Siesta Key

If Sarasota was a concert, Siesta Key would be one of its biggest headliners. This vibrant island of only 3.5 square miles is known the world over for its tropical coastline, where you can find miles and miles of brilliant quartz sand beaches.

One of these stretches is Siesta Beach, which has been named the best beach in the nation time and time again. The beach isn’t solely for recreation. It also shapes the local lifestyle. The key has a relaxed beach town vibe that will have you enjoying yourself well beyond the sand and sunshine.

The Village is the heart of the island. Located along the length of Ocean Boulevard, it’s the home of numerous mom-and-pop shops, independently owned restaurants, salons, cleaners, and banks that service the local community.

Visitors love to stroll along sidewalks, eating ice cream or mini-donuts, and listening to live music that takes on a Jimmy Buffet flair. Seafood is a big draw at any of the island eateries, but mainstays include the British-pub-style atmosphere of the Old Salty Dog, the brick-oven pizza of Flavio’s, and the mouth-watering Peruvian flavors at The Cottage.