Spring in Sarasota means it’s time to trade homework for sunshine and some proper outside chaos. If you’ve got kids and you’re looking for more than just “let’s go to the beach again” here are the activities worth your time!
The Bay Park’s Common Ground Playground
This new waterfront playground wasn’t designed to just “keep kids busy.” It helps them to spark imagination, test their balance skills, and make sure they sleep well later.
Bonus: it’s accessible, shaded, and close to coffee. Everyone wins.
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: Behind-the-Glass Cool Stuff
Sharks, sea turtles, jellyfish, oh my. But what makes Mote special is how interactive it feels. Kids can watch researchers at work, see real-time marine science in action, and learn something without even realizing it.
They also host “Shark Pups & Grownups” classes for toddlers. It’s science disguised as fun.
If you want to learn more about Mote, check my recent article on them!
Big Cat Habitat: Roar and Learn
This rescue sanctuary gives kids a rare chance to see lions, tigers, and bears up close while learning why these animals need a second chance.
It’s more meaningful than your average zoo trip and the animal care staff makes every tour feel personal.
Suncoast Science Center Fab Lab Workshops
Got a mini-inventor or future engineer in the house? The Fab Lab offers hands-on STEM programs where kids design, build, and sometimes blow things up (in a controlled, supervised, totally safe way). Their spring camps and weekend classes are gold for curious minds.
TreeUmph! Junior Adventure Course (in nearby Bradenton)
Yes, there’s a full-sized ropes course for grown-ups, but the kids' course is where the magic happens. Think mini zip lines and wobbly bridges just challenging enough to feel like an accomplishment. Great for ages 7 and up who love climbing everything they’re not supposed to at home.
Art Center Sarasota: Messy on Purpose
Art classes where kids are encouraged to spill paint, bend rules, and create things you’ll love forever.
The Center regularly runs youth art programs where instruction feels more like guided creativity than structured learning.
Sarasota Children’s Garden: A Whimsical Escape
It’s a bit quirky, a little hidden, and completely magical for young kids. From fairy tale corners to pirate ships made of wood and whimsy, this garden lets kids pretend, explore, and just be kids in the most old-school, unplugged way.
Which one is your favorite?
There’s no shortage of ways to keep kids entertained in Sarasota this spring.
Whether you’ve got a curious marine biologist, a jungle gym daredevil, or a budding Picasso, this town has something built just for them. And you? You get to enjoy the ride (or at least the quiet nap afterward).
Kelli Eggen
