Day Trips from Siesta Key
A vacation to Siesta Key promises much more than just the beach. Located on Florida’s southwest coast, where award-winning beaches are combined with a wonderful art and cultural scene, and a diverse and beautiful natural environment.
Within an hour or two of our vacation villa on Siesta Key there are plenty of fantastic day trips to enjoy with the whole family, here are some of our favorites.
Sarasota Activities: In the Neighborhood
Just across the bay in Sarasota you’ll find a diverse array of places to visit and things to do. Here are just a few of our favorite Sarasota attractions.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Over in Sarasota Bay, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall welcomes artists from all over the world to perform at this arts, cultural, and theater centre rolled into one.
Sarasota is renowned for its art and cultural scene, and the Van Wezel has been central to developing its reputation. Hosting broadway shows, world-class symphony orchestras, comedy acts and classical, ethnic and modern dance troupes.
Check out the agenda at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall during your vacation. You might catch one of your favorite acts.
St. Armand’s Circle
Located on Lido Key, Sarasota. St. Armand’s Circle is a wonderful place to head to for an exceptional shopping and dining experience. Just a 20 minute drive from Siesta Key, here you’ll find over 140 local shops, boutiques, bars and restaurants. Walk the Circus Ring of Fame, a sidewalk lined with circus stars, and stay for the upbeat nightlife. Throughout the year St. Armand’s organizes craft markets, festivals and live music events. For a list of shops, restaurants and events, visit the St. Armand’s Circle website.
Sarasota Orchestra
Sarasota Orchestra started as the Florida West Coast Symphony in 1949, and today it’s the oldest operating orchestra in Florida. It has 80 members and performs more than a hundred family, classical, and pops performances annually in Sarasota and in Charlotte and Manatee counties as well.
Video courtesy: Sarasota Orchestra
If you are visiting Siesta Key or Sarasota in June, check out the annual Sarasota Music Festival (above), organised by the orchestra. The festival runs through the whole months and brings together local and international musicians. Sarasota Orchestra also has an education program that covers the Youth Orchestra. It was founded in 1959 and comprised of seven ensembles.
Visit the Sarasota Orchestra website for their event calendar.
Drum Circle Distilling
Legends say that the Drum Circle Distilling was started as a result of too much rum cocktails drunk while the sun was setting over the Gulf of Mexico. It wasn’t really clear whether it was the stunning sand beaches, too much sun, or the amazing rum, but the concept of an artisanal rum distillery paved the way for the purchase of a customized distilling plant.
Video courtesy: Observer Media Group
The still was relatively small yet absolutely beautiful with gleaming copper parts that make the rum smooth. The custom still, local sugar cane, and secret spices gave birth to Siesta Key, a really fine and smooth rum that gained exceptional reviews from magazines in the Caribbean. Now that speaks volumes about Siesta Key’s quality.
The Celery Fields
The Celery Fields is an area of wetlands within Sarasota County. This is located on the Great Florida Birding Trail and has an observation hill, ponds, and trails. It covers over 360 acres of land, and it is also the main storm water collection area in Sarasota County.
This natural attraction is a favorite spot to go bird-watching since there are around 217 bird species that have been spotted in this particular zone in Sarasota. There were more than 200,000 aquatic plants and trees that were planted here for its restoration efforts. Likewise, there were two boardwalks built here so people can see not only the wetlands and wonderful wildlife.
Visit: 6799 Palmer Boulevard, Sarasota, Florida, Phone: 941-861-5000
Further Away: within two hour’s drive of Siesta Key
If you don’t mind travelling an hour or two by car, then you’ll be able to visit Florida’s most exciting attractions and theme parks during your stay at Siesta Key. The sunshine state is home to the world’s greatest amusement parks, delivering family fun at its best.
Busch Gardens, Tampa
Florida is the birthplace of adventure parks and exciting attractions. The Sunshine State is chock full of family fun places to visit. And Busch Gardens at Tampa Bay is one of the best! The African-themed adventure park features over 12,000 animals, thrilling roller coaster rides and attractions, live shows and safari visits. Busch Gardens is just a 1hr and 20 minute drive from Siesta Key. Visit the Busch Gardens website for tickets and event information.
Walt Disney World
Just two hours drive from Siesta Key is the world-famous Walt Disney World. The original home of exhilarating rides, Disney characters and film-themed attractions. For small and big kids visiting Florida, this is a day trip not to be missed. There is so much to see and do at Disney World, a day might not be enough. Guests to our vacation villa Casa Blanca B-2 often spend a couple of days at Disney World before or after enjoying their vacation with us on Siesta Key.
Visit the Walt Disney World website for information on attractions, events and tickets.
Seaworld
The marine zoological and theme park, Sea World offers an exciting combination of aquatic experiences and hair raising rides. A trip to the depths of the sea, at SeaWorld you will come face-to-face with killer whales, sharks, dolphins, penguins, and many more marine animals. Learn about the ocean and all that lives there, with daily educational shows, and experience exciting roller coaster rides and lots of water themed fun activities.
Sea World is around a two-hour drive /126 miles from our Siesta Key vacation villa. Visit the website for tickets and schedule.
Universal Studios, Orlanda
Video courtesy: My Top 10 of Today
Movie buffs shouldn’t miss the opportunity for a visit to Universal Studios. TripAdvisor’s Number One Amusement Park in the World. Part movie set, part theme park, here you can spend a day being in your favorite movies, and with your big screen heroes. Immerse yourself in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, meet the Marvel Super Heroes and Hello Kitty. And then jump on one of the heart stopping rides, such as the Jurassic Park River Adventure, a train ride on the Hogwarts Express or Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls.
Universal Studios is a 2h15 minute drive from Siesta Key. Visit the Universal Studios website for further information.
As you can see, Siesta Key is perfectly located to explore South Florida’s most popular and magical attractions. With these amazing day trips from Siesta Key, you’ll be spoiled for choice during your stay!