Spring Break is right around the corner. It’s a great time to head down to Sarasota, visit the beautiful Siesta Key Beach, hang out with friends and go on a kayak tour! What better way to relax with nature, take a much needed break from school while hanging out with friends, than on a kayak tour?

Spring Break

You can see the light at the end of the tunnel, school is almost done for the semester and it’s time to refresh. A kayak tour on beautiful Lido Key nestled in the Gulf of Mexico in Sarasota, close to Siesta Key Beach is just what you need to relax and have some much needed fun. Grab a bunch of your closest friends for an adventure filled trip you won’t soon forget!

Your kayak tour will get you up close and personal with some beautiful wildlife. We typically see bottle-nosed dolphins. They call our area home due to the warm shallow waters. We also see manatee, they love the sea grass we have in addition to the shallow water. We have plenty of exotic birds including pelicans, herons, egrets, hawks, egrets and roseate spoonbills. You can also see turtles and sting rays, as well as many different types of fish jumping about. We can’t control the wildlife we see, but these are some of what you can see on a typical day out.

Our journey into the exotic mangrove tunnels is a whole other experience. It’s quiet and serene, it’s shaded too. The mangroves are home to crabs and sea stars. The mangroves have different paths which lead you into the sun-filled grass flats of brushy bayou and Big Grass Lagoon.

Come and discover an eco kayak tour into the shallow protected waters of Lido Keys, a unique experience during your Spring Break, one you won’t soon forget. Book your tour today!

As much as we love kayaking, spring is in the air in Sarasota. And guess what that means? Spring Training is back in town! Now’s a great time to get up close and personal with your favorite players and catch a training practice or even a game while some of your favorite teams are here!

Spring Training

Here’s where you can catch all the action around the greater Sarasota area:

The Baltimore Orioles train right here in Sarasota. Their first home game is on Saturday, February 23rd and they host the Minnesota Twins. They play at Ed Smith Stadium. Here’s a complete list of their 2019 Spring Training Schedule.

The Pittsburgh Pirates play right next door in Bradenton, and Garth Brooks is even in town this week, as an added bonus! Their 2019 Spring Training schedule begins with their home opener at Lecom Park against the Miami Marlins on Sunday, February 24th. Here is their complete Spring Training Schedule.

The Tampa Bay Rays play in Port Charlotte which is a bit south of Sarasota. Their games are played at the Charlotte Sports Park. Their home opener is on Friday, February 22nd against the Philadelphia Phillies and is the kick off game for Spring Training! See their complete schedule here!

If you’re open to a bit of a drive, catch the New York Yankees in action in Tampa at Steinbrenner Field.  Their home opener is Monday, February 25th against the Toronto Blue Jays.  Their Spring Training Schedule is here.

And if you’re really up for a drive, catch the current World Series Champions Red Sox at their Spring Training Facility located in Fort Myers at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. They open their Spring Training Schedule hosting the New York Yankees on Saturday, February 22nd!  Their complete Spring Training Schedule is here.

It’s time to play ball!

One of Sarasota’s best kept secrets is Ted Sperling Park on Lido Key. It’s located on the southern tip of Lido Key, and the park provides many unique opportunities for nature lovers to explore both on land and by kayak. And if you’re looking to see dolphins and manatees, look no further, you’ve found your perfect spot!

Sarasota’s Best Kept Secrets

Sometimes, some of the best places to see manatees aren’t very publicized. That’s the case with Lido Key. Locals and tourists alike have discovered that this area is well liked by manatees due to its shallow grassy waters. If you’re out on a kayak tour, you can usually spot them. And these manatees definitely have no qualms about swimming right up to your kayak, they’re so used to seeing them at this quiet location.

Adventure Kayak Outfitters launch location on Lido Key is perfect for kayakers looking for adventure. Not only does it have the exotic mangrove tunnels offering a few different paths to explore. But it also has many picturesque views and of course many different types of native wildlife, both aquatic and airborne.

Sarasota’s Best Kept Secrets

Ted Sperling Park isn’t only home to manatees, but also native dolphins. They are often seen frolicking about, and they too aren’t shy. Many times they seem to be putting on a show for us or will follow our kayaks around for a bit. They’re so much fun to watch playing around in the water!

When you take a kayak tour with our experienced native guides, they can help to point out both dolphins and manatees, and take you to the spots you’re most likely to see them. While we can’t control nature, we usually do see them on our tours. It’s best to keep your eyes peeled and not miss anything. Our tours will definitely provide a memory to last a lifetime!

February is an exciting month full of events in Sarasota! After you’ve enjoyed yourself kayaking on the beautiful waters of Lido Key, explore the island with these fun things to do!
Sarasota Events

The Sarasota Ski-A-Rees are back for another exciting season with their water ski team! Free shows take place on Sunday’s at 2pm. The Sarasota Ski-A-Rees a non-profit organization. Membership in the organization is open to youth interested in learning about and developing skills related to water skiing and water safety, and to adults who desire to educate, coach and supervise these youth.

The 30th Annual Downtown Sarasota Festival of the Arts takes place Saturday February 10th and Sunday February 11th from 10am -5pm on Main St. in Sarasota, FL. Admission to this outdoor art show is free! Sunshine Artist Magazine consistently ranks this as one of the top 100 Fine Art Shows and is one of the area’s biggest and best art events. Meet some of the best artists in the nation, displaying life-size sculptures, spectacular paintings, one-of-a-kind jewels, photography and more.

Thunder by the Bay is rolling back into Sarasota from February 15-18. This event continues to honor veterans, active duty military and first responders at this 2 day festival. It is full of events around Fruitville, the Sarasota Fair Grounds, and Main Street. This year, there is also full service camping available at the Sarasota Fair Grounds.  From a wide variety of live music, to bike shows, food vendors, and block parties, there is plenty to do all weekend long! Check out the schedule of events here.

Don’t miss the 24th Annual Siesta Key Craft Festival on Saturday February 24th and Sunday February 265th from 10am -5pm on Ocean Blvd in Sarasota, FL. Take in the sand and sea as you discover beautiful creations from over 100 crafters exhibiting and selling their work in this outdoor gallery which is sure to be a spectacular festival!

We love what we do, and love that our clients can see our enthusiasm. We got this review in our inbox and thought it would be great to share it!

review

Jennie O
“Review on your great kayak tour guide Dan
Sorry this is a few months late but wanted to let you know what a great tour my 22yr old daughter & I had in mid August at your Taft Dr. location. I also put a review on tripadvisor today…
We didn’t have reservations but lucked into it being a quiet morning (Florida kids just returned to school I think) and Dan being available to take us on a great tour of Sarasota Bay near St. Armands/Lido area. He was not only fun, but gave us great info about the bay, its plant and sealife and much more. We lucked out that day and not only saw 2-3 manatees up close (they came to us) at the entrance of one of the inlets that goes through Lido key near St Armands but also a 25 min display of dolphins “sharking” a school of fish. Dan made sure we kept far enough back to not disturb the manatees or dolphins but had a running commentary on what was going on and was just as excited as we were.
My parents have lived full time in Sarasota for 30 years and just moved to a retirement community near St. Armands and I’ve never had such fun on the water. Please tell Dan how much we enjoyed his interesting and informative tour and hope to see him again on future visits to do more kayaking. That day is one of those “We’ll remember this the rest of our lives” times!

I’ll also recommend your company to my many family members who love coming to beautiful Sarasota.”

review

Kayaking is a great way to get up close and personal to some of nature’s most beautiful creatures and locations. We are lucky here in Sarasota Bay to have dolphins, manatees, as well as beautiful native birds and gorgeous landscape. See some of our other reviews on Trip Advisor and Facebook. To schedule a kayak tour, visit us online and save $5.oo.

kayak review

 

Having fun doesn’t have to cost money. There are so many things to do in the Sarasota area, and since you can’t put a price on happiness, here are a few things you can do in Siesta Key that are free!

Go to the Beach!Siesta Key Beach Sarasota

Our beaches are free! There is no charge to get into the beach, or to park your car in the lot. This is
pretty amazing because Siesta Beach has some of the finest, whitest and in the world. The water is also very calm and clear which makes it perfect for swimming. Grab your sunblock, a towel, a good book and anything else you need to complete your perfect beach day. Stay through till the evening to see one of the best sunsets on the west coast!

Collect Shells

Anther fun thing to do is to collect shells. Turtle Beach on the south end of Siesta Key will have the most shells on the island. Shells can be found on all of Siesta Key’s beaches (Siesta Beach, Crescent Beach and Turtle Beach), but Turtle Beach has more due to its location, and because it’s much less crowded than Siesta Beach.

Go Diving

Also located on the southern end of Siesta Key is Point of Rocks. This is arguably the best place on the west coast of Florida for snorkeling. There are more than 100 yards of limestone ledges to explore. The calm waters make for a perfect beginner dive. Parking can be difficult, so it is best to go in early morning and get a spot at beach access No. 12. Parking spots are limited and are usually filled by mid-morning.

Stay tuned to catch our next edition of “Things to do in Sarasota”.

Things to do in Sarasota

Things to do in SarasotaWhen you hear of Sarasota, Siesta Key Beach, beautiful Gulf Coast Waters, and gorgeous white sand beaches probably come to mind. All of those are true, but there is so much more to do; All year long. This is especially true during the holiday season. Some people might think that being in a warm gorgeous place, that it wouldn’t feel like the holidays. Between decorations, holiday gatherings and local events, there’s not a chance that you can’t get caught up in it all.

Ca’ d’Zan Mansion, home of the circus king John Ringling and his wife is one of those places. Thursday nights in December, starting at 5pm are the Holiday Nights at Ca’ d’Zan. Admission is free with museum admission. The Ca’ d’Zan is all dressed up for the holidays. The decorations feature festive fireplace mantels, balconies, doors and a gorgeous 10-foot-tall tree that stands in the Grand Court.

Another holiday special is Lights in Bloom. This takes place at the beautiful Selby Gardens from December 16th through December 30th from 6pm - 9pm (excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Visitors can stroll through magical gardens filled with beautifully lit flowers, butterflies, dragonflies and more. Also included in this tropical paradise are miniature garden trains, Santa and his elves (before Christmas Eve), plus live entertainment nightly.

While not a holiday tradition, you don’t want to miss out on the Siesta Beach Seafood & Music Festival taking place December 3rd and 4th. This unique event blends food, music and visual entertainment offering tastes of delectable seafood creations and delicious drinks prepared by the top restaurants in Siesta Key and Sarasota.  Not only that, but there will be outstanding musical performances by local and regional musicians in a diversity of genres. Finally, there is an outdoor gallery of arts, crafts and food products. So while it might not be a holiday themed activity, you can complete your holiday shopping with some one-of-a-kind items!

Stay tuned to catch our next edition of “Things to do in Sarasota”.

Kayaking in Lido Key

Right outside the hub of St. Armand’s Circle in beautiful Sarasota lays the beauty of Lido Key. Lido Key is surrounded by gulf waters and Sarasota Bay. In South Lido Park, the waters are calm and serene. There’s so much to see. Guided kayak tours through the mangrove tunnels are one of the top highest things to do here in Sarasota. Our kayak trips have something for everyone.

Sarasota Bay

Sarasota Bay hosts about 140 bottle nosed dolphins that play in our waters. Manatees also call this home. They love it here because of the shallow waters filled with sea grass.

Kayaking is much more than just getting in the water and going. Whether it be a guided tour, or a rental there are so many options for both.

  • Our guided tours are fun for the whole family. We offer both Manatee and Dolphin tours which allow you to experience dolphins & manatees up close and personal in their native habitat. Our n13600209_10210092767574740_6117976550622424597_native Floridian guides are both informative and entertaining.
  • The Mangrove Tour allows you to explore the shallow waters of Little Lagoon and navigate your way through the maze of exotic mangrove tunnels that lead you into the sun-filled grass flats of brushy bayou and Big Grass Lagoon. There is truly excitement around every corner, and the lush mangroves offer some shade to cool off from the sun.
  • With a kayak rental the choice is yours. Renters have the ability to explore the open waters and the mangroves at your own pace. There is even a little sand bar. You can pull your kayak up and sit and watch boats go by, wade in the refreshing water, or catch some rays!

No matter how you spend your time here, the beauty and abundant wildlife will create memories to last a lifetime.  Besides seeing dolphins and manatees, there are many different types of fish, crabs, starfish and beautiful native birds! It’s always an adventure with Adventure Kayak Outfitters

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