Kid-Friendly Things to Do Around Sarasota

Sarasota is such a beautiful place to visit with kids. Between the beaches, farms, aquarium, and little local stops, there are plenty of easy ways to fill a day without needing some giant itinerary.

I’ve found that some of the best outings with little kids are actually the simplest ones — a playground, some animals, a beautiful sunset, or a really good ice cream cone. 😂

If you’re visiting Sarasota with little ones, these are a few spots worth adding to your list.

Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach

If you want beautiful Florida scenery without quite as much of the chaos you can find at some of the larger beaches, Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach is such a pretty stop.

The sunsets are absolutely beautiful, and there’s a playground for the kids, which makes it easy to turn a simple beach visit into a longer afternoon.

Let the kids play, enjoy the views, pack some snacks, and stay long enough to watch the sun go down.

It’s one of those outings that doesn’t require much planning but still feels really special.

Dakin Dairy Farms

Dakin Dairy Farms in Myakka City is such a fun change of pace from the typical beach day.

The kids can play on their crazy farm-style playground made with old farm equipment and giant culvert-pipe slides, which alone makes the trip entertaining.

But the real highlight is always the animals.

Being able to feed and interact with the animals makes it such a fun experience for little kids,

and it gives them a chance to see a working farm in a way they normally wouldn’t.

And you absolutely cannot leave without trying some of the milk straight from the farm.

The chocolate milk is especially hard for kids to resist. 😂

It’s one of those places where they get to run around, play, see animals, and sneak in a little learning without realizing they’re learning anything at all.

Mote SEA Aquarium

For an outing that feels both fun and educational, Mote SEA Aquarium is an easy choice.

There are so many different sea animals to see that it keeps little kids interested while giving everyone a chance to learn something along the way.

Aquariums are also one of my favorite activities when you want something a little more structured — or when the Florida heat or rain makes an outdoor day considerably less appealing.

Kids get to wander around looking at marine life, ask approximately 500 questions, and burn some energy without you having to plan very much at all. 😂

Great Heights Creamery

And sometimes the outing just needs to involve really good ice cream.

Great Heights Creamery is such a cute Sarasota stop. Their ice cream is made using local milk, and it is seriously delicious.

I especially love that it’s more than just running inside, grabbing a cone, and leaving.

There’s a little courtyard area nearby with things like ping pong and corn hole, so you can actually hang out for a while and let the kids enjoy themselves.

There’s also pizza right next door, which makes the whole area an easy casual stop if everyone is hungry.

Pizza, ice cream, and somewhere the kids can play?

That’s about as uncomplicated as a family outing gets. 😂

Keep the Itinerary Simple

One thing I’ve learned about doing things with little kids is that you really don’t need to fill every minute of the day.

A playground and a sunset.

Feeding farm animals.

Looking at sharks.

Getting really good ice cream.

Those simple experiences are usually the things kids end up enjoying the most anyway.

If you’re planning a family trip to Sarasota, these are a few easy stops worth keeping on your list — especially if you want activities that both the kids and the adults can actually enjoy.

Because the best family outing is probably the one where everyone has fun and nobody needs a nap afterward.

Although with little kids… that last part may be asking too much. 😂