The Nation's #1 Beach
Tuesday, September 13, 2011 
My husband flew down to Florida for the weekend (jazz hands!!!) and on Saturday we visited the Nation's #1 Beach – Siesta Key Beach. So was it worth the hype?
Pro's: We were surprised at how easy it was to find a parking spot, despite it being a Saturday afternoon on a beautiful day. The sand is soft, white, and almost completely free of debris (you know, like those broken shells that cut your heels and strings of washed-up seaweed.) The water was incredibly clear and felt like bathwater, so you could just sit and ride the (gentle, small) waves all day. Although there were a lot of people on the beach, it seemed to be mostly families and not the party-goers of, say, Panama City. People were parasailing, boating, and jet-skiing, but far enough out that it wasn't disturbing. Plenty of shops/restaurants are nearby. The beach is wide and long, so it feels like you have a ton of space. Everything was very clean, and there's a public restroom + washing facility. Siesta Key Beach is just south of Sarasota and accessible by major routes, making it very easy to get to. Some major pluses!
Cons: This might not be the case from *every* parking lot, but we had to cross over a 30-foot zone of seagulls to get to the beach. The birds didn't bother me. It was all their poo. So don't take your sandals off until you see the coast is clear (see how I did that?). Regarding the shops/restaurants, not all are walkable, so you may have to drive and lose your parking space. Very few cons, in my opinion.
Overall assessment? Not sure if I'd say it's the BEST beach in the USA and I can only share from my one-time experience, but Siesta Key Beach a pretty fine beach. It was about an hour drive from where I'm staying in Florida, and I thought it was well worth the trip (and I'm right near St. Pete Beach – Siesta Key Beach is much, much nicer.) It's also close to Sarasota-based attractions, like Mote Aquarium. I vote, GO!
11 Comments | tagged Florida, USA, community, culture, entertainment, nature, outdoors | Share Article | Tweet | in travel
Reader Comments (11)
Great review.
I've heard it's lovely.
So regarding you and your new eReader, did you get a Kindle, nook, or other?
Kindle, and I absolutely love it! I'm not sure what took me so long! My book shelf space in Manhattan is so limited, so it'll be perfect for urban living. Oh – and no, we're not finding out the baby's gender. Going to be a surprise! :)
Good to know! Great review.
THAT's MY BEach! i didn't know what I had!
@Sharon really?! I knew you were from florida but didn't know what part. I'm so close to your hometown right now! Only here a few more days, but let me know if you have any recommendations for me while I'm in the area!