Are you thinking about taking a trip to Sarasota or Lido Key, Florida? Lido Key is a small, quaint barrier island off the coast of Sarasota. People from all over the world vacation here to escape the rat race of a large metropolis and spend time in the sun enjoying the relaxing beauty of the area. Whether you are trying to escape work, cold weather or boredom then Lido Key might be the perfect place for you.

There is plenty to do in Sarasota, Florida. You won’t get bored unless you really desire to be bored. Vacationing on Lido Key gives you quick convenient access to everything Sarasota has to offer. However, you really don’t need to leave the island to find activities. Here are ten fun things to do on Lido Key.

1) The first and most obvious one is to play at the pretty beach. Lido Key beach is long enough for a good walk or run along the beach. You can also do nothing if you wish. Grab a good beach chair, book and refreshments and just chill for awhile. What a great place to forget about the stresses of your daily life.

2) Go for a swim in the Gulf of Mexico or in the swimming pool. What a delightful way to do on your vacation. No phone calls, no emails, nothing else to nag you. Just you and nature.

3) Looking for some thrills? Do some parasailing. Strap into a harness attached to a parachute and then get pulled by a rope attached to a boat. I have yet to do this. Friends of mine who have done it say it is a blast. Capture great views of the beach, water, Sarasota and barrier islands.

4) Take a bike ride around St. Armands Circle and Lido Key. Take a ride from south Lido Key Park, check out the nature preserve, the beach front condos and make your way north to St. Armands Circle and then to Lido Shores. There are some great views and real estate to check out.

5) Take a tour around Mote Marine Laboratory. If you have kids they will love to see the sharks, dolphins, manatees and other marine wildlife. There are over 100 species of marine life here.

6) If you want to see more nature rent a kayak and take a trip around Lido Key. There is a nature preserve on the south end of the island that is perfect for cruising around. You can get up close and personal with nature.

7) Splurge a little bit on your vacation and go grab an ice cream on St. Armands Circle. Visit Ben and Jerry’s, Kilwins, Big Olafs or Scoop Daddy’s for a delicious ice cream while you walk around “The Circle”.
Do you enjoy people watching? Run over to Starbucks on St. Armands Circle and enjoy a tasty beverage while you sit outside and observe all of the people walking by.

9) Rent a motor boat for the day. If you go over to Marine Max on City Island you can rent a boat for the day. It is a blast to cruise around the waters of the Sarasota bay and Gulf of Mexico. If you want you can anchor up in the lagoon between Lido Key and Longboat Key and jump in for a swim.

10) Enjoy a meal or drink on St. Armands Circle. There are so many wonderful places to enjoy a great meal. Some of these restaurants include – Crab and Fin, Columbia, Cha Cha Coconuts, Tommy Bahamas, 15 South and Hemingways.

Lido Key is a wonderful vacation destination. It is also a great place to live or own a second home. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money there are some very affordable condos on the island. You can now find some under $300,000. Not bad for a luxurious, relaxing island destination.

Marc Rasmussen sells Lido Key condos