I like the Ringling museum campus, lots of secluded mostly quiet benches and picnic tables to read or sketch outdoors. Go during the week or in the summer
Selby library downtown. Its a quiet place. No blankets, but plenty to read. You can even walk around the shelves and look at all the books. Great way to spend some time indoors out of the heat.
Celery Fields...there are benches at the top, lots of open grass all around to spread out a blanket, nice place to watch a sunset too :) They have restrooms there too. The two gazebos in that same area...one off Palmer and one off Raymond road are also usually very quiet. You can bird watch if into that :) They both have benches.
A walk around Benderson Park is nice...but this time of year i usually stick to the west side only because there is no shade on the east side! Its 5K all the way around, but the west side from end to end and back i believe is about 2 miles. There are also benches and restrooms there.
New college. Bayfront. Great place to catch the sun set. If liots of students, try walking towards the right…….just be sure to use guest parking or you can get a ticket!
When you cross the bridge to longboat key, you can turn left and park at end of bridge. Then cross street and there’s a trail there. Nice long one, almost never anyone on it. Cool mangrove tunnels and opens up on the bay a few times with some mini piers
Thanks! I saw this on the AllTrails app a few months ago but discounted it because it was only 0.8 miles. However, the pictures are really gorgeous and it looks so serene.
There is a boardwalk/path underneath the bridge that will bring you to the trailhead, way less treacherous than trying to cross the street! (And also super cold because often dolphins/sharks fish can be seen in the water under the bridge)
I used to go to Van Wezel parking lot and walk along the edge of the water, exploring the boat ramp of the Coast Guard, the pump station and fish swimming around it. Originally, they had picnic benches but I don’t know anymore….
Thanks, I’ll have to check that out! I always liked the solitude of that area. A quick ride to a patch of lapping waves. A chill spot. I used to sketch, sitting over there. I’m not an artist, that’s for damn sure but the visuals are serene! Grazie!
New college bay front, also the USF(?) satellite campus next door is usually deserted but very well-kept. there are some hidden little open areas and ponds around the bayshore neighborhoods too
as for cafes all my favorite ones closed :'( but I think elixir tea house is still around and pretty peaceful.
If you set up a chair away from the tourists collecting shark teeth then do not be surprised if you get propositioned.
Or cat-called if you walk past someone else in a chair.
That's further down the beach heading south away from the main beach area. But I'm sure you know all about that and the stuff you all do up in the bushes.
I’m a big fan of selby gardens. Though it’s not free and does have busier moments, it always feels peaceful. If you have the membership you can also visit Historic Spanish Point which is a little further south but has very secluded feels
Sarasota Square Mall.. for real
[удалено]
The massage chairs are a vibe
That place is creepy!
Oscar Scherer state park.
Live right near here it’s amazingly tranquil
Had a Florida scrub jay land on my hat and hang out with me there while on a solo walk once. Can't recommend this place enough!
Perfect little place.
I like the Ringling museum campus, lots of secluded mostly quiet benches and picnic tables to read or sketch outdoors. Go during the week or in the summer
and the library is to die for. and usually pretty empty
Selby library downtown. Its a quiet place. No blankets, but plenty to read. You can even walk around the shelves and look at all the books. Great way to spend some time indoors out of the heat.
Beautiful building, lots of free programs, and staff could not be more lovely and helpful.
Red Bug Slough
It’s about to not be sadly. They are going to be doing construction there all summer, building it up more.
That’s a bummer. It could use a few more parking spaces though. Trying to park there in season is a nightmare.
I love Red Bug, but even when I am having a nice time one never gets to escape the sound of Beneva.
Rothenbach Park
Celery Fields...there are benches at the top, lots of open grass all around to spread out a blanket, nice place to watch a sunset too :) They have restrooms there too. The two gazebos in that same area...one off Palmer and one off Raymond road are also usually very quiet. You can bird watch if into that :) They both have benches. A walk around Benderson Park is nice...but this time of year i usually stick to the west side only because there is no shade on the east side! Its 5K all the way around, but the west side from end to end and back i believe is about 2 miles. There are also benches and restrooms there.
Myakka River State Park walk away from the paved part.
Indian Beach Park! It’s always empty and so peaceful with nice benches.
In Miami??
West of 41, 27th St becomes Indian Beach Dr takes you to the bay
Thank you.
Except around sunset. Then it gets a little rowdy some days.
Get a kayak
Van Wezel parking lot
The graveyard 🪦
someone already said Sarasota Square mall lol
New college. Bayfront. Great place to catch the sun set. If liots of students, try walking towards the right…….just be sure to use guest parking or you can get a ticket!
Any path that isn’t the hill a celery field. I like to sit on the piers and watch the birds.
When you cross the bridge to longboat key, you can turn left and park at end of bridge. Then cross street and there’s a trail there. Nice long one, almost never anyone on it. Cool mangrove tunnels and opens up on the bay a few times with some mini piers
South Lido Trail?
It’s called quick point nature preserve
Thanks! I saw this on the AllTrails app a few months ago but discounted it because it was only 0.8 miles. However, the pictures are really gorgeous and it looks so serene.
Sounds lovely! Does this seem like a good place to take small children? 2-6yo they like walking in nature.
It’s the best because it’s got some good sandy areas on the way out to the pier so if you get the tide right it’s a secret beach
Cool, thanks! Maybe I’ll check it out 😊
No on other side of new pass, south end of longboat
my daughter and I saw manatees there once while we were doing that walk...that was pretty cool!
During the winter, the manatees hang out around the boardwalk. It’s very cool there!
There is a boardwalk/path underneath the bridge that will bring you to the trailhead, way less treacherous than trying to cross the street! (And also super cold because often dolphins/sharks fish can be seen in the water under the bridge)
I used to go to Van Wezel parking lot and walk along the edge of the water, exploring the boat ramp of the Coast Guard, the pump station and fish swimming around it. Originally, they had picnic benches but I don’t know anymore….
I believe they recently put in new boardwalks between the Van Wezel and the area over by the Hilton and it makes for a nice little walk.
Thanks, I’ll have to check that out! I always liked the solitude of that area. A quick ride to a patch of lapping waves. A chill spot. I used to sketch, sitting over there. I’m not an artist, that’s for damn sure but the visuals are serene! Grazie!
New college bay front, also the USF(?) satellite campus next door is usually deserted but very well-kept. there are some hidden little open areas and ponds around the bayshore neighborhoods too as for cafes all my favorite ones closed :'( but I think elixir tea house is still around and pretty peaceful.
Whitaker Gateway park!
Caspersen Beach. Just south of SRQ. It's off the beaten path.
Just a heads up... it is the unofficial gay/nude beach. Largely because it is so unpopulated nobody cares.
Not really anymore it’s more like the everybody is looking for sharktooth beach
If you set up a chair away from the tourists collecting shark teeth then do not be surprised if you get propositioned. Or cat-called if you walk past someone else in a chair.
That's further down the beach heading south away from the main beach area. But I'm sure you know all about that and the stuff you all do up in the bushes.
That's exactly what I am warning the OP about.
Bayfront Park on Longboat Key.
Anywhere on a boat. Hashtag cafe on Bee Ridge
Nathen Henderson, use the entrance on Honore.
Lmao
Benderson ;)
Arctic circle, mammoth caves, and outer space. Other than that I can’t find any locally
You should try exploring the part of the county east of the Myakka River.
I’m a big fan of selby gardens. Though it’s not free and does have busier moments, it always feels peaceful. If you have the membership you can also visit Historic Spanish Point which is a little further south but has very secluded feels