My 2 young children and I are traveling to Sarasota in 2 weeks to visit family. We are looking for a new sidetrip/activity to do. We have done the usual Orlando trips, Busch Gardens, Siesta Key, Kids Museum. ANy one have suggestions for fun kids/family activities? ANy opinions on the Aquarium in Tampa? How does it compare to Chicago and Baltimore? Thanks in advance.

Have you been to Mote Marine? It's pretty cool? Depending on the interests and ages of your children, you might like to go to Sanibel island to canoe through the mangroves or take a dolphin-watching tour.

Tampa's Lowry Zoo just got incredibly high rankings. I heard they were ranked better than the San Diego zoo. I don't know how that could be, but I think it's definitely worth a trip. Tampa's science museum is also supposed to be the best and biggest in the whole southeast. I've heard the Tampa aquarium is wonderful. I haven't been to any of these Tampa attractions yet but will soon, as I am moving down next week!

A few other thoughts: Weeki Watchi to see the underwater mermaid show (north of Tampa), Marie Selby Botanical gardens (in Sarasota), Sunken Gardens in St. Pete, the state park east of Sarasota that has a cool air boat and tram ride (the name of the state park is escaping me). I'm sure with any of these, you can "google" them and pull up the web sites. Sanibel might be fun, especially if you stop for lunch in the Bubble Room, which is quite fun for kids (and adults).

The kids will love the aquarium. I have a 3yr old & he loves it. check out their website at: www.flaquarium.org. You can also grab a bite to eat right next door at Channelside. They have a restaurant called " Splitsville" that has bowling lanes in there and serve great finger foods for the kids. Make sure the kids wear their bathing suits because the aquarium has water sprinklers and jets. Have fun and try to go first thing in the morning because it usually rains mid-late afternoon.

Did anyone mention Myakka River State Park -- pretty good place to see alligators almost more "up close and personal" than you'd like in an airboat. Also other things to do, see: http://www.myakkariver.org/

I was just about to suggest "Myakka State Park" but I see that Soccr beat me to it. It's great for really observing what Florida was like with many different birds and, of course, alligators.

My kids always love Mote Aquarium and there's another place in Sarasota - "Jungle Gardens" I think. I would imagine the younger ones would like it.

But above all the kids love the beach any one of those beautiful beaches ours is Longboat Key but Siesta, Anna Maria, they're all fantastic. We just got back from there two days ago!

Yes, that's it - Myakka State Park, with the boat ride and the tram tour. We've taken our niece and she loved it.

Lowry Park Zoo was actually ranked #1 "family friendly zoo" in the US by Child magazine. It is an excellent small zoo and very reasonably priced.

I can't compare the aquarium with either Chicago or Baltimore, never having seen theirs, but I have been to Boston's and Monterey. It doesn't quite measure up to those behemoths, but we were WOWed none-the-less. We were not expecting anything near the caliber it is--your kids would love it.

I like the Tampa Aquarium, but it is about 1/4 the size of Baltimore's - if even that large. My husband and I went through it in less than an hour, while Baltimore took us more than four. The only thing it has that's a little different is a large freshwater section.

G Wiz, a kids' museum in Sarasota, is wonderful - especially for younger kids. They have all sorts of things for the kids to do, as opposed to look at.