Beat the Summer Heat

Living in Florida has changed the connotation of the word summer... from "long days without school" to "standing on the burning surface of the sun." While summer in Florida is indeed pretty darn hot, there are a lot fewer people to contend with out there in the Sarasota world during the summer, and there is still plenty to do. Here are a few of our favorite ways to beat the summer heat!

Head to the Beach

Duh, this one is pretty obvious but frankly it wouldn't be a list about Sarasota without THE BEACH. But... let us add on to this year-round Sarasota to-do staple: "Head to the beach -- with a cooler full of water, a full bottle of sunblock, a large umbrella, and a noodle" is what it should say during the summer. There is always a lovely breeze on the coast, but the full summer sun in the afternoons can be quite overwhelming, and unless you have the world's most enviable base tan, you'll need to reapply your sunblock every couple hours. So grab your umbrella, a noodle so you can float in the water when you're out of the shade, and some serious SPF on your way to the sands and don't forget to stay hydrated! (We recommend becoming a crepuscular beach-goer this time of year.... more on that below!) 😉🏖

Kayak the Mangroves Around THE BAY

What's the best way to keep the water but lose the full sun exposure? MANGROVES. Drop your kayak off the launch from downtown's The Bay park - or rent one there! - and enjoy a kayak ride in the shade of the mangroves. The water is so clear at our coastlines that you can see a multitude of sea life swimming beneath you, birds are plentiful in and around the mangroves, and the mangroves itself form a pleasant, shady labyrinthine tunnel for you to follow for hours. It's truly a magical way to view Sarasota Bay! 

Another place to play on the kayak is Ted Sperling Park on South Lido. Like The Bay, you can rent a kayak there, and they also do guided tours if you want to know more about the mangroves while you paddle. In both places, you can bring your own kayak to drop in if you have one, and tour the "forest of the ocean" yourself!

Become a Part of THE SARASOTA FILM SOCIETY @ Burns Court & Lakewood Ranch Cinemas

It would have been a shorter title had we just picked one, but we just CAN'T. Sarasota Film Society runs both Burns Court Cinemas in Downtown Sarasota as well as the Lakewood Ranch Cinema on Main Street in LWR, so depending on where you live, you will have your favorite. We love the Film Society theaters because of their extremely reasonable ticket prices, full bar, and special events and features. And while you can catch plenty of current releases, the Sarasota Film Society does a handful of special showings, like this week you can see The Matrix and The Blues Brothers, which are both at Burns Court. Check out their events calendar for all the happenings.

Catch the Breeze on THE BAY RUNNER

Technically, the Bay Runner is a form of transport, but this open-air trolley which runs from Downtown Sarasota to Longboat Key (with stops on Lido & St. Armands) is a great to-do all its own. Hop on at one of its many stops and enjoy a picturesque ride along Sarasota Bay, all with the wind in your hair. And if anything looks good along the way, signal a stop, hop off and have an adventure on the beach, stroll around St. Armands or Downtown, or find a great restaurant for lunch, then hop back on the trolley and go home. The Bay Runner is free and operates 7 days a week. (Interested in the Bay Runner? We go into more detail about it in this blog.)

Culture Yo'self!

Summer is a great time to check out Sarasota's museums. The Ringling Museum has a lovely collection of fine arts and also a super-fun (for young and old!) interactive circus museum. The Sarasota Art Museum, which opened in 2019 and is housed in the former Sarasota High building on Tamiami Trail, is another great place for art lovers to visit in Sarasota, featuring modern & contemporary art. If you prefer art of the natural world, Selby Gardens and Mote Marine both feature indoor and outdoor exhibits so you can beat the heat when you need to! 

Go Crepuscular

Crepuscular animals are the most active at dawn and dusk, which, coincidentally, happens to be the best time to be awake and outside right now in Sarasota. So when in doubt, embrace the crepuscular life. Walks at dawn, beach at sunset, nap in the middle. 😁  (The above pic is from one of our recent dawn walks around the bird preserve area at the Celery Fields!)

Whether your summer fun involves avoiding the heat or embracing it, we hope this list inspires you to try something new during our hottest months!