Serene spots

PONCE DE LEON PARK. Head west through the charming Charlotte County city of Punta Gorda until it meets the miles-wide Charlotte Harbor at Ponce de Leon Inlet and you’ll find this popular 10-acre public park. There’s something to please all interests here: a boat ramp, fishing piers, quarter-acre mangrove boardwalk, playground, picnic pavilion, small sandy beach for prime sunset watching, and even an openair chapel. The Peace River Wildlife Center is located here, too; a nonprofit organization that rehabilitates sick and orphaned animals.

NATURE CALLS AT THESE UNSPOILED SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

OSCAR SCHERER STATE PARK. Right off busy Tamiami Trail, midway between Sarasota and Venice, this 1,400-acre oasis offers 15 miles of hiking trails through hardwood hammocks and scrubby flatwoods (two of those trails are wheelchair accessible), a canoe and kayak launch on lovely South Creek, and ranger-led eco-activities galore. Oscar Scherer is one of the only places where you can attempt to spot the endangered Florida scrub jay; less than two dozen of the friendly little blue-and-gray birds are known to live in the park. The park visitor center is currently closed and public events— like the Sunday morning guided scrub jay walks—are on hold, but the canoe and kayak launch, trails, and picnic areas are open for your enjoyment. floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/ oscar-scherer-state-park

DESTINATIONS. Serene spots

Wide, white beaches, winding rivers, biking trails, and some of the most beautiful parks in Florida— no wonder people flock to our region in pursuit of the great outdoors. Whether you’re seeking to quietly commune with nature or to set off on a high-energy adventure, there are plenty of serene spots and experiences just for you. We picked eight that show off our area’s many natural wonders.

NORTH LIDO BEACH. Our area has many public beaches and, yes, Siesta Beach has deservedly won honors twice as America’s No. 1 beach. But we advise you to dodge the crowds and do as the locals do by heading instead to quiet North Lido Beach. A gorgeous stretch of sugar-white sand and a bounty of seabirds await you. A stroll to its secluded northern tip at New Pass yields many seashells; the fishing is great if you’re so inclined; and it’s particularly nice for watching the sun dip into the Gulf of Mexico. Plus, it’s right off the bustling St. Armands Circle shopping and dining district so you can celebrate that sunset with an ice cream cone or frozen tropical beverage.

VENICE MUNICIPAL PIER. Refurbished in 2019 with long-lasting ipe wood decks and rails and sea turtle-friendly under-rail lights that don’t impede views, this 720-foot long public pier jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico is open 24 hours a day for angling and for spectacular sunset views. No fishing license required. Didn’t bring fishing gear? No worries; Papa’s Bait Shop located mid-pier rents rods and reels and sells fresh and frozen bait. It also rents those “Florida snow shovels”—sieves attached to long poles that are perfect for hunting the fossilized shark’s teeth that wash ashore by the thousands on Venice beaches. venicegov.com/visiting/fishing-pier

ROBINSON PRESERVE. This 600-acre saltwater marsh on the south side of the Manatee River is explorable by hiking, biking or kayaking (kayak and paddleboard rentals can be found on-site). A scenic boardwalk opens up to stunning views of Tampa Bay and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and there’s an observation tower for a birds-eye look at the coastal wetlands. New to the preserve in 2018, The Mosaic NEST (Nature, Exploration, Science, and Technology) is an elevated treehouse education center with classrooms for environmental programs. robinsonpreserve.com

EMERSON POINT PRESERVE. Manatee County has dozens of public parks and preserves, and Emerson Point Preserve, one of most spectacularly located, is on the far west end of Palmetto’s Snead Island, where the mile-wide Manatee River meets Terra Ceia Bay. Kayak and canoeing trails wind through the 365-acre county-owned recreation area, and fishermen will find plenty of access to the river and bay. Picnic pavilions, hiking trails, and an observation tower that rewards you with views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge also make this a popular outdoor destination. bradentongulfislands.com/places/168/ emerson-point-preserve

HISTORIC SPANISH POINT. This 30-acre “living history museum” on the shore of Little Sarasota Bay in Osprey is an homage to 5,000 years of Southwest Florida history—from the indigenous people who were its first inhabitants to the 19th-century pioneers who operated a citrus packing house on the property to the Chicago socialite Bertha Palmer, who built her winter estate here at the turn of the 20th century (her Duchene Lawn, with its classical portal set in a grassy field rimmed by palms, is a sight to behold). Walks along the bayfront and through Mrs. Palmer’s fern walk and sunken garden are exceedingly pleasant. Historic Spanish Point last spring became the southern campus of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, and we hear that even more amenities are in store. selby.org/ hsp/visit-historic-spanish-point

JIM NEVILLE MARINE PRESERVE. Launch a kayak at Turtle Beach on the southernmost tip of Siesta Key and explore the calm, shallow waters of this 35-acre aquatic preserve in Little Sarasota Bay, named for a beloved late local environmentalist. Mangrove islands dot the bay, providing a rich habitat for fish and other marine species and nesting for birds, from stately blue herons and roseate spoonbills to hooting owls. Most days, you’re likely to spot manatees and dolphins, including some that will swim right next to your kayak. Take a break at Palmer Point Beach, a beautiful stretch of shore that connects Siesta and Casey keys and is accessible only by foot or water. Whether you come for sunset or just to swim and play, you’ll be dazzled by the clear blue-green water, sweeping views, and splendid isolation.

THE CELERY FIELDS. A popular stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail, this 300-acre public park in east Sarasota County attracts flocks of birders from all over the world. Its open marshlands, deep ponds, and canals make it a mecca for bald eagles, roseate spoonbills, sandhill cranes, purple gallinules, and dozens of other species. Walkers love to tackle the trail that winds up the big “mountain” at its center (we use this word loosely; this is Florida, after all). The Sarasota Audubon Society built a lovely nature center at the Celery Fields five years ago and offers guided nature walks and classes during season. sarasotaaudubon.org