Sarasota is home to America’s No. 1 Beach, Siesta Key Beach. Here, you’ll find old Florida beachfront homes, quintessential beachside villages and the whitest, coolest sand on the Gulf of Mexico. For a destination that perfectly blends quaint coastal gems with a metropolitan arts scene, look no further than Sarasota, Florida.
Aerial view of Siesta Key, Sarasota
Sarasota Beaches
Sarasota is a city on Florida’s Gulf Coast, nestled on the Gulf of Mexico, just south of Tampa and north of Fort Myers and Naples. This quaint city was once the home of the Ringling Brothers. Now, there are numerous cultural institutions dedicated to the arts, theatre and opera, making it a winter paradise for northern city dwellers. Sarasota is also the gateway to powdery sand beaches and the Florida lifestyle. Here, you can lounge in flip flops on quartz sand beaches by day, and don formal attire to the opera by night.
The county of Sarasota is separated into different areas, most easily known as Siesta Key, Downtown Sarasota, St. Armands and Lido Key, and Inland Sarasota. For vacationers and visitors looking to enjoy some of America’s best beaches, we recommend visiting Siesta Key. Here’s your complete guide of the best spots to sprawl out and enjoy the Florida sunshine in Sarasota.
Photo by © Alkan2011 | Dreamstime.com
Siesta Key Beach
Located on Siesta Key, the famous Siesta Key Beach is best known for its fine, white quartz sand. This, paired with the shallow bay and walkable sand bars, makes it a perfect spot for families with children learning to swim, or those looking for a peaceful enclave to paddle and wade. Siesta Key Beach is a social hangout, attracting plenty of tourists during season, but during the quiet times, you’re likely to find a secluded strip all to yourself. This most-loved beach recently underwent large-scale renovations and received a $21-million-dollar makeover. Now, you’ll enjoy five-star amenities including bathrooms, a huge playground for children, a new state-of-the-art concession building, new 15-foot-wide pedestrian walkway leading to the beach, expanded parking, new tennis courts and more.
Crescent Beach
Just a little south on Siesta Key, past Siesta Key Beach, Crescent Beach is a quiet stretch that leads to a pool of rocks known as the Point of Rocks. While there’s only one somewhat-hard-to-find public access here (it’s wedged opposite Crescent Supermarket by the Stickney Point Bridge), this beach is mainly comprised of large beachfront resorts and megamansions. If you’re looking for a half-way escape from the more touristy Siesta Key Beach, but want to enjoy the much-desired quartz sand, this is your spot.
Turtle Beach
Farther south on Siesta Key is a camper’s paradise. Turtle Beach is a slither of beach equipped with campground amenities and boat slips to easily launch kayaks and boats. This is easily described as Siesta Key Beach’s sportier sibling. High sand dunes lead out to a somewhat narrow beach with a shore that drops away quickly, not as suitable for new swimmers. The sand here is comprised of more shells. You’ll want to bring flip flops for the trek from the parking lot to the beach. Across the street, you’ll find several simple restaurants including a marina-side tiki bar serving hamburgers and cold ones, and a casual waterfront eatery serving up a very reasonable brunch, first mimosa included.
Lido Key Beach
On Lido Key, Lido Key Beach is a regular spot for beach yoga, watersports and gorgeous sunsets in general. There’s ample parking for this moderately quiet beach, but you’ll enjoy the clean and modernized amenities, from a public swimming pool to a concession stand that serves up some of the most delicious lobster rolls we have ever had (Shh! Don’t tell anyone!). This place livens up around the Fourth of July, when The Sarasota Power Boat Grand Prix sends major horsepower speeding offshore, along with all-day beach parties and celebrations.