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SARASOTA VACATION RENTALS, FLORIDA |
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Outdoor Recreation in Sarasota |
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| Sarasota, with some of the best beaches in the world only a few miles away, offers the vacationer many opportunities to enjoy not only the beach, but also activities like fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, horseback riding and much more. |
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Beach Activities
Fishing
Sports
Myakka River State Park
Lake Manatee State Recreation Area
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| Beach Activities |
Sarasota County boasts 35 miles of beaches and six barrier islands. White sandy beaches give many opportunities for walking, shelling, boating and sailing. Not far away, Siesta Key has the world’s whitest sand beaches. Snorkel to see sea sponges on Crescent Beach or renew your marriage vows on Turtle Beach. South of Sarasota on Venice Beach, you can wade through the surf to search for shark teeth.
Lifeguards protect visitors to Siesta Key Public Beach all year, and there are tennis, volleyball, softball and food concession facilities provided. Picnic pavilions are available for groups at a nominal fee. Water sports of every kind add color and excitement to the Siesta Beach scene. The 800-car parking lot is frequently full, for this is the most popular beach in Sarasota County.
Generally, Sarasota is a very pet-friendly area, although dogs aren’t allowed on Siesta Key Beach. Dogs are allowed in the following areas if they are on a leash: Bird Key Park, Ken Thompson Park, Gillespie Park, Arlington Park and Bay Front Park. Special ‘Paw Parks,’ where your four-legged friend can run free, include 17th Street and Woodmere Parks. |
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| Fishing |
Choose from 15 area marinas and 12 public boat ramps. The boat basin at Island Park offers many choices for deep sea and other fishing charters. There are private fishing and group charters available at the marina. Temporary 12 month, 7day, and 3 day fishing licenses are available for nonresidents. Children under the age of 16 do not need a license to fish in Florida. |
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| Sports |
| Ed Smith Stadium, the spring training facility for the Cincinnati Reds is a short ride from downtown. The stadium is also home to the Sarasota Red Sox, a class "A" professional team, during the summer. |
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| Myakka River State Park |
In Myakka River State Park, designated as a Florida Wild and Scenic River, you can find 58 square miles of wetlands, prairies, hammocks and pinelands. Visitors can enjoy wildlife viewing from a boardwalk that stretches over the Upper Myakka Lake, and then take to the treetops with a stroll along the canopy walkway. The river and two lakes provide opportunities for boating, fishing, canoeing, bicycling, hiking, horseback riding and kayaking.
Scenic lake tours take place daily on the world’s 2 largest airboats. Safari tram tours of the park’s backcountry are available from mid-December through May. Airboat and tram tours are $10.00 for adults and $5 for children 6-12. Children 5 and under are free, so long as they sit on an adults lap during the tour.
Located 9 miles east of Sarasota on State Road 72, the park is open from 8 AM to sunset. Admission fees are $5.00 per vehicle for up to 8 people. Daily equestrian fees are $6 per individual or $14.00 per 4-person group (in the same vehicle). You must provide your own horse and proof of a negative Coggins test. Canoe, kayak and bicycle rentals are available within the park. |
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| Lake Manatee State Recreation Area |
| Lake Manatee State Recreation Area extends along 3 miles of the south shore of Lake Manatee. The lake serves as a water reservoir for Manatee and Sarasota counties. The rest of the park is primarily pine flatwoods and sand pine scrub, with some depression marshes and hardwood forests. A boat ramp provides easy access to the lake. Boating, canoeing and kayaking are popular activities in the recreation area. The lake offers excellent freshwater fishing, and anglers can fish from their boats or from the dock. Swimming is permitted in a designated area. Showers are located nearby. A picnic area is available. The park is open from 8 AM until sundown year-round. Admission fees are $4 per vehicle, with a limit of 8 people per vehicle. |
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