Sandy’s guidebook
Sightseeing
These are just some of the wonderful things to see and do in and around Manasota Mermaid located in Englewood, FL 34223. Come and enjoy all these activities year-round.
Warm Mineral Springs is a year-round warm mineral spring said to have therapeutic and healthful properties. There are many visitors that come to Warm Mineral Springs and SW Florida just to visit Warm Mineral Springs.
60 locals recommend
Warm Mineral Springs
Warm Mineral Springs is a year-round warm mineral spring said to have therapeutic and healthful properties. There are many visitors that come to Warm Mineral Springs and SW Florida just to visit Warm Mineral Springs.
Boca Grande - Where the rich and famous of the U.S. come to visit. Former Presidents, football coaches, well know society types, writers, actors and actresses have all come either to visit or own places on Boca Grande.
This is how the " other half " lives. It is only a short 25 minute drive from Manasota Mermaid. Nice restaurants, pristine beaches, lighthouses, Tarpon fishing, Shark fishing, boating, shopping and all sorts of other things to do on this tiny island. Make a day of it.
167 locals recommend
Boca Grande
Boca Grande - Where the rich and famous of the U.S. come to visit. Former Presidents, football coaches, well know society types, writers, actors and actresses have all come either to visit or own places on Boca Grande.
This is how the " other half " lives. It is only a short 25 minute drive from Manasota Mermaid. Nice restaurants, pristine beaches, lighthouses, Tarpon fishing, Shark fishing, boating, shopping and all sorts of other things to do on this tiny island. Make a day of it.
Myakka State Park is a beautiful outdoor SW FL State Park. Swimming, boating, fishing, tours to see alligators, manatees, dolphins and much more marine life.
Lots to do here, camping, hiking trails, birding trails, kayaking and much more.
382 locals recommend
Myakka River State Park
13208 State Rd 72Myakka State Park is a beautiful outdoor SW FL State Park. Swimming, boating, fishing, tours to see alligators, manatees, dolphins and much more marine life.
Lots to do here, camping, hiking trails, birding trails, kayaking and much more.
Siesta Key - Just a short 35 minute drive from The Mermaid, without the VERY EXPENSIVE costs. Voted one of America's top 5 beaches ( yes, the very same beach shared with The Mermaid, just up the road ), lots of shopping, sightseeing, sunbathing, ( Siesta Key even " GROOMS " their beach every night ). Lots of quaint places to go and see. Make a day of it.
400 locals recommend
Siesta Key
Siesta Key - Just a short 35 minute drive from The Mermaid, without the VERY EXPENSIVE costs. Voted one of America's top 5 beaches ( yes, the very same beach shared with The Mermaid, just up the road ), lots of shopping, sightseeing, sunbathing, ( Siesta Key even " GROOMS " their beach every night ). Lots of quaint places to go and see. Make a day of it.
Boca Royale Golf Club is located 1 mile from The Mermaid. Boca Royale is just one of many golf courses within 1/2 hour drive of The Mermaid. Being so close to The Mermaid, you can get 9 holes in even teeing off as late as 3:00 PM in the Winter.
Check out SW Florida Golf scene at :
http://florida.twoguyswhogolf.com/southwest.html
That should keep you golfers busy for awhile !!!!!!!!!!!!
11 locals recommend
Boca Royale Golf & Country Club
1601 Englewood RdBoca Royale Golf Club is located 1 mile from The Mermaid. Boca Royale is just one of many golf courses within 1/2 hour drive of The Mermaid. Being so close to The Mermaid, you can get 9 holes in even teeing off as late as 3:00 PM in the Winter.
Check out SW Florida Golf scene at :
http://florida.twoguyswhogolf.com/southwest.html
That should keep you golfers busy for awhile !!!!!!!!!!!!
Swim with WILD MANATEES - that's right, you read that correctly. Crystal River is located a short one hour drive from The Mermaid and is where manatees go to keep warm in the winter months. Several tour groups offer swim packages that let you get in the water with the gentle giants ( often call Sea Cows ) and are very affectionate and inquisitive with their human counter parts.
Come swim and have fun in Crystal River. See link below:
https://explorida.com/manatee-tour/?matchtype=e&network=g&device=c&keyword=crystal%20river%20manatee%20tours&campaign=6456967575&adgroup=74100988741&gclid=CjwKCAiA-vLyBRBWEiwAzOkGVOTPag6IV571J1WU8cRxjR7ArEyjr7i9LVKF3WGW60Jw85Qwn7CAsxoCehMQAvD_BwE
190 locals recommend
Crystal River
3266 N Sailboat AveSwim with WILD MANATEES - that's right, you read that correctly. Crystal River is located a short one hour drive from The Mermaid and is where manatees go to keep warm in the winter months. Several tour groups offer swim packages that let you get in the water with the gentle giants ( often call Sea Cows ) and are very affectionate and inquisitive with their human counter parts.
Come swim and have fun in Crystal River. See link below:
https://explorida.com/manatee-tour/?matchtype=e&network=g&device=c&keyword=crystal%20river%20manatee%20tours&campaign=6456967575&adgroup=74100988741&gclid=CjwKCAiA-vLyBRBWEiwAzOkGVOTPag6IV571J1WU8cRxjR7ArEyjr7i9LVKF3WGW60Jw85Qwn7CAsxoCehMQAvD_BwE
Who doesn't love the Circus. Ringling Brothers / Barnum & Bailey Circus Museum is just up the road from The Mermaid. This is a really great place to see and experience how the circus started and traveled around the world. There is even a place to try your hand at being a trapeze artist.
https://www.ringling.org/admissions-and-tours
306 locals recommend
Ringling Museum station
Who doesn't love the Circus. Ringling Brothers / Barnum & Bailey Circus Museum is just up the road from The Mermaid. This is a really great place to see and experience how the circus started and traveled around the world. There is even a place to try your hand at being a trapeze artist.
https://www.ringling.org/admissions-and-tours
How can we forget the Gulf Of Mexico as one of the MUST-SEE places here at The Mermaid. Just a 5 minute drive from Manasota Mermaid is one of the most pristine beaches you will ever find. You cannot even see a house from Manasota Beach.
Just perfect !!!!!!!!!!!!!! No need to say more .............
15 locals recommend
Gulf of Mexico
How can we forget the Gulf Of Mexico as one of the MUST-SEE places here at The Mermaid. Just a 5 minute drive from Manasota Mermaid is one of the most pristine beaches you will ever find. You cannot even see a house from Manasota Beach.
Just perfect !!!!!!!!!!!!!! No need to say more .............
Neighborhoods
Historic Downtown Englewood offers restaurants, live jazz bands, weekly Farmers Market, festivals all year-round, great views of the Gulf, fantastic sunsets, Mariners War Memorial, great for just walking and browsing. Where Englewood started and continues to grow.
40 locals recommend
Englewood
Historic Downtown Englewood offers restaurants, live jazz bands, weekly Farmers Market, festivals all year-round, great views of the Gulf, fantastic sunsets, Mariners War Memorial, great for just walking and browsing. Where Englewood started and continues to grow.
Venice Florida is just a short drive from Manasota Mermaid. It has nice little shops, quant little downtown, palm trees lit up at Christmas time, a Christmas Boat Parade, lots of restaurants, and lots of other attractions. You will want to bring a full wallet if you go here. as it tends to cater to the more well-to-do crowd. But still some reasonable restaurants and Gulf watching, it is worth the visit.
https://www.venicegov.com/
90 locals recommend
Venice
Venice Florida is just a short drive from Manasota Mermaid. It has nice little shops, quant little downtown, palm trees lit up at Christmas time, a Christmas Boat Parade, lots of restaurants, and lots of other attractions. You will want to bring a full wallet if you go here. as it tends to cater to the more well-to-do crowd. But still some reasonable restaurants and Gulf watching, it is worth the visit.
https://www.venicegov.com/
Food scene
LOVE ORANGES ?????? You will love the area in and around The Mermaid. Numerous locations where you can pick your own oranges, enjoy fresh squeezed orange juice, eat orange ice cream ( yes, you read that right ), and even go on a tour of a working orange farm. Just MINUTES from The Mermaid.
https://www.nokomisgroves.com/
https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/travel-and-outdoors/2016/02/pick-fresh-florida-citrus-from-the-grove
15 locals recommend
Nokomis Groves Ice Cream Stand
111 Albee Farm Rd SLOVE ORANGES ?????? You will love the area in and around The Mermaid. Numerous locations where you can pick your own oranges, enjoy fresh squeezed orange juice, eat orange ice cream ( yes, you read that right ), and even go on a tour of a working orange farm. Just MINUTES from The Mermaid.
https://www.nokomisgroves.com/
https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/travel-and-outdoors/2016/02/pick-fresh-florida-citrus-from-the-grove
City advice
Don't miss
Englewood Seafood and Music Festival
Come to one of the Southwest Florida's biggest and best seafood festivals. Vendors bring fresh caught fish, shrimp, and other marine delicacies to this festival. Lots of fun all weekend for you. Every January. Minutes from The Mermaid !!!!!!
https://www.paragonartevents.com/S-67-Englewood+Seafood+%26+Music+Festival.html
Don't miss
OLD CAR SHOW: Every Wednesday
Every Wednesday ( over 300 cars in season Jan. - April ) in the Big Lots Shopping Center, people come to show off their old cars and trucks and other type of transportation. What a site it is. Almost the entire park lot is devoted just to the admiration of old cars. Buy a doughnut at the nearby Yum-Yum Bakery and get free coffee. What a deal !!!!!!!!!!