🌿 Nature
Robinson Preserve 🚗 About 10 minutes, about 5 miles from Holmes Beach
More than 600 acres of mangroves, tidal creeks and trails just over the Manatee Avenue bridge, with observation towers, kayak launches and a treetop canopy walk.
Hours: Daily, sunrise to sunset
Cost: Free
Where: 1704 99th St NW, Bradenton, FL 34209 Bring a kayak or paddleboard for the 5 mile round trip paddle to Palma Sola Bay. Tram tours are canceled for now after hurricane damage. Sources (1) 🏛️ History
De Soto National Memorial 🚗 About 15 minutes, about 7 miles from Holmes Beach
A National Park Service memorial on De Soto Point where the Manatee River meets the bay, with a visitor welcome area and mangrove lined shoreline.
Hours: Grounds dawn to dusk; visitor welcome area daily 9am to 4:45pm; parking gates close 5pm
Where: 8300 De Soto Memorial Hwy, Bradenton, FL 34209 Be back at your car before the parking gates close at 5pm. Sources (2) 🎭 Museums · ☔ Rainy day pick
The Ringling 🚗 About 35 minutes, about 17 miles from Holmes Beach
The circus king's bayfront estate: an art museum, the Circus Museum, the 1920s Ca' d'Zan mansion and gardens on Sarasota Bay.
Hours: Daily 10am to 5pm; Thursdays 5 to 8pm discounted art museum and gardens; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
Where: 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243 Buy tickets online ahead. Entry is limited by capacity. A great pick for a rainy day. Sources (2) 🛍️ Shopping · ☔ Rainy day pick
St. Armands Circle 🚗 About 35 minutes, about 17 miles from Holmes Beach
A ring of more than 100 independent shops and restaurants around a palm lined circle, at the end of a slow, pretty drive down Longboat Key.
Hours: Varies by shop; most stores open 10 to 11am and close 6 to 10pm
Cost: Free to stroll
Where: St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, FL 34236 Take Gulf of Mexico Drive down Longboat Key for the pretty route. Book dinner ahead on holidays. Sources (1) 🐠 Aquarium · ☔ Rainy day pick
Mote Science Education Aquarium 🚗 About 40 minutes, about 20 miles from Holmes Beach
Mote's big new 146,000 square foot aquarium at Nathan Benderson Park, built around real marine science from the lab that started here in 1955.
Hours: Daily 9:30am to 5pm
Where: 225 University Town Center Dr, Sarasota, FL 34243 Reserve tickets online. They sell out. Another good rainy day plan. Sources (2) 🌿 Nature
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 🚗 About 40 minutes, about 20 miles from Holmes Beach
Bayfront botanical gardens in downtown Sarasota with a tropical conservatory full of orchids and bromeliads.
Hours: Daily 10am to 5pm; closed Christmas Day
Where: 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236 Selby's second campus, Historic Spanish Point in Osprey, keeps the same hours. Sources (1) ⛴️ Boat trip
Egmont Key ferry from Fort De Soto 🚗 About 45 minutes, about 30 miles from Holmes Beach
Hubbard's ferry to Egmont Key State Park for three hours of shelling, swimming, gopher tortoises and the ruins of Fort Dade.
Hours: Departs 9am and 11am daily, plus 2pm on Tue, Thu, Sat and Sun; nearly daily in fall and winter
Cost: $45 ages 12 and up, $25 ages 3 to 11, under 3 free, $5 parking
Where: Fort De Soto Boat Ramp, Tierra Verde, FL Arrive 60 minutes early to check in. No restrooms or shops on Egmont Key. Pack water and food. The drive crosses the Sunshine Skyway and has small tolls plus a $6 park entry. Sources (1) 🏖️ Beach
Siesta Beach 🚗 About 50 minutes, about 25 miles from Holmes Beach
The famous powder white quartz sand beach, ranked number one in the U.S. by U.S. News in 2026, with lifeguards, a playground and free parking.
Hours: Park 6am to 10pm; lifeguards 10am to 5pm daily
Cost: Free parking (950 spaces)
Where: 948 Beach Rd, Sarasota, FL 34242 The lot fills early on weekends. Arrive in the morning. The free Siesta Key Breeze trolley runs 8am to 10pm. Sources (1) 