We're going to Sarasota in three weeks with another couple and would like suggestions for thinkg to do and see and restaurants. We love to walk and hike and love nature. We aren't into museums or art. Average priced restaurants with good food for dinner is what we're looking for.

Myakka (sp?) River State Park is about 15 mins. away from Sarasota and they have an elevated boardwalk through the forest.

My favorite beach in Sarasota is Siesta Key, but it does get crowded.

There are a lot of restaurants on Main St that will fit your bill. In addition, there are walking paths on most of the islands so good luck with your trip.

If you drive to St. Armand's Circle and continue west as far as you can go(Lido Beach), turn south and keep going to South Lido Beach Park. You can walk on the beach plus there's a walking trail through the "jungle". Not extensive, but nice.
Also, on the east side of Anna Maria Island, just over the bridge from Longboat Key, there's Leffis Key (called Coquina Baywalk, I believe) which has a walking trail, several boardwalks and overlooks. Several years ago bird watchers from all over the country rushed to see a rare bird which had appeared there.
Another place with walking trails and boardwalks and bay overlooks is Joan Durante Park, on Longboat Key about two-thirds of the way north. There's Harry's Delicatessen near the entrance, which is a great place to pick up sandwiches/salads/beverages, then walk through the park to the water and have a picnic. We often do that on our bikes.
Have a great time!

Mote Marine Lab (www.mote.org.com, I think) and Pelican Man Bird Sanctuary on City Island make for a nice visit with lunch across the street outside at The Old Salty Dog for great fried or grilled grouper (cheap and good) and beer.

On Anna Maria Island, Banana Cabana (nothing to look at, relatively inexpensive, no hype) for stuffed (w/crabmeat, I believe) grouper, rolled in batter and fried. Unbelievably good. I'm an aerobics instructor and PE teacher and don't even eat fried food...but this I do....

I live on Siesta Key (Sarasota) and I'll be the first to admit that Florida as a whole and Sarasota more so, is not really an exciting hiking place. We do have 2 state parks just a short drive away and they do have hiking trails and canoe rentals, but I'll be honest, if you spend a day in one, the other park is pretty much the same.

We do have great beach walking on Siesta Key. You could walk for miles. Somebody said above that the beaches are crowded. It's true in the spring and summer, but this is the slow time here and the beaches are actually almost deserted. The snowbirds start arriving in mid-Nov but they are not much of beach goers.

Have you heard of Segway???

There is a company that offers tours of downtown and waterfront Sarasota while you ride these amazing gizmos.

http://www.floridaever-glides.com/tours.html

Selby Gardens is another possibility

http://www.selby.org/

Charter boat. If you are not into fishing or playing on the water, have the captain take you on an amazing nature/home tour of the area. You get to see some amazing waterfront homes in the area. You can't see the homes from the street.
You could include a dolphin experience. Any charter boat captain should be able to do the above and whatever else you may want.

Rent bikes and discover the islands, especially Siesta and Casey Keys. Siesta is more commercialized and car traffic but we do have bike lanes from one end of the island to the other end (about 10 miles total), but Casey has miles of winding roads where you get to see some beautiful homes, and play on some nice stretches of quiet beaches. Hardly any car traffic. Casey Key is the next island over just south of Siesta Key.
We do have some nice mid-priced restaurants, but Sarasota and for the most part Florida is not known for outstanding restaurants. Many are very good, just not in the same league as many of the restaurants in the major cities. Lido, Longboat Keys have waterfront restaurants, Siesta does not, at least not oceanfront. Siesta Village has some nice, and fairly good restaurants. In Downtown Sarasota you will find almost every cuisine and many are good to very good.
I don't want to go into details as to which one is better, but you could get reviews on many restaurant review sites on the internet, or your hosts or condo/hotel concierge should be able to point out where to go depending on what you like.

And finally, Siesta Key has the best beaches in the area, so if you like to just relax and enjoy a quiet day on the beach, do it here. Also great sunsets.

Unfortunately, there is a tropical storm brewing up at the moment just south of the most western part of Cuba, but now the computer projections have it make a SHARP turn once it touches Cuba and possibly grow into a hurricane and hit Florida anywhere between Naples and Tampa. It's projected to make landfall either Saturday late or early Sunday and if it's a direct cat. 2 or above hurricane and it hits our beautiful yet very vulnarable islands, the area may not look so nice for some time.
After all, these barrier islands are just sandbars, no more than 1-3' above sea level.
Hopefully it won't happen!

Have a great visit!

Thanks to everyone who sent advice so far. Right now I'm just hoping that everyone in Florida stays safe. If all is well and the trip is not canceled, does anyone know the difference between The Babcock Wilderness Ranch vs. Myakka River State Park and the boat rides they offer? We've been on the boat rides in the Everglades. Is this similar?
Stay safe,
Kathy

Myakka is bigger and has lots of alligators. The Wilderness Ranch is airboats and more of a tourist setting. There is also a nice large flea market called "The Red Barn" and a couple nice amish restaurants with good gift shops. I think one was Der Dutchman and another was Sugar and Spice. Selby Gardens as someone mentioned is very nice and a good pretty walk too. Lots of outlet malls in Ellenton a short distance away.

Sarasota is really about museums and art as well as great beaches. So many great places to walk around...but the city has been going through a growth spurt and a lot of it is torn up right now.

I suggest BIKING your way around the area downtown....to really get the flavor of Sarasota.
Just be careful. Watch the roads and drivers and
stay on the paths if they are available.

You can ride or walk all around downtown, the bay front (Marina Jacks is really cute area)
around Selby Gardens, over the beautiful new bridge to Lido Key and keep going for a long way up the path on Longboat to Anna Maria. It will take you all day and you can have lunch along the way.
Segways are cute...but I could crawl faster than they let you run them on the tours.

You might be amazed if you take a tour of the CaDaZaan (i know i spelled this wrong) at Ringling Museum. It's quite elaborate and it's on the water...even if you're not into museums...it's worth the trip. Mondays are FREE at Ringling Museum.

The poster that suggested Lido also gave good advice on the park there. Just don't leave your car unlocked. Siesta Key has a younger crowd and more to do on foot. The beach is really big.

Myakka, Oscar Shearer Park are fun for biking and walking around too.
For hiking/nature...contact the Venice Audubon Society...they have guided walks in some really nice areas just south of Sarasota. For restaurants:
Moderatly Expensive -
Barnacle Bills (great seafood) on Main Street.
Kyoshis (for sushi) on Main Street
Silver Cricket (great tapas on Main Street)
Fairly priced -
First Watch (on Main Street, great breakfast)
Captain Brians (on Tamiami near airport, awesome seafood and always a wait)
Whole Foods (don't laugh, it's on Lemon/Main and they have an awesome hot/cold food self service area and nice tables to sit at)

Lastly...visit Main Street on Saturday morning (early) for the Farmers Market....browse the trendy antique shops on Orange Avenue...don't miss SELBY GARDENS....or MOTE MARINE AQUARIUM...TOWLES COURT is a cute area to walk around too.

Have a great time! Sarasota is unique. I came here five years ago from Los Angeles. It's truly heaven on earth...when there's no red tide.

For authentic Cuban try The Columbia restaurant in the center of St. Armands Circle ...or heading north to Longboat, near try New Pass Bait and Grill. Very laidback simple menu with all a great view of the boats coming in and out of the Gulf.