3-Day Sarasota Stay

Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary is one of the best places in Sarasota to enjoy wildlife observation and education. While here your group will get up close and personal with the biggest of big cats, learn all about their natural habitat, and watch live animal demos. There are also other rescued animals here, such as lemurs, monkeys, exotic birds, and bears.

Welcome to the Mote Marine Lab, the immersive marine wildlife research and education center that makes a perfect educational stop for groups of any ages. Inside you will find 3 working labs alongside 2 fully operating touch tanks. There is even an impressive 135,000-gallon shark tank you can observe.

Sarasota Architecture

St. Armand’s Circle is a premier shopping and dining district that will make the perfect end to your day. Sitting between the Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, this ‘continental marketplace’ provides history, ambiance, and lush green spaces. You will find almost anything you are looking for among the several local and nationally recognized shops here, plus some seriously excellent eatery options! Dinner, shopping, and spectacular views? Yes, please!

Start your morning at Mixon Fruit Farms, the local orange grove, and education center. Here your group will get to see a working fruit farm, from grove to packing plant. You can ride the Orange Blossom Express, a fun 1-hour tram tour that will teach you all the ‘secrets of citrus’ through various info tidbits and trivia. You can also visit Children’s Magical Maze, Wedding Pavilion, Gazebo, Wetlands Pond, and Koi Pond. After the ride head over to the Wildlife Rescue interactive educational show, featuring local rescued animals.

There are 14 points of interest total here at Historic Manatee Village worth seeing, including the 1887 Church, Curator’s Corner, Cowhunters Bunk, Fogarty Boatworks Building, Blacksmith Shop, Settler House, 1860 Courthouse, Old Schoolhouse, Smokehouse and Mill, 1850’s Burying Ground, ‘Old Cabbage Head’, and the Pottery Barn. There is also a Junior Junction for the younger ones in your group. This is a great local history stop!

If you are in the mood for some outdoor recreation you can rent a bicycle, swim, fish, boat, dive, snorkel, parasail, dolphin watch, or canoe in nearby Myakka State Park here on Anna Maria Island. The sparkling bay, lush gardens, and Mediterranean style architecture all throughout will provide a great beach evening ambiance!

At TreeUmph you will be able to ‘zip, climb, swing, and soar’ as you go through the 14 full acres of aerial ropes and obstacle courses. There will be suspended logs, wobbly footbridges, and exhilarating zips all along the way!

Tampa’s premier learning and education center is the Museum of Science and Industry, otherwise known as MOSI. Inside you will find over 450 hands-on activities and exhibits featuring space and astronomy, technology, robotics, gaming, and more. MOSI is such a huge playground of fun, most people forget it’s educational!  You will also have the chance to visit the Saunders Planetarium, Mission Moonbase, or daily Space Talks with Professor Paris. After you’ve explored all you can within the galleries be sure to check out the Florida Hospital IMAX Dome Theater or MOSI Backwoods and Bioworks Butterfly Garden.