You'll find plenty of activities for your family along the Shell Coast. Sarasota has the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, a 1920s home overlooking Sarasota Bay with 10 acres of gardens full of tropical trees and bromeliads. It's world-renowned for its collection of over 6,000 orchids in a lush rainforest setting. The best time to see the orchids is in April. One of Sarasota's oldest attractions, it merges a love of nature with art and aesthetics. Before or after strolling through the gardens, take a tour of the Payne Mansion, housing the Museum of Botany. Admission $8 for adults, $4 for children. (Open 10 A.M.–5 P.M., 941-366-5731)

Another popular attraction is Bellm Cars and Music of Yesterday, with its displays of seventy-five antique cars from a 1905 horseless carriage to a 1971 Maserati, and 1,200 musical instruments under one roof. Take the thirty-minute tour, which explains the history of music boxes, player pianos, and phonographs, among other inventions. Play games in the vintage arcade — no computer games, just good old-fashioned fun. Admission $9 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 12. (Open daily 9 A.M.–6 P.M., 941-355-6228)

For the Kids

Your kids will love getting close to sharks and other local marine life at the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, at City Island Park on the northern end of Lido Key. A 135,000-gallon tank is the centerpiece of dozens of exhibits containing sharks, lobsters, stingrays, seahorses, and other local marine life. It's more than an entertainment aquarium. In fact, it's the public arm of a marine laboratory where marine biologists have been studying the ecological problems threatening the Gulf's sea life. There's also a living sea grass and mangrove exhibit, plus a huge seashell collection. Smaller children love the “Touch Tank,” filled with sea urchins and horseshoe crabs. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for kids 4 to 17. (Open 10 A.M.–5 P.M., Toll-free 800-691-6683, www.mote.org)

Adjacent to the aquarium is the Dale Shields Bird Sanctuary. Shields, locally known as “the Pelican Man,” has rescued and rehabilitated over 22,000 birds. Not only will your kids be able to meet some of their fine feathered friends, they'll also learn all about them. You'll find this to be a great educational experience. (Open daily 10 A.M.–5 P.M., 941-388-4444)

Winding paths lead through 16 acres with 100 varieties of palms plus lots of local plant varieties in the Sarasota Jungle Gardens. As one of the area's favorite kiddy attractions, this zoological garden features a playground with a jungle theme, exotic bird and reptile shows, strolling peacocks, and a bird posing area. Admission $9 for adults, $5 for children. (Open daily 9 A.M.–5 P.M., Toll-free 877-861-6547)

G.Wiz is Sarasota's science fantasyland. Your children will enjoy the eighty-five interactive exhibits in this hands-on science museum (941-309-4949). And as a break from educational activities, your family can play miniature golf in caves, near rushing waterfalls, and on a shipwreck at Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf (941-351-6620, www.smugglersgolf.com).

Festivals and Seasonal Events

Annually, during February and March, communities up and down Florida's west coast sponsor shell shows that draw participants from all over the world. You'll also find food, music, and wine festivals held throughout the year.

The Medieval Fair: Knights in shining armor, maidens, jesters, jugglers, swordsmen, magicians, and musicians all take part in a display of skills and crafts from the Middle Ages each March on the grounds of the Ringling Museum. The highlight is a human chess match, played on a giant grass chessboard. (941-351-8497)

The Sanibel Shell Fair: A showcase of shells, shell art, and marine life is held the first weekend in March. (941-472-2155)

International Circus Festival and Parade: During the last week of December, clowns, circus acts, and a carnival join together to show that Sarasota is still “Circus Town.” (941-351-8888)