Paradise Adventures

3.6 mi

Honestly had the most amazing exhilarating experience. We were so lucky and got to see so many…read moredifferent types of animals. My boyfriend and I have lived in Sarasota for 5 years. Never did I expect to experience the mangroves as I did, but thanks to our wonderful guide Laura I had the best time of my life. I highly recommend to natives who aren't experienced kayakers or new comers looking to learn a little about our wonderful history. She also took some amazing videos for us!

We had the perfect beginner kayak adventure. Island Style brought the kayaks to us at Lido Beach…read more We strongly recommend starting your adventure from this put in point. Island Style provided gently used kayaks and paddles, life vests and even plastic bags for our belongings. Remember to use sun screen on the back of your neck and arms. Also consider a bottle of water. We just wore shorts and t-shirts. Our guide was Kelly. He was prompt and courteous. He had us in the water and out of the water at the agreed times. Our guide made the adventure memorable. Starting with dry land instructions, our guide exhibited consistent knowledge, patience, encouragement . He continued to provide thoughtful instruction throughout the trip. Our guide helped us locate dolphins, snakes and pin fish along the Lido Park Mangroves. Also spotted green heron, ibis, and snowy egrets just outside mangrove tunnels. We had a wonderful adventure and Island Style provide us with a relaxing and intimate way to experience Sarasota's natural treasures.

Look for this sign right off 41!

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Liquid Blue Outfitters

4.7

(24 reviews)

1.4 mi

Skye was a great tour guide. He took his time with us and gave us a couple of options for our tour…read more If you are a beginner and hesitant about booking, not be. The paddle kayaks are easy to maneuver and the activity is not strenuous at all. It was a great experience!

Been out on the water a few times with Liquid Blue- always a great time…read more Great guides & good atmosphere! This will always be my go-to kayaking company!

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IBike Sarasota

4.1

(7 reviews)

2.8 mi

Excellent bikes and spectacle customer service! Highly recommend!read more

Good service at a convenient location near access to the Legacy Trail. So much fun riding the…read moree-bikes! Call ahead of time to make sure there is availability.

Suntex Boat Club

4.6

(5 reviews)

2.2 mi

Beautiful very nice place, take your wife out to enjoy the weather and just a gorgeous view…read moreespecially sunset time. Greater restaurants around as well.

We joined 6 months ago and enjoy an outing. The dock hands Chris and Andrew have been very helpful…read morecasting off, tying down and filling up the gas at pump side. I recommend a tip for these guys as they are in the hot sun doing a great job. FYI for corporate. If possible, please remove the boats on the web site that you have decommissioned. If one is out for service, please post a notice on the reservation page indicating "out of service" and maybe an expected time back in service. Just leaving them blank so no one can book tells us nothing. It helps us club members when trying to book a date and time. Boats are always clean and ready to go. Keep up the good work guys.

Boats available at Sarasota Boat Rental

Excursions Docks

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Excursions Office

Jiggs Landing Outpost

4.0

(31 reviews)

10.1 mi

Never heard of this place. Met some friends who have been here several times…read more Definitely a hidden gem. See the photos for its history, etc, but there are cute cabins to rent , an outpost ( food, drinks, souvenirs and bait sold; I had a root beer float); nightly entertainment, and plenty of chairs for relaxing. Saw a few carloads of ? College aged kids parking and getting ready for some early evening fishing. Just a fun and relaxing place to visit.

What a hidden gem! Absolutely loved this place. Found it on here looking for a sweet spot to take…read moreour son fishing. Hit the jackpot with a full restaurant and live music and natures beauty with a gorgeous sunset! Highly recommend

You can beat a Jiggs Landing sunset

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Sea Life Kayak Adventures

4.9

(120 reviews)

0.2 mi

First off when we arrived the worker said we were closed. We were all very worried and…read moredisappointed. It turns out it was just a joke but was not delivered well. Kayaking through the mangroves was very pleasant but unpleasant for some when left alone in the tunnels with scary tree crabs . Our Irish guide was great. Saw lots of birds and one small turtle. Stopped on a deserted island that was very hot.

We did the guided tour this morning and had a great time. Our guide took his time and let the…read moregroup enjoy the experience. He pointed out area wildlife and shared key facts. Great morning!

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Ted Sperling Park

4.1

0.0 mi

We arrived early, and it wasn't too busy at all, but by the time we finished around noon, the area…read morehad become quite crowded. I can only imagine how difficult parking must be during peak season. Thankfully, parking is free, and so are all of the park's facilities. We visited on a Sunday and were greeted by a friendly park employee who was incredibly knowledgeable about the area. She provided us with a laminated trail map, which was a huge help and allowed us to enjoy the experience without constantly checking our phones. The kayak trails were absolutely amazing! The water was crystal clear, making it easy to see fish and other wildlife below. We visited in mid-June and were pleasantly surprised that we didn't encounter any mosquitoes or no-see-ums. It took us about two hours to paddle all of the kayak trails, including a relaxing beach break along the way. There are four main trails to explore, with Trail 3 offering two different exit routes, making it worth paddling twice for two unique experiences. Trail 4 was the most challenging, with several low-hanging branches that required a little extra maneuvering. Overall, this was easily one of the best kayak trail systems we've explored, and we'll definitely be back!

Excellent park to explore by canoe. Ted Sperling Park is famous on mangrove tunnels. The best way…read moreto explore the part is kayak or paddle board. Prefer to visit the park during high tide. Even with low tide, I was able to maneuver the kayak. I would not recommend use the canoe to explore due to shallow depths on certain locations. The park has 4 major tunnel and over 10 brunch tunnels. Tunnel is label 1 to 4. The tunnel 1 and 2 is one way in and out. I was renting the kayak at the locate vendor Surfit. They provide me a map of the mangrove tunnel to explore. They also provide a dry bag for my personal staff. I would said paddle board has a height condition due to mangrove brunch. Many paddle boarder has to kneel or sit through the tunnel. On the non major tunnels, the space is narrow. Some time you do not have room to paddle. Just use the mangrove to push through. I enjoy the most is when I follow the flow direction. Easy paddling. I also like to see a lot of bird in the tunnel. The nature is beautiful. Love the tunnel due to shading from wind. In the tunnel is also blocking the sun and pleasant. I would suggest visit the park in the morning.

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Manatee River

(1 review)

10.2 mi

The Manatee River is in in Manatee County, Florida and runs between the cities of Palmetto, to the…read morenorth, and Bradenton, to the south. It is a 36-mile-long river in the northeastern corner of Manatee County and flows into the Gulf of Mexico at the southern edge of Tampa Bay. Wildlife in the river include manatees and alligators, as well as, various types of fish. Shrimp is, even, harvested from its waters. Around the Manatee River is a birder's paradise with many species of birds can be found. My favorite is the wood stork, which is listed as endangered species. A few of the birds are considered threatened such as the snowy plover, bald eagle, Florida scrub-jay, and peregrine falcon. Other common birds that can be seen around the Manatee River include cattle egret, white ibis, great blue heron, and yellow-crowned night heron. Human development has a great impact on the environment of the Manatee River. Development (slash & burn) had increased greatly in the area surrounding the Manatee River and surrounding area, and not surprisingly, the water quality within the river has decreased. The use of organic pesticides is increasing danger in the ecological communities. The destruction of the forested wetlands and uplands for housing tracts, etc. in the area has caused excess nutrients to build up in local reservoirs. Also, in these reservoirs there have been increased levels of lead, zinc, and copper. Earth Day in Palmetto has included clean-ups of the banks are local wetlands. We need to pledge to stop polluting these essential waterways. They are home to the creatures who call this river home. It is, also, affecting the health of people who get their water from it.

Bald Eagle in the Live Oak tree. We must take care and preserve the Earth, waters and the creatures who call the Manatee River home.

Manatee River

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Manatee River from the Hernando De Soto bridge looking toward the Green Bridge.

Siesta Key Watersports

4.4

(169 reviews)

4.5 mi

Four of us booked a sunset cruise with Siesta Key Watersports and would highly recommend it to…read moreanyone visiting the Sarasota area! Our tour guides were Chad and Joey who made for a great ride out into the ocean. Good information was shared along the way and when dolphins were located on the tour Chad was excellent at pointing them out along the way. A bald eagle nest was also seen complete with a bald eagle perched overlooking the ocean. The sunset was absolutely gorgeous and the tour was just the right amount of time to be out on the water to enjoy the boat ride. We don't drink so purchased the tickets without the alcohol included but then were welcome to bring on our own drinks and snacks for the ride. The playlist of music out on the sunset tour was top notch and apparently dolphins have a good affection for Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" as when that song came on the dolphins came out in force. Highly recommend Siesta Key Watersports!

I took my friend ftom WI on this cruise and it was wonderful!!!…read more Corey and Chad we great Very informative and great atmosphere Will take all my friends there and even tho I live in Sarasota I will make this a monthly trip Thank you , Cory & Chad ! Theresa

Their office is the yellow building

Dip in the ocean

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Rosaire's Riding Academy & Pony Rides

4.6

(21 reviews)

9.0 mi

Rosaire's Riding Academy & Pony Rides is wonderful! Ellian Rosaire is a wonderful teacher for new…read moreriders or adults returning to riding. Safety for her students and her animals is a priority for her. She knows her ponies/horses and assesses a new student for a good fit for both. My granddaughter trained with Ellian for about 5 years and attended summer camp also before she moved to college. I have attended many training classes over these years and I've enjoyed watching the development of her students during those years. I highly recommend Rosaire's for your rider. Nothing fancy but definitely fun and safe.

We are thoroughly impressed with Ellian at Rosaire's Riding Academy! We signed up our two kids for…read moreprivate beginner lessons and were immediately impressed with her style of teaching! Our kids learned more in her private lesson than any other lesson they've done in the past. She chose the perfect horses based on my kids' personalities and instilled an immense amount of self confidence in both of them right from the beginning! We feel blessed to have found Ellian and are excited to see all that our kids learned through her professionalism!

Pony rides

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Petting zoo

Big Cat Habitat

4.1

(320 reviews)

8.7 mi

Amazing variety of animals and well taken care of. This is perfect for kids of all ages. Petting…read moreand feeding the chickens and goats were my kids favorite part. But be careful of the monkeys they will throw poop! Haha

My family received free tickets and decided to visit a while back. We were so sad the whole visit…read more Many of the animals were in small, jail like enclosures. There was a wolf kept in a small, concrete floor, tiny stall with a big cat and the cat bit the wolf. We let a staff member know and they told us the name of the person who owned the wolf (we assumed the animals were owned by Big Cat Habitat and not private individuals. Big Cat Rescue in Tampa is a legitimate rescue. Big Cat Habitat is more like a side circus where most animals are kept in enclosures which are too small. Please support legitimate rescues and not places where private individuals own and display their pets.

Wrestling Fun!

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Lido Beach

4.5

(176 reviews)

0.7 mi

This has become our go to beach in Sarasota. We like it better than Turtle Beach, our other go-to…read morebeach. We don't love Siesta Key as well bc it's so crowded. This is always a chill gem of a beach. We find the same parking in a side lot or the street that are always free as well. This beach is on the way to and from St. Armand's Circle. We can also go to the restroom at the nearby Lido Beach Resort if we need to, plus they have a beach bar too.

Beautiful beach and great for shell hunting!…read more We used the free breeze trolley to get here and that was a very quick and smooth ride. It dropped us right at the pavilion area that has tables and bathrooms. The back is very wide and has tons of shells. The water is calm and it's really overall relaxing. The sunset view here was gorgeous! If you plan to stay long, make sure to bring some sort of shade as, opposed to the beaches that I'm more used to on the east coast of the state, there's not really many trees or anything in the sand.

12/24 Christmas / Chanukah / Happy Holidays from sugar sands

Sanset

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La playa ... The Beach ... Where are all the Bikini Girls

CoastLine Dolphin & Snorkeling Excursions

(15 reviews)

14.9 mi

John was a tour guide and was Great!! He took me and my family to some very cool snorkeling spots,…read moreand provided us with all the gear and water.

We had the best time ever! We saw tons of dolphins. Went to Egmont Key and then went snorkeling…read more The kids had a blast and our captain was so nice!

On the boat headed out on our adventure!

Captain Casey and our family

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Snorkeling & Sanddollars!

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18 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Jessi M.

18

2

0

9 years ago

This was our first kayak tour and we all agreed it's one of our new favorite activities! After moving from Tennessee, we wanted to get a closer feel for our new area and this was amazing! Our instructor, Ben, was very helpful in getting us comfortable on the kayak before we ventured out. They were very accommodating for the two men in our group that are taller and bigger than average and found them perfect kayaks for their sizes. I ended up tipping over during one part (haha!) and our guide was super quick to help me back onto my kayak and move ahead with the tour! He was super patient and even jumped in the water with me. You will definitely need lots of sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and bug spray. We weren't fortunate enough to see much wildlife, aside from birds (that's just nature though!), and we're already looking forward to our next tour and hoping we get lucky! We will definitely be returning and will always recommend this to family and friends when they visit! read more

J M.

151

5

2

7 years ago

Our tour guide was Chris, although Orlando was there to direct the early part of booking/check in. Very friendly and answered my questions about parking immediately on the AirBnb message. The tour itself was amazing, going through all the mangroves and navigating around. Chris was really nice and remembered everyone's names! Highly recommend doing this if you're looking for something to do in the Tampa/Sarasota area. And, at the very end, I thought I had misplaced my phone on one of kayaks and Orlando and Chris went above and beyond to help me find it (i.e. tearing apart their truck, turning over every kayak, letting me use their phones, etc.) until it was eventually found-- in my trunk lol! I def had a blonde moment!! All around good guys and awesome tour! read more

Jeffrey B.

0

1

0

10 years ago

I took my daughter on a tandem kayak with paradise adventures and it was fabulous. We had such a good time . When we got to the park we meet our guide Orlando and he gave us a detailed run down of how to control the kayak because we had never been in one before . With his great instructions and patience we were paddling like pros in a hundred yards . So if you have never been in a kayak before don't let that stop you. We saw 2 manatee and many different kinds of wildlife. It was such and enjoyable morning and I highly recommend Paradise Adventures and Orlando for your next kayaking adventure you want regret it . Thanks again Orlando.. We will be back next September. Jeff B read more

Meghan S.

0

6

24

7 years ago

We had such a great time! Chris was an awesome tour guide, he was very personable and had a great presence during the tour. He made sure everyone was enjoying themselves and getting the most out of the tour. He paused for photo ops, and made sure all of our questions were answered. When we came across certain wildlife or nature talking points he made sure each person had an opportunity to see and learn about them. I've never kayaked before and I had a phenomenal job and I would highly recommend this tour for anyone thinking about exploring the mangroves or an afternoon out on the water! read more

Trish P.

7

2

0

8 years ago

I have taken friends and family on 3 separate kayak tours with Orlando at Paradise Adventures. Each time was an awesome experience!!! He is by far THE VERY BEST!!! Orlando was so educational, and made it his goal to try to show us as much wildlife as possible. We saw manatee, dolphins, a sea turtle, and stopped on a really cool beach area and he showed us even more amazing sea life. Definitely a trip to take with Paradise Adventures!! read more

Ami D.

108

2

0

5 years ago

My work team did a guided kayak tour last week with Whiskey Joe as our guide. It was so much fun. The mangroves are so relaxing, and Joe is a great guide. You can clearly see that he's passionate about our local environment and history. I plan to go back with my family and will request him as our guide for sure! read more

Kim G.

26

5

0

7 years ago

We had an awesome adventure today which included both dolphins in the Sarasota bay and amazing mangrove tunnel explorations! Definitely pick this kayak company for your FL kayak choice. Awesome family fun with our 10 and 15 year olds (you can pick singles or tandems which was perfect for our young guy!) read more

A E.

0

6

0

6 years ago

We had a great time on our self guided kayak trip. We rented 4 individual kayaks which worked out great. The price was so reasonable too. The guys were so nice and helpful. You could tell they really enjoyed their job. The mangrove tunnels were awesome and highly recommend. read more

Laura W.

25

16

41

7 years ago

Had a blast with Orlando on our tour today!! He was friendly and a great guide! Perfect day! Saw dolphins and even touched a live sand dollar!! Definitely worth it!! We will definitely come back next time we are in town!! read more

Beth S.

8

1

0

6 years ago

Highly recommend Paradise Adventures for a great day of kayaking off Lido Key. Kayaks were clean, service was great. Got to see manatees and explore the mangroves. Will definitely be back! read more

Wendy A.

29

2

0

7 years ago

Awesome day! Awesome rental! Would highly recommend using paradise adventures. Beautiful waters and a dolphin swam right under our kayak! Great family memories made today. Thanks! read more

Scott G.

25

4

1

7 years ago

We were guided today by Phil on the dolphin and manatee tour. It was awesome and we saw both. Phil was informative and made the trip enjoyable. We will be joining them again soon. read more

Gabby L.

0

1

0

1 year ago

We did a 2 hour kayak tour of lido key and the mangroves. Our tour guide Justin was amazing. He was funny and helped us get through some mangroves. 10 out of 10 recommend. read more

Megan P.

90

1

0

9 years ago

We couldn't have asked for a better expirence! Orlando was so knowledgeable, laid back and amazing with the kids. I would highly recommend the guided tour to anyone! read more

Paul S.

0

2

0

7 years ago

Wonderful time on the water! Chris, our guide, answered every question and was extremely knowledgeable on marine life above and below the water. Highly recommend. read more

Ty H.

0

5

1

7 years ago

Great customer service. Had a great time, I will definitely recommend anyone to come here and check out the mangrove tunnels.

Jen F.

0

2

0

6 years ago

Sky was our tour guide today and he was AWESOME!! he had a great personality and was a lot of fun. Def would do it again

Brianne O.

0

2

1

7 years ago

Great tour! We really enjoyed exploring the tunnels and learning about the different birds.

Paradise Adventures - rafting - Updated July 2026

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First off when we arrived the worker said we were closed. We were all very worried and…read moredisappointed. It turns out it was just a joke but was not delivered well. Kayaking through the mangroves was very pleasant but unpleasant for some when left alone in the tunnels with scary tree crabs . Our Irish guide was great. Saw lots of birds and one small turtle. Stopped on a deserted island that was very hot.

We did the guided tour this morning and had a great time. Our guide took his time and let the…read moregroup enjoy the experience. He pointed out area wildlife and shared key facts. Great morning!

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Skye was a great tour guide. He took his time with us and gave us a couple of options for our tour…read more If you are a beginner and hesitant about booking, not be. The paddle kayaks are easy to maneuver and the activity is not strenuous at all. It was a great experience!

Been out on the water a few times with Liquid Blue- always a great time…read more Great guides & good atmosphere! This will always be my go-to kayaking company!

Kayaking SRQ Tours And Rentals

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Jordan and Jacob were wonderful guides! We had a huge group of over 20 people, ranging from age 9…read moreto 70+, all with a range of kayaking skills. Despite the huge group, Jordan and Jacob were able to lead us successfully through 3 mangrove tunnels, and we stopped off at a beach area too. There was a point in which a friend of mine had to get "towed" because she was struggling to navigate through a tunnel. They used a string to hitch her kayak to one of theirs! I have been kayaking many times, and even for me, it was kind of challenging to paddle through, which I enjoyed. It was so cool to go through the tunnels. Very peaceful. Jacob & Jordan provided some great information about the history & formation of the tunnels, explained different birds in the area as we saw them, and even showed us a starfish. All of the paddles and kayaks (single and tandem) seemed to be in good working order. Dry bags and life jackets were provided as well. I highly recommend this team!

Fabulous tour by your guy Jess! Two thumbs up! Second time out, didn't disappoint. Friendly and…read moreknowledgable, fun couple of hours.

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(34 reviews)

Had a blast!! We saw manatees close up, swam right up to our…read morekayaks. Beautiful tour of mangroves and the bay. Nice to have a motor to assist! Loved this experience with family visiting from Texas.

Had a great kayak tour with Bobby today. Our group of friends had various levels of experience…read morekayaking- we were all engaged and had a great time.

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I'm a local and been on alot of Kayaking tours....But this company and Tour guide (Kelly) is the…read moreBest in the Business. Very informative about ego system but also Fun fun fun. Price is right, easy to find everything you want to complete you adventure..Happy paddling

Florida Blue Adventures

Absolutely loved this kayak tour! Saw a manatee, dolphins and lots of birds. Favorite bird was…read moreScuba Steve (or as my niece called him... Stupid Steve) Kinsey the guide was great!!

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Surferbus.com

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Renting the kayak was simple. We got a text the morning of our rental date with instructions on…read morewhere to meet. When we arrived, our kayak was already on the shore and we got a short orientation of the area before we launched. Really great for bird watching or just getting away from the busy parts of the island. Highly recommend this place. Will for sure do it again when we come back.

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I had a great adventure with Chris at Almost Heaven. You can book and pay for your trip in advance…read moreeasily, and everything was ready when I arrived. I had gone solo and ended up with a really friendly group of folks who had booked the same time. Chris made sure to get us all introduced and gave a quick demo, and then launched us one by one. He was so friendly and informative, we all had a wonderful time! It was a nice calm paddle around the bay, and then he took us to a little beach and went to find some little invertebrates that live in the mangroves - jellyfish, sponges, urchins and we talked about those animals while taking a short break before entering the tunnels. The mangroves are primordial, trees up above and the roots coming up around your boat. The water is very calm, and kind of clear, and we saw sponges, coral, and starfish as we paddled through. Chris kept a good pace and if anybody lagged behind (often me, gawking at stuff), kept up a great conversation with the rest of the group so everybody was having a good time while both paddling and waiting. Highly recommend!

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Island Style Watersports