When most people plan a trip to Sarasota, the usual suspects tend to make the itinerary: Siesta Key Beach, St. Armands Circle, The Ringling Museum and maybe a drive out to Myakka River State Park.
And don’t get me wrong – there’s a reason those places are popular. They’re absolutely worth visiting!
But Sarasota and neighboring Manatee County have plenty of other places that don’t always make it onto the typical vacation itinerary.
Some are tucked away in the eastern part of the counties. Others are hiding surprisingly close to some of the area’s busiest tourist spots. I’ve lived in this part of Florida long enough (since 1991!) to know that sometimes the best days are the ones when you skip the obvious attractions and head somewhere a little different.
So, if you’ve already checked Siesta Key off your list, or you’d simply like to see a different side of the Sarasota area, here are eight places worth seeking out.
1. Myakka Elephant Ranch – Myakka City
Yes, there are elephants in Myakka City!
Head east from Sarasota toward the more rural part of the county and you’ll find Myakka Elephant Ranch, a conservation-focused facility offering educational elephant encounters.
This isn’t somewhere you simply pull into while you’re passing by. Visits are by appointment, and the experiences are designed to teach visitors about elephants, their care and conservation. The ranch works with both African and Asian elephants.
It’s also a fun reminder of just how quickly Sarasota changes once you leave the coast. Drive east for a while and the condos, restaurants and beach traffic disappear, replaced by ranches, oak trees and a very different side of Florida.
Good to know: Reservations are essential, so this is one to plan ahead rather than save for a random afternoon.
Best for: Animal lovers, families and anyone looking for an experience they definitely won’t find at the beach.
2. Crowley Museum & Nature Center – Sarasota
If you want to know what Sarasota looked like before subdivisions, shopping centers, storage units and six lanes of traffic, head east – way east!
Crowley Museum & Nature Center sits on almost 200 acres near the Myakka River and feels like a completely different world from coastal Sarasota.
The historic farmstead dates to the late 1800s and includes pioneer buildings, a blacksmith shop, farm animals, gardens and trails through some beautiful natural Florida habitat. There’s also a boardwalk that winds through pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, marshes and swampy areas.
This is one of those places I’d recommend for anyone who complains that Florida has become nothing but strip malls and housing developments. Places like Crowley remind you that Old Florida is still here – you just have to go looking for it.
Good to know: Crowley’s public hours are limited, so check before making the drive.
Best for: History buffs, families, photographers and anyone who loves Old Florida.
3. Emerson Point Preserve – Palmetto
If you want beautiful Florida scenery without fighting your way onto Anna Maria Island, Emerson Point Preserve is one of my favorite alternatives.
Located at the western end of Snead Island in Palmetto, the preserve sits where the Manatee River meets the waters around Terra Ceia Bay and Tampa Bay.
There are walking and biking trails, mangroves, coastal habitat, kayak access and some gorgeous views over the water. There’s also an observation tower that’s worth climbing for the view.
What I especially like about Emerson Point is that it still feels wonderfully natural. You can spend a couple of hours wandering around without feeling like you’ve visited a traditional “tourist attraction” at all.
And yet you’re really not that far from Bradenton or Anna Maria Island.
Don’t miss: Walk all the way out toward the point for the wide-open water views.
Best for: Walking, kayaking, birdwatching, photography and a quiet morning outdoors.
4. Warm Mineral Springs – North Port
Warm Mineral Springs is probably one of the strangest attractions in Sarasota County and I mean that in the best possible way!
Located in North Port, this natural spring stays at roughly 85 degrees year-round. It’s also the only naturally formed warm-water mineral spring in Florida.
But the really fascinating part is what’s underneath the water.
The spring is an important archaeological site where human remains and evidence of prehistoric animals have been discovered dating back thousands of years. Archaeological finds in the area date human activity back more than 10,000 years.
Today, visitors come primarily to float and swim in the warm mineral-rich water – and it’s definitely different from spending another day at the beach.
Best for: History lovers, swimmers and travelers who enjoy finding unusual places.
5. Quick Point Nature Preserve – Longboat Key
Longboat Key is hardly a secret, but you’d be surprised how many people drive right past Quick Point Nature Preserve without realizing it’s there.
Located near the southern end of Longboat Key, this small preserve offers trails and boardwalks through mangroves and tidal wetlands, along with beautiful views over Sarasota Bay.
And it’s not somewhere you need to dedicate half a day to. That’s actually part of its appeal.
Stop for a walk, look for birds and marine life, enjoy the breeze coming off the bay and then continue on with your day.
It feels wonderfully peaceful considering how close you are to some of Sarasota’s busiest areas.
Good to know: This is more of a slow-down-and-look-around place than a major hiking destination.
Best for: A morning walk, birdwatching, photography or a quiet break from the crowds.
6. Rye Preserve – Parrish
Here’s one for visitors willing to venture farther inland.
Rye Preserve in eastern Manatee County is the kind of place where, once again, you can get a real taste of undeveloped Florida.
The preserve covers hundreds of acres near the Lake Manatee Dam and contains trails through several different Florida ecosystems, including scrub, oak hammocks and river habitat. Wildlife can include gopher tortoises and an impressive variety of birds.
There’s also a little bit of local history hiding here. The Rye Family Cemetery remains from the old community of Rye that once existed in this part of Manatee County.
This isn’t your typical manicured Florida. That’s precisely why I like including it on this list.
Bring water, wear decent shoes and enjoy being somewhere that feels far removed from the beach resorts.
Best for: Hiking, birding, wildlife and people who prefer quiet nature preserves to busy attractions.
7. Save Our Seabirds – Sarasota
Here’s a place people often miss even though it’s sitting surprisingly close to some of Sarasota’s biggest attractions.
Save Our Seabirds is located on City Island and rescues and rehabilitates injured wild birds. Birds that cannot safely return to the wild can become permanent residents.
Visitors can walk through the Wild Bird Learning Center and meet some of these residents while learning about Florida’s native birds and the problems they face in the wild.
What makes this stop particularly interesting is that you’re not visiting a traditional zoo. It’s a working wildlife rescue organization, so there’s a purpose behind what you’re seeing.
It’s also an easy addition to a day spent around Sarasota Bay.
Best for: Bird lovers, families and anyone interested in Florida wildlife.
8. Perico Preserve – Bradenton
Here’s another place that’s surprisingly easy to miss.
Perico Preserve sits just before you reach Anna Maria Island, yet many visitors drive straight past it on their way to the beach.
The preserve was designed with wildlife habitat in mind and has become a particularly good spot for birdwatching. Trails wind through restored wetlands and coastal areas, with observation points where you can stop and see what’s moving around the water.
The contrast is part of what makes it so interesting. One minute you’re driving along busy Manatee Avenue toward Anna Maria Island, and not long afterward you’re walking through a quiet landscape watching herons and other wildlife.
If you’re heading to the island anyway, consider getting up early and spending an hour here before continuing to the beach.
Just remember that there’s not a lot of shade, so early morning is definitely preferable during Florida’s hotter months.
Best for: Birdwatching, walking, photography and combining with an Anna Maria Island day.
There’s More to Sarasota Than the Beach
I love Sarasota’s beaches as much as anyone. There’s nothing wrong with spending an entire vacation rotating between Siesta Key, Venice Beach, Nokomis Beach, Lido Key and Anna Maria Island.
But you’d be missing a huge part of this area!
Drive inland and you’ll find ranch country, elephants, pioneer homesteads and wild stretches of Florida. Head toward the bay and you’ll find tiny nature preserves, mangrove trails and wildlife sanctuaries that tourists drive past every day without knowing they’re there.
So next time you’re visiting Sarasota or Manatee County, give yourself at least one day away from the usual tourist stops.
You might be surprised by what you find!
Travel Tip: Florida heat is no joke, particularly from late spring through early fall. For the outdoor preserves on this list, go early, bring plenty of water, use sunscreen and don’t forget the bug spray. And because hours, admission and access can change, check the attraction’s current information before heading out.
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