Things to Do in Sarasota Springs

Siesta Key Paddleboards' staff uses paddleboards to unlock adventures across the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay. They drop off and pick up paddleboard rentals at the area's sandy beaches, where groups can spend days floating atop Florida's blue-green waters and Jell-O–filled tide pools. For novices, instructors lead private and group sessions that teach the finer points of balancing on boards. The crew members also draw on their knowledge of local areas to lead tours, which pass by celebrity homes, through canals, and into hidden mangroves populated by aquatic wildlife.

With backgrounds as military and international-law-enforcement personnel, the instructors at Aegis Tactical know from experience that intense situations can challenge even the most experienced marksmen. That's why they teach a suite of classes and private lessons tailored to shooters of every experience level. NRA-sanctioned courses such as the FIRST Steps Pistol course, acquaint beginners with the basics of operating handguns. Alternatively, advanced training caters to law-enforcement and security personnel. Most courses take place at Aegis Tactical's outdoor training center, where instructors demonstrate proper attitude and firearms operations so students feel comfortable defending themselves, should aliens ever arrive.

Extreme Jetski School owner Dan Stein is something of a Renaissance man. Aside from enjoying a lengthy professional career as a standup jet skier, he has appeared on a Japanese sitcom and been featured on Mexican national television. But none of these accolades and achievements has ever diverted him from his first aquatic love. Today, Dan rides jet skis as much as possible, and teaching has become a way for him to share his passion for the sport with newcomers or intermediate or advanced riders. His lessons cover everything from basic balance to jet-ski tricks including flips, reentries, or having it roll over for a treat.