The small Florida town of Parrish, less than 30 miles from Sarasota, is a short distance from a number of Gulf Coast beaches. The community is home to the Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum. Approximately 10 miles west of Parrish is Terra Ceia Preserve State Park, which offers freshwater marshes suited for boating, recreational water sports and non-commercial fishing. The park is ideal for observing wildlife such as alligators, Florida box turtles, coyotes, and bats
Situated 23 miles west of Parrish, Holmes Beach features three miles of white sand beaches as well as easy access to the Intracoastal Waterway, which connects with other area beaches. Holmes Beach is located on Anna Maria Island, on the Gulf of Mexico.
Approximately 25 miles west of Parrish is Bradenton Beach, located on the south end of Anna Maria Island. The city is home to Cortez and Coquina beaches, popular local attractions that feature miles of white sand.
Less than 30 miles southwest of Parrish is the town of Longboat Key, a destination ripe with resorts and private clubs. Public access to Longboat Key's beaches is highly restrictive. One of the more popular beaches on the key is Beer Can Island, a small public area with around 2,000 feet of shoreline.
Situated at the north end of Anna Maria Island is its namesake city, a picturesque location that offers a more residential feel than its island neighbors. The city of Anna Maria is a bird sanctuary that houses a number of species of shore and water birds. Aquatic fauna abound, and the city's beaches serve as a nesting ground for endangered loggerhead turtles. Anna Maria's beaches feature the island's signature sugar sand.
