Siesta Key, Florida is south of Tampa by approximately 60 miles. It is one of the barrier islands west of and just off the coast of Sarasota. With a little over 7,000 full time residents, Siesta Key's population almost triples during the winter season. The island has two concrete bridges, one at the northern tip and the other towards the southern end, which provide easy access to this paradise of water and sand. Virtually all the roads are paved and well marked making it a comfortable tour by car.

  It's simple to pick the best part of Siesta Key - just follow Beach Road until you find the parking area for Siesta Beach. Famous for its "quartz sands", the white, powdery-fine grains squeak when you walk. The sandy shoreline is highly compacted and it makes for a great walking and jogging surface. If you're an early morning riser who likes to stroll the beach at dawn, you'll find plenty of company, here. You won't just walk or run the beach, though, because the entire park area is filled with sports facilities, picnic and play equipment for the kids. This broad, deep beach is a local favorite of the residents of Siesta Key and Sarasota and even though the parking lot holds over 700 cars, get there early or you'll have no place to park.

  Thankfully, even if you can't settle in at Siesta Beach, you can motor south to one of several other beaches. There are beach access points to Crescent Beach and Point of Rocks or you can continue south on Midnight Pass Road (love that name) to Turtle Beach at the tip of Siesta Key. The Turtle Beach park features a picnic and restroom area as well as a large boat ramp for access to the bay.

  If you're not too tired from the day's activities, head over to the Siesta Village area on Ocean Boulevard for the evening. You can find your choice of indoor restaurants or outdoor sidewalk cafes for a delightful evening meal and late night music and drinks. The small clusters of people gathering for restaurant seating, the smells of cooking foods wafting through the air and the music in the streets provides for a carnival atmosphere. A few blocks away from the milling crowds is a beach access point allowing for those romantic strolls on the moonlit sands.

  Visitors to Siesta Key, FL can tour many southwest Florida cities in the area by car. Sarasota, the cultural hub of the area, is just across the north bridge. The Tampa-St. Pete area is about an hour, north. Local barrier islands, including Longboat Key, Anna Maria Islandand Lido Key- home of the famous St. Armands circle - can be toured with a northerly day drive. A little over one-hour's drive south and you'll find the gateway to Sanibeland Captiva, Cape Coral, Fort Myersand Fort Myers Beach. One-hour and thirty minutes or less south is Bonita Beachand Bonita Springs. Two hours or less driving south will place one in the Naplesand Marco Islandarea. For those with a desire to visit the lower east coast of Florida, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Miami can all be reached within 3 hours. This area can be accessed by air travel from the Sarasota Airport.

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