Rothenbach Park is a community park with about five miles of paved recreational trails that are perfect for walking, jogging, or cycling. Two playground areas with the latest in safe playground equipment, sit on top of a soft mulch surface so kids can run and jump with reduced risk of injury. The park has a […]
Sarasota Destinations
- Leffis Key (Sarasota, FL)
- Lido Key (Sarasota, FL)
- Myakka Hardwood Hammock (Sarasota, FL)
- Myakka Pinelands (Sarasota, FL)
- Myakka River State Park (Sarasota, FL)
- North Lido Beach (Sarasota, FL)
- Oscar Sherer State Park (Sarasota, FL)
- Pinecraft Park (Sarasota, FL)
- Red Bug Slough Preserve (Sarasota, FL)
- Red Bug Slough Preserve (Sarasota, FL)
- Ringling Grounds (Sarasota, FL)
- Rothenbach Park (Sarasota, FL)
- Spanish Point (Sarasota, FL)
- Urfer Family Park (Sarasota, FL)
Red Bug Slough Preserve (Sarasota, FL)
This 72-acre preserve, Red Bug Slough is a remnant piece of natural Florida nestled in the midst of suburban Sarasota. The preserve has several miles of hiking trails, a small playground, picnic shelters and a fishing dock. The hiking trails are unpaved but accessible for most visitors. Some trails may flood after heavy rainfall and […]
Oscar Sherer State Park (Sarasota, FL)
The habitats that are part of the park are pine flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods and the hardwood hammock surrounding South Creek. A variety of other plants exist within the park, like blueberry, persimmon, wild grape, cabbage palm, coontie, wax myrtle, prickly pear cacti, mangrove trees and giant leather ferns (Acrostichum danaeifolium). Land and aquatic inhabitants include […]
Myakka River State Park (Sarasota, FL)
Myakka River State Park is a Florida State Park, that is located nine miles (14 km) east of Interstate 75 in Sarasota County and a portion of southeastern Manatee County on the Atlantic coastal plain. This state park consists of 37,000 acres (150 km2), making it one of the state’s largest parks. It is also […]
Lido Key (Sarasota, FL)
Lido Key has a few great beach/water access areas worth exploring for plant, bird and marine life: North Lido Beach Park Ted Sperling Park (Launch into the mangrove tunnels) South Lido County Park Google Map Request Trail Maps
Leffis Key (Sarasota, FL)
I haven’t been to Leffis Key for years, largely because it’s a long drive for me, and it’s a relatively small preserve without a lot to see that can’t be found closer to home. The exception is birds… for some reason, there are almost always interesting birds that hang out at the preserve and today […]
Ringling Grounds (Sarasota, FL)
The Ringling Museums/Mansion grounds are one of the best things about the place, and the cheapest to see at $5 a pop. If you go, make sure to look for the softshell turtles in the pond between the gift shop and museum. There were many turtles on my visit, and my guess is that people […]
Spanish Point (Sarasota, FL)
Make sure to check out the butterfly tent when you go. I have gone to Spanish Point a few times since it became part of Selby Gardens, and it is definitely fun to visit. Very different from Selby downtown, and I would say that I prefer it.
Red Bug Slough Preserve (Sarasota, FL)
I am always surprised by the diversity of species in Red Bug Slough, perhaps because it is a suburban/urban park, where my expectations are generally low, but there are many species of plant and animal, both native and exotic. Perhaps most interesting on this visit was that the hammock has been largely cleared of air […]
Pinecraft Park (Sarasota, FL)
Pinecraft Park is in the heart of Amish country, and the park has a playground that is typically filled with plain-clothed types speaking Pennsylvania Dutch and playing some game that I don’t understand. But they say what happens in Pinecraft stays in Pinecraft, at least that’s what I’m told by my Anabaptist connections. Anyway, the […]
Urfer Family Park (Sarasota, FL)
Urfer Family Park, at the corner of Bee Ridge and Honore is surprisingly diverse in plant life, and on a Friday afternoon, is very quiet. I was excited to spot a Gopher Tortoise, as well as a Zebra Swallowtail, which made me look forward to future trips. Urfer Family Park provides playgrounds for toddlers through […]