If you are staying more than a few days on Siesta Key, a day trip is a great way to see more of the surrounding area. Florida is a great state to explore by car and these day trips from Siesta Key are worth the short drive.
905 Dupont Street
Everglades City, FL
https://www.captainjacksairboattours.com/
Take a safe and comfortable airboat ride or venture through a cypress forest on a swamp buggy. Captain Jack’s is a great way for the family to see Florida’s wildlife and ecosystem up close and personal.
1 Dali Blvd, St.
Petersburg, FL 33701
Visit an incredible collection of works by renowned artist, Salvador Dali. Located on St. Petersburg’s waterfront, the $30 million building features a variety of different events for families to attend, including performances, workshops, films, lectures, and other events. A short drive from Sarasota, the Dali Museum is a great way to get inspired and view an amazing art collection.
701 Channelside Dr,
Tampa, FL 33602
Rated among the best aquariums in the United States, the attraction is home to more than 7,000 aquatic plants and animals from Florida and around the world – including sea turtles, sharks, lemurs, otters, and more. Acting as a not-for-profit organization, the Florida Aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, meaning its focus is on conservation and education, with the goal of building awareness and inspiring conservation action.
1200 Main Street
Ft. Myers Beach, Florida 33931
https://www.keywestexpress.net/
There isn’t enough time to visit Key West for a day by car from Sarasota, but there is a way to still see Key West and be back in your hotel room by that night. The Key West Express Ferry leaves daily from Fort Myers Beach. Enjoy a relaxing cruise to the southernmost point in the US, where you can take in the sights and enjoy a fantastic meal at a great Key West restaurant. You can board the Key West Express later that day and be home before your bedtime!
If your idea of a day trip includes a theme park, you are in luck. There are plenty of great theme park choices not too far away by car.
https://buschgardens.com/tampa/
Busch Gardens is a 335-acre African-themed animal theme park with many notable roller coasters and rides, along with a children’s area and a wide variety of live animals to learn about and observe. It is the 11th most visited theme park in North America.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/magic-kingdom/
Still, the most popular theme park in the world. Located in the Walt Disney World resort area, it is the first and original Disney theme park in Florida, opening in 1971. The park is filled with attractions and rides for all ages.
https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/theme-parks/universal-studios-florida
Focusing on movies and television for its theme, Universal Studios encourages its guests to “ride the movies” and features many rides, attractions, and live shows. It normally ranks in the top ten visited theme parks in the world.
Sea World is a theme park and marine zoological park. It is the 10th most visited theme park in the U.S. Visitors can enjoy live shows and attractions, including rides and animal exhibits. Some of the attractions, like Manta and Wild Artic, combine an animal experience with the ride.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/epcot/
Like the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT is a theme park located at the Walt Disney World Resort. It was the second of four theme parks built at Walt Disney World and is the seventh-most visited theme park in the world. EPCOT sits on 305 acres and consists of two primary themed areas, Future World, consisting of attractions, and World Showcase. featuring areas themed like countries with entertainment, dining, and shopping unique to that specific country.
https://www.legoland.com/florida/
Located in Winter Haven, this theme park is designed for families with children ages 2 to 12. The Legoland Resort features more than fifty rides, shows, attractions, and shops. The resort also has a botanical garden and water park. If your young children are Lego fans and you aren’t looking for big thrill rides, a day at Legoland just might be the perfect day trip for your entire family.
https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/theme-parks/islands-of-adventure
Located at the Universal Orlando Resort, this theme park is modeled after a journey of exploration, where guests embark on an adventure to visit a variety of themed islands. Like Universal Studios, the park features many rides, attractions, and shopping opportunities.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/hollywood-studios/
This Disney park is dedicated to the imagined worlds of film, TV, music, and theatre. The area features live shows, rides, attractions, and displays and is the ninth most visited theme park in the world.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/animal-kingdom/
Animal Kingdom is a zoological theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. Different than the other Disney parks, Animal Kingdom, features hundreds of species of live animals in addition to its traditional attractions. It is the sixth most visited theme park in the world.
Loading up the car and taking off for a day is never more fun than when in Florida. There are so many great choices to see from Siesta Key, you may want to plan two or more day trips while you are down here.
