Love bird key park. It's on the smaller size but that's what makes it so nice! There's a walkable…read morearea into the water, wide sidewalk, greenery, water fountains, parking lot, and a shaded large picnic table. So perfect for anyone looking to park and walk the bridge or to enjoy the scenery without being overcrowded.

Every time we visit Sarasota, we love to turn off the Ringling Bridge and park at Bird Key Park and…read morewalk around looking at the water, the birds, the trees, and the Ringling Bridge. There is a nice paved walkway to the bridge. The tourists and locals love to walk down there and just hang out under the bridge. The views are great!! There are benches along the way to rest. The park is well taken care of and very popular with ealkets and runners and fishermen.. The parking is along the waterfront with a lot of parking spaces. You can walk your dogs as long as you clean up after them. We usually go there in the morning and again in the evening. Beautiful photo ops also.

A beautiful park fronting Lake Manatee, a fresh water source for Bradenton and Sarasota. Funny they…read moreallow motor boats, so we get a little extra oil and gas in our drinking water. We suggest kayaks and rowboats instead. The volunteer staffing the gate was most helpful, and provided lots of useful information for us first timers. $5 per car The park offers RV camping spots with water & electric- 14 day max stay - and was spacious with trees and shrubs between spots. There are miles of trails, mostly open to the sky, a playground, covered pavilion and kayaks for rent. A small swimming area - no lifeguard- and a nice lawn offer peace and quiet while enjoying nature and a swim. A hidden gem.

Nice but small- mostly for camping, some minor trails, picnic pavilion and playground area. $5 will…read moreget you in and spending an hour there. Nothing bad but limited.

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.

Tony and I stopped today at DeSota Memorial Landing Park at Palma Sola FL just before crossing over…read moreto Anna Maria Island. The park is free to enjoy and hike around! If in the area you should definitely check it out!

This is a nice preserve at the back of the larger and more forested Oscar Scherer. Set along Honore…read moreAve amidst new decelopments it features a picnic table, crushed shell parking lot that doesn't have much of a sign on the road, and a trail with some offshoots around a body of water. There are cattails. Some wildflowers. 275 isn't far and the apartment complexes are visible and nearby for much of a wildlands experience, but water features, marsh plants, and looking for birds is nice. There's a small canoe launch. Seems to be a trail connecting into Oscar Scherer. I posted a photo of the map as of March 2020. You can take a look at the trail. Nice oasis and I see bicycle riders coming from surrounding area as well as visitors from further afield. Doesn't rank up there with the beaches and wilder preserves and more scenic preserves in the area for me but I enjoyed visit and am glad it's there. Be prepared for some bugs. I got bitten by a horsefly after my hiking buddy took a photo of it on me instead so I coukd tell them what kind of insect it was instead of smashing it..

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.

Great park with some shaded trails & some out in the full sun. There are several ponds to walk…read morearound & this park backs up to Green Brook Adventure park. Lots of wildlife to check out besides herons, different birds & we saw an Eagle! Trying to figure out if there are alligators in the ponds or not! This place has plenty of parking & is not crowded. Seems to be well-kept & clean!

WOW. What a cute park. There are benches to sit on around the two lakes as well as nice paved…read morepaths. Saw so many different kinds of birds. Definitely enjoyed my time here. One of the best parks I've been to so far ( in my opinion) .

Very lovely butterfly garden surrounding an Audubon office open winter months with lots of…read moreresources, literature, gifts, and educational programming for kiddos and adults. They lead bird viewings. Really great. Lots of flowers. A great add-on at Celery Fields which it is at the base of. Water birds across the street.. Enjoy.

A terrific place to get back to nature and relax with a nice stroll. If you like bird-watching…read morethen this is the place. A lot of fauna to observe and many paths to take. Bottom Line: If you are a fan of the outdoors and fancy a walk then this is a great place to visit.

Went to Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch and it is such a cute spot to walk around. There is a…read moregreat mix of shopping and restaurants, and everything is right on the water, which makes it even better. It is a very cool place to hang out and just take your time. We went over Christmas and it was decorated so cute, which made it even more special. The water views are beautiful, the area is very clean, and the overall vibe is just really nice. I cannot wait to go back and check out more of the businesses there. Such a cool spot.

It's so dreamy every time I visit Waterside Place at Lakewood Ranch…read more I visited today most recently for their Sunday farmers market which goes from 9-2pm. Lots of vendors, families, and very dog friendly. Waterside Place has something for everyone. Here's a list of some types of their businesses off the top of my head: Forked: Breakfast Brunch Quincy's Lobster Roll - coming soon Osteria 500 - Italian Duck donuts Brewery Coffee shop Seafood restaurant Kore - Korean steakhouse Boutiques Kilwin's ice cream IV Spa Barber shop Hair salon Italian market coming soon This is just some of what I remember In addition, there is a spot for entertainment, lots of cushy areas to sit down, playground area, walking path, and very dog friendly Around it are apartments and villas in the area and it's in the middle of the Lakeshore Ranch home developments It's a great area to visit with lots of areas to park and a great place to hang out for friends and family. Will definitely keep on coming back to see all they have to offer!