Sarasota Area
 

We are planning a trip to Sarasota and Naples in April. We have two children, 12 and 8. What are some kid friendly things to do in the area. We have tickets to a Tampa Bay Devil Rays game. How far is the stadium from Sarasota? Thank you.

You're looking at an hour, maybe a little less or more depending on where you are in Sarasota. The Rays play in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, a large can-looking building that you will see from interstate 275 on your way into downtown SP (lots of signs). Kid friendly in St. Petersburg would be lunch at the Chattaway, a great outdoor hamburger joint. Also, not too far from the Tropicana is Sunken Gardens, an old Florida tourist attraction taken over by the city, with a children's Museum next door.

Sorry but I don't know Sarasota enough to tell you what to do with the kiddos.

Spend an afternoon on City Island just across a bridge from Sarasota. Mote Marina on City Island is a nice little aquarium with many beautiful displays. They have an outdoor manaray/stingray pool where you can touch the rays as they swim by. Across the street they also house turtles, manatees, and dolphins that are recovering from ailments before being returned to the wild. They also have two resident manatees that are fun to watch. Mote runs a nice boat trip where they have a special license to drag a net and pull up sea life that is then described by a scientist and can be passed around before being returned to the water.

Beside Mote is Pelican Man Bird Sanctuary which houses rescued birds. Across the street is Old Salty Dag, a great place to eat a wonderful grouper sandwich.

We haven't been for a few years but my kids always liked Jungle Gardens in Sarasota also.

My parents live in Sarasota and we go there once a year. My kids are 9 and 5. Jungle Gardens is fun and pretty (allow a couple hours) nice to walk through, easy to get to. Gee Wiz kids museum would be fun for your kids age range. Very hands on. This is also easy to get to and close to Jungle Gardens. The beach of course. I agree that Mote Marine and Pelician Sanctuary are good. Salty Dog is a low key, very casual place to eat with great food. and right there with Mote Marine and Pelician. Shopping in St Armans Circle (if that's the name of it) but the kids may not want to do that. Several restaurants in all price ranges good for kids in the area. Have a great time. We'll be there the end of March!

I use to live in Sarasota, great place! The Golden Apple dinner theater is usually good family fun. St. Armand's is great for shopping and dining. If mom wants to shop, dad can take the kids 2 blocks away to Lido Beach. The best ice cream in the world (in my humble opinion) is at Kilwin's in the circle.
Mote Marine is fun. If your kids like art or museums, the Ringling Art museum is incredible! If your family likes the theater, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center has world class shows that come through. Selby Gardens would be a little dull for kiddos.

You can also take a sunset sail on a boat, big or small, out of the marina in Sarasota.