I am at the beach at Siesta Key But why is there so much debris? It makes me sick To see so much plastic It has become too messy read more

Beautiful beach, not over crowded. Loved white sand and amazing blue water. If you are near Sarasota, visit Siesta Key... especially the beach. read more

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I have been here several time. For pleasure or work. Today is good time to write about this beach. The beach parking usually full after 10 am. The parking is free. I am always the early bird at 9:00 am when the sun was not too hot. While the heat index is low, I already in the water. This beach is special for the family. Because there is no big wave due to nature gulf protection. It just a big swimming pool. Especially the sand bar take all the wave and leave this beach huge still pool. The water is prestige. A lot fish can be spotted due to clear water to bottom. I spot big fish like sheep head and angle fish. The interesting fish I spot is the needle fish. It has long mouth like needle. Every one is observed the social distancing. The life guard at the post start at 10 am. If you come here for event fireworks, you might want to come early for parking. Bring your bicycle to ride to town for food and back to the beach. read more

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The place is so amazing. Very quiet and the sand and ocean colors are from another world. read more

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Huge beach! It was decently crowded when we went but you wouldn't know it, there's so much beach for everyone to spread out on. Beautiful soft sand. The water is pretty shallow so you can walk decently far out into the water. It's quite a beautiful beach to walk. They also have several volleyball courts. I would definitely visit again. read more

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This is a beautiful beach with soft and powdery sand - it is a world renowned beach. Great people watching, a good beach for taking long walks, etc. It is also a great place for other entertainment like the every Sunday night drum circle. There are lots of sand volleyball courts. There are also nice restroom facilities and picnic spots. They also have four tennis courts, two of the courts are lined for pickleball but unfortunately you have to supply your own nets - really? Come on Siesta Key you provide nets for tennis! A must destination. read more

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Beautiful beach with white, powdery sand. Go early for parking to watch sunset. Can find small shells usually. read more

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This is the most beautiful beach, and they have great public facilities. You can even get a beach-capable wheel chair! Parking lot fills up on holiday weekends, come early. read more

Siesta Key Beach - Love it - Beaches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Es la mejor ya que es la playa más popular de Sarasota FL por actividades y pueden pasar un día súper junto amigos y familiares read more

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Love, love, love this beach. It's looonngg but the water is usually calm and plenty of room to spread out. They do have a fairly long sand cover so it's easier to walk and/or pull a beach cart a good distance from the parking area/bathrooms, etc. I noticed this week that they now offer cabana shades and chairs for rent which is great if you don't want to bring your own chairs. Best months to go are May and October, and during the week if you can. Can get quite crowded even with ample (free) parking during the snowbird seasons and on the weekends. read more

Beautiful white, quartz sandy beaches. Graduated waters make for perfect wading. Beautiful, aqua blue water and lots of seashells! read more

Siesta Key Beach - Beaches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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It's clean, vast and beautiful. Parking is a challenge depending on when you go but is possible. The public restrooms and snack bar are very nice as well. read more

Beautiful white sandy beaches, cool and refreshing water, shelters for relaxing or just chillings. Lots of great food options from fast casual to fancy and gourmet. It wasn't too crowded when I went, so, it was a nice day at the beach. We enjoyed some cocktails and beers by some of the local stops along the beach. There's pizza nearby if you so crave too. read more

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I'm from South Florida so it was wonderful to not have any seaweed in the water or sand while at the beach! It was my first time at this beach. Parking was free which is amazing. Getting to the beach was a longer walk than expected but it was beautiful here. The sand was so soft and white. The water was crystal blue and refreshing. Voted #1 beach in the US! read more

Siesta Key Beach - Siesta key beach - Beaches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Reminds me of a Caribbean island beach with the white powdery sand and clear turquoise water. It has a large parking lot, a concession stand, and a little shop. Large bathrooms that are quite clean for an outdoor/park setting. There is a mat that provides a boardwalk to get out to the beach area more easily with coolers and gear so you don't have to trek through soft sand. It was pretty crowded even on a hot weekday in June. Worth the trip for a beach day with all the amenities. Beautiful. read more

Beautiful well kept beach with super soft white sand that doesn't seem to get hot even on days where temps are in the 80's! It's easier to take your flip flops off to walk in that sand and it's a treat for your feet! Wish all sand was this enjoyable to play in! Try to make time to watch the sunset. There's free parking, a visitor center with clean bathrooms, a souvenir shop with sunscreen, shirts, hats and inner tubes and a concession stand that serves typical fare like soft serve ice cream, chicken fingers and fries but also a yummy fried shrimp basket, a now $17 bucket of daiquiris and beer!! Loved spending a week here and swimming every day!! That being said condos/hotel rates are pretty pricey! Hope you can find a deal on Airbnb or other sites! Parking at some places on the island could be ridiculous! Went to take kids to a parasailing shop. The "public" parking rate was $40 for the day and the meter had no option to decrease the time. Check that out before you leave if you're driving. Traffic could be atrocious trying to get on and off the island. Try to hit a grocery store for essentials before you get on the island so you don't have to drive off it. There are 2 free trolleys and "frog hoppers" vans that are no fare just tips but we didn't have much luck getting on them honestly. It was much faster to get around the island by bike. We rented ours and had them delivered to our condo through Ride and Paddle. They pick up the bikes, chairs and umbrellas they rent out too! So convenient! Would definitely come back! read more

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Considered one of the best beaches in Florida for a reason. The sabd is soft and shite. There is parking area near by (but it can full very quickly). The water is nice. There are pavilions around to rest, picnic or rest. Many restaurants nearby if one is looking to eat, get a drink or have ice cream. There is plenty of room around if you are looking to be far from the crowd. read more

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I love this beach. It's my favorite on the gulf side of Florida. They still have free parking which is very rare at the beach. And the amount of sand and beach you have before you even get to the water is amazing that it hasn't eroded after all these years. White powdery sand and beautiful water. They do have lifeguards and a snack area with bathrooms. They also have a play area for kids before you got on the beach. Definitely my favorite beach. I don't mind driving an hour to get to. read more

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What can I say but Beautiful Most beautiful beach with soft white sands Great location, walking distance to shops and food Great family place to visit read more

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Yay! We found a favorite beach! We have been here 3 days in a row! Yup! Haven't missed a sunset yet, and we don't plan to miss any the time we are here. It's gorgeously filled with snowy soft White Sea sand and the waves and generously warm. The best part, the sea is warm. It's great to see dolphins and manatee's at the beach, this is Ll we dreamed of any more. The sunsets are heavenly, and we know we were destined to meet. read more

Siesta Key Beach - Beautiful Sunset - Beaches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

This is the nicest beach I've been to. The sand is so soft like powder! Absolutely Beautiful! read more

Siesta Key Beach - Beaches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Soft white sand beach- beautiful sunshine, crystal clear waters- simply glorious and gorgeous. Clean- and the sand beneath our toes, all the feels. Breathtaking! read more

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All I can say is wow, white sand, great place to watch the sunset, water is fine, plenty of parking and it certainly does get very busy here. I would say this is the best beach I have ever been to in the states. read more

Siesta Key Beach - Beaches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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When you get to Siesta Key Beach, there's a sign that tells you it's the best beach in America. And I believe it! It's so gorgeous there! The white sand is soft and fluffy. And the water is calm and gorgeous. The area is nice and has good dining and a nice town. Highly recommend! read more

Siesta Key Beach - Beaches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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The sand is perfect. It does not heat up with the sun. The water was very cool but not cold. Plenty of room, plenty of sun, so much fun. There is free parking but hard to find a spot around noon. We went I to siesta village and hung out then came back around four. Perfect! read more

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Gorgeous! Water is warm, sand is fine and white. Great for finding shells, swimming, and sunbathing. Family friendly. Not the best for waves or surfing. Make sure you grab a strawberry daiquiri pail drink! So yummy and frozen. Lifeguards seem lax as I heard plenty loud music and saw alcoholic beverages on the beach. Avoid glass bottles or littering for the safety of the sea turtles and our environment. Leave only your footprints!! #1 beach in the USA Come back around sunset to catch the drum circle on the beach that's been going on every Sunday longer than 20 years! read more

Great Views of Siesta Key Beach walking to Beach Access & also, Beach-Side Café within close proximity to Parking, Public Restrooms, Showers & Beachfront read more

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03.01 Spent the day here with kids while hubby slaved away at work. I can see why it's rated #1 beach in the US often. It truly is a very pretty beach... it's like a well manicured front yard. The beach is combed every morning, the sand feels like powdered sugar under your feet. Water was a bit cold but kids didn't mind. Multiple lifeguard houses along the water and you see one of the lifeguards walk around like a peacock from time to time. Restroom facilities and surf shop at the main entrance. Negative 1 star for the long walk from the parking lot to the water, crowd and the lack of parking space that comes a long with it. read more

Siesta Key Beach - Beaches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Bottom Line: Not my favorite beach in the USA but I can surely see why it's so highly ranked. Siesta Key Beach is a nice wide beach with mostly soft white sand. The slope from the high tide line to the water is very gradual, almost flat, so it's friendly on the ankles for those wanting to walk or run on the beach. The water stays relatively shallow for awhile and it is warmer than most other beaches in the country. Since the beach is very wide it's a good distance, like a 1/4 mile, from the parking lot and bathrooms to the water which I think is good - no road noise or pollution. For those craving beach amenities, there are clean bathrooms, snack bars, a playground, beach rentals, volleyball courts, snowball stands, etc. You can also rent beach wheelchairs. Also, there are lifeguards on duty daily from 10am to 4:45am. Siesta Key itself seems like a small town but I suspect many visitors to this beach come from the greater Sarasota area. There is one road in and limited parking so while the beach may be blissful I think getting there and parking could be stressful. Also, since it is far from the parking lot to the water be prepared to haul your stuff a long distance. I noticed beach carts were very popular! Overall this is a lovely beach especially once parking is conquered or you are able to walk or bike there. read more

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I was invited to a wedding on the beach in Sarasota, FL. Who knew that Sarasota is the top rated, as in #1, beach in the US? I soon found out!! Siesta Key Beach is a public beach in a lovely community in Sarasota. This beach has literally, powdery white sand and emerald green water. The beach is so very clean and well maintained! This beach also has clean restrooms, a place to order quick (pizza, hot dogs, chips, etc) bites to take to your perfect spot on the beach. This beautiful piece of paradise is a perfect place for a destination wedding - within the US of course - right on the beach at sunset. Perfection read more

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Siesta key Beach is the go-to for the entire region and especially all the out of towners, if you want a people watch there are many many people to see. I've always found siesta key Beach to be overcrowded, parking is difficult, and during certain times of year can take literal hours to get to or out of. I might simply check the beach accesses in the area not just on siesta key and see if maybe there's a more private beach that might be more enjoyable. But above all else there are large cleaner restrooms that can be accessed that many of the smaller beaches do not have. I would also highly recommend taking your own cooler as as both any drink and food options in the area are somewhat limited. read more

I've had Siesta Key Beach on my bucket list for years. I'm so happy I got to finally check this beautiful island paradise off my list. Just a few days ago, over the 2020 COVID Christmas holiday weekend, I got to experience this beautiful top-rated beach. In fact, Siesta Beach was named #1 in the U.S. and #11 in the world by the 2020 TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice™ awards. Siesta Key is an 8-mile-long island that has everything from shopping, resorts, dining and nightlife. Siesta Key is known for its blue skies, gorgeous sunsets, powdery soft white sand and turquoise waters. The sunsets on Siesta Key are by far the best in the world, with the sun setting right over the Gulf of Mexico. G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S. Siesta Key is the perfect destination for a romantic getaway, a family vacation or a playground for active sports enthusiasts. I definitely want to come back during warmer months because it was cold AF when I came here: 50-55 degrees. But it was still gorgeous and breath-taking. Parking was easy since we came in the off-season winter. I can only imagine how crowded and how challenging parking must be during the summer months. If you've never been to Siesta Key, I highly recommend adding it to your bookmark list. I definitely am making plans to come back during the warmer months - hopefully sooner than later! read more

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[This was my first gulf beach so keep that in mind ] This beach is gorgeous! It's also huge! I went pre-spring break and it was full of people so I can imagine during peak season. But even though it was packed it didn't feel cramped. The view is incredible. The sand.. Man the sand! I thought Lake Michigan has awesome sand, and it does, but the sand at Siesta Key is like flour! So fine and soft! Love this beach! Now the cons - parking is tiny! Get there early or be prepared to circle the lot forever. Traffic to get to the beach is atrocious during peak times. Tolerable but not great other times. I don't know if this beach has any amenities as I didn't look for them but I didn't see any at the section I was. read more

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Amazing white sands beach. It felt like the shoreline stretched forever! The sand was cool under my feet. The beach was fairly well maintained. Go early.... the line just to get in was crazy long when we were leaving just before noon. read more

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I grew up living close to the beach and I currently live in the desert which I prefer. Even though I am not much of a beach person, this beach was nice. It has really soft sand that my kids enjoyed playing in as well as a good sized playground. There was plenty of parking even on a busy spring break day. If I need to go to the beach at all, it may as well be one like this. read more

Beautiful beach! Great for sports. They had Volleyball courts and plenty of space to run and play; they even had free Yoga on the beach. A family-focused beach, not a couples' beach. The sand was white, and not too many shells. It is a long walk to the water, so make sure to protect your feet. They have a ramp for wheelchairs, but it does not go all the way to the shore. The bathrooms were convenient but not the cleanest. They had a shower area right by a pretty big parking lot. Great beach. Only thing missing was bonfire pits. read more

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Still a little busy, but pleasant just the same. Red Tide is not really an issue here. read more

Siesta Key Beach - Main Beach - Beaches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

I love Sarasota and one of the top things to do here has to be visiting the gorgeous beaches, with Siesta Key Beach being number one on the list. Siesta Key is a 8 mile long barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico that was created 3,000 years ago when a group of barrier islands began rising out of the Gulf of Mexico. Siesta Key was created by a process called shoaling that moved a bar of submerged Appalachian sand to the surface and built it up through a series of successive beach-dune ridges. The area was home to Native American tribes until European explorers came in 1513 but it was largely ignored until the 20th century. In 1915 ferry service was offered by Harry Higel to his Higelhurst Hotel on Big Pass and in 1917 Siesta became the first of Sarasota's keys to be linked to the mainland by a bridge which allowed day trippers to enjoy recreational activities on the island like horse races, beauty pageants, picnics, and bonfires. Still until well after WWII Siesta Key remained largely undeveloped, in sight of the bustling mainland but going unnoticed. Eventually the pristine beaches were too much of a siren call to developers and in the early 1920's during Florida's land boom years, construction sped up. In the 1950's the development of DDT sprayed from planes allowed people to live there year round and 500 permanent residents moved onto the key. National Geographic magazine named Siesta's beach one of the four most beautiful beaches in the world and the awards have been rolling in ever since. Before the entire island was taken up for development, the government decided to preserve some pieces for public use and eventually 2,400 feet of Gulf front beach was acquired. The beauty of beach is now well known worldwide. It is conveniently located just a few minutes from downtown Sarasota. Siesta Key Beach was ranked No.1 ranking by Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman (Dr. Beach) in 2011 and 2017 annual list of America's Best Beaches and was the number one beach in the U.S. for 2020 by Trip Advisors Traveler's Choice Awards.The accolades go on and on. People flock here to enjoy the 99 percent pure quartz crystal powdered sugar sand and gentle gulf coast waves. The wide beach has a playground, sky deck with concession stand and restrooms, and a volleyball net. You can enjoy fishing, boating, kayaking, water skiing, swimming, biking, hiking, picnicking, sunbathing, beach camping, or just relaxing while taking in the beauty surrounding you. Best of all parking is free which is unheard of here on the east coast. My visit was brief this time I definitely plan on making a return trip when I can spend the entire day dipping my toes in the powdery sand and crystal clear waters of the gulf. read more

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#1 beach in the USA? I can see why. Located on Siesta Key about 30 mins south of Sarasota or 1 1/2 hours south of Tampa. There is FREE parking which is great compared to many of the beaches in Naples which all charge to park. There are also clean restrooms and a long beach "mat" that makes it easy for people with canes, mobility devices or balance issues to walk almost all the way to the water. There are literally miles and miles of the softest white powdery sand you have ever felt, and your feet won't burn. There is so much space I can't imagine this beach ever getting crowded. The water was cold when we were there in March but it was very clear. We saw dolphins and lots of birds right off shore. I definitely want to come back in the warmer months to enjoy the shallow clear water. read more

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I have been here twice for pickleball and both times I had to drive around for over a half an hour to look for a parking space.