Sarasota Vortex Tours Invites You to Discover Energy and Serenity in the Heart of Florida's Wildlands!

Locals invited to ‘Walk with a Shaman’ on Sarasota’s New Hiking Eco-tours and Explore Nature Connection at Myakka River and Oscar Scherer State Parks

SARASOTA, FL – Sarasota Vortex Tours, a new eco-tour company based in Sarasota County, is thrilled to announce its official launch during Earth Month. Operating inside the stunning Myakka River State Park and Oscar Scherer State Park, Sarasota Vortex Tours offers unforgettable experiences that blend environmental exploration with spiritual connection. Locals and visitors are invited to discover the subtle energy vortexes and inner peace that can be found in the natural beauty of Sarasota.

Founded by Florida native, Alyson Laura, Sarasota Vortex Tours combines ethical eco-tourism practices with unique offerings like guided meditation, nature communication, and finding meaning in wildlife sightings. Small group tours are priced at $55 per individual or $300 for private groups, each tour is designed to foster a deep connection to nature and the universe. Round trip hiking distance averages between 1.5-3.0 miles and can be adjusted to suit group needs. Vortex tours are perfect for adventurous locals, wellness seekers, and families looking for fun and unique ways to explore state parks.

“I’m passionate about teaching people how to look at nature differently; how to build kinship with Earth,” said Alyson. “Our tours not only highlight the ecological treasures of Florida’s first Wild and Scenic River, Myakka River, but also offers a chance to tap into the universal energy of the land. We want every guest to leave feeling inspired and connected.”

Sarasota Vortex Tours demonstrates a commitment to regenerative tourism by prioritizing minimal environmental impact and support for the local community. To underscore this dedication, the company is pursuing certification with the Florida Society of Ethical Ecotourism. Additionally, Sarasota Vortex Tours is forging partnerships with local ecological conservation and restoration nonprofits to enhance the health of the ecosystems that are vital for outdoor recreation. The company’s long-term vision is to lead the Sarasota tourism industry toward regenerative practices, ensuring collective business operations contribute to the health and well-being of the entire watershed.

To mark its launch, Sarasota Vortex Tours is offering a 50% discount on all tours booked in April. Reservations can be made at www.srqvortex.com using the code GRAND. For media inquiries, interviews, or to arrange a complimentary tour, contact Alyson Laura at srqvortex@gmail.com or 941-367-9966.

About Sarasota Vortex Tours Founded in 2024, Sarasota Vortex Tours is dedicated to connecting people with the natural and spiritual essence of Sarasota. The vortex tours blend adventure, education, and mindfulness; offering experiences that inspire awe and respect for the environment.

Learn more at www.srqvortex.com,

https://www.facebook.com/SRQvortex/,

https://www.instagram.com/srqvortex/.

Perfect Day for Sarasota Ecotour

Ideal Conditions for an April Ecotour

April is a great month for ecotours in Sarasota, Florida because the weather is perfect! Cool mornings, warm afternoons, low humidity, and gorgeous late sunsets! That means the parks stay open later, and you can watch the evening show in the sky surrounded by nature. Early evenings are also a great time to watch the wildlife. Certainly mornings are ripe for close encounters with animals, and just before sunset they come out again to start foraging. 

All Creatures Enjoy a Brisk Walkabout

Today’s hike was in Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey Florida, located in Sarasota County. The dominant energy of the day came from the Echo Moth caterpillars. Their population explodes in Spring and they like to hike too! They make themselves known by crawling around in chaotic patterns. They act a little confused in their unpredictable patterns. They are active and brightly colored with fuzzy orange bodies and black spikes. Those are typical characteristics of poisonous or venomous animals, but they won’t severely harm you; just irritate your skin. But I don’t recommend trying to pick them up. We never want to touch wildlife in any setting. That would NOT be ethical ecotourism.

Their tiny bodies inch across the trail and up the pine trees, and even cross roads where they often meet their demise. I tried to tune into them on an energy level but it wasn’t clear what they were doing or why. So I turned to written sources to learn about this insect. They get the name Echo from scientist’s understanding that the walkabout behavior is just mimicking other animals, like an echo. The intentions behind their behaviors remain a mystery. Maybe you can help demystify the behavior in your vortex journey. On a vortex tour, we stop often to interpret the signs nature is giving us. On this ecotour specifically, it felt like nature was telling us to get walking and have fun! Maybe a last hurrah before the hot humid summer sets in.

Snakes on the Trail

I seem to often encounter snakes on the segment of trail between the grass vortex and the legacy trail. This one was a magnificent red color, which I later learned is a Coral Snake. Harmless, and very cool looking. Videos of the snakes are on my social channels. https://www.facebook.com/SRQvortex and https://www.facebook.com/SRQvortex and https://www.youtube.com/@srqvortex 

The funny thing is, they seem to love being models for the camera and freeze in the middle of the trail. I’m sure they are scared, just like I feel sometimes. As an ethical ecotour operator, I won’t do anything to harass wildlife like scare it off the trail. Afterall, it’s their home first. So we pause and observe them. It’s a great addition to a tour because snakes are powerful medicine for spiritual transformation. That's probably why they like to stop us on the trail and give us the opportunity to learn their wisdom. If you get frustrated by animals taking priority on trails, this vortex tour is not for you.

When your Neighbor is a Deer

On this day in early April, as I made my way to the final vortex for sunset integration at Oscar Scherer State Park, I saw one of the largest doe deer I’ve ever seen in Sarasota! I consider Oscar Scherer an ‘urban’ park because it is bordered by two major highways, US-41 and I-75, and residential development. Whereas, Myakka State Park is a rural park because it borders other parks and farmland, with residential enclaves encroaching on the edges. Me and the deer locked eyes for some time. She was standing in the low scrub watching me approach on the sandy yellow trail. When I felt her presence, I paused my movement and held the space for her to make her next move. Just like the snakes, it’s our responsibility as guests in their home to defer to their guidance and leadership.

Oscar Scherer Vortex Tour

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Earth Medicine: The Healing Qualities of Flowers on a Vortex Tour

A Prescription for Nature Bathing

Florida wildflower season is alive and well for hikers in Sarasota County. Today, in Oscar Scherer State Park I saw Coral Beans, Bidens, Florida Bluehearts, Scrub Roseling, Florida Prickly Pear, and the best of all… Netted Pawpaw! The soft, draping white petals of the pawpaw bush were the most visually remarkable and carried the energetic theme of the day, Lifeforce of Spring. More on that later. A Vortex tour is a special kind of eco-tour because not only do we pause to identify the plants and animals we see, but we start conversations with the plants and animals. That's where intuitive skills are needed to listen for the responses on subtle energy levels. Not sure what those are? Come on a tour and find out!

The Quantum Life of Plants

Flowers of all shapes and sizes are special guests when they appear on a vortex tour because flower medicine is one of the most potent Earth Medicines. {To clarify, I am speaking about the vibrational qualities of a flower that resonate with our cells to create medicinal effects. Not taste, smell, scent or flavor, Cellular vibration happens on a quantum level, invisible to the naked eye.} The practice of calling plants medicine is an ancient concept that today is practiced more like, ‘Food is Medicine.’ Our western practices mostly focus on the physical aspects of plants. My path in the vortex is revisiting these traditions with modern wisdom and communicating with Nature to learn her non-physical medicine. This is the intention of a vortex tour, attune yourself to the vibrations of Nature so that you may receive her Medicine. If you’ve been waiting for a sign, this is your prescription for nature therapy.  Book a Vortex Tour Today!

Dragons in the Sky

On this day, I ventured into the backcountry of Oscar Scherer and hiked to the big lake. I had so many companions on this eco-tour today! Birdsong bathed every step with sweet melodies and grasshoppers gave way for my new footprints. The sky also came alive with dragonflies buzzing here and there. These animal companions could be seen as early morning rewards for getting on the trail early, or heralds of the start of Spring. Either way, it kept me motivated and moving at a good pace. 

Physical, Mental, and Emotional Journey

Not many tours will make it to the big lake in Oscar Scherer because it’s a long hike from the visitor’s center, but it can be requested on a customized tour. Or send us a messae through our contact form. Our guides can plan a route that is as challenging or as easy as your group wants. On this specific day, I followed the border of the Thaxton Preserve, a mile longer than normal, and forged a small creek to make it to the final vortex location. My body and mind were prepared by the long hike and shady respites to contemplate the plant and animal omens that showed up. I encountered no other hikers past a certain point in the park. Without interference from other people or machines or evidence of man’s dominion over nature, nature speaks more loudly. It’s in these deep nature places that the veil of the vortex is easier to cross and the unconditional love of Earth to humans just pours out like a fire hydrant. This hiking route is for the deep seeker who desires a physical, mental, and emotional journey into the heart. 

Private Vortex Tour in State Park

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The Lifeforce of Spring

My journey on this hike was into the heart of the Netted Pawpaw. I’ve spent time on farms in the Southeast and at enough slow food potlucks to know that the American pawpaw holds a special place in plant lover’s heart. It’s a native fruit that has never been commercialized due to lack of shelf stability. It’s name is thrown around like the password to a secret society of people who wild forage their food. I’m not even going to pretend that I know what it tastes like, I’ve never eaten one! And it’s pretty unclear how big of a fruit the Florida variety produces. But that’s not what we do on vortex tours. If you want to know what the Florida Netted Pawpaw tastes like, look at the IFAS webpage about it. But if you want to meet the spirit of the Florida Netted Pawpaw and learn about what she wants to share with humanity, book a Sarasota Vortex Tour! It’s an eco-tour with a plant communication twist. An eco-tour with a nature interpretation twist. An eco-tour with a twist of nature therapy. If you want to experience the lifeforce of Spring that the pawpaw wants to share, you’ll have to join me in the backcountry of Florida State Parks.