The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
For a quiet afternoon of cultural appreciation, visit the historic Ringling Museum, and view the sculpture garden, art and heritage that created the cultural foundation of our area. The Ringlings brought much more than the circus to Sarasota -- they engendered a sense of appreciation for the arts, and the philosophy of preservation for paintings, sculpture, architecture, performance and much more. Also, enjoy the opportunity to explore The Gallery of the Circus and the CadZan, the expansive Ringling mansion.  Located at 2700 Tamiami Trail N. Sarasota, Florida 34234 (941) 351-5100.

Cà’ d’Zan; the Circus Galleries
5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. 359-5700. Two of the biggest draws at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art are the Ringlings’ 1920s mansion, Cà’ d’Zan, with its Italianate style and beautiful gardens (now being extensively refurbished); and the Circus Galleries, where costumes, posters and other circus memorabilia recall the days of the greatest shows on earth. Open daily.

Cars and Music of Yesterday
5500 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 355-6228. An eclectic mix of autos from ages past, along with scores of historic music boxes and Victrolas.

Crowley Museum and Nature Center
Rt. 2, Sarasota, near Myakka City. 322-1000. Return to the days of the Sarasota pioneers in this reconstructed village, with its walking trails and unspoiled nature. Call ahead for an escorted tour.

De Soto National Memorial
75th St. NW, Bradenton. 792-0458. Believed to be the site of explorer Hernando De Soto’s landfall in Florida, more than 450 years ago. Seasonally, park employees in period dress perform demonstrations and give talks about that era of Florida’s history. There’s also a nature trail.

Gamble Plantation and Mansion
U.S. 301, Ellenton. 1-723-4536. Southwest Florida’s oldest building lies not far from the busy interstate now, but once it was part of a sugar plantation so private that the Confederacy’s Secretary of the Treasury used it as a hideout from the Yankees. Guided tours are filled with information about how the plantation was run 150 years ago.

Gulf Coast Wonder & Imagination Zone, Inc. (GWIZ)
8251 E. 15th St., Sarasota. 359-9975. Hands-on science exhibits and activities aimed at kids, including an echo chamber, reptiles and mice, electricity displays and more.

Historic Spanish Point at the Oaks
500 Tamiami Trail, Osprey. 966-5214. A unique 30-acre environmental, historical and archaeological site haunted by ghosts of prehistoric Indians, the pioneer Webb family and society matron Mrs. Potter Palmer, all of whom made their homes here. Peer inside an ancient midden, admire rare plants and wildlife, and imagine yourself living with the gorgeous view from the remaining Guptill house.

Jungle Gardens
3701 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. 355-5305. Kids love Jungle Gardens’ bird and reptile shows (and gasping at the ’gators), and adults enjoy strolling the 10 tropical acres filled with trees, plants, flowers and pink flamingos. There’s also a small petting zoo/playground set amid shaded walkways plus a small cafe.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
811 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 366-5730 or 366-5731. Orchids galore here, interspersed with bromeliads and banyans in this green oasis along Sarasota’s bayfront. Also on the grounds are a small museum and the Selby home, now a gift shop. Be sure to pick up some plants.

Mote Marine Science Center and Aquarium
1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota. 388-2451. Mote’s laboratory is world-famous; its aquarium is a "must-see" attraction for those who prefer their sealife, including sharks, turtles and seahorses, behind glass tanks, please. Informed volunteers staff the center, which is a big hit with kids of all ages.

Myakka River State Park
14 miles east of Sarasota on S.R. 72. 361-6511. An amazing 28,000-acre preserve of wild Florida, complete with deer, alligators, oaks, scrub and atmospheric Spanish moss. There are tram rides, nature trails, airboat tours, canoeing, and camping as well. For a wildlife tour, call 365-0100.

Pelican Man’s Bird Sanctuary
1708 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota. 388-4444. Pelicans and other wounded birds take refuge here, making for an avian attraction that really serves a rehabilitation purpose.

South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium
201 10th St. W., Bradenton. 746-4131. The museum’s exhibits cover our local heritage from the Indians to De Soto to the Crackers who settled the region; the planetarium offers laser-lightshows and stargazing.

Warm Mineral Springs
12 miles south of Venice (exit 34 off I-75). 426-1692. Visitors come from around the world to take a dip in this constant 87-degree Fahrenheit spring. Dig into a little of the springs’ prehistoric past while you’re there through exhibits tracing archaeological research.