- December 27, 2024
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Florida is filled with natural beauty, and East County is no exception.
Yes, it’s hot in the summer, but don’t let the heat get in the way of enjoying all that nature has to offer.
At Jiggs Landing Outpost last week, a group of people found respite from the heat, sitting under the trees as they listened to live music provided by Donnie Bostic.
As the wind picked up, the boats along the dock swayed in the water of the Evers Reservoir, providing a rhythmic and scenic background to the small stage where Bostic was performing.
Jiggs Landing isn't alone. Here are seven places to go in East County this summer to enjoy nature's beauty.
Location: 13208 State Road 72, Sarasota
Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset
Cost: $6 per vehicle; bike rentals $15-$40 for single-person bikes and $30-$80 for tandem bikes; boating $20 for first hour and $5 for each additional hour; boat tours $20 plus tax for adults, $12 plus tax for children 3-12 and free for children 2 and under
Zoom through the seven miles of paved road on a bike or take a leisure hike down the Myakka Trail, which is a 38.9-mile hiking loop trail.
Grab your horse and trot down the 12 miles of designated horse trails.
Take to the water by boat, canoe or kayak. Enjoy fishing, horseback riding and geocaching.
Boat tours are available at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. No reservations are required and tickets are sold on a first-come-first-served basis.
More information: Visit FloridaStateParks.org/Parks-And-Trails/Myakka-River-State-Park.
Location: 2525 27th St. E., Bradenton
Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays
Cost: Tram tours $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 3-12, free for children ages 2 and under; Amazing Play Place $5
With Mixon Fruit Farms closing its doors July 29, the days to hitch a ride on Mixon’s Orange Blossom Express are numbered.
Take a tram tour to learn about the world of citrus. Have fun in the Amazing Play Place that includes a 20-foot slide, tetherball, a putting green and more. Visit the Wildlife Inc. Rescue to enjoy an interactive, educational show with rescue Florida animals, reptiles and birds. Watch orange juice, grapefruit juice or lemonade be made right in front of you at Mixon’s packinghouse.
More information: Visit Mixon.com.
Location: 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays to Sundays
Cost: Kayak and canoe rentals $15-$85; boat rentals $35-$75 per hour; boat and kayak tours $20-$55
Jiggs Landing Outpost offers a peaceful view or a ride on the Braden River.
Whether it’s grabbing a bite to eat before listening to live music that’s available on certain nights, boarding a boat for a tour or fishing off the dock, Jiggs Landing Outpost and its scenic beauty provides plenty of fun.
More information: Visit JiggsLanding.com.
Location: 20007 State Road 64 E., Bradenton
Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset
Cost: $5 per vehicle; canoe or kayak rental $15-$20 per half day and $5 for each additional hour; bike rental $3 per hour, $9 per half day, $15 per day; boat ramp $4
Take in Lake Manatee State Park as you ride your bike on the park’s 2.5-mile paved interior road, or if you’re feeling more adventurous, there’s 2.34 miles available for off-road cycling.
If you’d rather enjoy the park on foot, there’s 4.5 miles of trails for hiking.
Explore the 2,400-acre Lake Manatee by taking your boat out on the lake, but keep in mind the Manatee County ordinance that restricts the use of boat motors to 20 horsepower or less.
If a boat is not your speed, explore the shores of the lake in your canoe or kayak.
Make it an overnight trip by camping in the 60-site camping area that’s within walking distance of the beach and fishing areas. Make reservations at Reserve.FloridaStateParks.org.
More information: Visit FloridaStateParks.org/Parks-And-Trails/Lake-Manatee-State-Park.
Location: 905 Rye Wilderness Trail, Parrish
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Cost: Free
See what wildlife you can find as you explore the 530-acre property.
The preserve’s trail system goes through four ecosystems including the river community, sand pine scrub, oak hammocks and xeric oak scrub.
There are designated trails for biking and horseback riding.
You can also float along the Manatee River in your canoe or kayak or fish from the shoreline.
More information: Visit MyManatee.org/Parks.
Location: 8027 Conservatory Drive, Sarasota
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Cost: Free
Walk along the paved trail and get your heart pumping with the exercise machines that are available along the trail.
The 55-acre park also includes a playground and a fishing and wildlife viewing dock.
More information: Visit MyManatee.org/Parks.
Location: 30771 Betts Road, Myakka City
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays; closed Sundays
Cost: Tours $8 per person, free for children under 2 years old
After working to recover from the impact of Hurricane Ian, Dakin Dairy has brought back its farm tours.
Learn where milk comes from and how milk gets from a cow to a bottle during the tour, which will also give you an opportunity to be close to the cows, tour the Milk Parlor and see how a cow is milked.
During the tour, you’ll also taste Dakin Dairy’s chocolate and whole milk as well as make your own butter.
Tours are at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
You can also grab a bite to eat at Pete’s Place at Dakin Dairy or shop the market.
Every Saturday, Dakin Dairy Farms hosts a farmers market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More information: Visit DakinDairyFarms.com.
