This is one of the most beautiful, publicly maintained beach I have ever been to!…read more Here is what to expect: - Free and abundant parking - Clean bathrooms - Picnic tables, grills - Playground And the main star of the show .... the beach! The fine, white sand is made of quartz so it actually stays cools in the summer heat. If your children like hunting for seashells or building sand castles, this place can't be beat. This beach borders Longboat Key and the views going over the bridge of the undeveloped, stretches of pure white sand, and aquamarine water is breathtaking. This truly is one of my favorite places in the US to be.

First time at this beautiful beach a few miles south of Anna…read moreMaria in Bradenton. Plenty of free parking. Large soft white sand beach. Water color close to the Caribbean. Water stays shallow for quite a distance out. Does eventually get shoulder height. Several lifeguard towers open from 9-5 pm. There is a snack bar, restrooms, showers, and chair rental. Long walk on sand to water. Difficult to pull carts. Easier to carry your gear. Beach gets very crowded by snowbirds in the Winter. On the weekends in the summer beach is crowded by residents.

This has become our go to beach in Sarasota. We like it better than Turtle Beach, our other go-to…read morebeach. We don't love Siesta Key as well bc it's so crowded. This is always a chill gem of a beach. We find the same parking in a side lot or the street that are always free as well. This beach is on the way to and from St. Armand's Circle. We can also go to the restroom at the nearby Lido Beach Resort if we need to, plus they have a beach bar too.

Beautiful beach and great for shell hunting!…read more We used the free breeze trolley to get here and that was a very quick and smooth ride. It dropped us right at the pavilion area that has tables and bathrooms. The back is very wide and has tons of shells. The water is calm and it's really overall relaxing. The sunset view here was gorgeous! If you plan to stay long, make sure to bring some sort of shade as, opposed to the beaches that I'm more used to on the east coast of the state, there's not really many trees or anything in the sand.

I really love Long Boat Key Beach. It's Day and Night with Coquina Beach on Anna Maria Island…read more It's Much Smaller, the parking lot for the access I went to is small, but it's like paradise. It's so quiet, no one is around compared to the other beach we just left a few hours before hand. I haven't really gone to this beach much. I was nervous I could never find parking. But it's a matter of just looking out for the public beach access signs and driving a little bit slower. We found one which is a small sign and ended up turning around to check it out. Parking is also free on the beaches here, so that's def a nice treat considering Clearwater and St. Pete Beaches for the most part are not. I'll def be back more often bc I loved the quietness here. It was quite beautiful. If you are looking other businesses in Longboat Key, there is not much but they do have some restaurants and cafes. They are open on Saturdays but last time I went on a Sunday, they were closed so make to check that out for yourself. We simply went to Tyler's ice cream, but ended up eating in Sarasota.

Went to Whitney Beach! Very peaceful. One thing to note: the seagulls are not afraid to rip through…read moreyour plastic bag into your chips. Other than that, parking wasn't difficult!

I saw a video on IG a few months back that stated this beach would make you feel like you were on a…read moreisland, so I had to check out Bean Point Beach. It was an hour plus drive south from my friends house in Gulfport to Anna Maria Island. Bean Point is the north point of the island. Be cautious if you park in a neighborhood as they will ticket you $75 if your car is touching the road. We find out the hard way:( We walked a few blocks and found a public beach access. When I saw the beach I couldn't believe my eyes. The water was a gorgeous color of blue/green! It was hard to belive this was Florida lol. We walked for a while and I found some pretty shells to take home from my adventure. This part of the beach wasn't too crowded which I loved. A few people were fishing and others were sitting and relaxing. While a few tourists were in the water. Brrrr it was too cold for me. I only let it hit my feet lol. I highly recommend checking out Bean Point Beach so you can see this lovely water and beach for yourself!

Beautiful beach with pristine, clear water, perfect for enjoying a day in the sun and watching a…read morebeautiful sunset. The soft white sand is sprinkled with small shells. The surrounding area is clean and well-kept, with multiple entry points providing easy access to the beach. However, parking can be challenging, as there are no dedicated parking lots nearby, and finding neighborhood parking on weekends can be tough. Additionally, there are no showers or restrooms available, so be prepared to head back to your car with sandy feet. Despite these minor inconveniences, it's a beautiful spot to enjoy the water, sand, and a peaceful sunset.

Beer Can Island, also known as Hooked Spit Island & Greer Island is located at the northern tip of…read moreLongboat Key, and is visible from the Longboat Pass drawbridge & Coquina Beach's most southern side. Beer Can Island is right across from Coquina beach and is located on Longboat pass which is a busy channel for boaters coming in and out so it's a good spot to see a lot of boats going by. This popular white sand beach has crystal clear blue waters on sunny days, was formed by tidal currents, and offers a beautiful undeveloped shoreline which is a popular stop for boaters. Over time, mother nature has eroded portions of the beach uprooting many of the Australian pine trees that once stood on the shore. The huge tree trunks and roots give the beach a real exotic feel and create an amazing landscape of fallen and weathered wood. A lot of people come to Beer Can Island by boat. There are no formal docking spots, but the shallow sandy water makes it a great spot to drop anchor and come ashore for a fun sunny day! If you're not coming by boat, you can take North Shore Road until you see signs for the beach, park, and walk north along the beach. You'll know when you're getting close by the driftwood becoming more and more plentiful on the shore. I saw a beached huge 10 foot lemon head shark and got some shark teeth from here! Although Beer Can Island is more secluded than some of the other area beaches, it does get busier on the weekends with all the boaters anchored up! All of the trees close to shore make this the perfect place to bring your hammock and lounge out! We saw a number of people who had strung their hammocks across two trees! Note, since this is a secluded island, there are no bathrooms or showers here.

Cool hangout spot! Kinda reserved from all the people at the other beaches. If you like hammocking,…read morethere are good spots for that too. Just keep two things in mind: - A lot of people like to come here to get drunk and high since it is reserved. Hence the name. Can sometimes get annoying and a little trashy. Kinda why I don't really come here anymore much. But recently local police have been cracking down a little on it. - The water on the side with the channel can be a little rough and unpredictable, so just be a little careful. Could possibly cause small rip currents.

Siesta Beach Experience…read more Overview: Siesta Beach is widely recognized as the number one beach in the United States. During our visit, we found the beach area to be exceptionally clean, featuring powdery white sand that added to the overall appeal of the location. The unique sand texture and well-maintained environment contributed significantly to our enjoyable experience. Parking and Arrival Tips: We parked near the Snack Bar and Gift Shop at the northern end of Siesta Beach. Although there is a substantial amount of parking available, the spaces tend to fill up quickly, especially during peak times. It is advisable to arrive early to secure a parking spot, as finding a vacant space can become challenging later in the day. Water Quality and Shoreline Experience: The water at Siesta Beach was exceptionally clear, offering excellent visibility. Near the shore, the depth was shallow, making it easy and comfortable to relax in the low points. The waves were gentle and calm, creating an inviting environment for lounging and wading. During our stroll along the beach, we discovered several shells, adding an enjoyable element to the shoreline experience. Beach Access and Amenities: Reaching the water requires a lengthy walk across the beach. To assist visitors, mats are placed at certain locations on the beach, making the walk easier and more comfortable. The Snack Bar offers a variety of food and drinks, providing convenient options for refreshments. Adjacent to the Snack Bar is a Gift Shop, which sells a range of beach-themed items and clothing, enhancing the Siesta Beach Experience. They do have a QR code they you can order food, drinks, beach chairs and some other items to be delivered to you behind the life guard stands on the Beach in case you forget your own, kind of cool, I think. Overall Impression and Rating: Based on my experience at Siesta Beach, I confidently rate it 5 out of 5 stars. The exceptional cleanliness, powdery white sand, clear water, and convenient amenities all contributed to an outstanding visit. After seeing firsthand why Siesta Beach holds the distinction of being the number one beach in the United States, I wholeheartedly agree with its reputation. Gulf Coast Terry

Visited Siesta Key Beach this past weekend and you know it's starting to warm up in Florida when…read moreyou see the beaches completely packed and you can't find parking. We drove around for about 20 minutes, looking for parking till we finally found a couple that was leaving. No matter what time you visit it's busy but the beach itself it's definitely worth it. !! A little warning it was a bit of a walk to get to the water. This is my favorite kid friendly beach. The water doesn't dip off like Venice and You can actually walk out comfortably with children. Another pro is that there's plenty of shower areas throughout the beach line. Ps: On Sundays they have a drum circle which is always a good time to see people drumming and dancing.

we had a great experience in this area. The place we were supposed to stay had a broken pipe and…read moreMichaela provided us an incredibly nice Vrbo home and was great to work with. http://www.dammrealty.com

This Beach is great and very nice is nice and calm waters and mostly clear water this beach should…read morebe call betiful greenish blue water beach

Heaven on Earth can be found here. If I could just stay here, & go no where else I would be happy…read more Only thing is the beaches aren't dog friendly here. The closest is in Venice. It's ok though. We go to the same spot on the beach. We have the best free parking here always found and the beach is steps away. There's no restrooms here. The closest is the Walgreens. There's also a nearby plaza with Crepes, tacos, ice cream, and souvenirs, Publix and CVS are just down the street. It's a perfect spot in our happy place in Anna Maria Island. Also pretty close to getting off the island which is good bc the traffic is crazy in other spots.

My friends and I had a perfect beach day! It was my first time at this beach and I loved it! There…read morewater is so clear and pretty and the sand is very soft. There are so many food options at the Anna Maria Island Cafe! My friend got a chicken tender platter, and although I think the prices are a bit high, you do get a lot of food. Also she was charged .50¢ to pack her food "to go" which is strange. All in all we had a great day and will definitely be back!