| Whether you are a winter visitor, vacationer or | | | | year including: Kids' Summer Fun Run Series, Sand |
| full-time resident, Florida's 1,200 miles of coastline is | | | | Sculpturing Contest, Sandy Claws Arts and Crafts |
| yours to enjoy and we're going to help you by giving | | | | Festival, Sandy Claws Beach Run, "Say I Do Again." |
| you all of the details on the best FLorida Beach City: | | | | Pets: no |
| Sarasota. Sarasota is in a county of the same name: | | | | Of Special Interest: Siesta Beach is known as one of |
| Sarasota County which is home to other favorite | | | | the most beautiful beaches found anywhere. At the |
| small towns including Venice, Englewood, and | | | | "Great International White Sand Beach Challenge", |
| Longboat Key. Beautiful Sarasota Bay separates the | | | | Siesta Beach was recognized as having the, "whitest |
| county's barrier islands from the mainland. With its 40 | | | | and finest sand in the world." Shallow water depth in |
| miles of beaches, Sarasota County is one of | | | | the near shore areas together with year round |
| America's most desirable places to live and to | | | | lifeguard protection, make this one of the safest, |
| vacation. | | | | most popular beaches in the County. The sand on |
| Sarasota accommodations are varied and many and | | | | Siesta Key is 99% pure quartz and exceptionally soft |
| you can choose from a quaint Sarasota inn, to a | | | | and white. Combine that with turquoise blue water |
| Sarasota resort and even a Sarasota motel or two. | | | | and you have a winning combination! Rated #2 in the |
| You can find Sarasota vacation rentals in Siesta Key | | | | Country by Dr. Beach in 2009. |
| condos, Sarasota condominiums and Sarasota villas. | | | | Siesta Key (Accesses) |
| Sarasota Restaurants throughout the County are | | | | Location: There are 10 beach access points on the |
| many and palate pleasing! In Venice, Café | | | | north side of Siesta Key: |
| Venice Restaurant & Wine Bar is the place to | | | | Beach Access #1 - Shell Road |
| go. Cork on St. Armand's Circle on Lido Key was | | | | Siesta Drive, west to Higel, west on Shell Road |
| named "Best New Restaurant." It's a pretty exciting | | | | No Swimming |
| place with exciting food! Ophelia's on the Bay offers | | | | Beach Access #2 - Avenida Messina |
| beautiful alfresco dining overlooking Sarasota Bay and | | | | Ocean Boulevard, west on Avenida Messina |
| Euphemia Haye on Longboat Key is legendary. Gift | | | | No Swimming |
| certificates to all of these well known and great | | | | Beach Access #5 - Ocean Boulevard |
| restaurants are available in The Florida Beach Book. | | | | Ocean Boulevard and Beach Road Intersection |
| Try them all! | | | | Beach Access #7 - Calle de la Siesta |
| On to the beaches! | | | | Beach Road and Calle de la Siesta |
| Turtle Beach | | | | Beach Access # 8 - Plaza de las Palmas 1 |
| Location: South end of Siesta Key | | | | Off of Beach Road, north of Siesta Beach |
| Hours: sunrise to sunset | | | | Beach Access # 9 - Plaza de las Palmas 2 |
| Parking: parking lots are free and plentiful | | | | Off of Beach Road, north of Siesta Beach |
| Amenities: ½ mile beach, free Wi-Fi at the | | | | Beach Access # 10 - Calle del Invierno |
| Campground, boat ramps, canoe/kayak launch area, | | | | Beach Road, north of Siesta Beach |
| horseshoes, picnic shelters with grills, playground, | | | | Hours: sunrise to sunset |
| restrooms, volleyball courts, campground, restaurants | | | | Parking: free, limited on street |
| within walking distance | | | | Amenities: none |
| Activities: camping, boating, swimming, fishing, surfing, | | | | Activities: swimming unless otherwise indicated, |
| snorkeling, volleyball, sunbathing, walking | | | | sunbathing, walking, fishing, shelling |
| Pets: no | | | | Pets: no |
| Of Special Interest: Turtle Beach is named for the | | | | South Lido Beach (Park) |
| turtles that like to nest in the soft, mounded sand | | | | Location: south end of Ben Franklin Drive at the |
| here. YOU can also nest here as Turtle Beach | | | | southern tip of Lido Key |
| Campground offers one of the few remaining | | | | Hours: sunrise to sunset |
| opportunities to park a recreational vehicle (RV) or | | | | Parking: free lot |
| pitch a tent near the Gulf of Mexico and wake up | | | | Amenities: 640 feet of gulf beach, 3500 ft on the |
| the next morning under the Florida sun. The | | | | Bay, seasonal lifeguards, picnic tables and grills, |
| Campground features 40 sites for camping, with | | | | jogging trail, multi-purpose field, nature trails, |
| areas for both RVs and tents. Electricity and cable | | | | playground, self-guided canoeing trail, restrooms, |
| TV hookups are available. | | | | volleyball courts, observation tower and decks, |
| Crescent Beach | | | | showers |
| Location: Siesta Key. Beach Access #12 - Stickney | | | | Activities: swimming, fishing, sunbathing, canoeing, |
| Point Road & Access #13 - Point O' Rocks Road | | | | volleyball, sunbathing, shelling, volleyball, hiking |
| Hours: sunrise to sunset | | | | Pets: no |
| Parking: limited, roadside | | | | Lido Beach |
| Amenities: none | | | | Location: 400 Ben Franklin Drive, one half mile |
| Activities: swimming, sunbathing, fishing, scuba, | | | | southwest of St. Armand's Circle, Lido Key |
| snorkeling, walking, surfing | | | | Hours: sunrise to sunset |
| Pets: no | | | | Parking: free lot |
| Of Special Interest: Offers the best scuba diving and | | | | Amenities: 3100 feet of beach, 15 acres, lifeguards, |
| snorkeling at Point of Rocks on the off shore | | | | handicapped access and handicapped wheelchair, |
| formation | | | | concessions, gift shop, observation decks, |
| Siesta Key Beach | | | | playground, recreation building, restrooms, showers, |
| Location: 948 Beach Road, south end of Beach Road, | | | | picnic tables, 25 meter swimming pool |
| Siesta Key | | | | Activities: swimming, sunbathing, fishing, surfing, |
| Hours: sunrise to sunset | | | | volleyball, walking |
| Parking: free lot | | | | Pets: no |
| Amenities: .4 mile beach, lifeguards, restrooms, | | | | Of Special Interest: great beach for small children and |
| showers, picnic tables and grills, concessions, volleyball | | | | very active |
| courts, handicapped accessible and handicapped | | | | North Lido Beach |
| wheelchair, soccer field, tennis courts, safety building, | | | | Location: 400 Bean Franklin Drive, one quarter mile |
| ball fields. | | | | northwest of St. Armand's Circle, off John Ringling |
| Activities: swimming, sunbathing, volleyball, fishing, | | | | Blvd. |
| snorkeling, parasailing. Special events throughout the | | | | |