6 Beautiful Beaches in Sarasota & Venice, Florida
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Florida’s Southwest Coast is home to some of the most gorgeous beaches I’ve ever seen. Unlike the congested, oftentimes heavily commercialized beaches of Tampa Bay, Sarasota and Venice beaches offer a less hectic ambiance and an all around more leisure oriented vibe. Don’t get me wrong The Bay is home to some fabulous beaches, and I have enjoyed having easy access to them since moving to the region.
In comparison, Sarasota beaches are much quieter, and more scenic. These are the beaches I go to when I want to feel like I am on a tropical vacation. Most offer free parking, which is a huge benefit, whereas parking near popular beaches like Clearwater and St. Pete is expensive and oftentimes near impossible to find.
As an added benefit, there is little business surrounding the beaches. You will need to drive to get to the restaurants and shopping areas. I love the lack of commercialization surrounding the beaches; it gives it a more charming old-school vibe. There are fewer strip malls and more natural landscaping in this area, which gives it less of a suburban vibe and more of a tropical flair.
In my guide, I will cover some of the great beaches of the area. They are all so different. I have included a variety of options whether you are looking for soft sand, lots of seashells, a great sunset, or just a laid-back place for a stroll.
Siesta Key
Siesta Key should be tops on your bucket list; I was so amazed when I first stepped onto the soft sand here. This gorgeous wide, sandy beach features 99% pure quartz sand. The soft sugar white sand will make you want to dig your toes right in, so park your beach chair and enjoy a relaxing, carefree afternoon.
If you are looking to get more active, Siesta is also one of the few beaches where you can play sand volleyball. I’ve barely seen any nets anywhere on the Gulf – a bit of a disappointment after living in SoCal a few years back. Not a volleyball player? Tennis courts are also available. Or simply walk for miles and enjoy the crystal clear water and feel of the smooth sand under your feet. I love that the sand stays cool to the touch. Have you ever been on one of those beaches where the sand is so hot you have to literally run to the water to cool your feet?
The beach is very clean without any garbage in sight. Crowds are hefty on the weekends during the winter season, but never as congested as the Clearwater/St. Pete beaches. I am surprised they keep it so clean with the traffic. And another big plus: parking is always available unlike some Bay area beaches where you have to drive around looking for a spot to open.
The historic downtown known as St. Armand’s Circle features numerous cafes, restaurants, and shops. The area is quaint and nicely landscaped, allowing you to take a step back in time versus visiting a standard chain mall area. After your beach day, do check out Columbia, one of the world’s largest and oldest Spanish restaurants. The original location opened in Tampa’s historic Ybor City back in 1905. This cafe in St. Armand’s Circle features a nice patio.
Caspersen Beach
Caspersen Beach, located in Venice about 15 minutes from Sarasota, is known as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World. Due to the unique geography and historical significance, it is one of the most interesting beaches on the Gulf Coast. It is very rocky and features a drastically different, yet very appealing look over other area beaches. It’s a nice change of scenery.
Here are a few things you will notice about Caspersen: the sand is much darker here, the beach is more narrow, and it is filled with all different sorts of shells. The views are absolutely stunning, and I almost feel like I am at a New England beach, rather than a Florida beach. On my first visit, I noticed many people out with their shell sifters, looking for shark teeth. This great tool will help separate shells from teeth (you can find one at a local Wal-Mart or tourist shop in downtown Venice).
This is a really quiet beach which you visit for the scenery and shark teeth rather than swimming and beach sports. I did a little beachcombing here and attempted to find shark teeth but no luck. I do love just taking in the incredible Gulf views.
All you can hear is the crashing of the waves over the rocks. To see a Florida beach in such a natural state is just wonderful. There is absolutely no commercialization found anywhere near the beach. I’d say this is a simple, yet stunning choice for anyone looking to relax.
Venice Beach
Venice, located just 30 minutes south of Sarasota, is a beautiful small town on the Gulf Coast. There is plenty of natural beauty here including several parks and beaches. Venice beach is just a few miles from Caspersen, so you can easily hit up both on the same day!
The sand is smooth, everything is clean, and the water is perfect for swimming most of the year.
Like Caspersen, shark teeth are commonly found here, although not in as high quantities. Of course, I didn’t find any teeth here either, but I did find some nice shells. This beach features a wider stretch of sand to enjoy beach sports, a little bit of sunbathing, or a little light reading on a mild fall or winter afternoon. Plus, the sunsets here are spectacular; one of the best I’ve seen yet on the Gulf.
After your day at the beach, you can head over to the nearby shops and restaurants (just a few blocks away). It’s perfect because the shops and restaurants are not located directly on the beach, however, they are still close enough to compliment your beach day.
Crescent Beach
Crescent Beach, located at the Southern end of Siesta Key, features the same soft, powdery white sand of Siesta. I think the sand may even be a bit smoother. The beach is really wide, although not as crowded. You will quickly notice that the beach is immaculately clean without any garbage in sight.
The sand is pretty hard packed, making it a great choice for running or bike riding (that is, if the weather is not too hot, of course!). I am personally not a fan of biking on a beach, but I did enjoy a nice stroll here.
Renting a cabana or bringing your own umbrella and beach chairs is a must! The skies are almost always completely sunny, and it often feels much hotter than it really is, even during the “cooler” winter season.
Because it is a private beach, you benefit with fewer crowds, however, you will also notice fewer amenities (no bathrooms, facilities). I recommend staying at one of the many resorts where you will enjoy several advantages such as: direct access to the beach, hassle free parking, free cabanas, and a clean, comfortable oceanfront room to go back to after your exhausting day at the beach. Fortunately, I lived so close by that I could get here easily via a weekend roadtrip.
Lido Beach
Lido Beach is another great beach for watching a gorgeous sunset. Although the sand is not the powdery smooth sand you will find at Siesta and Crescent, it is a better option for those looking to relax and find sea shells (the sand is still white, just a little more shelly). I feel the vibe is a bit more local than tourist.
Choose Lido if you are more concerned with enjoying a quiet place to bird watch or view a sunset, rather than the soft white sands that draw tourists to the more popular beaches. Another advantage of visiting this beach is the close proximity to St. Armand’s Circle, the wonderful shopping and dining destination I mentioned earlier.
Turtle Beach
Turtle Beach is perhaps the most beautiful and underrated Sarasota area beach. Despite the dark, rocky sand, Turtle offers an unmatched quiet setting and a beautiful view. It’s also one of the best beachcombing options around. It’s located on the southern end of Siesta so usually avoided by tourists. The majority of the time (especially off-season), you will only find a few locals out enjoying the nice weather.
Here’s a sample of some of the colorful shells I found after just an hour or so of searching.
Beautiful trees surrounding the beach create a wonderful natural setting. This is really a picture-perfect scene. It looks so different than Siesta but that is the great thing about this area – there is something for everyone.
The beach also has a larger slope, meaning you can sit up on the hill as opposed to everyone cramming down right next to the water.
Overall, Turtle Beach is a great option for those looking for long, quiet beach walks with no noise besides the gentle crashing of the waves. Avid beachcombers, and photographers should also enjoy this beach. So grab your beach chair and enjoy a relaxing Florida beach day away from the crowds!
Tips for a fabulous beach day
*Check the weather forecast! Heavy rain is very common on the Gulf Coast during the summer season! Nothing quite ruins a beach day like a random thunderstorm. Keep in mind that the heaviest rain falls from June-September. As you can see in my photo below, the skies can turn dark quickly.
*Bring plenty of sunblock and an umbrella to protect yourself from the harsh sun.
*Be aware that while the outside temperatures are still moderately warm during the winter season, the water temperatures are often much cooler! So plan on another activity like beachcombing, relaxing with a good book, or visiting at sunset for the incredible views.
*Pick up a Shark Teeth sifter at a local Walmart or at one of the various gift stores in downtown Venice. If you prefer to go on the cheap side, bring a general household cooking strainer. They both work pretty much the same!
*Visit during the off season for cheaper hotel rates. Winter is much more crowded than the summer season due to an abundance of snowbirds and tourists escaping the cold in other areas of the country. The late summer months and early fall months, especially August, September, and October, are typically the least crowded. High season is typically from January-April when all the snowbirds come down from up north.
Average temps
You can expect: Low 70’s from December-February, mid 70’s in March, low 80’s in April and May, low 90’s from June-September, mid 80’s in October, and low 80’s in November. In my opinion, the later summer months are just too hot and the water doesn’t do much to cool you down.
Even though the winter is more crowded, I prefer the milder temperatures for beach strolls. Just know that it is way too cold to actually swim during the winter season (shocking I know!).
Nearby activities to check out
Oscar Scherer State Park, located in Osprey, is a quiet little park with nice picnicking areas and several miles of scenic, mostly shady trails. Great lake views and the occasional alligator sighting!
*Big Cat Habitat – This non profit organization saves cats, bear, and any other exotic animals in need of a home. You will be able to watch daily bear and tiger shows.
*Myakka River State Park – This is my favorite park in Florida. The hiking trails here are wonderful. The setting is beautiful, especially on the mile loop around the park (which you can either drive or bike). Boat rides are well worth the small admission price (much cheaper than the Everglades and still plenty of gator sightings!).
*St. Armand’s Circle – A charming dining, shopping, and entertainment area in Sarasota which makes for a great alternative once you tire of the beaches. Columbia’s serves the tastiest Cuban fare in Florida. I love the Paella!
Addresses
- Siesta Key: 948 Beach Road, Siesta Key
- Casperan: 4100 Harbor Drive, Venice
- Venice: 101 The Esplanade, Venice
- Crescent: 6499 Midnight Pass Rd Sarasota
- Lido: 400 Ben Franklin Drive, Lido Key
- Turtle: 8918 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota
