SARASOTA, FL / ACCESS Newswire / September 21, 2026 / Ride & Paddle, a Sarasota outdoor rental company serving the area since 1995, will reopen its location at The Bay Sarasota on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The site at The Bay Park Kayak Launch has been closed while construction took place in the surrounding area. Its return brings kayaks, paddle boards and guided tours back to the center of downtown Sarasota, and adds a downtown gateway to the company's full lineup of rentals and tours across Sarasota and Siesta Key.

The Bay is a 53-acre public park on Sarasota Bay, developed by The Bay Park Conservancy. Its kayak launch sits along a restored mangrove shoreline, giving paddlers direct access to calm bay water in the heart of downtown. For residents, it is an easy way to spend a morning outside. For visitors, it is one of the simplest ways to see Sarasota from the water.

Beginning October 1, guests can reserve two-hour rentals of single kayaks, double kayaks and stand-up paddle boards. Ride & Paddle guides will also resume two-hour kayak tours that explore the park's mangroves and the wildlife that lives among them.

"The Bay is one of the best places in Sarasota to get on the water," said Trish Sadd, Owner of Ride & Paddle. "You're in the middle of downtown, and within a few minutes you're paddling past mangroves and wading birds. We've missed being out there. We're ready to welcome everyone back."

Ride & Paddle will also continue its partnership with The Bay Park Conservancy to offer free guided kayak tours on select dates. Tour dates and registration will be posted on The Bay Sarasota's events calendar at thebaysarasota.org.

Kayak & paddle board rentals can easily be booked at the Ride & Paddle website.

Location, Hours and Reservations

Location: The Bay Park Kayak Launch, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, FL 34236
Reservations: rideandpaddle.com/sarasotabaykayaking
Phone: (941) 346-1797

More Ways to Get Outside in Sarasota

The Bay is one piece of a much larger operation. Since 1995, Ride & Paddle has helped visitors and residents explore Sarasota and Siesta Key by water, by bike and on the sand. From its shop in the Southbridge Mall on Siesta Key, the company outfits families, couples, solo travelers and groups with nearly everything they need for a day outside.

Guided kayak tours on Siesta Key. Ride & Paddle's signature tour launches from the Turtle Beach Public Boat Ramp and follows Blind Pass Lagoon to the Jim Neville Marine Preserve, a mangrove island in Little Sarasota Bay. The roughly two-and-a-half-hour paddle winds through grass flats and mangroves, where guests regularly spot manatees, dolphins, osprey and herons. Tours include a stop at a secluded beach near Midnight Pass for swimming and shelling. Guides are certified by the American Canoe Association and share the ecology, history and wildlife of the bay along the way.

Kayak and paddleboard rentals. Single kayaks, double kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available by the hour, day or week. Guests can launch from Turtle Beach, pick up at Crescent Beach, or have equipment delivered to where they are staying. For those who want to build confidence first, Ride & Paddle offers instructional kayak and paddle board classes.

Bikes and e-bikes. Ride & Paddle rents bikes for the whole family, from kid-sized bikes for young riders to adult cruisers built for the beach. Pedal-assist and throttle e-bikes make longer rides around Siesta Key and Sarasota easy. The shop also provides bike repair service for locals and visitors.

Scooters and scooter cars. For a different way to see the island, guests can rent scooters or open-air scooter cars and cruise Siesta Key at their own pace.

Beach gear. A full day at the beach starts with the right gear. Ride & Paddle rents beach chairs, umbrellas, coolers, beach carts, mats, snorkel gear, skim boards, boogie boards and lawn games like corn toss. Strollers and kid gear help families with little one's travel light.

Beach wheelchairs. Ride & Paddle rents beach wheelchairs designed to roll across soft sand, so guests of every ability can enjoy Sarasota's beaches alongside family and friends. The chairs are also a popular option for beach weddings and special events.

Delivery to your door. Guests can book online and skip the trip to the shop. Ride & Paddle delivers bikes, kayaks, beach gear and beach wheelchairs to vacation homes, condominiums and resorts for rentals of three days or longer. Delivery is free on Siesta Key, with service available across the greater Sarasota area for a fee. E-bikes, scooters and scooter cars are available for pickup at the shop.

"Our goal has always been simple," said Trish Sadd. "We want people to spend more time outside with the people they love and less time worrying about the details. Whether that's a morning paddle at The Bay, a bike ride down Siesta Key or a full week of beach days, we take care of the gear so our guests can enjoy Sarasota."

About Ride & Paddle

Ride & Paddle by Siesta Sports Rentals has served Sarasota and Siesta Key since 1995. The company rents kayaks, paddle boards, bikes, e-bikes, scooters, scooter cars, beach wheelchairs, strollers and beach gear, and offers guided kayak tours, paddling classes, bike repair and delivery to homes and resorts. Its shop is located at 6551 Midnight Pass Road on Siesta Key, with kayak and paddleboard launches at Turtle Beach County Park and The Bay Sarasota.

Learn more at rideandpaddle.com.

Media Contact
Trish Said
Ride & Paddle
info@rideandpaddle.com
Phone: (941) 346-1797

SOURCE: Ride & Paddle