Delightful sunset cruise! Friendly crew, nice boat, loved the tables (perfect for byob drinks and…read moresnacks), appreciate the tiki cover (nice to have shade). 1.5 hours was great amount of time. Got dinner after. Check in was by the gelato place and boat was past the oyster bar. Just be sure to plan in extra time to park and check in.

Trevor and Justin were just the best! We saw so many dolphins, a manatee and had the best time at…read morethe sand bar. Could not have had a better experience. Trevor and Justin made the day what it was. If I could give this company and these two men 90 stars I would. What an amazing day! Thank you!

The winter home of John & Mable Ringling has 36,000 square feet & 56 rooms. Ca' d'Zan was meant…read moreto impress! It was completed in 1926 after 2 years of construction, the mansion quickly became a social hub in Sarasota. Today, Ca' d'Zan offers a glimpse into John & Mable's taste and lifestyle, transporting us back to the glamorous Roaring Twenties. The name Cà d'Zan means "House of John" in the Venetian language; in Italian it would be "Casa di Giovanni". Completed in 1926 by Owen Burns, Cà d'Zan features an eclectic array of architectural styles including Venetian Gothic, Italian Renaissance, Moorish, and Spanish-inspired elements drawn from different historic periods. The Ringling visited Venice, which inspired & influenced the house. Mable Ringling died in 1929, John Ringling continued to visit Cà d'Zan through financial collapse, a quickly dissolved second marriage, and his declining health until his death in 1936. Cà d'Zan was part of John Ringling's bequest to Florida, along with The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, which were meant to be a memorial to and the philanthropic legacy of their lives. The estate was in limbo for 10 years,, it took time to settle debts, claims by heirs taxes before the state of Florida could take control of the property. Cà d'Zan was uninhabited from 1936 to 1946, and the home deteriorated during that time with a lack of interior climate control. Cà d'Zan opened to the public in 1946 as part of the State Art Museum of Florida. In 1982, the home was listed as a contributing property on the National Register of Historic Places.

This place is definitely full of luxurious items, art collections and just the detailed artwork in…read morethe ceilings and more. So worth visiting!

I would have loved if we could have gone inside the museum... that's what the 1 star knocked off is…read morefor. But the rest of the grounds and displays were great! The beachfront walking trail and the story of deSoto's history from Spain described in full detail... I was not excited to hear how some of the horses had to be killed and eaten for survival purposes ... But back in the day, almost 500 years ago, I guess emergency survival food and water kits weren't readily available. Good idea to keep in your car, along with some TP. I would love to kayak around here. The water and the view were beautiful! There is a long route and a short route for walking, you also will learn about the different types of mangroves and other Florida native plants/trees. Definitely worth another visit, hopefully when the museum is open again, but my understanding is there's no one even answering the phones (even at the number on the sandwich board as you enter the park) so you'll never know when they will reopen.

This site is still undergoing reconstruction after the storm damage in 2024 but the trails are open…read moreand a limited number of events are being staged on some weekends. The Spanish explorer De Soto landed near Tampa Bay in 1539 hoping to find gold, bring religion to the indigenous Americans and claim land for Spain. De Soto died from disease in 1542 never having found the gold he was seeking. The survivors of his expedition eventually reached the Mississippi river and set sail for the Caribbean in 1543. This National Monument is dedicated to him and has a nice hiking trail through the mangroves here. There are also two privately funded monuments dedicated to the religious personnel who accompanied De Soto on his voyage to America. Free admission and parking. The visitor center is still closed but porta johns are available.

Went to a donation based event in the park to see Christmas lights. Great way to see Santa and the…read moreGrinch for a reasonable amount of money (or free). It's been hard to find pictures with Santa for a reasonable amount in the area and now I know to come back here next year! Only thing I struggled with was walking to the entrance after I parked. Bring a flashlight!

Wonderful local park - great for a short hike, an educational trip regarding native plants or a…read moreplace to sit quietly and enjoy nature.

This is a small but nice park situated in the historic cocoanut district of Sarasota. It's mostly…read moreused by the neighborhood and community. The park is contained between tamiami trail on the one side and cocoanut avenue on the other. There is some parking around the park. There is a basketball court and also a small children's play area and a tennis court too. People walk their dogs in the morning and afternoon. I wouldnt recommend it after sunset.

Great area for the kids to play. Multiple areas for the kids to play including swings and climbing…read morearea. They also had a basketball court

This is marker commemorates the history of Mr. Beall and his shop that became Bealls. His civic…read moreroll in bringing the Cardinals to town for spring training is also noted.

Sarasota Bayfront is such a beautiful place to spend an evening, the bay views are amazing, and you…read morecan walk around and take pictures. The night views in Sarasota Bayfront are absolutely stunning. The views are really picturesque. There's plenty of parking, and there's a tiki bar right on the water, which makes for a really great experience.

Sarasota is blessed with so much natural beauty and as well as man made beauty. There is so much to…read moresee and do here! One of the fun things is Bayfront Park, which is located at the south end of the Ringling Causeway. There, you have the Marina Jack's II filled with beautiful boats and yachts to admire as you walk on the paved pathway around the park by Sarasota Bay. They have a 2 stiry restaurant there also. Birdlovers can enjoy pelicans, seagulls, egrets, and many other varieties of birds flying around. The views of the Bay, the Banyan trees, flowers, and palm trees in this park are a sight for sore eyes. I especially love the giant Unconditional Surrender statue of the sailor and nurse kissing and celebrating the end of WWII. If you get hungry or thirsty, there is O'learys for food and drinks to enjoy by the water. There is a huge parking lot for free parking with wheelchair accessiblability. Dogs are welcome as long as you clean up after them. An enjoyable and unforgettable excursion!

The Gamble Plantation is a 10 room, 2 story Greek Revival Vernacular plantation house located in…read moreEllenton, Florida in the Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial at Gamble Plantation Historic State Park. This plantation house offers visitors a glimpse into the antebellum period of Florida. It is the only surviving plantation house in South Florida and as such holds a significant place in the areas history. The Gamble Plantation provides a fascinating look into the lifestyle of Major Robert Gamble and his extensive extensive sugar plantation during the mid 19th century. Also living at the plantation were hundreds of slaves that worked in the fields, as skilled laborers, and in the house. Visitors to the park can take $6 guided tours of the mansion six times a day. A tour lasts 45 minutes and you must be part of a tour to see the inside. You are not free to just walk around inside the mansion. Our guide was Jesse who shared his knowledge and insights into the history of the home along with a dash of humor. Notable features of the house include its columns and two foot thick walls made out of tabby, a unique type of concrete first used by Spanish and English settlers as a stand in for bricks. By 1856 Major Robert Gamble was in financial ruins and he left the house. His slaves were taken to pay his debts. During the Civil War the Gamble Plantation was occupied by Captain Archibald McNeill, a famous Confederate blockade runner. The house holds particular historical significance because it is thought that Confederate Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin took refuge here after the fall of the Confederacy until his safe passage to England could be secured. At the time he was being accused of having arranged the assassination of President Lincoln. With McNeil's help he first escaped to the Bahamas and then to England where he ended up having a successful law career. The plantations sugar mills were destroyed by the Union in 1864. After the war the house was left decaying and abandoned until the Daughter of the Confederacy restored it in 1925 and donated it and 16 acres of land to the State of Florida. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 12, 1970. The mansion had a further exterior renovation in 2020. Unfortunately the original furnishings were removed and accidentally burned in a fire. There is minimal period furnishings in the rooms and not all of the rooms are open as some are used as storage. This house doesn't have the same grandeur as say Boone Hall in Charleston. Think of this as a frontier plantation. At the time there wasn't anything around here although today there is a Popeye's Chicken across the street and a major road runs in front of the house that is visible from the upstairs veranda. The surrounding grounds of the house once held gardens. Today the house is a popular destination for area weddings. On the grounds there is a visitors center with exhibits that provide additional historical context to the Gamble Plantation. As a history enthusiast, the Gamble Plantation was a must-visit destination for me. Thank you Mary Ann for being amicable to stopping by for a visit and waiting for the next tour. I will never forget our Popeyes picnic. The well-preserved mansion, grounds, friendly staff, and educational programming make history come alive here. As someone who loves architecture and exploring historical sites, the Gamble Plantation offers a unique and informative journey into Florida's past.

The Gamble Mansion. You will see signs for it and it will make you curious. It has nothing to do…read morewith Gambling or Casinos it was just the name of the slave owners of this property. Very unique piece of property and history that survived old Florida from being burned down or taken over. Cheap tour was $6. And $4 per child under 12. That is what it cost to see the inside. You can walk around the outside grounds for free. Worth the tour and history lesson. Very well kept property it almost seems like it was built a few years ago and not actually 1872. Florida history is something else

Dj was a great guide for our group. Went into detail about all the different species, had…read moreextensive information on a few of them and he seemed to enjoy his job. This was a great experience with some opportunities to hold some of the stars at Croc Encounters. I definitely would recommend.

Loved our tour with DJ. He was a great guide and very knowledgeable. Would highly recommend this…read moretour. I would take other guests again.