Historic Spanish Point
The Sarasota area is world famous for its beautiful, balmy beaches, fascinating historic sites and polished cultural calendar. However, the county has hidden facets often overlooked. There is a lesser-known, quieter side to Sarasota County, just off the beaten path. Like a diamond in the rough, South County is just waiting to be discovered.
Remote and exclusive, quiet, neatly manicured Casey Key boasts beaches as lovely as the community's Old Florida scenery. You won't catch any high rises on this beautiful barrier island. Take a drive along winding Casey Key Road to marvel at its lush, tropical landscaping. The views of the key's multi-million dollar homes are just as mesmerizing.
Two bridges welcome visitors to Casey Key. The bridge at the north of the island is an old swing bridge, dating back to 1926. It leads to Nokomis Beach, the oldest public beach in Sarasota County. The south end bridge is close to North Jetty Park, a gorgeous spot for family outings. Both beaches offer picnic areas, volleyball nets and boat ramps, making them as convenient as they are uncrowded.
The nearby town of Osprey appears to be a sleepy stop along the South Trail. Once all farmland, this rural area retains its hometown feel. If you dig a little deeper, however, you'll find more hidden under its surface. You can unearth 4,000 years of Florida history at Historic Spanish Point, a tranquil oasis overlooking Little Sarasota Bay. The 30-acre peninsula is the site of the most well-preserved Native American village in Florida, where you can journey through time. See burial mounds and pioneer homesteads, stroll elaborate gardens and connect with events from the distant past.
While in Osprey, you can take a refreshing swim at Oscar Scherer State Park, as well as fish, canoe, bike and hike nature trail. See bald eagles, bobcats and river otters; watch birds feed in the water while Ospreys soar overhead.
Manasota Key straddles Charlotte and Sarasota Counties on the sandy shores of the Gulf of Mexico and Lemon Bay, just off the coast of Englewood. This enchanting barrier island lacks the big buildings and traffic lights of North County. Here, there's just a two-lane road and four gorgeous beaches.
There's no shortage of things to do, either. Restaurants, taverns, shops and beaches are within walking and biking distance. Manasota Beach, at the north end of the key, is graced with romantic sand dunes and laden with shark's teeth. Mid-key, nature trails wind through Blind Pass Beach, an area so quiet it feels like an island in itself. The Hermitage, an artists' colony on the Key, attracts artists, composers and writers from all over the world, who then share their talents with the larger community through workshops, lectures and performances. Englewood Beach is slightly more populated, likely due to its full range of facilities. Stump Pass Beach State Park, at the southern tip, is nearly isolated in comparison, offering plenty of fishing, shelling and sunshine.
Further down in North Port, you'll find Warm Mineral Springs, a spot to soak up the rejuvenating waters of the only warm mineral springs in the state of Florida.
While slightly more developed, Venice maintains an Old Florida feel. Stroll along Venice Main Street, where you'll find shops and restaurants that even conjure up images of an earlier time. Downtown Venice is home to buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Buildings and its beaches are filled with hidden gems--sharks teeth. You'll find most of them in the sands at Caspersen Beach.
For 50 more ideas of things to do in South County, visit http://www.sarasotafl.org/article/50-things-to-do-in-south-county.
