sarasota County where dogs are officially welcome. Once you and your pup make the trip, you’ll never want to go anywhere else. The park has an off-leash, fenced dog park with separate sections for large and small dogs, which also provides access to the Dog Beach itself—a portion of the larger Brohard Beach reserved exclusively for dogs (and their owners). Here, the sand is soft, the water is welcoming and the energy is cheery as pups swim, splash and dig to their hearts’ content. Thoughtful amenities include drinking fountains for both humans and dogs, shaded benches and a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk. 1600 Harbor Drive S., Venice

📍Off The Beaten Path

Venice is known for being the shark’s tooth capital of the world, and the Dog Beach is no exception. Since this park is less crowded than more tourist-friendly hubs, you may have better chances at uncovering a few not-so-hidden treasures.

🌳 Another Park to Consider

The Canine Club at Gillespie Park delivers an off-leash experience just north of downtown. It features separate zones for large and small dogs, water stations and all the essentials in a walkable location. For pups who need more room to run, 17th Street Paw Park is a local favorite.

BEST PARK FOR ADVENTURE SEEKERS

Myakka River State Park

If 58 square miles of prairies, hammocks and majestic river isn’t enough to convince you that Myakka River State Park is more wilderness than a park, the hundreds of alligators gathered around “Deep Hole”—a 131-foot-deep sinkhole—will. One of Florida’s oldest and largest state parks, it rewards thrill-seeking spirit with primitive camping, a suspended canopy walkway (the first public treetop trail in North America) reminiscent of something from an Indiana Jones movie, and more than 40 miles of trails suitable for biking, hiking and horseback riding. Flat-bottomed boat tours are available for those looking to greet wading birds, turtles and alligators. The adventure doesn’t stop when you take a break for lunch, either. The Pink Gator Cafe offers alligator stew for visitors curious to try a literal taste of Sarasota’s wild side. 13208 S.R. 72, Sarasota

📍 Off The Beaten Path

 In May, when the dry season finally lets up, sunshine-yellow coreopsis bursts from the ground by the hundreds of thousands at Big Flats Marsh. It’s a legendary photo-op and a special opportunity to see how much of a show a prairie can put on.

🌳 Another Park to Consider

Emerson Point Preserve in Bradenton offers rugged trails similar to those in Myakka, along with mangrove tunnels perfect for kayaking, plus Native American temple mounds and views of the Manatee River, Tampa Bay and the Skyway Bridge from the park’s observation tower.

BEST PARK FOR FREE FUN

The Bay

The Bay has come a long way from its origins as a grassroots effort to reimagine 53 acres of city-owned land along Sarasota’s bayfront. What was once mostly a parking lot is now a vibrant blue-green oasis that’s home to hundreds of events each year. It’s the single most programmed park in Sarasota, offering everything from movie screenings and headliner concerts to food festivals and guided kayak tours. Want to get your heart rate up? Zumba, mat Pilates, yoga, bootcamp, pickleball and tai chi are just a handful of fitness classes you can choose from. You can also take a dance workshop led by Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s resident choreographer, peer through a telescope to look at the stars and tune in to a sound bath—all in one day. The first 10 acres of the park have been open to the public since 2023 and feature a children’s playground, outdoor reading room, the Mangrove Bayou Walkway, an amphitheater, a spacious lawn and more. When complete, Phase 2 will include the expansion of the resilient shoreline along the park’s western edge, a waterfront restaurant and a Cultural District featuring a tree-lined promenade connecting rehabilitated historic buildings, as well as a vibrant Town Square. 1055 Blvd. of the Arts, Sarasota

📍 Off The Beaten Path

The restored historic Japanese lantern gifted to the Sarasota Garden Club in the 1930s was discovered at the bottom of a pond at the Fountain Garden a few years ago. It now rests beneath the shade of a royal poinciana tree in the garden, a secret and picturesque backdrop for proposals and photoshoots.

🌳 Another Park to Consider

Waterside Park in Lakewood Ranch is an eight-acre island community park in scenic Kingfisher Lake, featuring a splash pad, playground and walking paths. Adjacent mainland Waterside Place hosts live music on Friday evenings and a Sunday farmer’s market.

BEST PARK FOR PEACE AND QUIET

Red Bug Slough Preserve

If you’re looking to trade the hum of traffc for birdsong, Red Bug Slough is Sarasota’s best-kept secret—one that you may drive by every day without even noticing. This 72-acre slice of Old Florida is a sanctuary of shady oak hammocks, pine flatwoods and quiet lakes where herons wade and turtles bask. A network of soft, winding trails invites leisurely exploration, guiding visitors past the park’s most peaceful corners without the crowds that fill the county’s larger parks. Along the way, benches welcome pauses to watch dragonflies skim the water or to listen to the canopy murmur overhead. Kayakers and paddleboarders can slip onto the slough’s gentle waters for a more immersive experience, gliding past cypress knees and floating vegetation. The park is also known as the quintessential hidden gem for birdwatchers, who delight in spotting species like red-shouldered hawks, woodpeckers and wading birds. 5200 Beneva Road, Sarasota

📍 Off The Beaten Path

During migration season, Red Bug is known for hosting spectacular fallouts of warblers, who flock in large numbers to find shelter from stormy weather—a breathtaking sight even for casual observers.

🌳 Another Park to Consider

Scherer Thaxton Preserve is an oasis-like pocket within suburbia. This 287-acre preserve features primitive hiking trails, a marked lakeside fitness path, and connection to both Oscar Scherer State Park and Legacy Trail.

BEST PARK FOR SUNSET

Ken Thompson Park

When the sky starts to ripen towards dusk, locals head to Ken Thompson Park. Tucked just past Mote Marine (now the International Marine Science, Technology & Innovation Park) on City Island, it’s an underrated and unhurried expanse, a rare mix in a city where waterfront views often mean crowds. Anglers gather along the fishing pier, casting lines into calm bay waters, while couples and families claim picnic tables or settle onto the grass as dolphins surface offshore, complete with the silhouette of downtown Sarasota and the arc of the Ringling Bridge. If you’re looking to make more of your visit, slip into a shaded pocket alive with fiddler crabs and wading birds at the Mangrove Boardwalk, or bring a kayak and set out on an evening paddle. Either way, you’ll have a front-row seat to Sarasota’s most timeless spectacle. 1700 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota

📍 Off The Beaten Path

 For anglers in the know, Ken Thompson Park is one of the county’s prime fishing spots. Its pier and shoreline offer excellent opportunities to reel in redfish, snook and trout without the crowds you’ll find at more popular hangs.

🌳 Another Park to Consider

North Lido with its wide beach and empty shoreline—but no amenities—is an untouched spot to say thank you for another day.