5 Reasons to Visit Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota Florida

It’s no secret that Florida has amazingly beautiful beaches, and Siesta Key is one of the best.

I am lucky enough to live here and experience them on a regular basis. But of all the beaches there are, how does one know which one’s to actually take the time to visit.

There are several factors to consider when deciding which Florida beach is right for you. Are you going to be with your family? Do you have toddlers? Are you and your girls trying to hang out and have a good time? All of these things should be considered when deciding. If you are looking to enjoy a nice time out with the family then Siesta Key is an amazing beach to visit.

Siesta Beach also referred to as Siesta Key is located near Sarasota, FL about 50 miles from Tampa, FL. The beach is situated on an 8-mile stretch of “the world’s finest, whitest sand” along the Gulf of Mexico.

5 Reasons to Visit Siesta Key Beach

1. The Sand is a Dream

The sand on this beach is amazing. It is sooooooo soft and silky feeling. It’s made of 99% pure quartz which keeps it cool and gentle on the feet. Seriously, not once did I have to run to the water from my feet being scorched by the sand. At other beaches I even have to carry the kids to the water if they aren’t wearing water shoes; not at Siesta Key! They are able to walk through the sand with bare feet without wanting to be picked up because of the heat.

2. Free Parking

This is a big deal. Most of the popular beaches in Florida have paid parking and it’s hard to get it a reasonable rate.

At Siesta Key the on-site parking is free. Now I have to say, you must have a little patience to get a spot. It’s usually full during peak hours but getting a space is definitely attainable. When we got there it took about 15 minutes to find a spot because we went at peak time during peak season. But if you just drive around a bit people are always coming out. So have a little tenacity and you wont be disappointed.

If you decide you don’t want to wait there is also offsite parking at surrounding businesses that it very affordable. You just have to be willing to walk a little bit to get to the beach. If you go with this option be mindful of the traffic on the little road along the beach when walking with kids. Keep them close.

3. Beautiful Warm Waters

The water is a beautiful, blue and thankfully nice and warm. I’m always able to walk right in without going into shock. I just cannot with the ice cold beaches. Nope I won’t do it. My preteen really enjoyed spending the day swimming. He was floating, playing football and just truly taking it all in.

I was pleasantly surprised at how clean the beach was too. There was very little seaweed floating and no trash at all. The beach patrol were out making sure that everything was good. I was really impressed.

This water is clean, warm, beautiful and blue. The perfect combination for a great beach day.

4. Not Overly Crowded

One of the great things about Siesta Key is that it is not over crowded. There is a lot of open space for the kids to play and enjoy themselves without worry of interrupting others. It is so chill that we were not too closely setup to the next family. The next tent was quite a ways from us.

I really enjoyed having that freedom for the kids to run and not get lost visually into a crowd of people. There’s nothing like losing sight of your child amidst a crowd of floral beach wear. Here I’m able to have a clear line of sight because it’s not overly crowded.

5. Amazing Kids Play Area

The kids loved this playground. They literally didn’t want to leave. There are multiple slides, swings, places to climb, a crossing bridge and so much more. They even have a separate playground for bigger kids.

All of the facilities at Siesta Key are amazing. There are amazing picnic areas complete with barbecues, water fountains, and trash bins. The restrooms are kept up and there’s a nice gift shop on premises.

So if you are looking for a beautiful beach to spend a day with your family, I definitely recommend Siesta Key. It has free parking nice, clean facilities and luxurious sand to enjoy. You will not be disappointed. Of all the Florida beaches this one is definitely one of my favorites.