You'll LOVE Siesta Key!

Feeling the need for some ‘Caribbean’ calm, but a little closer to home? A beautiful little island paradise lies just over the bridge from downtown Sarasota, Florida. You’ll love Siesta Key!

Let’s start with Siesta Key Beach… when you step onto the beautiful, clean white sand, it’s like walking on baby powder. No kidding, it feels so good on your feet you may be tempted to roll around in it a bit. I thought about it, but then remembered there is such a thing as sand fleas.. nevermind! The water is an amazingly clear, turquoise color.

As the saying goes, every rose has it’s thorn… there is sometimes an awful sulphur smell at the beach! Definite quirk. I’ve vacationed there three times and had the problem once. Locals say it happens during August through October, so vacation accordingly.

The Siesta Key Village has rows of restaurants and shops and a great Caribbean feel. There is live music at many of the restaurants, for both lunch and dinner crowds. I was surprised by this the first time we went for lunch in the village. It was a Wednesday in December. Apparently, they don’t care. The bands playing, drinks are flowing. Sounds good to me!

If you’re a foodie, the go to restaurant in the village is The Cottage. They serve tapas style as well as full dinners. The food is creative, fresh and fabulous! Loved the surf and turf sushi roll! The Siesta Key Oyster Bar is a popular place, nice for a drink and some live music, but the food is ‘eh’. For dessert, the toasted coconut ice cream at the Big Olaf is a winner! Perk… they have a free taxi service to and from the village. They work for tips only.

One of my favorite things about this island is it’s proximity to everything. If you’re tired of laying back, relaxing your toes in the powdery sand or listening to great music as you sip a nice, cool drink (what??), head over the bridge back to the mainland. Whether you’re looking for performing arts, museums, opera, gardens or a shopping mall, it’s there.

Not looking for city, but want a little more trendy? Go over the bridge, make a left and then another, the next bridge will bring you to Lido Key and St. Armand’s Circle. This is a beautiful little shopping area with some nice restaurants. Not floating your boat yet? Keep driving up through Longboat Key and onto Anna Maria Island. There’s a restaurant called The Sandbar. Great food with outdoor dining on the beach. Excellent location! Go in time to view the sunset!

Each visit to Siesta, we’ve had a home away from home. We rent a beautiful condo overlooking the beach from www.homeaway.com. There are hotels and beach resorts available as well. Also, you can check for apartments on www.booking.com!

If you are there on a Sunday, there’s a farmer’s market in the village during the day but more important… don’t miss the weekly drum circle on Siesta Beach, just before sunset. Very interesting! Don’t forget to check Tripadvisor, a great source for things to do.

We’ve been there several times now and always look forward to returning! We love Siesta Key!

P.S. Please feel free use the share buttons on the left to share this article with your friends!!