A trip to Siesta Key can include much more than time on the sand. Just south of Sarasota, Historic Spanish Point offers a chance to explore Florida history, native plants, waterfront scenery, and local wildlife in one visit. The 30-acre property sits along Little Sarasota Bay in Osprey and is part of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.
For guests staying in Siesta Key, Florida, condo rentals, Historic Spanish Point makes an excellent addition to a beach vacation. Families, couples, and history lovers can spend a few hours exploring gardens, historic buildings, archaeological sites, and a butterfly house.
About Historic Spanish Point & Selby Gardens
Historic Spanish Point became the second campus of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in 2020. The site preserves thousands of years of regional history, including evidence of Native American communities, the Webb family’s pioneer homestead, and the former winter estate of Bertha Palmer.
Today, visitors can experience this history while exploring one of the area’s largest preserves of native Florida plants. It offers a different perspective on the Sarasota area and gives travelers a reason to venture beyond Siesta Key for part of the day.
Explore the Gardens
The grounds are a major part of the Historic Spanish Point experience. Native Florida plants grow throughout the property, with trails and boardwalks providing opportunities to explore different habitats. The campus features native plants representing more than half of the species found in Sarasota County.
One highlight is the Sunken Garden and Pergola, created as part of Bertha Palmer’s estate. Its setting along Little Sarasota Bay combines garden design with waterfront views. The property also preserves ancient shell mounds that influenced the landscape long before Palmer developed her gardens.
For travelers looking for Siesta Key activities beyond swimming and sunbathing, the gardens offer a relaxed way to learn more about the natural side of Southwest Florida.
Visit the Butterfly House
Families should make time for the Butterfly House. Located beside an outdoor Native Butterfly Garden, it is the region’s only butterfly house and features Florida butterflies surrounded by plants that support them.
Species visitors may see include monarchs, giant swallowtails, Gulf fritillaries, cloudless sulphurs, and zebra longwings, Florida’s state butterfly. The experience also helps visitors learn about butterflies as pollinators and their role in Florida ecosystems.
Tour Historic Buildings
Historic Spanish Point brings local history to life through preserved and reconstructed buildings found throughout the campus.
The Guptill House dates to 1901 and offers a look at early pioneer home life. Visitors can also see the White Cottage, originally built in 1884, and Mary’s Chapel, a reconstruction of a chapel associated with the Webb family’s late-1800s homestead.
The property’s archaeological history goes back much further. People lived along this shoreline more than 4,500 years ago, leaving shell mounds and other evidence that help tell the story of Florida’s early communities.
Final Thoughts
Historic Spanish Point is worth visiting because it combines several experiences in one destination. You can walk through native gardens, see Florida butterflies, tour historic structures, enjoy views of Little Sarasota Bay, and learn about thousands of years of regional history.
When you return to Siesta Key, getting around the island is easy without always relying on your car. Sarasota County’s free Route 77 Siesta Islander trolley, formerly called the Siesta Key Breeze, provides transportation around Siesta Key. The route serves popular areas including Siesta Key Village, Siesta Beach, and Turtle Beach.
Choosing condos in Siesta Key, FL, also gives you a comfortable home base for balancing beach days with nearby cultural and nature attractions like Historic Spanish Point.
Book Your Siesta Key Condo with The Anchorage
Make The Anchorage your home base for exploring Siesta Key and the surrounding Sarasota area. Our spacious condos give couples and families room to relax, including private balconies where you can enjoy the coastal atmosphere.
Guests can also take advantage of resort amenities, a private beach, a gated community, tennis and pickleball courts, a clubhouse, fishing opportunities, and more. Book your stay with The Anchorage and enjoy easy access to the beach, Siesta Key attractions, and memorable day trips like Historic Spanish Point.
