
Our Blog
All things Siesta Key. Stories, news, and event information about Sarasota, Florida's beautiful beach.
Your Guide to Navigating the Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Posted by Best Western Siesta Key onMay 2, 2022 in Botanical Gardens, Downtown Sarasota, Florida Nature Trails, Sarasota, Sarasota Museums, Sarasota Wildlife, Things To Do.

For generations, the Sarasota Jungle Gardens has been wowing visitors of all ages with their exciting, educational, and exotic animal exhibits and live shows. This family-owned and operated Sarasota attraction opened in 1939 and is rich in history with an “old Florida” look and feel. Kids and those young at heart will create the best memories among Florida’s native and exotic wildlife while getting up close to favorite animals, watching them perform, and asking the experts all of the burning questions. The locals here at Best Western Siesta Key have put together a guide so you can navigate the Sarasota Jungle Gardens like a pro.
How to Get to the Sarasota Jungle Gardens
For visitors staying with us here at Best Western Siesta Key, the Sarasota Jungle Gardens is just under nine miles from your hotel. From Tamiami Trail/US-41, keep straight for about 5 miles before using the two left lanes to turn onto Mound St./N Tamiami Trail. Then, follow the signs to make a right onto S. Palm Ave. At the traffic circle, take the second exit to continue straight on S. Palm Ave, then at the second traffic circle, continue straight onto N. Palm Ave. Following N. Tamiami Trail to Myrtle St., make a right onto Marina View Dr./N Tamiami Trail. Take the second exit at the following three roundabouts to stay on N. Tamiami Trail. Then, make the left onto Myrtle St., and a right onto Bay Shore Rd. The Sarasota Jungle Gardens will be 246 ft away on your left.
Favorite Exhibits
The Sarasota Jungle Gardens is home to over 200 exotic and Florida native animals! With so many animals to encounter around the gardens, from birds of prey to macaws and parrots and primates to reptiles, including alligators, snakes, iguanas, and lizards, it is hard to choose our favorite exhibits. However, a few must-sees are the flamingo feeding, where kids can get up close to these long-legged pink beauties, animal interactions, which allow children and families to hold live alligators and parrots while they smile for a photograph, and the petting zoo, so the little ones can pet and feed small mammals like goats.
Live Shows
A trip to the Sarasota Jungle Gardens is incomplete without attending a few live shows. Visitors can catch three live shows every day: Reptile Encounter, Jungle Bird Show, and Wildlife Wonder. Each live performance is 20 minutes long, but we recommend finding your seats in the outdoor pavilion about 15 minutes prior to ensure you have a good view. Each show ends with a Q&A, so raise your hands high and speak loudly to get your questions answered by the experts. After learning about your favorite animals and watching them perform neat tricks, like the roller-skating parrots, you’ll have a chance to interact, pet, or even hold them for a picture.
Jungle Trails
Since you’ll be visiting a “jungle garden,” you will have the opportunity to marvel at Florida’s most exquisite, exotic, and eye-catching vegetation. Paths wind and meander throughout the 10 acres of lush, tropical landscaping that makes up the Sarasota Jungle Gardens, and animal friends often enjoy taking a stroll through the jungle trails, too. Keep your eyes open for free-roaming flamingos, ducks, swans, egrets, and pelicans passing through the gorgeous trails.
The Sarasota Jungle Gardens is unlike any other garden or zoo you can visit. Where else can you feed flamingos, watch parrots ride a bicycle, hold alligators, and pet goats while exploring the miraculous tropical Florida vegetation? After a day of excitement at the Sarasota Jungle Gardens, coming back to Best Western Siesta Key is the perfect way to unwind, whether chilling poolside or napping in your comfy room.
Categories
- Aquarium
- Beach
- Best Western Siesta Key
- Boating
- Botanical Gardens
- Circus
- Dining
- Dog Beaches
- Dog Parks
- Dog-Friendly
- Dolphin Sightings
- Downtown Sarasota
- Events
- Fishing
- Florida Nature Trails
- Food
- Fun Facts
- Fun for Kids
- General
- Golfing
- Gulf Gate
- Gulf of Mexico
- Historic Sarasota
- Hotels
- Kayaking
- Longboat Key
- Marine Wildlife
- News
- Nightlife
- Parks
- Playgrounds
- Relaxation
- Sarasota
- Sarasota Bikes
- Sarasota Dog Beaches
- Sarasota Dog Parks
- Sarasota Hiking
- Sarasota Museums
- Sarasota Restaurants
- Sarasota Wildlife
- Shopping
- Siesta Key
- Siesta Key Beach
- Siesta Key Coffee Shops
- Siesta Key Restaurants
- St. Armands Circle
- The Beach
- Things To Do
- Transportation
- Travel Tips
- Water Activities
- Water Events
- Water Sports
- White Quartz Sand
Archives
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- August 2018
- May 2018
- January 2018
- August 2017
- July 2017
- April 2017
- September 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016