07 Mar How to Spend One Day in Sarasota, Florida

The city of Sarasota, Florida has a lot to offer. For example, it boasts beaches, museums, restaurants, and so much more. I find myself in the Sarasota area every now and then, and the last time I visited with my boyfriend and a friend. We decided to check out some of the sites and activities in Sarasota, and we were not disappointed. Keep reading below for how I recommend spending one day in Sarasota, Florida. Hint: it involves alligators. 

Contents:

1) Mixon Fruit Farms

2) Ringling Museum

3) Smuggler’s Cove Mini Golf

4) Kasa Sushi

1) Mixon Fruit Farms – One Day in Sarasota

• Location
• Estimated visit time: 30 minutes to 2 hours

First, Mixon Fruit Farms is the perfect way to begin your one day in Sarasota, Florida. I have to immediately mention that it has my favorite ice cream in all of Florida. The orange and vanilla swirl tastes heavenly, for it is made with fresh oranges. Might I suggest ice cream for breakfast? 

Furthermore, there are a variety of other attractions at Mixon Fruit Farms. First, you can peruse around the rest of the store. While the ice cream is the main attraction (at least for me), there are also many other goodies offered, for example wines, fudges, and juices. Additionally, you can grab a bite to eat at their café. Second, you can hop on a tram ride around the grounds. You will pass by the Mixon Maze, butterfly garden, koi pond, and more on the 45-minute ride.

Third, you can rent Mixon’s Play Place for a children’s birthday party or field trip. The play place includes a waterslide, inflatable obstacle course, tire hill, and more. Fourth, you can rent out the venue at Mixon Fruit Farms for events such as weddings or reunions. Fifth, if you are not able to visit in person, you can check out their website for various tours and pictures of their offerings.

For more information, check out my article: Mixon Fruit Farms: Visitor’s Guide.

Some of my favorite ice cream in the world

2) Ringling Museum

• Location
• Estimated visit time: 2 to 5 hours 
• Nearby lodging

Second, plan a visit to the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida. It not only boasts a circus museum but also an art museum, rose garden, tree trail, beautiful mansion, and so much more. Its opening hours are generally from 10am to 5pm. First, learn all about the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus at the circus museum. There are interactive displays, a 40,000-piece miniature circus replica, historical videos, and more.

Second, visit the art museum to see the extensive collection the Ringling family built throughout their lives. They wanted to share their art with others to inspire cultural and creative learning. Third, take a stroll around the Bayfront Gardens. Visitors can walk along the rose garden, through the Banyan trees, and also into the secret garden. Fourth, enter Ca’ d’Zan, which was the former residence of the Ringling family. Marvel at the stunning architecture styled after the Venetian Gothic style common in Italy. 

Pro tip: visitors can access the Bayfront Gardens and art museum for free on Mondays!

For more information, check out my article: Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida: Visitor’s Guide.

Checking out the architecture and design of Ca’ d’Zan

3) Smuggler’s Cove Mini Golf – One Day in Sarasota

• Location
• Estimated visit time: 1 to 2 hours

Have you ever thought to yourself – “I want to spend one day in Sarasota playing mini golf and feeding baby alligators.” Well, then I know just the place! The third stop of the day is at Smuggler’s Cove Adventure Golf. It is a fun addition to your day whether on a date, hanging out with family, or exploring the area with friends. The golf course is generally open from 9am to 11pm.

The mini golf course consists of 18 holes with all kinds of obstacles. Visitors must navigate hills, caves, bridges, etc. Moreover, with a little bit of luck someone in your party might just get a hole in one. For example, my two friends each got a hole in one when we golfed here. However, I unfortunately did not.

After golfing, take time to stop at the Educational American Alligator Exhibit. It houses multiple baby alligators, which visitors are allowed to feed for a small fee. Smuggler’s Cove provides small food pellets, and visitors then attach those to a fishing pole string to feed the baby alligators. 

To see even more alligators while in Florida, be sure to visit Myakka River State Park. On the other hand, head to the Manatee Viewing Center at Big Bend Power Plant to see (you guessed it) manatees.

Checking out the alligators before starting mini golf

4) Kasa Sushi

• Location
• Estimated visit time: 1 to 1.5 hours 

How better to finish your one day in Sarasota than grabbing sushi for dinner? Kasa Sushi is located almost right next door to Smuggler’s Cove Adventure Golf, thus making it the perfect spot for dinner. Their menu consists of a variety of options, including bento boxes, hibachi, sushi, sashimi, and also fried rice. While everything on the menu looked delicious, I eventually decided upon the Sarasota roll. It felt right to order the roll named after the city in which I was currently located. My oh my, it was good. 

Their general hours of operation are from 11am to 3pm and then from 4:30m to 9:30pm.

The Sarasota sushi roll

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Make sure you head to one of the best beaches in Florida: An Evening at Siesta Key.

Do not forget to see some manatees: Manatee Viewing Center at Big Bend Power Plant.