How To See A Different Side of Sarasota Beyond the Gulf Coast

Things to do in Sarasota

Warm Mineral Springs Park

If you go expecting a spa, adjust your expectations. Warm Mineral Springs is a natural spring, the only warm natural spring in Florida, and it feels like it. The water holds at about 85 degrees year-round and draws more than 150,000 visitors annually, many of whom come specifically for the reputed healing properties of the highly mineralized water. We were warned about the sulfur smell. There wasn’t one. The water felt more like a natural pool than a hot spring, and once you’re in, it’s easy to stay. The bottom was flat and solid, not like a lake with mud. The longer we stayed, the easier it became to understand why visitors linger here. Time passes quickly in the water, enough so that the recommended soaking limits feel surprisingly short.

The site is worth visiting for more than the soak. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with prehistoric discoveries dating back more than 10,000 years. The buildings are still recovering from hurricane damage, and the facilities are currently temporary, but the team managing the park has a thoughtful restoration plan in progress. It is a different experience than it will be in a few years. That’s not a reason to skip it, it’s a reason to go twice.

Tip: Pair this with Myakka River State Park on the same day. The drive out to North Port is about 45 minutes from downtown Sarasota, and combining stops makes the distance worth it.

Warm Mineral Springs Park: 12200 San Servando Avenue, North Port, FL 34287

Myakka Elephant Ranch

 

 

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This is a family-run ranch, and you feel it from the moment the presentation starts. The staff clearly love these animals and are proud of what they’ve built. The educational component is thorough. It is a full presentation followed by an open Q&A where they answer every question asked. After that, guests get time with the elephants: close enough to touch them and take photographs.

It is worth the drive if animal encounters are something you seek out. For those who are less drawn to wildlife experiences, pair it with something nearby rather than making it a standalone day trip or skip it entirely.

Tip: GPS the address directly and avoid Waze, it may not recognize the location. From Verna Bethany Road, turn west onto Elephant Drive at the brick pillar entryway. Wear close-toed shoes; it’s required.

Myakka Elephant Ranch: 4450 Elephant Drive (also listed as 4450 Verna Bethany Rd), Myakka City, FL 34251

Sarasota Vortex Tours

 

 

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This one is harder to explain and easier to recommend than you might expect. The tour takes you on a guided walk through a nature preserve, with stops at “vortex sites” – geographic locations believed to host spiraling spiritual or electromagnetic Earth energy – for quiet meditation, breathwork, and a chance to pay attention to the environment around you. Our guide brought mats on which to sit and meditate. We walked down to the river, and spent time in a dense tree canopy that felt genuinely removed from everything.

It is not what I expected, and I mean that as a compliment. It is less woo, more presence. Think of it as a guided nature walk with structured pauses to actually absorb where you are.

Who it’s for: Anyone open to slowing down for a few hours. You do not have to believe in vortex energy to enjoy a quiet walk through Florida woodland.

Sarasota Vortex Tours: 13207 State Road 72, Sarasota, FL 34241

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

This outdoor space opens up into beautiful gardens after the initial displays near the entrance and becomes park-like from there. It’s right on the water, and the overall feeling is genuinely tranquil. When we visited, students from Ringling College sat scattered across benches sketching quietly, which somehow made the gardens feel even calmer. Nobody seemed interested in rushing through.

The research component is less expected and worth seeking out. We toured the herbarium, where volunteers were carefully cataloging dried plant specimens. The work is serious science, but it is presented in a way that any visitor can follow and appreciate. Throughout the research area, large photographs of the flowers lined the walls. They were striking enough to be art on their own, but they are part of the research process.

The current exhibition, “Alexander Calder: The Nature of Movement,” pairs beautifully with the setting. Calder’s mobiles are displayed throughout the gardens and inside the museum spaces, and the connection between his early circus work and the kinetic forms he later developed comes through clearly in the curation.

The banyan trees were, for me, the standout of the entire outdoor space. They are old, enormous, and their exposed roots are unlike anything else I have seen before. I ended up lingering beneath the banyans longer than anywhere else in the gardens. Selby is also the world’s first energy net-positive botanical garden, certified for its commitment to sustainability across operations, construction, and programming.

Note: Allow at least two hours. More if you want to do the research tour and the full outdoor grounds.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens: 1534 Mound Street, Sarasota, FL 34236

Where to eat and drink in Sarasota

Drift Kitchen & Bar

 

 

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The setting does a lot of the work here. Drift is on the 8th floor of the Palm Building at Lido Beach Resort, with 180-degree views of the Gulf designed around sunset. The evening we visited, the sunset wasn’t particularly dramatic, but the room makes the most of whatever the sky gives you. Order the beet and goat cheese salad — it was excellent. The fish of the day and the beef short rib drew strong reviews from others in our group. For dessert, the Lemon Panna Cotta was light and well-executed. Skip the Al Forno if it’s on the menu; it was the one miss of the evening.

Drift Kitchen & Bar: 700 Benjamin Franklin Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236 (at Lido Beach Resort)

Indigenous

 

 

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Indigenous sits in what feels like a residential neighborhood in the historic Towles Court district. It is easy to walk past if you’re not looking for it. Inside, it’s small and intimate, with a menu built entirely around seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Chef Steve Phelps came to the table to talk about the sourcing philosophy, including the Florida-grown shiitake mushrooms from nearby Petrichor Mushrooms and farms in Myakka.

Order the halibut. The parmesan beignets are also worth ordering, and the whipped lemon cheesecake for dessert is deconstructed in a manner that’s not fussy but that allows diners to optimize each of the individual flavors that make up the dish. Seafood at Indigenous is sourced from nearby fishermen. The wine list reflects the same care as the kitchen.

Indigenous: 12200 San Servando Ave, North Port, FL 34287

The Green Orchid

 

 

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Lunch here is the right move after touring Selby, both for convenience and because the restaurant earns a visit on its own. The Green Orchid is the world’s first net-positive energy restaurant, running entirely on solar power, with a rooftop garden maintained in part by Operation EcoVets, a nonprofit that supports veterans through hands-on agricultural work. The botanical cocktail program uses herbs and garnishes grown on-site. I had the Garden Chinois Chicken Salad. It is a large portion, satisfying, and well-balanced. The atmosphere is relaxed and suited to a long lunch.

The Green Orchid: 1534 Mound Street, Sarasota, FL 34236 (at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens)

Ringside at Cirque St. Armands Beachside

 

 

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Breakfast in a restaurant designed to look like a circus train car, flanked by red velvet curtains and intimate booths. The food is classic morning fare with pastries, locally inspired dishes, and straightforward coffee. The setting is the draw.

Ringside at Cirque St. Armands Beachside: 233 Benjamin Franklin Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236

Café on St. Armands

 

 

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An ideal place to start your morning. The café occupies the building John Ringling built nearly a century ago as his personal office, and the history feels present without being made into a theme. Sit outside, order a pastry, and the pace of St. Armands Circle at breakfast does the rest.

If you are staying for a full breakfast, the eggs Benedict comes as a trio: lobster, mushroom, and traditional. The Quiche Lorraine is equally good. Either way, plan for a second cup of coffee.

Café on St. Armands: 431 St Armands Circle, Sarasota, FL 34236

Where to stay in Sarasota

Cirque St. Armands Beachside

A boutique hotel that earns the description. The circus theme is handled with restraint via jewel tones, richly patterned fabrics, reproductions of actual Ringling Circus posters, and small pieces of memorabilia placed throughout the lobby rather than overwhelming it. The rooms are updated and well-appointed; our room had a clear view of Lido Beach across the street.

The common spaces were actively used. People were in the lobby, on the outdoor lounge chairs, and around the pool, which is shaped like overlapping circus rings and feels like an old-school hotel pool in the best way. The bar area is open and bright, and extends outside to serve the pool area.

The location is the other strong argument for staying here: it’s directly across from Lido Key Beach, with shuttle access to the sister property Lido Beach Resort (also walkable). Staff were consistently helpful. This is a good base for exploring both the beach and the St. Armands Circle area.

For another option: Lido Beach Resort nearby offers a more traditional beach resort experience with direct beach access, two heated pools, and a poolside bar. It is also part of the Opal Collection but with more of a resort feel versus The Cirque’s boutique vibe.

Cirque St. Armands Beachside: 233 Benjamin Franklin Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236

How to to get there and around

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is the closest option, with direct service from several major hubs. For broader flight options, Tampa International Airport (TPA) is about an hour north.

Rideshare (Uber, Lyft) is the most practical option for most visitors. The Myakka City excursions are roughly 45 minutes to an hour from downtown. Plan these as full- or half-day trips. For the area around Cirque St. Armands, Lido Key Beach, and St. Armands Circle, most things are walkable or a short shuttle ride away. Downtown Sarasota is a quick rideshare from the hotel and beach.