Day Trippin' — South Lido Park

South Lido Park, located at the very south end of the Lido Key, is great place to bring your boat, have a cookout, go fishing or just hang out at the beach. This place will always be special to me, since I practically grew up out here on a Jet Ski, swimming out to the buoy with my brother and sisters and just lying around in the sunshine.

One of my favorite things to do out here has always been to explore the east side with a snorkel and a mask; I've found many cool shells, plus hundreds of sand dollars and starfish. The water is relatively shallow for the first 10 to 20 feet, depending on the tides, and then it drops out, as it eventually turns into Big Sarasota Pass. The water is usually very calm, since it’s not on the Gulf side, and the water is pretty clear almost all year. There are only a few months left of warm water, so get out there and explore the waters while you can!