Oscar Is a Sheer Delight

FeedManager · August 10, 2025, 5:00pm

Editor’s Note: This post is written by a member of LTV’s sponsored content team, The Leisure Explorers. Do you own a Leisure Travel Van and enjoy writing? Learn more about joining the team.

Our Favorite Spot In Florida

If you live in the northern states or Canada, you might seek a warm-weather respite during the cold months as we do. If you head to Florida each winter, you might have a favorite place that offers the best of everything–birding, biking, beaches, and more.

For us, we’ve found it: a place where we can see eagles nesting, cycle on one of the state’s top bicycle trails, take a day trip to a beach that’s often rated number one in the nation, and enjoy our favorite local eats at an old-time waterfront Florida restaurant.

Oscar Scherer State Park

Let me introduce you to Oscar Scherer State Park, two square miles of natural Florida oasis located along HWY 41 (Tamiami Trail), nestled between Osprey and Venice near the Gulf Coast.

See Live Oaks adorned in Spanish moss while hiking the South Creek Trail. Beware of poison ivy!

I first discovered this hidden gem when a friend took me on a tour of the area, stopping at Oscar Scherer to hike the trail along South Creek. With 15 miles of hiking trails, this park provides essential habitat to one of southwest Florida’s protected scrub-jay populations. Bald eagles nest here in winter and are often seen, as are gopher tortoises, indigo snakes, alligators, and migrating birds.

Oscar Scherer’s lush vegetation lines South Creek.

You never know when you will see one of the bald eagles that nest each year at Oscar Scherer. Here, we chanced upon one at the small lake in the park. Please note the alligator warning!

Legacy Trail

The Legacy Trail, a 23.2-mile paved hike-bike trail, passes through the park and can be easily accessed from the campground. You can pedal north to Sarasota or south to Venice.

We typically stop at Dona Bay to look for fish in the water.

Siesta Key Beach

If you like to go to the beach, this place is only 11 miles north of the park. Siesta Key Beach, typically ranked number one in the country, is noted for its quartz-crystal powdered-sugar soft sand, which never heats up. The beach is more than three miles long, and there is ample parking, but you must arrive early to get a decent spot for your RV. Dedicated RV spots exist, but an early arrival doesn’t guarantee access to one.

You might see a sand artist or two at Siesta Key Beach.

Spanish Point

Just three miles north of the Oscar Scherer near Osprey, visit Selby Gardens Historic Spanish Point. Discover about 5,000 years of local history at this 30-acre park, one of the largest intact and actively preserved archeological sites on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Here, you can see a cutaway of a shell midden, a landfill used by the indigenous people who once lived there.

Plan a leisurely visit to stroll around the campus.

The lush gardens, buildings, and pathways reflect the area’s unique history.

Casey Key Fish House and Tiki Bar

Looking for an old-time Florida restaurant? Casey Key Fish House and Tiki Bar checks all the boxes. We lunch here each winter.

Located on Blackburn Point Road, this local spot provides a waterside view of the bay.

And for dessert? Key lime pie, of course!

Sharkey’s On The Pier

Located on the coast near Venice, Sharkey’s On the Pier is a fun dining establishment right at Venice Pier.

Sharkey’s, located at the base of the Venice Pier, boasts a fun tiki bar atmosphere right on the water.

Walk along Venice Pier, where anglers typically try to catch fish, and birds hope to catch a snack.

Hats and sun protection are recommended.

You can hang out at the beach, stroll the pier, and have lunch or dinner. Expect to wait for a table here.

Fish tacos made with blackened grouper and coleslaw.

Fish Markets

There are several fish markets in the area, and if you are like us and love to buy fresh seafood while in Florida, we recommend Lotsa Lobster on Tamiami Trail north of the park.

Clams and oysters, along with several types of fish are typically available at Lotsa Lobster.

Longing for lobster? Stop in at Lotsa Lobster! You can’t dine in, but they can cook your lobster or shrimp for you.

Drum Circles

Many beaches in Florida are hosts to drum circles, and we found them at Nokomis and Siesta Key Beaches. Check their social media sites for dates and times.

Drummers provide the beat while dancers interpret the music.

Past Actions Help Preserve Public Lands

Oscar Scherer invented a process for dyeing leather in 1872 and owned the 460-acre South Creek Ranch. His daughter, Elsa Scherer Burrows, left the family’s ranch to the state in memory of her father. Oscar Scherer State Park opened to the public in 1956. Real estate agent and environmentalist Jon Thaxton campaigned for the state to purchase and protect adjoining Florida scrub-jay territory three decades later. With help from The Nature Conservancy, Sarasota County, and strong public support, the state purchased 922 acres from the adjacent Palmer Ranch in 1991. Together, these actions provide a nature preserve within a busy populated area.

When You Go

Florida residents can make campsite reservations up to 11 months in advance, and non-Florida residents can make reservations up to 10 months in advance. Demand is high, so be sure to reserve a site at the earliest possible date or take a chance on a last-minute cancellation.

This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://leisurevans.com/blog/oscar-is-a-sheer-delight/