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- Sarasota Area Beaches
The beaches of Sarasota stretch over 35 miles along the west coast of Florida on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. The beaches here have received such prestigious awards as the "finest and whitest sand in the world" and the "Best of the Best Sand." Because Sarasota is on Florida's west coast, we have the most awesome, colorful sunsets over the water.
It is not uncommon in the waters of Sarasota to witness bottlenose dolphins, manatees, pelicans, and a variety of interesting fish species. The world famous Mote Marine Laboratory is headquartered here and is one of the foremost authorities in marine biology and ecology. The clean, turquoise water in the Gulf is very warm and comfortable to swim in and the rolling waves are gentle, so there is much to be enjoyed about the beaches here. The combination of climate, salt water, and quartz sand is why Sarasota is considered to be one of the healthiest places in the world to live.
- Longboat Key
Greer Island Park (Beer Can Island) is at the northern tip across the Longboat Pass bridge. A wonderful relatively unused area, Longboat Key has great beaches but public access and parking are somewhat difficult.
Look for the signs indicating the public access points. Here is the list from North to South along Gulf of Mexico Drive:
North Shore Road, Coral Avenue, Palmetto and Seabreeze, Broadway, Beachwalk, Gulfside Road, Atlas Street, Hilton, Longview Drive, Mayfield Street, Westfield Street, Triton Street, Neptune Street
- Lido Key
North Lido Beach, a good beach for privacy, is just north after you have gone through St. Armands Circle. Parking is limited, but a great beach.
Lido Public Beach is everything you expect in a public beach: a great beach, snack pavilion, play ground, picnic tables and good parking. It is located about 1/2 mile south of the circle.
South Lido Park is at the south end of Lido Key. Good parking and a "back to natural Florida" atmosphere. Large pines and trails into the interior make this a wonderful spot. Good parking and picnic tables complement this park.
- Siesta Key
A wide award-winning beach with numerous access points in addition to the two main ones. Siesta Village, with its numerous shops, sets the tone.
Siesta Public Beach - you can't miss it ? it's big. Even with its large parking lot, its popularity means finding a space on busy days can be a problem. If you like people and a great beach, this is the place.
Turtle Beach is near the southern end of the key. Good parking, playground, and walkovers to the beach.
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