By Dawn Henthorn
Florida Travel Expert, about.com
By Dawn Henthorn
Year Round Popularity:[post_ads_2]
Award-winning beaches,
miles of waterways and great fishing has helped to make Siesta Key a
popular destination among tourists and Floridians. While a popular
vacation spot for Europeans during the high season, Florida's residents
get away to Siesta Key the rest of the year. However, as word of Siesta
Key's popularity spreads, so does the traffic jams. If you can overlook
the inconvenience of a little traffic, you can't find more beautiful
sunsets!
The Beaches:
Sarasota has a reputation for great
beaches, and Siesta Key has some of the best — Turtle Beach, Crescent
Beach and Siesta Key Public Beach.
Turtle Beach:
Located
on the south end of Siesta Key, the sand on Turtle Beach is a bit
courser, browner and shellier here than on the north end of the Key.
That's why the turtles choose to nest on this beach; and, that's likely
how the beach got its name.
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Less crowded than Siesta Beach to the north, Turtle Beach offers plenty of free parking.
A short half-mile walk south offers access to Palmer Point Beach on Casey Key.
Crescent Beach:
Don't
let the limited access keep you from enjoying this curved,
crescent-shaped beach. The two-and-a-half mile stretch of sand is
located in the middle of Siesta Key. While there are two access points —
Point of Rocks, at the west end of Point of Rocks Road and Stickney
Point; and, at the west end of Stickney Point Road — parking is limited
to just a few roadside spaces.
Siesta Key Beach:
Siesta
Key Public Beach is just three-quarter of a mile long, but it has the
best sand, surf and facilities, including lifeguards. It is located on
the north end of Siesta Key at the south end of Beach Road. It also
offers benches, a volleyball net and even some green space.
Location:
Siesta
Key is located off the coast of Sarasota. It can be accessed at two
different points — Highway 72 in the middle of Siesta Key or State Route
758 at the northern end.
Parking:
Free parking lots are
available at Turtle Beach and Siesta Key Beach. Free limited parking for
Crescent Beach is located at the west end of Point of Rocks and
Stickney Point Roads. Free limited street parking is available at the
north Siesta Key accesses — numbered 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.
Hours:
All beaches area accessible from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.
Facilities:
There
are no facilities at Crescent Beach. Only Siesta Key Beach has
lifeguards and concessions. Both Turtle Beach and Siesta Key Beach have
restrooms, picnic tables and showers.
