Fun Things To Do With Kids in Sarasota County
Sarasota County is made for families. It features white-sand beaches, calm Gulf water, mangroves, springs, museums, and indoor parks all within an easy drive of each other. It’s part beach town, part arts hub, part nature preserve. It’s also a great place for visiting families and residents with a free weekend, because the kid activities in Sarasota County are unique and plentiful.
The mix of entertainment in Sarasota County makes it simple to build a weekend (or a whole vacation) around kid-friendly fun. You can start the day on the sand, move to an aquarium or garden in the afternoon, and finish by letting the kids run wild at an indoor adventure park like Do The Beach in North Port.
Here are some of the best family fun options and kid activities in Sarasota County.
Get Up Close to Sea Life at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
Animal-loving kids are in their element at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. The organization recently opened its new $130 million Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA), relocating hundreds of animals into large, naturalistic habitats. They include manatees, river otters, sea turtles, penguins, and sharks.
Hands-on exhibits, STEM labs, and daily educational programs help kids learn how scientists care for marine life and protect Florida’s coastal ecosystems. It’s a great way to balance high-energy play at the park with a more educational outing.
Explore Art and Circus History at The Ringling
Between the museums, historic homes, and beautiful grounds, The Ringling offers something
For everyone. The Ringling complex gives families a full day of wandering, imagining, and playing. Kids can move between the art museum, the historic Ca’ d’Zan mansion, Bayfront Gardens, and the colorful Circus Museum that celebrates Sarasota’s circus past.
You’ll find kid-friendly touches like story times, scavenger hunts, and outdoor play spaces. It’s an easy sell for both adults who love art and kids who want to see circus wagons, costumes, and old-school midway magic.
Bounce, Climb, and Slide at Do The Beach North Port
When the sun is blazing or storms roll through, Do The Beach North Port gives kids a way to play indoors while staying cool. The 21,000-square-foot indoor beach-themed inflatable park sits on Tamiami Trail in North Port, designed from the ground up as a family fun center.
Inside, the park feels like a day at the coast. There’s a roller coaster-themed obstacle challenge, a boardwalk-style climbing frame, a towering sandcastle slide, inflatable sports courts, pirate-ship play areas, and an “Under the Sea” toddler zone just for little ones.
Parents can relax while kids race, jump, and explore, or grab snacks from the on-site food trailer. Do The Beach North Port also hosts birthday parties and special events. It’s the perfect “go-to” for local families and visitors staying anywhere in Sarasota County.
Stroll Through Living Color at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
For a quieter outing, head to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens on Sarasota Bay. The 15-acre campus blends lush tropical plants, walking paths, and rotating art installations that often appeal to kids as much as adults.
Selby is also becoming the world’s first net-positive energy botanical garden, with new solar-powered buildings and green infrastructure. Families can wander through orchid houses, spot butterflies, and cool off under shady trees. It’s nice downtime after a morning at the beach.
Myakka River State Park and Warm Mineral Springs
If the kids are curious about “real Florida,” Myakka River State Park delivers. The park offers boat tours and wildlife viewing. It also has a famous canopy walkway, which is an elevated bridge and tower that gives families a treetop view of the river basin. Short trails, boardwalks, and picnic areas make it easy to plan a trip for both younger and older kids.
Closer to North Port, Warm Mineral Springs Park draws families to Florida’s only natural warm spring, a historic, mineral-rich pool that stays around 85°F year-round. It’s a relaxing way to float, swim, and enjoy time together in a unique setting.
Hit the Beaches
Of course, no Sarasota County trip is complete without beach time. You have plenty of choices, including Siesta Beach and Lido Key, and Venice Beach. All the beaches are known for soft sand and gentle waves that are ideal for sandcastles and wading.
From indoor inflatables and aquariums to gardens, springs, and beaches, kid activities in Sarasota County are plentiful and make it easy to find to keep kids happy.