7 Best Family Things to Do in Sarasota

TreeUmph! Is an iconic adventure attraction where you and your family can glide along zip lines and embark on an obstacle course among the trees. The adventure course has a wide variety of activities, but it's important to remember that the minimum age here is 7.

Among the activities, you'll find obstacles like wobbly bridges and rope swings. The star of the show, however, is the zip line, which stretches an impressive 650 feet in length. Soar on the zip line, and you'll be able to enjoy high speeds as well as impressive views of the forest. You'll find it all in the woods a few miles east of downtown.

Mixon Fruit Farms is a grove where you and your family can pick fresh fruits, browse a comprehensive gift shop, and sample a variety of tasty treats. You can pick fruit in the citrus grove and enjoy the scenic surroundings with a rock waterfall and a Koi pond.

The grove features a gift shop full of items you may be interested in, including souvenirs, fresh fruit, and special homemade fudge. You can even enjoy samplings of honey, dressing, jellies, and other treats. It's all located a few miles north of downtown around Bradenton.

Suncoast Science Center is a fascinating establishment where your little ones can engage in interesting activities centered around science, technology, engineering, art, and math. The central mission of the lab is to inspire young minds to innovate and learn through STEAM areas of study.

When you visit this science center, you'll find a wide variety of activities and classes available for your kids to enjoy. Special events are held regularly as well, with numerous family workshops in the Fab Lab that let you and your kids learn together. It's all located by South Gate Ridge, southeast of downtown.

Myakka River State Park is a must-visit destination for families who enjoy the outdoors, as it offers plenty of hiking and biking trails alongside boating opportunities. The scenic surroundings here make it one of the best places for outdoor recreation in Sarasota, and you can even bring your dog along, so no member of your family needs to be left behind.

Given that this park is centered around a river, it's only natural for there to be kayaking opportunities as well. Several boat launches are available, as are kayak rentals. You can see it all for yourself a few miles southeast of downtown.

Livingston's Amusements is an entertainment center where you'll find a wide variety of games the whole family can enjoy, as well as food and drink options. Among the games here, you'll find a bazooka ball battle arena, go-karts, and bumper cars. Of course, no trip to the amusements would be complete without enjoying one of the largest arcades in town.

The food here is easy and delicious and includes items the whole family will enjoy. You'll find everything from quick bites to proper meals, so you don't have to go anywhere if you want the amusements to double as your dinner location. It's all available on the east side of South Sarasota, just past the Gulf Gate Estates.

The Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy is a fun museum where you'll find incredible works of art displaying the whimsical and artistic brilliance of lighthearted works. Given the subject matter on display here, it's one of the most family-friendly art museums imaginable and features works both kids and adults can enjoy.

The artist, Marietta, has made a point to showcase a diverse array of artwork and to balance works by women artists and men artists in the collection. You can see it all for yourself on the northwest side of downtown by Whitaker Bayou.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens lets you and your family connect with the local flora among acres of sanctuaries by the bay showcasing native and exotic plants. The gardens encompass 45 acres of space in all, though the downtown campus measures 15 acres in total.

When you visit, you'll find a wide variety of epiphytic orchids and bromeliads alongside gesneriads and ferns. Tropical plants tend to be dominant here due to the climate. It's all located right by the coast in Baypoint Park southwest of downtown.