Located in Sarasota, about an hour south of Tampa on Florida’s west coast, Siesta Key Beach is an oasis of silky white sand, calm turquoise waters, and remarkable natural beauty. Frequently ranked as one of the top beaches in the United States and recently included in the top ten beaches in the world, Siesta Key Beach is the perfect spot for a relaxing vacation, leisurely evening stroll, or family-friendly outing. I grew up not too far from Sarasota and regularly vacationed at Siesta Key Beach, and even now, decades later, Siesta Key Beach remains one of my favorite places in Florida. Read on to discover why this beach is so highly rated and why you should include it on your Florida itinerary!
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WHAT MAKES SIESTA KEY BEACH UNIQUE?
Siesta Key Beach’s powdery white sand is probably its most famous feature. All sand is made of rocks that have been eroded and broken down by water over time. Due to the minerals in the rock that has eroded, sand is rarely a pure color, but rather a blend of various shades of gray, brown, tan, and other colors. Siesta Key Beach’s sand, however, is made almost entirely of quartz, which makes it dazzling white and gives it a soft, powdery texture that stays cool even on hot days. This luxurious sand is perfect for strolling barefoot or building sand castles, like Hannah is attempting to do below!
Siesta Key Beach also has crystal-clear turquoise water that is usually in the 70’s or 80’s depending on the time of year. Siesta Key Beach’s location on the Gulf Coast of Florida means the water is calmer, clearer, and warmer than water on the Atlantic side. This makes Siesta Key Beach an ideal location for relaxing, swimming, snorkeling, or just playing in the water. I must say, after two decades of living closer to Atlantic coast beaches and having to deal with chilly water and rip tide warnings, I really miss the warm, placid water of Siesta Key Beach!
BEST THINGS TO DO AT SIESTA KEY BEACH
Siesta Key Beach is an extremely family-friendly beach with plenty of amenities for all ages and interest levels. As previously mentioned, the warm, calm waters are perfect for swimming or just relaxing on a tube or raft. This beach is also an excellent place to birdwatch or even catch dolphins playing just off shore.
For those wishing to be active, Siesta Key Beach provides pickleball courts, tennis courts, and sand volleyball courts, as well as a shaded playground for younger beachgoers. There are also concessions and covered pavilions.
Another fun activity is exploring the tidepools at Point of Rocks. Point of Rocks is a unique limestone and quartz rock formation at the south end of the beach. This rock formation creates a reef-like environment and during low tide, you can easily explore tidepools amongst the rocks. We have seen a variety of marine life at Point of Rocks over the years, including sea urchins, starfish, and crabs. Because Point of Rocks is located at the sound end of the beach, it is pretty far from the public beach and is most easily accessed if you are staying at one of the resorts along the south end. We highly recommend bringing water shoes to protect your feet while exploring, because the rocks and surrounding shells can be uncomfortable to walk on. Also, remember to respect nature and don’t touch the marine life or take anything from the tidepools!
All of the above activities provide plenty of options, but our absolute favorite thing to do at Siesta Key Beach is to watch the sunset. Due to its location on the west coast, this beach is perfect for catching glowing displays of crimson and gold as the sun sets on the gulf.
WHAT TO PACK FOR A BEACH DAY
Beach days are pretty laid back, but there are a few things you’ll want to bring to make your day more comfortable and enjoyable. First and foremost, don’t forget sunscreen! Florida is known as the Sunshine State for a reason — Sarasota in particular boasts an average of 250 days of sunshine per year.
To avoid the pain and skin damage of sunburn, We recommend always wearing sunscreen. Please make sure it is reef safe, as certain chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate damage coral reefs. Reef safe sunscreens use mineral blockers such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. We personally use Blue Lizard, but some other good reef safe brands include Badger and Thinksport. Whichever brand you choose, remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours, especially after swimming and between the hours of 10am and 4pm when sun exposure is the strongest.
In addition to sunscreen, make sure you bring a hat and sunglasses to help protect your head and eyes. Polarized sunglasses are ideal because they reduce the glare of the water and decrease eye strain.
For additional sun protection, we also recommend bringing a rash guard or swim shirt to wear over your bathing suit. A rash guard protects against the sun and saves you from having to worry about reapplying sunscreen every couple of hours.
A few other items we recommend bringing include a beach bag to keep all your gear together, a quick dry towel, and flip flops. We love the Bay Laurel turkish towel because it’s lightweight, shakes off the sand easily, and is compact–it even comes with a travel bag, which makes it ideal for keeping compact in a suitcase! For footwear, I personally love Reef’s Beach Flip Flops – they are easy to rinse the sand off of and comfortable enough to wear all day. I use mine regularly, even when I’m not at the beach!
TIPS FOR VISITING SIESTA KEY BEACH
In addition to bringing sun protection, make sure you bring plenty of water to stay hydrated in the strong Florida sun, as well as a cooler for snacks. You may also wish to bring beach chairs and an umbrella if you do not want to pay to rent them.
One of the biggest tips we can offer is to arrive early–preferably before 9am–to avoid traffic and be able to locate a parking spot. The main parking is free to park in and fills up quickly. As the day goes on, you may have to circle for a while trying to find an open spot. Alternatively, if you are unable to find parking in the main lot, you can park in Siesta Key Village–which has metered and some free parking–and take the free trolley to the beach.
If you are planning to stay in the area instead of just making a day trip to the beach, we highly recommend staying right on the beach. We did this every summer when I was a kid and it truly is the best way to experience Siesta Key Beach, especially the stunning sunsets! Keep reading to see where we recommend staying.
WHERE TO STAY NEAR SIESTA KEY BEACH
Our top pick for accommodations on Siesta Key Beach is Tropical Beach Resorts. Tropical Beach Resorts is a collection of hotels featuring everything from comfortable studios to spacious two-bedroom suites located only a few steps from the beach. We have stayed at this property multiple times and find the rooms spacious, clean and well-decorated, and reasonably priced, especially during the off season. This group of hotels also offers multiple pools, lounge areas with grills for barbequing, outdoor games, and a shuffleboard court.
Although Tropical Beach Resorts is our favorite place to stay on Siesta Key Beach, there are many other excellent options. The Residences on Siesta Key Beach offer condo-style beachfront accommodations and a variety of amenities including a pool and on-site restaurant. The apartment-style rooms range in size from 1800 to 3000 square feet, which makes them perfect for families and large groups.
SeaSpray Resort is another excellent option. This cosmopolitan resort offers upscale condo-style accommodations with full kitchens and private patios. Amenities include a pool, barbeques for grilling, and dive-in movie nights. They are also pet-friendly, so guests with pets under 50 pounds can bring their furry friends along!
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS AND THINGS TO DO
In addition to its award-winning white sand beaches, Sarasota offers plenty of cultural and entertainment options. If you are interested in experiencing more of the area’s natural beauty, take a guided mangrove tunnel kayak tour on Lido Key. This tour takes you through beautiful mangrove canopies and through Little Sarasota Bay, where you can see a variety of wildlife including manatees and dolphins.
Myakka River State Park is another great place to experience natural Florida. Located just thirty minutes from downtown Sarasota, Myakka River State Park offers hiking trails, paddling down the Myakka River, wildlife viewing, boat and tram tours, and a 100-foot suspension bridge that provides stunning views of the surrounding live oak hammock.
If you are ready to get inside and take a break from Florida’s infamous sun, you can check out some of Sarasota’s cultural activities. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art includes a pink renaissance-style building featuring 31 art galleries surrounding a sculpture courtyard, as well as bay front gardens filled with banyan trees and a historic rose garden.
Another way to soak in the area’s culture is to visit Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. This renowned waterfront botanical garden includes lush tropical displays, rotating art exhibits, and native Florida ecosystems, as well as a children’s rainforest garden with a treehouse, suspension bridges, and waterfalls. Our favorite thing to do at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is stroll the boardwalk through the mangroves and enjoy the sweeping views of Sarasota Bay and the city skyline.
Sarasota also includes several family friendly options for those with kids. Sarasota Jungle Gardens is a historic, family-owned attraction that includes flamingo feedings, wildlife shows, and animal encounters as well as an outdoor playground and butterfly aviary.
Mote Science Education Aquarium is another great option for families. This facility has three floors featuring immersive marine habitats and animals such as manatees, river otters, alligators, sharks, sea turtles, and penguins.
If you will be visiting Sarasota in November, there are two additional events that are a lot of fun. From November 13-16, the Siesta Key Crystal Classic Sandsculpting Festival brings together sculptors from around the world to create intricate works of art from Siesta Key’s famous sand. The event includes stunning sculptures, live music, and family-friendly activities and should not be missed!
Also on weekends in November is the Sarasota Medieval Fair, a large festival featuring jousting, combat chess, shows, games, and an artisan marketplace.
Siesta Key Beach is one of the world’s top beaches due to its calm turquoise waters, silky white sand, and peaceful atmosphere. Sarasota also offers plenty of entertainment options and cultural activities, which makes this area of Florida perfect for a weekend getaway or family vacation. We encourage you to include Sarasota and Siesta Key Beach on your Florida bucket list!
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Sarah
I am the main writer and website designer for Florida Unveiled. I love the parts of Florida visitors don’t often see: the tea-colored water that flows in cypress-laden rivers; the chorus of frogs after a hard rain; the rustle of palmetto as an unseen creature scampers by. Some of my favorite places in Florida are the Everglades, the Keys, Smyrna Dunes Park, Bok Tower Gardens, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, and St. Augustine’s Historic District.
