Many of the area's 40-plus miles of beaches are occupied by hotels and condominium complexes, but there are excellent public beaches as well. The area's most popular is Siesta Key Public Beach, with a picnic area, a 700-car parking lot, crowds of families, and quartz sand reminiscent of the blazingly white beaches in Northwest Florida. There's also beach access at Siesta Village, which has a plethora of casual restaurants and pubs with outdoor seating. The more secluded and quiet Turtle Beach is at Siesta Key's south end. It has shelters, boat ramps, picnic tables, and volleyball nets. Both beaches have bathroom facilities.

Unless you're staying on Longboat Key, you won't be able to hit the beach there, since private houses and condos block access to the Gulf. However, do drive the length of Longboat Key and admire the luxury homes. Then take a right off St. Armands Circle onto Lido Key and North Lido Beach. The south end of the island is occupied by South Lido Beach Park, with plenty of shade -- a good spot for picnics and walks.

Biking & In-Line Skating -- The flat terrain in this area makes for good in-line skating and for fine, though not challenging, bike riding. You can bike and skate from downtown Sarasota to Lido and Longboat keys, since paved walkways/bike paths run alongside the John Ringling Causeway and then up Longboat Key. Siesta Sports Rentals, 6551 Midnight Pass Rd., in the Southbridge Mall just south of Stickney Point Bridge on Siesta Key (tel. 941/346-1797), rents bikes of various sizes (including stroller attachments for kids), plus motor scooters, kayaks, and beach chairs and umbrellas. They can even arrange kayak tours, if you wish. Bike rentals range from about $15 a day to $45 a week; scooters go for $45 for a half-day or $60 for a full day. They also rent three-wheeled scooter cars. The shop is open daily from 9am to 5pm.

Boat Rentals -- All Watersports, in the Boatyard Shopping Village, on the mainland end of Stickney Point Bridge (tel. 941/921-2754), rents personal watercraft such as jet skis, speedboats, runabouts, and bow riders. At the island end of the bridge, C. B.'s Saltwater Outfitters, 1249 Stickney Point Rd. (tel. 941/349-4400), and Dockside Marine, 1265 Old Stickney Point Rd. (tel. 941/349-8880), both rent runabouts, pontoon boats, and other craft. Bait and tackle are available at the marinas.

Cruises -- The area's best nature cruises depart from Mote Aquarium.

Fishing -- Charter fishing boats dock at most marinas here; check out the Sarasota Boating website for a list. In downtown Sarasota, the Flying Fish Fleet, at Marina Jack's Marina, U.S. 41 at Island Park Circle (tel. 941/366-3373), offers party-boat charter-fishing excursions, with bait and tackle furnished. Prices for half-day trips are $40 for adults, $35 for seniors, and $30 for kids 4 to 12. All-day voyages cost $65, $60, and $55, respectively. Call for the schedule. Other charter boats also line up along the dock here.

Golf -- The Bobby Jones Golf Complex, 1000 Circus Blvd. (tel. 941/365-4653), is Sarasota's only municipal facility. It has two 18-hole championship layouts -- the American (par 71) and British (par 72) courses -- and the 9-hole Gillespie executive course (par 30). Tee times are assigned 3 days in advance. Greens fees range from $25 to $35, including cart rental.

The semiprivate Rolling Green Golf Club, 4501 Tuttle Ave. (tel. 941/355-6620), is an 18-hole, par-72 course. Facilities include a driving range, rental clubs, and lessons. Tee times are assigned 2 days in advance. Prices, including cart, are about $50 in winter and $30 during off season. Also semiprivate, the Sarasota Golf Club, 7820 N. Leewynn Dr. (tel. 941/371-2431), is an 18-hole, par-72 course. Facilities include a driving range, lessons, club rentals, a restaurant, a lounge, and a golf shop. Fees, including cart, are about $65 in winter, $45 during off season.

If you have reciprocal privileges, University Park Country Club, west of I-75 on University Parkway (tel. 941/359-9999), is Sarasota's only nationally ranked course. Fees, including cart, are about $55 year-round.

Bradenton is home to the well-known David Leadbetter Golf Academy, 1414 69th Ave., at U.S. 41 (tel. 800/872-6425 or 941/755-1000), a part of the Nick Bollettieri Sports Academy (see "Tennis"). Presided over by one of golf's leading instructors, this facility offers practice tee instruction, video analysis, scoring strategy, and more.

For course information online, go to Golf.com or the Florida Golfing website; or call the Florida Sports Foundation (tel. 850/488-8347) or Florida Golfing (tel. 866/833-2663).

Kayaking -- Based at Mote Aquarium, Sarasota Bay Explorers (tel. 941/388-4200) uses a 38-foot pontoon boat to ferry novice and experienced kayakers and their craft to a marine sanctuary, where everyone paddles through tunnels formed by mangroves. The paddling is easy and the waters are shallow. Experienced naturalists serve as guides. Wear a swimsuit and tennis shoes or rubber-soled booties, and bring a towel and lunch. The 3-hour trip is $50 for adults, $40 for children 5 to 17, and free for kids under 5 (seats are provided for the youngsters). Reservations are required.

Sailing -- Take a leisurely cruise on the waters of Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico aboard the 41-foot, 12-passenger Enterprise, docked at Marina Jack's Marina, U.S. 41 at Island Park Circle (tel. 888/232-7768 or 941/951-1833). Cruises range from 3 hours for $55 per person to 4 hours for $70 a head, while 2-hour sunset excursions cost $45 per person. Departure times vary, and reservations are required. Siesta Key Sailing, 1219 Southport Dr. (tel. 941/346-7245), charges about the same for cruises in a 42-foot Morgan Outlander sloop. Call for rates and reservations.

You can also get to historic Egmont Key, 3 miles off the northern end of Anna Maria Island at the mouth of Tampa Bay, on a 30-foot sloop-rigged sailboat with Spice Sailing Charters (tel. 941/778-3240), based at the Galati Yacht Basin on Bay Boulevard on northern Anna Maria Island. Rates start at $40 per person. The company has sunset cruises as well. Call for the schedule and reservations.

Tennis -- The Nick Bollettieri Sports Academy, 5500 34th St. W., Bradenton (tel. 800/872-6425 or 941/755-1000), is one of the world's largest tennis training facilities, with more than 70 championship grass, clay, and hard courts, and a pro shop. It's open year-round; reservations are required for all activities.

Watersports -- You'll find watersports activities in front of the major hotels on the keys. Siesta Sports Rentals, 6551 Midnight Pass Rd. on Siesta Key (tel. 813/346-1797), rents kayaks and sailboats, plus beach chairs and umbrellas.