All About Bayfront Park and Marina
Bayfront Park is bright yet shady; you can feel the warmth of the sun, but find a breezy shade among the mature trees. It is high energy yet peaceful; you can sense the outgoing vibe of the socials and hear kids running around, but you can find peace within the sounds and scenes of the bay. It is busy yet idle; many come to exercise and socialize, but you can always seek solitude in a hammock sprawled between two trees.
Bayfront Park and Marina is located off of Bayfront Drive across from Ringling Blvd. Situated on the Sarasota Bay, just minutes from downtown. My family and I find ourselves here probably once a month enjoying a leisurely walk or picnic lunch as a way to get outside and put all else aside but quality time. And to be honest, most of you locals have been here more times than you can count on your hands, but maybe you can find yourself with some newfound inspiration for Bayfront Park and Marina. And those of you who are new to the area or just visiting, put it on your list, you won't regret it! As a local realtor, community is so important. I want everyone to be able to love where they live! Bayfront Park makes it way too easy to love Sarasota! This is a great resource to check out things to do at Bayfront Park along with a local's experience in doing them!
Things to do at Bayfront Park and Marina
O’Leary's Tiki Bar and Grill
O’Leary's Tiki Bar and Grill serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner off an affordable menu. It has outdoor seating both covered and uncovered with a sandy, low key vibe. There is live music which can be found on their band schedule. Seated right on the water with gorgeous views and a relaxed atmosphere, O’Leary’s provides a casual dining experience. Bring along the dog or the kids for some family fun. I see O'Leary's as a great place to meet up with friends, new to town guests, or to just get outside.
Marina Jack
For those looking for a finer dining option, Marina Jack is the place. Seated on the bay right in the heart of the marina, Marina Jack has a variety of dining options. The Marina Jack dining room offers steaks, seafood, and more.
Dine in the open air on the Blue Sunshine Patio Bar and Grill where you can find apps, salads, soups, and sandwiches paired with live music. Enjoy a meal in the Deep Six Lounge and Piano Bar for a casual setting with a variety of menu options.
Playground/The Children’s Fountain
Bayfront Park and Marina has a family friendly playground shaded by large trees. Picnic tables are scattered around the playground and park for an easy lunch stop. Next to the playground is a small splash pad featuring fountains. The Children’s Fountain is free and open to the public during operating hours. This is a great place to bring the kids, and not a bad spot for you to enjoy the views of the bay! Just be aware that the fountain ground is concrete- so do your best to keep those knees skinned free! We recently brought my daughter here and she loved splashing in the water, but we did go home with a few minor scratches!
Exercise
Walk, run, bike, or skate around the quaint loop of Bayfront Park and Marina. It’s a common occurrence to see fitness among this path. Take it up a notch, by starting at Bayfront Park and taking a route along the water over to the Ringling Bridge. Walk the Ringling Bridge over to Bird Key and return back for an approximate 3-mile exercise. Take it a step further to a 5-mile trek and head all the way into St. Armand’s Circle and back. It can be hot on a sunny Sarasota day, but nothing beats the view and the breeze. I’m not going to lie, I’m not really a ‘walker’, I just go along for my wife. But every time, I can admit that the views from the top of the Ringling Bridge never get old; they don’t disappoint. Bring your canoe, kayak, or paddle board and launch it from Bayfront Park and enjoy an exercise on the water.
Relax
I think the majority of people make their way to Bayfront Park and Marina to do exactly this, relax. I’ve seen quite the variety of ‘relaxers’ from my time at the park, and to be honest, I’ve done most of these myself as well. Maybe some of these ideas will be exactly what you’re looking for!
- Bring the dog and take a walk
- Set up a hammock
- Pack a picnic lunch, or better yet, a sunset picnic
- Boat watching, or simply admire the boats docked in the marina
- Fly a kite, throw a frisbee, enjoy the long expanse of greenery
- Sit back and talk, read, or just enjoy the view on one of the benches or swings
- Take a walk over to downtown for a bite to eat
Bayfront Excursions
Go explore the waters with a watersports rental. Waverunners, paddle boards, kayaks, and more. See the website HERE for full information on rentals and pricing.
The Marina Jack II
A sightseeing lunch cruise or a sunset dinner cruise makes a great afternoon or evening out. Cruise through Lido Key, Bird Key, and North Sarasota Bay. With air conditioning and an open-air deck, enjoy views of the water and delicious food. Located right behind the Marina Jack Restaurant.
LeBarge Tropical Cruises
Docked at Bayfront Park and Marina, Lebarge Tropical Cruises offers a variety of cruising options in a casual, tropical atmosphere. Dolphin & Manatee Watch Cruise, Sightseeing & Nature Cruise, or the Tropical Sunset Cruise with live entertainment. All cruises have a bar and light food menu available.
Kathleen D. Sailing Catamarans
Kathleen D. Sailing Catamarans offers the following daily excursions: Dolphin Watch, Sunset Sail, True Sail, and the Big Pass Adventure. The Big Pass Adventure is a sailing, snorkeling, kayaking, shelling, and lunch adventure.
Fishing Charters
Below are some fishing charters that are located at Bayfront Park and Marina.
To learn about downtown Sarasota real estate click HERE, or scroll below to see all active listings in downtown Sarasota.
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Posted by Matt Leicht on
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