A serene wooden boardwalk lined with palm trees and rope railings leads through tall sea grass and sandy dunes, opening to a pristine stretch of white beach and calm turquoise waters of the Florida Keys under a bright blue sky.

Tag: Sarasota Coast

Longboat Key Beach
Longboat Key Beach

Longboat Key Beach

Sarasota Coast
Longboat Key Beach covers the town’s public Gulf accesses along Gulf of Mexico Drive — blue-signed walkovers and small lots (including Broadway / North Shore and other marked accesses) rather than one mega county park. Bring what you need; amenities vary by access. This listing is for open-Gulf swimming on Longboat Key. Do not use Indian Beach Park on this site for LBK Gulf plans — that row is a Sarasota Bay park filed under Read more…
Beaches
Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach
Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach

Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach

Sarasota Coast
Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach (2201 Benjamin Franklin Drive) is the south tip of Lido Key at Big Pass — Gulf swimming plus mangrove trails, picnic shelters, restrooms, and a calmer vibe than the main Lido Beach / St. Armands lot farther north. Kayakers use the bay and mangrove tunnels; swimmers stick to the Gulf side away from the pass current. Distinct from Lido Key Beach and North Lido Beach already listed on Read more…
Beaches
Nokomis Beach Park
Nokomis Beach Park

Nokomis Beach Park

Sarasota Coast
Nokomis Beach Park at 100 Casey Key Road is Sarasota County’s oldest public beach on Casey Key — a mid-key Gulf stop with a fishing pier, boat ramp, playground, concession, picnic areas, restrooms, and seasonal lifeguards. The county lot serves day visitors; arrive early on weekends. Do not confuse it with North Jetty Beach farther south at 1000 S Casey Key Road, where the Venice Inlet jetty and pass current define the shore. Read more…
Beaches
Venice Beach
Venice Beach

Venice Beach

Sarasota Coast
Venice Beach is the main city beach at The Esplanade / Venice Fishing Pier area — the convenient stop for swimming, pier views, and the “Fossil Capital” shark-tooth hunt without driving all the way to Caspersen. Restrooms, showers, seasonal lifeguards, picnic areas, and public parking serve the strand; Sharky’s and downtown Venice are close. Parking fills on peak weekends. For the dedicated dog beach, use Brohard; for a longer natural fossil stretch, use Caspersen. Read more…
Beaches
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Turtle Beach Nature Trail

Sarasota Coast
Turtle Beach Nature Trail is the short interpretive / nature trail loop next to Turtle Beach Park on south Siesta Key — mangroves, coastal scrub, and wildlife viewing rather than the main swim strand. Park at Turtle Beach (8918 Midnight Pass Rd) and use the trail for a walk before or after beach time. It is not a separate swim beach with its own lot; the Gulf beach and campground are the park next door. Read more…
Beaches
Turtle Beach
Turtle Beach

Turtle Beach

Sarasota Coast
Turtle Beach is the county park at the south end of Siesta Key on Midnight Pass Road (8918), with parking, restrooms, picnic areas, and a quieter Gulf beach than the main Siesta Public Beach. A campground sits in the park; the beach is popular for a calmer day and night-sky views with less volleyball-court energy. No dogs on the beach per county rules. The nature trail listing next door covers the boardwalk/trail loop — this Read more…
Beaches
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Siesta Key North

Sarasota Coast
Siesta Key North covers the Gulf accesses and beach toward the north end of Siesta Key, closer to Siesta Village than the main Beach Road public park. Parking is tighter — street and small lots rather than the big county lot at Siesta Beach proper. Same soft quartz sand reputation, with a more village-adjacent feel. For the full pavilion / playground / volleyball setup, use Siesta Key Beach at 948 Beach Road. Read more…
Beaches
Siesta Key Beach
Siesta Key Beach

Siesta Key Beach

Sarasota Coast
Siesta Key Beach (Siesta Beach / Siesta Key Public Beach) is Sarasota County’s famous quartz-sand Gulf park at 948 Beach Road — wide beach, big lot, restrooms, showers, picnic shelters, volleyball, and seasonal lifeguards. The sand stays cooler underfoot than most Florida beaches because it is mostly quartz. Parking is free but the lot fills early on weekends and holidays; overflow and paid options nearby fill too. Siesta Village dining is a short drive or Read more…
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Palma Sola Causeway

Sarasota Coast
Palma Sola Causeway Beach in Bradenton is a serene Gulf Coast gem with soft, white sands and calm, turquoise waters. Perfect for families, its gentle waves are ideal for swimming or paddleboarding, while kids enjoy building sandcastles. Couples can take romantic sunset strolls, with vibrant hues painting the sky. The causeway’s scenic views and fishing spots attract nature lovers, who may spot dolphins or shorebirds. Amenities like restrooms and parking ensure accessibility. The serene vibe Read more…
Beaches
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North Lido Beach

Sarasota Coast
North Lido Beach is the quieter north end of Lido Key’s Gulf shore, with a smaller parking area and fewer amenities than the main Lido pavilion. Restrooms are limited; plan a simpler beach day than at Lido Key Beach or Siesta. Trails and dune scrub sit behind parts of the shore. Use it when you want less crowd than St. Armands-adjacent Lido; for South Lido / Big Pass park amenities, that is a separate county Read more…
Beaches