The Official Visitors Guide of Sarasota County® - 2025

Plan your next trip to Sarasota County around some of our exciting grand openings or expansions—coming in 2025 or on the horizon.

Dive Into the SEA

This year, Mote Marine Laboratory is celebrating a rebirth as Mote SEA (Science Education Aquarium) at Nathan Benderson Park. Visitors will enjoy 1 million gallons of animal habitats featuring marine animals, new exhibits, three stories of hands-on teaching labs, onsite diving programs and ocean demonstrations.

Let the Games Begin

The new 17th Street Regional Park Athletic Complex is on track to be a must-book destination for sports tournaments year-round. Athletes and coaches can expect state-of-the-art women’s collegiate softball fields, synthetic turf multipurpose fields, batting cage tunnels and a food truck staging area.

Play at The Bay

Sarasota loves The Bay, a community park conservancy initiative to transform 53 acres of city-owned land along Sarasota Bay. Look for Phase 2 to be completed in 2026, expanding the oases even further with a sunset pier, cultural district, day docks, seawall (canal district) and resilient shoreline.

Plane-Watch at SRQ

If plane takeoffs and landings thrill, be sure to check out the 825-square-foot flight observation deck being built behind Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ). The structure will include shaded seating, an aviation-themed playground, historical signage and tower transmission.

Reach New Heights

With nearly 20 miles of car-less, forested stretches of trail connecting Sarasota’s Payne Park with the Venice Train Depot, the Legacy Trail’s scenic route to cycle, blade, skate or walk will construct new overpass crossings over two major roadways to improve pedestrian safety and connections.

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