Day 1:

Check in at your Green Certified 4-star Resort in Downtown Sarasota, then local environmental historian John McCarthy will welcome you to Sarasota at a special evening orientation before you enjoy dinner on your own at any of Sarasota’s many outstanding restaurants.

Day 2:

Board your private water taxi for a tour of Sarasota Bay led by local environmental historian John McCarthy. Land at Sarasota’s bayfront, where you’ll encounter iconic mansions built by industrialists, circus magnates, and philanthropists during the 1920s, including the Cà d’Zan, the Ventian mansion of circus legend and art collector John Ringling. Tour the Ringling mansion or explore the sprawling grounds of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, observing key botanical specimens and taking in the estate’s remarkable history.

After lunch, your water taxi will ferry you to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, an urban bayfront oasis showcasing a living collection of rare and beautiful tropical plants. You’ll be led on an exclusive tour, which includes the rare opportunity to see Selby’s private working greenhouses, before gathering at Christy Payne Mansion, home to Selby’s Museum of Botany and the Arts. Relax with a glass of wine while watching a spectacular sunset over Sarasota Bay.

To conclude the day, enjoy dinner on your own at one of downtown Sarasota’s many exquisite restaurants and perhaps catch an evening performance at one of the city’s many cultural attractions

Day 3:

Ride your private shuttle to Longboat Key Village and launch your kayak for an on-the-water tour of Sister Keys, the largest set of undeveloped islands between Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor and adopted by Sarasota Bay Watch. Your experienced guide will show you up close the importance of salt marsh, seagrass, and mangrove habitats for crabs, fish, and seabirds as you glide through mangrove tunnels and drift over meadows of seagrass.

Then enjoy a leisurely dockside lunch at Mar Vista, which is dedicated to serving fresh, sustainable Florida seafood in a historic cottage setting, before catching a return shuttle. Spend the rest of the afternoon on your own relaxing at the beach or strolling St. Armands Circle, or hit the water on a standup paddleboard. Enjoy dinner on your own at one of Sarasota’s great restaurants.

Day 4:

Bike from the hotel to secluded North Lido Beach Park to enjoy an in-depth gulf-to-bay guided beach walk, showcasing the ecosystem’s impressive natural diversity. For lunch, bike back to St Armands Circle to eat at Shore Diner, a locally owned restaurant featuring some of the city’s best organic and sustainable farm-to-table dining.

Then continue by bike to City Island, home to Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, where Kim Bassos-Hull, a senior scientist on the cutting edge of marine research, will lead a private, chartered research cruise to Big Pass to observe and learn about local marine wildlife and the fascinating research Mote is doing, with a special emphasis on Kim’s research on the beautiful spotted eagle ray.

You’ll also visit Save Our Seabirds, a rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary for magnificent seabirds, shorebirds, and raptors. One of the organization’s passionate staffers will lead an in-depth tour of the facility and tell dramatic stories of bird rescues. Be prepared to come face-to-face with hawks, owls, pelicans, and cormorants and learn what it takes to rescue wild birds. Bike back to your hotel, clean up, and enjoy a farewell toast before dinner and evening on your own.

Departure:

Head home or stay on to enjoy more of Sarasota’s incredible attractions.

NOTE: Itinerary details, such as particular activities, guides, restaurants and accommodations, are subject to change due to weather considerations, emergencies and other unforeseeable and uncontrollable events.  Our experienced guides will ensure you’ll have a blast regardless.