With Kids! 
Sarasota is a rare gem for a wheelchair accessible family vacation. From one of the most accessible beaches we’ve found, to a forward-thinking downtown, Sarasota has something to offer everybody. Here are some highlights for planning your own trip!
**This trip was taken in conjunction with Visit Florida and SheBuysTravel. While many activities were hosted, all opinions are my own.**
The Beach
Obviously, Sarasota’s award winning beaches are the main reason for planning a trip! You’ll be happy to know that the beautiful white sands are easy to access.
The Basics
- Handicap Beach Access Points: Siesta and Venice
- Beach Wheelchairs: ✅ (free)
- Surf Wheelchairs: ❌
- How to reserve: Free for visitor use at all lifeguarded county beaches (which include Lido, Nokomis, North Jetty, Venice and Manasota Beaches). Pick up from the lifeguard towers, free of charge every day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. At Siesta Beach, beach wheelchairs are available at the beach concessionaire from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone in need of a wheelchair outside those hours, or want to plan ahead, can contact the Sarasota County ADA Coordinator three days before their visit and make an accommodation request at 941-861-5000 or adacoordinator@scgov.net.
- Accessible Restrooms: Available at Siesta, Lido, Venice, Nokomis, and North Jetty
The Details
We visited Siesta Key because of the added ease of being able to pick up a beach wheelchair without having to cross any sand. Since I’m usually traveling on my own with the kids, I value being able to stay together. No one had to be left behind for me to venture out for a beach wheelchair.
Siesta Key has a large parking lot with plenty of handicap spaces, so we didn’t have to worry about where to get started. There are multiple ramped entrances to the sidewalk that leads to concessions, bathrooms, and the beach.
They copied my information from my driver’s license, and we were good to go! The mobi mat is just between the shops and the restrooms, so there was quick and easy access to the beach.
This was a great place for finding perfect sea shells, and even some sand dollars.
There is an off-sand playground, but it has a mulch surface and no ramped equipment. There is a handicap swing.
Attractions
It turns out the gorgeous beaches are just a small part of Sarasota’s lure for travelers. Did you know Sarasota was the winter headquarters for the Ringling Bros. circus, and that the history and culture of the circus is still very much alive, here? Or that there’s a large Amish settlement, primarily made up of snowbird farmers? Or that you can see a 27 ft long preserved giant squid? Here are some of our favorite wheelchair friendly family activities.
MOTE Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
Have you ever seen a giant squid? Not many people have, but I can say “yes,” thanks to our trip to MOTE Marine Laboratory and Aquarium!
I was most excited to see the manatee, since I spent our last trip to Florida searching the waters to no avail. The manatee was bumped down in ranking, however, when I found out what else they had to share at MOTE.
The exhibits went above and beyond in interaction and education. I was completely blown away by all that we were able to take away from the experience. We watched a shark feeding (only the underwater viewing was wheelchair accessible, but that was the best view), learned about giant squid, admired the sea turtles, laughed at the otters, and so much more. The staff were informative and ready to engage young minds.
The buildings (two buildings and an outdoor bird area) were easy to navigate with a wheelchair. There’s an elevator available and all but the upper viewing deck of the shark tank are wheelchair accessible. Handicap restrooms available.
John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art was not what I thought it was going to be. The kids audibly groaned when I told them we were going to an art museum on a nice, sunny, Florida day. There was no groaning after we arrived and saw what it was!
This should be a first stop for Sarasota history and culture before exploring everything else the city has to offer. The museum and grounds take you back in time to discover not only the roots of the “greatest show on earth,” but how Sarasota came to be what it is today.
Yes, there is circus art on display, but there are also artifacts from the circus, a full to-scale mini circus layout, informative films, actual train cards, and interactive opportunities to see if you’re ready to run away with the circus. The kids all squeezed into the clown car, posed on horseback, and tried out high wire walking.
The gardens are phenomenal. Between that and the playground, we ended up soaking in plenty of that beautiful Florida day, anyway.
The museum, gardens, shops, and restaurant are all easily wheelchair accessible. ADA trams are available upon request, as are a limited number of wheelchairs. The Ca’ d’Zan (the house/estate) is only accessible through the first floor.
The playground is not all abilities. It has a mulch surface and no ramped equipment, but there are circle web swings.
$2 admission through Museums4All.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a beautiful way to experience Florida’s native jungle, as well as international plant life. This fully accessible botanical garden is a perfect, 15 acre, city escape.
The children’s area is perfect for grown ups taking in the breathtaking plants while their children run off energy (probably oblivious to the beauty around them). The treehouse has ramped access, with elevator access to the top viewing point. If you plan to use this elevator, let someone know when you arrive so that they can make sure it’s unlocked.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Sarasota Jungle Gardens could not be more aptly named. Here you’ll encounter diverse plant life, and add in in diverse wildlife. Feed a flamingo, pet an alligator, snuggle a snake – you get the picture. There are various animal encounters available, in addition to the free educational shows.
Don’t miss the flamingoes – experiencing these incredible birds up close is an unforgettable experience.
The jungle trails, animal exhibits, and shows were all wheelchair accessible. Handicap restrooms are available at both the store and the café. They have a playground, but there is no ramped equipment and not much you can do on wheels. We didn’t spend much time playing, though, since we wanted to see the animals.
Big Cat Habitat
Speaking of unforgettable experiences, have you ever seen a liger? I didn’t even know these were real before meeting this nearly 1,000 lb cat at the Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary.
This large-animal rescue is a non-profit sanctuary and permanent home for much more than just big cats (though those are most incredible to see). This safe placement for animals in need has become a place to educate the public about animal care and conservation.
We spent the most time just watching the lions, tigers, ligers, and tigons, and asking the caregivers endless questions.
In addition to the bears, primates, tortoises, and birds, they also have a petting zoo for some animal therapy with baby goats and other farm animals.
All animal exhibits were wheelchair accessible. They’re only open for visitors Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 4, so plan accordingly.
Downtown
Sarasota actually has several different vibrant centers of downtown activity. We drove through quite a few areas that I wish we’d had more time to explore (like the arts district), but here are our favorites from what we experienced
St. Armand’s Circle
St. Armand’s Circle is built around the historic Circus Ring of Fame. It’s a lively area of boutique shops, fine jewelers, creameries, art galleries, hole in the wall restaurants, and fine dining.
My kids especially enjoyed Candy Barrel for maximizing their spend money on sweet treats. River Street Sweets is another great stop for satisfying your sweet tooth. Meaney’s Mini Donuts looked and smelled delicious (this was right before our dinner reservation, so we didn’t try any!), and they have a selection of toys for sale in the back. Alvin’s Island is a budget friendly stop with all the beach boardwalk standards.
We did encounter one steep ramp, but every shop or restaurant was either zero-entry or ramped.
Main Street
The Main Street area of downtown Sarasota is another great area for eating and shopping your way through. Arrive hungry and plan to sample as many ice creams, pastries, and cultural and local eats as you can!
Where to Eat
You have so many great options! It would be tough to go wrong, but these were our favorites!
Columbia Restaurant
You must make it to one of these in your lifetime. It’s a bucket list restaurant for me. Every meal I’ve had at a Columbia Restaurant has been the kind where you take a deep breath in between bites just to savor it. The Columbia is Florida’s oldest restaurant, dating back to 1905. One bite of their traditional Spanish food will show you why they’ve lasted to long. They make an excellent Cuban sandwich, their yellow rice is spiced just right, and each meal boasts of authentic flavors created by an ingenious chef.
They have a diverse children’s menu that will satisfy the pickiest and the most adventurous eaters. Freshly baked bread comes before every meal. Every meal should end with one of their delicious desserts – the churros are great for sharing (or keeping to yourself!).
Accessible dining both indoors and out. Handicap restrooms.
Toasted Mango Cafe
I joke that the Toasted Mango Cafe waffle changed my life, but, seriously…
They offer all the breakfast classics, but they also offer their own twists to bring everything up a level. For example, fresh mango and toasted coconut on a waffle topped with whipped cream, bowl-sized biscuits, and the biggest breakfast potatoes you’ve ever seen.
Conveniently, they have a downtown location and a Siesta Key location! Grab breakfast at one and an afternoon smoothie at the other!
Accessible dining both indoors and out. Handicap restrooms… with a free salt scrub inside, for a mini spa experience!
Kona Grill
I didn’t realize that Kona Grill was a chain, but now I’m planning trips around their locations. Dubbed America’s favorite grill, they serve fresh seafood, steaks, sushi, and classic American grill items. They also have a weekend brunch featuring mimosa specials & Kona signature brunch dishes.
The kids meals are bento boxes that feature anything from grilled salmon and edamame to cheeseburgers and mac and cheese. Depending on how much your kids eat, it may be wise to split a meal.
We eat early and happened to be there at happy hour. They have menu items and drinks starting at $3, and sushi options starting at $6 for a full roll!
Accessible dining both indoors and out. Handicap restrooms.
Reyna’s Taqueria
Authentic goes a long way, and that’s what you’ll find at Reyna’s Taqueria.
With rotating features, you can always try something new, or stick with a classic like carnitas tacos or quesadillas. They use fresh, local ingredients for all of their homemade options, and you can tell by the vibrant flavors.
Accessible dining both indoors and out. Handicap restrooms.
The Old Salty Dog
I love stopping at places that have made it on TV! The Old Salty Dog is famous for their beer battered hot dogs as seen on Man Vs. Food, but I tried the traditional fish and chips because it looked delicious… and it was.
They have three locations making them a convenient choice, but they’re also worth traveling for. The children’s menus have classics like grilled cheese and burgers, but they also have seafood options. The plates are frisbees that kids can keep!
Accessible dining both indoors and out. Handicap restrooms.
O’ Leary’s Tiki Bar and Grill
O’ Leary’s serves standard grill and fry items like tacos and mozzarella sticks, but they serve them with style with waterfront views, live music, and plenty of sand to play in.
Accessible dining both indoors and out. Handicap restrooms. Ramped access to sand, but then a sand surface on the lowest level.
C’est La Vie
We try to find a bit of Paris everywhere we go – and this did the trick! C’est La Vie is an award winning french bakery and cafe. Everything was as good as you would expect it to be.
Accessible indoor and outdoor dining options.
Wink Wink
We discovered Wink Wink Lounge because it was in our hotel. It’s a vibe worth checking out, even if you’re not staying on site. The menu is a modern twist on local favorites (for example, our French toast was coated in cereal, deep fried, and drizzled with a sweet peanut butter sauce) and the unique retro atmosphere adds to the experience. Combine this with the pool/spa and make it a day!
Accessible indoor and outdoor dining options.
Ice Cream
There are loads of great ice cream options in and around Sarasota. Armand’s Circle alone has enough ice cream for each day of your trip – from big names like Ben and Jerry’s, to small chains like River Street Sweets and Kilwin’s, to local gems like Settimi’s Gelato.
These two stood out as exceptional, even amongst all these favorites:
Rise and Nye’s
Gourmet ice cream and delicious coffee. The coffee and ice cream at Rise and Nye’s would be enough for me to recommend it, but it’s also an inclusion revolution – run by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It’s pretty incredible. They provide the support needed for successful jobs, helping their employees to better connect, live independently; improve their public speaking, develop self-advocacy and communication skills; and feel valued and included by society.
It’s an all around win!
An entire list of vegan options.
Accessible outdoor dining.
Main Street Creamery
Creamy ice cream, cute vibes, and smooth coffee. Plenty of yum to go around at Main Street Creamery, with over 30 flavors available.
Vegan options available.
Accessible indoor and outdoor dining options.
Where to Stay (or a fun bonus)
We stayed at The Modern, a hip, minimalistic hotel in downtown. They have accessible king rooms with roll in showers and space under beds for hoyer lifts.
What I can share is the spectacular pool and spa area – which is available to visitors with day passes!
In addition to the main pool, there is a hot tub and a cold plunge. Both the main pool and the hot tub are equipped with chair lifts and the pool area is easy to navigate with a wheel chair.
They have corn hole and ping pong set up and there are cabanas available for rent. With the pool side bar and restaurant, this would be an easy place to spend a whole day.
If you’re staying overnight, the hotel also offers bicycles and beach gear for when you venture out.