Beaches

Dream away.

Dream of blue skies greeting an orange and yellow setting sun. Dream of powdery white sand and a cool beverage in your hand. Dream of getting a nice tan... year-round.

If you want top-of-the-line, more-bang-for-your-buck, you may as well go with No. 1.

It's that time of year again—time for family vacations, reunions and weddings. And there's no better place to host a family getaway than the beach. It has something for everyone: natural playgrounds of water and sand, miles of seashells, seafood restaurants galore, surf shops and souvenirs, tiki bars and live music. Thing is, which beach is best?

How to play it safe when you visit Sarasota Couny's various beaches

Sarasota County’s beautiful beaches bring lots of visitors to our shores. To help ensure that you stay safe while having fun in the sun, here are some important rules and recommendations to follow for a restful and relaxing beach day.

Start Smart

Continuously named one of the best beaches to visit year after year, there isn't a better place to go than the white sands of Siesta Beach for spring break.

Spring break is the perfect time to escape the snowy cold and embrace the warm southern sun – and not much beats the crystal-quartz sand, which – get this – was carried down by ancient rivers from the Appalachian Mountains over millions of years. The quartz flowed down to west coast Florida and over time, the sand accumulated on the shores of Siesta Key.

Stretching nearly 40 miles, Sarasota’s shoreline is dotted with luxurious resorts, stylish hotels and beach condos offering views of Florida’s sparkling turquoise waters.

Craving a front-row seat to the shimmering Gulf Coast? Want to wake up to the gentle lap of waves washing up on the sand? Sarasota-area islands deliver postcard-worthy views and sounds right from your accommodations. 

It's a blissful day on Siesta Key. I am at the intersection of "beach" and "ocean" avenues, and debating which path I want to take to one of the best beaches in the U.S. (and the world!).

Unlock Sarasota County's many beautiful beaches and barrier islands–from Longboat Key down to Manasota Key

Whether you prefer fun in the sun on a crowded beach or the solitude of drifting off to sleep on a quiet one, Sarasota beaches and barrier islands have something for everyone. See which sands are calling your name.

Here is a list of the county's keys in order from north to south:

Say goodbye to the hustle and bustle of daily life when you head to Englewood and Manasota Key.

These laid-back locales are home to mom-and-pop businesses and all kinds of ways to enjoy the great outdoors. Englewood was originally planned as a “grove town” for growing lemons, but back-to-back freezes canceled that vision. Soon after, town founders began promoting it for what continues to draws folks today — fishing and other water activities, waterfront dining and the arts.

In between the cities of Sarasota and Venice is a collection of communities worthy of stopping for a visit. Dine, stay, and relax at Osprey, Nokomis and the exclusive Casey Key.

A drive down U.S. 41 yields a bevy of eateries and retail options throughout the cities of Osprey and Nokomis. And the exclusive Casey Key has extravagant celebrity homes and privates stretches of shoreline. After the sun sets over the Gulf of Mexico, a beach walk and a drum circle are the perfect preludes to curling up in oceanside hotel suites.