|
|
 |
FL Airports
SRQ Airport
Accommodations
Attractions
Baseball
Beaches
Business
Community
Calendar
Dining
Disney
Hotels
Entertainment
Events
Ft.
Lauderdale
Ft. Myers
Golf
Hotels
Jobs
Lido Key
Longboat Key
Magazines
Mainland
Hotels
Miami
Movies
News
Nightclubs
Orlando
Postcards
Punta Gorda
Real Estate
Recreation
Relocation
Rentals
Restaurants
Reviews
Search
Shop
Siesta Key
Tampa
Travel
Weather
Wedding
|
 |
Siesta Key Beaches
|
Siesta Beach is located on
Beach Road on Siesta Key. Siesta Beach is known as one of the most
beautiful beaches anywhere in the world. At the "Great
International White Sand Beach Challenge" held in 1987, it was
recognized as having the "whitest and finest sand in the
world."
Unlike beaches elsewhere that are made up mostly of coral, Siesta
Beach's sand is 99% quartz. Even on the hottest days, the sand is so
reflective that it feels cool underfoot. It's estimated that the sand on
Siesta Beach and Crescent Beach on Siesta Key is millions of years old, and started in the Appalachians
and flowed down the rivers and was eventually deposited on the shores of
Siesta Key.
Shallow water depth in the near shore area together with year round
lifeguard protection, makes this one of the safest beaches in the County and great for small
children. |
The shallow water on Siesta Beach makes it ideal for families with
young children.
 Although there are 800 parking spaces, you better get there
early if you want one. If you're staying on Siesta Key, there are plenty
of public access points to the beach so it's a short walk from most of
the north end of the key. Unfortunately, beyond the fire station
near the intersection of Midnight Pass and Beach Road, the next public
beach access south is near Stickney Point Rd. When looking for
accommodations, be sure to ask about beach access as many of the
properties on the east side, (odd number addresses), of Midnight Pass Rd.
do not have beach access. |
|
|
 |
The
beach's amenities include:
|
 Lifeguards are on duty year
round. The lifeguard stands have been painted in primary colors to make
it easier to keep track of where you and your children are. The stands
are yellow, blue, green and red. It is designed to cut down on
the problem of lost children. Make sure your children know which
stand you are near. |
Be Safe in The Sun
While some
exposure to sunlight is enjoyable, too much can be dangerous, causing
immediate effects like blistering sunburns and longer-term problems
like skin cancer and cataracts. Overexposure also causes wrinkling and
aging of the skin, and scientists are concerned that UV may even
impair the human immune system. More |
|
|
|
 
Siesta Key Beach
also offers special needs visitors help via these free beach
"wheelchairs." Be sure to look for one near the main parking
lot walkover.
(Please use
them to transport disabled people and return it so someone else can
use it. They are not to be used as beach chairs for the duration of
your visit to the beach.)
 Two concession stands are available at the beach for food and souvenirs. If "beach grub" like
burgers, dogs, etc. isn't for you, it's about 2 miles to Siesta Village to
the north where there is a wide variety of restaurants and bars to choose
from. Everything from lobster
to subs and sandwiches to Japanese food. There's
also a small supermarket in the village with an excellent deli counter
offering both hot and cold foods.
If you're at the south end of Siesta Beach, known as Crescent Beach, there
are several places nearby for lunch and dinner in the Stickney Point Road
area and south along Midnight Pass Road.
 Feel free to bring your cooler and
food to the beach. There are lots of picnic tables and some picnic
shelters available. Some of the shelters can accommodate large groups and
can be reserved in advance.
It is legal to drink alcoholic beverages on Sarasota County beaches, but
please, no glass containers. When you're planning your trip to
beach, buy plastic or aluminum only. Public beaches in Sarasota County are
also non-smoking.
For
information on renting picnic shelters call 941-861-5000.
Turtle Beach
Turtle Beach is located on
Midnight Pass Road near the south end of Siesta Key. It features a large
picnic shelter and is very popular for family outings.
In the center of the park is Blind Pass Lagoon which connects to Little
Sarasota Bay. Free boat ramps allow easy access to and from the Bay.
Although the sand at Turtle Beach isn't as fine as it is farther up the
key, it makes up the difference in privacy. Here you'll be able to walk
for miles down the beach. Since the closing of Midnight Pass, you can
walk all the way down Casey Key.
 Look carefully in the sand, and you'll find
prehistoric petrified sharks teeth that are millions of years old.
Although the petrified
sharks teeth you'll find on Turtle Beach won't be as nice as what
you can find on Caspersen Beach in Venice just a little way south, as the example here
shows, a little searching can turn up a nice souvenir.
Turtle Beach's amenities include:
There
are no lifeguards on duty. For shelter rental information call
941-861-7275.
Palmer Point Beach
Palmer Point Beach
begins at the southern tip of Siesta Key and continues onto the north
end of Casey Key. The northern part of the beach was the former home of
Mote Marine Laboratory. Since the closing of Midnight Pass in 1984, the
beach allows uninterrupted walking all the way down Casey Key. The beach
is a popular spot for boaters and kayakers who beach their boats in the
area of the former pass as well as for people who walk there from Turtle
Beach seeking some privacy.
There are no lifeguards and no facilities.
At
beaches where lifeguards are on duty you'll find information
on water conditions and temperatures.
Be sure to pay attention to the flags flying and their color:
| |
Good
swimming conditions.
Green |
| |
Use
caution
Yellow |
| |
Dangerous
swimming conditions
Red |
| |
Hazardous
Marine Life
Blue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
