Things to Do in Parrish, FL: Parks, Trains & More
Parrish may be small, but the to-do list is long: river parks, nature preserves, a heritage railroad, and breweries all within minutes of Canoe Creek.
Roger Reed
Realtor · RAR Property Group, powered by EXP Realty
People often assume a small rural town like Parrish, Florida, means a short list of things to do. The opposite is true. Between the Manatee River parks, nature preserves, a working heritage railroad, and nearby breweries, there is more weekend material than you can fit in one visit.
On the water
Fort Hamer Park is the hub: a county park on the Manatee River with a boat ramp, canoe and kayak launch, fishing pier, pavilions, and picnic areas. Rye Preserve, a roughly 145-acre natural area off Rye Wilderness Trail, offers hiking trails through pine flatwoods, fishing, kayaking, and even shark tooth hunting along the river.
Community parks
Bunker Hill Community Park spans about 76 acres with a fishing pier, canoe launch, a 1.2-mile nature trail with fitness stations, and a playground. Parrish Community Park on Fort Hamer Road has an amphitheater and a splash pad, and Ola Mae Sims Park is a neighborhood favorite for playgrounds and picnics.
Ride the railroad
The Florida Railroad Museum is Parrish's signature attraction, running weekend diesel train excursions between Parrish and Willow plus themed events like train robberies, murder mystery dinner trains, and the North Pole Express around the holidays.
Nearby extras
Two local breweries, Naughty Monk Brewing and 3 Car Garage Brewing, sit within a few miles, and Lake Manatee State Park is a short drive for swimming, boating, and camping. Push a little farther and you reach Robinson Preserve and the Gulf beaches.
The takeaway: work through this list across a few weekends and you will still have more to do.
Thinking about this area?
Talk it through with Roger Reed. He knows the market and the neighborhood well.