POINTS OF
INTEREST
Island Park/Bayfront Park
Bayfront Drive, Sarasota.
Enjoy spectacular bay views, fountains,
indoor/outdoor restaurants and unforgettable sunsets
on Sarasota Bay.
Ken Thompson Park
1700 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota.
An 84-acre park offering a nature trail/boardwalk,
picnic area, playground, and restrooms. There are
indoor/outdoor restaurants in the area to enjoy
refreshments and the view, as well as a bait shop.
941-861-5000.
Mote Marine Aquarium
1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota. Get a close-up
look at the creatures that inhabit nearby coastal
waters. Come face-to-face with sharks, touch a
horseshoe crab or enjoy watching manatees gliding
through the water. Mote Marine also offers a guided
tour of the bays.
941-388-4441
www.mote.org
Otter Key
A 30-acre island east of Lido Key, Otter Key is an
undeveloped County park. It is a great place for
viewing wildlife.
941-861-5000.
Sarasota BayWalk
1700 Ken Thompson Pkwy., Sarasota.
This 4.5-acre wetland restoration site with
boardwalks offers wildlife viewing and nature
trails.
South Lido Park
190 Taft Drive and 2201 Ben Franklin Drive,
Lido Key, Sarasota.
This 100-acre park interacts with four significant
bodies of water: the Gulf of Mexico, Big Sarasota
Pass, Sarasota Bay, and Brushy Bayou. There are
beaches, nature trails, picnic areas, and restrooms.
941-861-5000.
Tony Saprito Pier
Located at Causeway Park, Sarasota.
Concession and bait shop (Hart’s Landing). This is a
popular spot to fish, with a beautiful view of the
Sarasota skyline.
941-861-1602
Quick Point Nature Preserve
100 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key.
A 34-acre nature park offering trails, boardwalks,
tidal pools, scenic vistas and wildlife viewing.
941-316-1988
www.longboatkey.org |
MAP
 Lido
Park Trail
ROUTE
This trail is located in the downtown area of the Sarasota bay
front and includes Lido Key and the southern portion of Longboat
Key.
NAVIGATIONAL NOTES
The technical difficulty of this trail varies, depending on the
location. Motorized vessels are a hazard when paddling the
Intracoastal Waterway. Be careful — tides and currents can be
powerful as well. Paddlers should also be aware of boat traffic
and strong currents when crossing Big Sarasota Pass.
SHORT TRIPS
South Lido Nature Park
Kayak/canoe one of Sarasota’s most popular paddling trails.
Approximately 1-mile of a peaceful paddle through the mangrove
tunnels that wind through Big Grassy Lagoon and Brushy Bayou.
Quick Point Nature Preserve to Ken Thompson Park
This trail is a 2-mile loop. There are nature trails to enjoy at
Quick Point Nature Preserve and the Sarasota BayWalk at Ken
Thompson Park. Also located here are waterfront restaurants,
picnic areas, and a fishing pier.
LAUNCH POINTS
Bird Key Park
200 John Ringling Causeway, Bird Key.
After crossing the Ringling Bridge going west, this park and
launch point are located immediately on the right.
South Lido Nature Park
190 Taft Dr., Lido Key.
The launch is located to the east of the restroom facilities at
the end of Taft Drive.
South Lido Beach Park
2201 Ben Franklin Drive. Lido Key.
This launch area can be accessed by driving to the end of Ben
Franklin Drive.
Shell Road
From U.S. 41 take Siesta Drive onto Siesta Key; continue west to
Higel Drive In approximately one quarter of a mile, turn right
on north Shell Road. At the end of north Shell Road there is a
small beach access with limited parking. |
