Beautiful Siesta Key Beach: Home to “The Whitest & Finest Sand in the World”
Sarasota’s Siesta Key Beach often ranks near the top of most travel publications “best of” beaches lists. Travel Channel rated it “The Best Sand Beach in America,” in 2004. This is because the sand is 99% quartz. The sand is absolutely soft and beautiful, and it doesn’t get too hot to touch. Mike and I decided to make a trip out to Sarasota to check another Florida Gulf Coast beach off our list.
As soon as we drove in, we already knew it was going to be a better beach day, as we did not have to circle around attempting to find parking! There is a large lot here with plenty of spaces available. Also, the roads leading into the beach were much less congested.
A nice tropical palm tree lined entrance leads you to the beach
White sand & crystal clear water
The beach itself was very beautiful: long and wide with gorgeous smooth white sand and clear water. The water was a bit cooler and there were more waves than other Gulf coast beaches, thus leading to fun swimming conditions.
Plenty of room to spread out at Siesta Key
99% Pure Quartz sand…so soft and white!
Gorgeous clear water
Although crowded, it wasn’t half as congested as I expected based on my experiences at other Gulf coast beaches. It is possible that it appeared less crowded due to the wider stretch of sand, regardless the beach vibe was much more attractive than many other West Coast Florida beaches. We felt like we got to stretch out and enjoy the day without other couples/families sitting close enough to listen in to our conversation.
I didn’t notice many shells at Siesta Beach, however, the south end of the beach (Turtle Beach) is a more rocky section known for ample beach-combing opportunities.
Summer Thunderstorm Season!
We were set to stay until sunset, unfortunately a random thunderstorm rolled in. A bit frustrating as we checked the weather report before leaving and the chance was only slight. Nevertheless, we were able to capture some really cool pictures of the storm clouds. Also, we enjoyed the nice break from the sun and heat!
Check out how dark the skies got in such a short period of time!
Check out how green the water looks in contrast to the dark storm clouds
That’s Florida for you…sunny one minute, stormy the next!
The beach-goers started to exit in droves, and we happily took advantage of the deserted grounds for as long as we could.
The beach after everyone left
Why visit Siesta?
I recommend a trip to Sarasota for a relaxing summer afternoon at Siesta Beach. Here you will be treated to: great views, smooth sand, and plenty of space! On top of everything, parking is free…an unusual find on Florida’s Gulf coast!
Amenities at Siesta Key include: volleyball nets, tennis courts, restrooms, and a restaurant.
Location: Siesta Key Beach is located at: 948 Beach Road in Sarasota, Florida
Where to Stay
Where to eat
Columbia, Florida’s oldest restaurant, opened in Ybor City in Tampa in 1905. Columbia at St. Armands Circle in Sarasota is one of many locations which has opened. This fine restaurant serves excellent Cuban cuisine in a beautiful dining space. The Cuban Black Beans are amazing and so is the Paella. And do order the Black Bean cakes as an appetizer! Bonus – they offer a nice patio dining area.
Also check out my guide to the best things to do in Sarasota!
Have you ever visited Siesta Key Beach? How would you rate it in comparison to other Florida Gulf coast beaches?
