Beautiful Siesta Key Beach: Home to “The Whitest & Finest Sand in the World”
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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 the drive from suburban Pinellas County to check another Florida Gulf Coast beach off our list. As soon as we stepped on the sugary soft sand, we knew that this beach rightfully earned a place on our best Gulf beaches guide.
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. I really appreciated the low-key vibe and attractive lack of commercialization surrounding the beach.
The whitest 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 perfect swimming conditions. The water at Gulf beaches can get really hot during the summer months – sometimes it feels more like swimming in a hot tub. Surprisingly, it can also get too cold as soon as winter rolls around. So the best time to swim is during the late spring, late summer and early fall months.
The best aspect of Siesta Key is the wide stretch of sand. There is plenty of room to spread out here! I felt that there was much more space here than most of the other beaches we have visited since moving here.
The highlight here is that the sand is 99% Pure Quartz sand…it’s so soft and white. Best of all, it stays pretty cool to the touch. No need to rush to the water because your feet are burning – I really hate this! This sand feels so smooth and powdery to the touch. The texture is more like snow!
According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the sand originates from the Appalachian mountains. The quartz crystals from the mountains are brought down via the Apalachicola River and eventually wash up on the Gulf beaches. The result is picture-perfect beaches which attract tourists from around the world.
Like most other Gulf area beaches, you can enjoy swimming in gorgeous clear water. I love being able to see the bottom of my feet while walking in. The water is pretty shallow and you would have to go pretty far out to even go past your shoulders. I try to stay a bit closer to the shore as I am terrified of shark attacks. Unfortunately, attacks are on the rise throughout the state according to this article by The Herald Tribune.
Although crowded, it wasn’t half as congested as I expected based on my experiences at other Bay area beaches. It is possible that it appeared less crowded due to the wider stretch of sand, regardless the beach vibe was much more low-key. 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 here, however, the south end of the beach (Turtle Beach) is a more rocky section known for ample beach-combing opportunities. As you can see in these pictures, the sand is not as smooth but the scenery is gorgeous and there are a lot of shells if that is your thing.
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. Since moving here, we quickly learned that it rains almost daily during the summer season no matter what the forecast says is supposed to happen. 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! Know that in Florida the weather conditions can change suddenly, especially during the summer season. It is not at all rare to go from totally sunny and 90 degrees to 80 degrees with torrential rainfall just a few minutes later. I actually think it looks pretty cool when the skies turns dark and even better all the tourists leave!
Check out how green the water looks as the storm rolls closer. The dark storm clouds really add to the ambiance. The turquoise water becomes even more vibrant!
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. We got some pretty cool pictures right before we got pounded by rain. Check out this cloud coming through – at least the beach cleared out.
I recommend a trip to Sarasota for a relaxing summer afternoon at one of the Gulf’s best beaches. Here you will be treated to: great views, smooth sand, and plenty of space! On top of everything, parking is free…an unusual find in this region. If you are coming from the Tampa Bay area, I recommend making a full day out of it. Check out my full Sarasota vacation guide for more great activities and attractions to incorporate into your daytrip plans.
Amenities include: volleyball nets, tennis courts, restrooms, and a restaurant. Nearby Siesta Key Village offers many local dining and shopping options. I like a local coffeeshop called Mojo Risin.
Location: The beach parking lot is located at: 948 Beach Road in Sarasota.
Update: Since first publishing this article, we have visited this beach many times. We still consider it one of the best-of-the-best. A bucket list contender for all beach lovers for sure!
Where to Stay
- Tropical Breeze Resort
- Tropical Beach Resorts
- Beach Club at Siesta Key
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 since then. 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.
