The Best Sarasota Beaches Revealed by a Sarasota Beachcomber

Escape to Our Sarasota Beaches and Escape Your Everyday Life!

Venice Beach Florida
Sarasota Beaches are among the most beautiful in all of Florida. Most of the year the Gulf of Mexico gently laps to the shore, making it about as placid as the ocean can be, but certainly not as rough as the Atlantic Ocean can become.

Beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico combined with balmy gulf breezes make most beach-going days of the year here in Paradise about as enjoyable as they can be. Bright sunshine, warm air and water temperatures, soft sand, blue water. Mmmm, what more could you ask for, except for, perhaps, someone to rub some more lotion on your back or bring you a cold, refreshing drink or snack? Make sure you pack a cooler and a picnic basket!

With six keys, or barrier islands, your Sarasota, Florida beach vacation will present you with so many options for beaches to choose from that you'll be kept busy deciding which of the Sarasota beaches to hit; you'll be exploring, beach combing and sea shell collecting for days.

Included in our area's miles of Gulf of Mexico beaches are Siesta Key, Lido Beach and another nearby Sarasota, Florida beach: Nokomis Beach, which is my favorite beach for long walks, and many more, which we'll explore together on these pages. I hope you'll enjoy them and much as I. Oh, and don't forget a beach blanket and a big fluffy beach towel!

Sea Oats and Sand Dunes at Venice Beach

Award Winning Beaches...

When only the best will do...

In 2007 four Sarasota area beaches received national recognition and were awarded the “Blue Wave” Certification for their cleanliness and environmental conservation; Siesta Beach on Siesta Key, Lido Beach on Lido Key and on Venice Island, Venice Beach and Caspersen Beach.

The beaches were judged on water quality, beach conditions, habitat conservation, public information and education and erosion management. All four of these beaches were also certified by Florida International University in their National Healthy Beaches Campaign.

Sarasota Beaches were honored again in 2008 when Siesta Public Beach was named the 3rd best beach in America in an annual poll of Top 10 American Beaches. Rated on over 50 categories, Siesta Beach was recognized for, among other things, its sensational white sand, lots of space, shaded recreation areas and barbecue pits.

Also in 2008, Venice Beach was recognized as one of the 5 best renourished beaches in the nation by The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. After a 3 year, $16 million dollar project, Venice Beach was extended by about 130 feet along more than 3 miles of shoreline with about 1 million cubic yards of sand to help prevent future erosion.

What all of this says is that we have some really great beaches here on the Sarasota Sun Coast on which you can dream, explore and fall in love...why not take a look for yourself?

Sarasota Beaches

Siesta Beach / Siesta Key

Siesta Beach is the beach to come to for its fine white powdery sand. With lots to see and do you have your choice whether to participate or to do perfectly nothing at all. With lots of amenities and conveniences nearby you'll easily see why Siesta Beach is a favorite among locals and travelers and why it's the Number two rated beach in all of Florida and 2008's 3rd highest rated beach in the nation! Click here and read more about and see pictures of Siesta Beach!

Crescent Beach / Siesta Key

Want to stay at one of the best Sarasota Beaches, with the sand just steps from your door? Check out Crescent Beach on Siesta Key. Lined with condos and hotels, this beach is a popular vacation spot for anyone who wants to feel as though they live right at the beach. Want to take a tour of Crescent Beach on Siesta Key? Click here!

Turtle Beach / Siesta Key

Turtle Beach on South Siesta Key Florida

Turtle Beach, on the south end of Siesta Key is less crowded, especially during “low season.” Walk north or south along the shore for miles or just lay back on this family friendly beach. There are nearby picnic shelters and playground areas, boat launches on the Turtle Beach Lagoon and a beautiful, wide expanse of sandy beach. Click here to read more about and see pictures of the Turtle Beach area.

Lido Beach / Lido Key

Lido Key is about a 12 mile long strand of bright, white sandy beaches. Another one of our gorgeous Sarasota Beaches, “officially,” there are three beaches on Lido Key and it’s a difficult choice as to which beach to spend most of your day at. Each beach is special in its own way and there's a beautiful park also. Want to see? Click here for a tour of Lido Key, its park and its three white sand beaches.

Caspersen Beach / Venice Island

Looking South over Caspersen Beach Florida

Caspersen Beach is a secluded area and its natural, unspoiled beauty has been left largely untouched. There are no distractions on this, the longest beach in Sarasota County, except for the occasional Pelican or frolicking Dolphin. A great place to lay back, watch the clouds go by and enjoy a warm breeze while taking in the turquoise clear water. Here are some pictures of the beautiful Caspersen Beach, one of many Sarasota Beaches!

Venice Beach / Venice Island

The Gulf of Mexico from Venice Beach Florida

Venice Beach is the place where you can become a great hunter of shark's teeth, as this is the best place in the world to find them. Or, you can simply luxuriate on the beach soaking up the sun on your chaise lounge, swim in the clear, warm Gulf of Mexico waters or walk the long stretch of beach. Venice Beach offers the serious sun-worshiper all he or she could ask for in a beach; sun, water, peace and beauty. Click here for pictures and more about Venice Beach.

Nokomis Beach / Casey Key

Looking north over Nokomis Beach Florida

At Nokomis Beach you can take a short walk to the south or a long walk on the beach to the north, sunbathe, picnic, or just enjoy a beautiful day on this family-friendly beach, enjoying nature at its finest. If you’re one who’s taken with the fine pastime of sea shell hunting and collecting, Nokomis Beach is a great place to find them. Click here for pictures and more about Nokomis Beach, one of many Sarasota Beaches.

Whitney Beach / Longboat Key

Looking out at Whitney Beach on Longboat Key Sarasota County Florida

At the northwestern-most tip of Longboat Key you'll find the somewhat secluded Whitney Beach. With a white sand beach, beautiful Gulf of Mexico blue and turquoise waters, Whitney Beach is ready for your discovery. There are no amenities here as with other Sarasota Beaches, but it is well worth seeing Whitney Beach for it's clean waters, natural beauty and out of the way location. Click here for pictures and more about Whitney Beach..

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