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Set Sail with Selby Gardens

A Campus-to-Campus Boat-Tour Experience

In tribute to the coastal heritage of our region and our two campuses, we offer visitors an “old Florida” way to experience them—from the water!  

Selby Gardens’ full-day cruise-and-tour excursion takes place on select Saturdays. Set Sail with Selby Gardens includes:

 

  • roundtrip boat transportation along the Intracoastal Waterway between our two campuses
  • educational, interpretive narration of the native nature and regional history you’ll see along the way
  • full access to both the Historic Spanish Point and Downtown Sarasota campuses
  • box lunch at our Historic Spanish Point campus 

$140 per person / $125 for Selby Gardens members

Includes RT boat tour, admission to both campuses, lunch voucher ($20 value)

Need help navigating the Selby Gardens web portal?

View the how-to video for step-by-step instructions!

Selby Gardens by Boat itinerary:

  • 9:45 a.m. – paid guests meet in Welcome Center, Downtown Sarasota campus
  • 10 a.m. – boat departs for narrated, educational tour en route to Historic Spanish Point campus
  • 11:15 a.m. (approx.) – boat arrives at Historic Spanish Point campus
  • 11:30 – 1:30 p.m. – access to 30-acre Historic Spanish Point campus. Lunch at the Bayside Cottage.
  • 1:30 p.m. – guests meet at Packing House to re-board boat
  • 1:45 p.m. – boat departs for return trip
  • 3:00 p.m. (approx.) – boat arrives at Downtown Sarasota campus
  • 3:15 – 5:00 p.m. – access to 15-acre Downtown Sarasota campus until Gardens close

General information:

  • This tour is for ages 6 and up.
  • Tickets must be purchased in advance.
  • Price includes $20 voucher for lunch. Guests are responsible for costs in excess of voucher value.
  • Casual attire is recommended, with footwear suitable for walking.
  • Please note that there are no restroom facilities aboard the boat. Please use the restroom before boarding.
  • The boat is not wheelchair accessible. Guests must be able to walk up and down stairs to access the boat.
  • Tours require a minimum number of reservations to sail. If a tour must be cancelled, paid guests will receive full refunds or be rescheduled (when possible).
  • Tours will take place rain or shine. In the event of hazardous weather, the tour will be cancelled and paid guests will receive full refunds or be rescheduled (where possible).
  • If weather prohibits a return trip from the Historic Spanish Point campus, ground transportation will be provided back to the Downtown Sarasota campus.
  • Set Sail with Selby Gardens tours run with a minimum of 15 passengers. Trips that do not reach this passenger limit will be cancelled. Tickets will be refunded or may be transferred to a future voyage.
  • Please note that Set Sail with Selby Gardens tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Please direct any questions to tours@selby.org