Treat Your Family to a Busch Gardens Adventure on Your Sarasota Vacation

Looking for fun and exciting things to do near Sarasota? With thrilling roller coasters, nimble cheetahs, and thrilling safaris, Busch Gardens Tampa is practically synonymous with a Gulf Coast Florida vacation. This coastal theme park offers captivating animal encounters and exhilarating rides for families of all ages. 

Don’t miss out on the excitement during your Sarasota stay; plan a Busch Gardens adventure!

Getting to Busch Gardens From Sarasota 

Busch Gardens is an easy, one-hour drive from our Sarasota vacation rentals. Take I-75 north and exit at E. Fowler Avenue toward Uptown Tampa. This is the quickest and most efficient way. If you’ve got a few extra minutes to spare, take route 301 past Bradenton, by the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, and across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which offers stunning views of Tampa Bay. 

From there, you’ll drive through St. Petersburg and across another body of water, Old Tampa Bay, via the Howard Frankland Bridge. This route also takes you through downtown Tampa, which is a great place to stop for a bite to eat!

Busch Gardens Parking Information

The park typically opens daily at 10 a.m., closing anywhere between 6 and 10 p.m., depending on the day and its events. A single-day ticket costs about $140. For $189, you can eat all day while you’re there. Deals on tickets are available seasonally and when you buy tickets for multiple theme parks in the region. Annual passes are also available for long-term visitors and locals.

If lightning, strong winds, heat, rain, or snow affects ride availability, Busch Gardens offers to reschedule your visit. If bad weather is in the forecast, be sure to ask about their “weather-or-not assurance policy.”

Don’t forget that Busch Gardens is transitioning to cashless payments only, so be sure to bring a credit or debit card for speedy checkout. Folks using cash can convert it cost-free to a prepaid gift card using one of the park’s machines.

Activities

Another world awaits at Busch Gardens, just an hour from Sarasota rentals. Consistently rated as one of the best things to do near Sarasota, this theme park is truly one of a kind.

Busch Gardens has something for everyone, young and old, thrill seekers and chill seekers. Ride the SheiKra, which takes you 200 feet in the air, then straight down a 90° descent or Cobra’s Curse, a family spin coaster fun for the whole family. Cool off at Adventure Island, which features exhilarating water-powered chutes and relaxing lazy rivers.

Busch Gardens has several restaurants, including full-service bar Springs Taproom and Oasis Pizza, and plenty of fast food to eat on the go. Even the pickiest eaters in your crew will find something to keep their tummies from grumbling. Take a break from the excitement for a bite to eat and grab a souvenir at one of the park’s many shops. 

Shows & Tours

First time at Busch Gardens? Take an Elite VIP Tour and explore with the help of a personal guide. They’ll help you customize your visit, get to the front of the line faster, reserve seating at shows, and take a photo with giant tortoises. Or, get up close and personal with friendly giraffes on the Serengeti Plain, which you traverse in an open-air vehicle.

The park has indoor and outdoor shows, including seasonal fireworks and productions like Storytime with Mrs. Claus and Christmas on Ice.

Special Events

Throughout the year, Busch Gardens hosts special events. Celebrate the holiday season with Christmas Town, a light and food show, trade rare pins, catch live music for Mardi Gras, and join Elmo and other Sesame Street friends for a weekend of fun at upcoming events.

Your Sarasota Vacation Rental

Escape to Sarasota in style with Vunique Vacations – where luxury meets leisure!

At Vunique Vacations, we redefine the art of hospitality, ensuring that your Sarasota getaway is not just a trip but an unforgettable experience!

Our collection of meticulously curated luxury homes boasts a level of sophistication that goes beyond the ordinary. Each property is a masterpiece, thoughtfully designed to provide you with everything you need and more for the perfect vacation. From chic interiors to lavish amenities, our Sarasota rentals are a testament to opulence and comfort.

Don’t miss another moment in paradise. Book one of our Sarasota vacation rentals today, and let us turn your holiday dreams into a reality!