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Siesta Key has been ranked the US’ prime seashore by shops like TripAdvisor and US Information & World Report.
The seashore on Florida’s Gulf Coast options Appalachian quartz sand that’s at all times cool to the contact.
Throughout my go to, I discovered a low-key seashore with out the standard trappings of vacationer places.
In the event you’re daring to face Florida’s warmth this summer season, it is best to skip Miami’s crowded seashores in favor of this a lot cooler possibility.Ranked because the US’ prime seashore by a number of publications, Siesta Key Seaside on the Gulf Coast attracts each locals and out-of-town guests to its white-sand shores, which characteristic a singular quartz sand that’s at all times cool to the contact, even beneath scorching temperatures.In 2025, based mostly on international opinions, TripAdvisor ranked Siesta Key because the US’ No. 1 seashore and the fourth greatest on the planet, beating places in Greece, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. It additionally got here prime in US Information & World Report’s 2025 rating of US seashores.But, the barrier island retains its small beach-town really feel, with a majority of the island composed of single-family properties and condos. Regardless of being a significant attraction, Siesta Key doesn’t have any chain resorts, and lodging choices are largely small cottages and trip leases.I visited Siesta Key to see if I agreed with its rating, and the expertise transported me to the Caribbean seashores the place I grew up.
Rising up in coastal Venezuela, I’m used to gorgeous Caribbean seashores.
Rising up, our weekend getaways would usually be a 50-minute flight to Venezuelan Caribbean islands.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
I’m no stranger to lovely seashore locations. My hometown, La Guaira, Venezuela, spoiled me with turquoise waters and tender sand.Weekend getaways all through my childhood would usually contain taking a brief 50-minute flight to a few of Venezuela’s islands, like Margarita, the place I used to be baptized, and Coche, which I’ve lengthy used as my golden commonplace in the case of seashore locations due to its clear waters and white sand.So in the case of seashores, I’ve fairly excessive requirements.
Siesta Key, positioned an hour and a half south of Tampa, has been named the US’ greatest seashore.
The highest-rated seashore is a well-liked vacation spot on Florida’s Gulf Coast, close to Tampa.
Suncoast Aerials/Shutterstock
Sixty miles south of downtown Tampa, on a barrier island close to southern Sarasota, the small seashore neighborhood of Siesta Secret’s residence to white-sand, clear-water seashores that resemble these I grew up having fun with. Throughout a visit throughout Florida in July, I visited the seashore to see what it was like.Sarasota County, residence to Siesta Key, welcomes over 6.5 million guests to its seashores annually, in line with the county’s web site.And the realm is not precisely secret: Beginning in 2017, the small city was the backdrop to the MTV actuality present “Siesta Key,” which lasted for 5 seasons till 2023.
The Siesta Key Seaside pavilion provides an array of facilities and providers.
The constructing holds a concession stand, restrooms, and meals and beverage distributors.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
Not like different public seashores, the place you simply stroll onto the shore, Siesta Key Seaside has a proper pavilion welcoming guests.The sand-colored constructing comprises facilities for beachgoers, together with a concessions stand, restrooms, lined picnic tables, a staffed data stand, and drink and meals distributors.Distributors promote seashore classics like daiquiris and piña coladas alongside extra daring choices, like an $18 loaded Bloody Mary topped with rooster tenders, bacon, and shrimp. An in depth meals menu options breakfast objects like avocado toast and seafood lunches like fish and chips and a fried grouper wrap.On the data desk, guests can study close by points of interest in Siesta Key Village, transportation choices, and info in regards to the seashore and its wildlife.
A gaggle of low-rise condos face the seashore — the realm distinctively lacks massive business resorts.
Locals have opposed the event of “mega-hotels” amid Siesta Key’s rising recognition.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
Locals have been combating the opportunity of high-rise resorts for many years, hoping to maintain the barrier island’s small beach-town really feel.Native teams just like the Siesta Key Affiliation have advocated in opposition to the development of huge resorts, citing considerations over the rise in automotive and pedestrian visitors, in addition to seashore congestion. “How a lot can one little island soak up?” the affiliation asks on its web site.As we speak, just one full-size resort — the 52-room Siesta Key Seaside Resort and Suites — stands on the important thing, native information channel WWSB reported. An assortment of smaller cottages and trip apartment leases make up the remainder of the lodging choices inside Siesta Key.This made the seashore really feel much less just like the hectic Miami Seaside I would grown used to whereas residing in Florida, the place luxurious resorts block the view of the shore and deter public entry in some areas, and extra just like the low-key seashore locations you’d discover whereas roadtripping throughout the state’s less-crowded coasts.For vacationers searching for a extra upscale or hotel-chain keep in Siesta Key, they might must journey 8 miles north to downtown Sarasota.Parking is free at Siesta Key Seaside and there are over 900 spots obtainable by the principle entrance to the seashore, in line with Lease Siesta Key. Nevertheless, they usually replenish by mid-morning, which I observed once I was leaving.
The seashore has distinctive sand that stays cool to the contact even in scorching temperatures.
The sand in Siesta Secret’s made up virtually totally of eroded Appalachian quartz.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
Made up virtually totally of pure quartz, the white powdery sand on Siesta Key’s shores traveled down from the Appalachian Mountains, getting eroded into tiny sand particles, in line with Siesta Sand.The sand’s distinctive composition retains it cool to the contact even beneath the scorching Florida solar, one of many principal causes the seashore is ranked on the prime of the nationwide rankings.However feeling this distinctive sand was an expertise of its personal.Not like the strenuous seashore days of my childhood, the place you’d must dash from the automotive to the water to maintain the new sand from burning your ft, strolling on Siesta Key’s quartz sand was stress-free, even whereas standing beneath the brilliant Florida solar.
Every year, the seashore’s distinctive sand brings in a crowd of sand-sculpting aficionados.
The barrier island holds a sand sculpting competitors yearly.
Ken Schulze/Shutterstock
The Siesta Key Crystal Traditional Worldwide Sand Sculpting Competition, a four-day occasion hosted on the barrier island’s shores, brings nationwide and worldwide opponents and guests to the small seashore city.Every year, 24 “grasp sand sculptors,” as described by the pageant’s web site, compete for prizes as much as $4,000 for the highest duo opponents and $2,000 for solo winners.Aside from spectacular sand sculptures, the pageant additionally options dwell music, outside artwork galleries, over 90 purchasing, meals and beverage distributors, and novice sand sculpting occasions like a three-day “Fast Sand” competitors and open sand sculpting classes.
The seashore waters are calm, shallow, and clear turquoise.
The seashore’s shallow waters are a prime vacation spot for households.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
Strolling previous the white quartz sand into the shore, Siesta Key Seaside provides guests gorgeous turquoise waters which might be peaceable and excellent for stress-free or having fun with with youngsters.Not like the rowdy, surf-worthy waves of Florida’s Atlantic coast, the Siesta Key waters are shallow and calm. Based on locals, the shallow water helps hold sharks, together with different fish, away from the shores, which mixed with inoffensive wave tides, offers mother and father and guests with peace of thoughts when stress-free on the coast.I immediately fell in love with the seashore, which felt very completely different from different Florida seashores I had visited.
Youthful locals can spend their summers studying find out how to surf on Siesta Key.
When out of college, native youngsters spend their summers browsing on Siesta Key’s inoffensive waves.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
After I visited, I not solely noticed tons of individuals studying whereas tanning, older {couples} strolling alongside the shore, and households with younger youngsters watching their toddlers step on the cool sand, however I additionally obtained to witness a category taking morning surf classes on the seashore.This jogged my memory of my summers spent at seashore camps in Venezuela rising up, the place youngsters my age and I might additionally discover methods to entertain ourselves within the sea, though our waves weren’t as inoffensive as Siesta Key’s.Watching how quiet and healthful weekday mornings are in Siesta Key, even in the course of the summertime, made me perceive locals’ efforts to maintain their gem low-key.
Siesta Key provides free shuttle providers between seashore entry factors and the Siesta Key Village vacationer district.
The open-air shuttles come on a schedule or might be requested on demand by calling.
Felix Mizioznikov/Shutterstock
Guests to Siesta Key can get pleasure from free transportation between the seashore and Siesta Key Village, the place most bars and eating places are positioned.The providers work on each a schedule and an on-demand foundation, with passengers having the ability to each wait at a cease till the following shuttle comes or name a cellphone quantity to request an on-demand journey.
After visiting, I can see why Siesta Key Seaside tops America’s seashore rankings.
Born and raised within the Caribbean, I used to be impressed by Siesta Key Seaside.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
After visiting Siesta Key Seaside, I can see why the vacation spot has captured the eye of nationwide and international guests.Being raised on Venezuela’s Caribbean coast, I’m no stranger to lovely seashores, and I can say that Siesta Key transported me to the Caribbean shores I grew up in with its white sand and clear water.This little seashore city would possibly simply be Florida’s greatest hidden secret, and it must be a non-negotiable a part of your journey itinerary in the event you’re visiting Florida’s Gulf Coast.
