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The Beauty of Local
Beaches
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Sarasota’s Siesta Beach has one of the
finest white sand beaches in the world. This is not just
a tourist tag line, it is the simple truth. Unlike many
beaches whose sand is made up of mostly coral, Siesta’s
powdery sand is made up of 99 percent quartz. Even on
the hottest days, it is cool to walk on because it is
reflective. The water is shallow near the shore and
several lifeguards are on duty year round, making it a
safe beach for the entire family. Siesta Beach is
located on Beach Road in Siesta Key.
If you want a fun place to spend the day, try
Nokomis Beach located on Casey Key directly
west of the Albee Road Bridge. The onsite snack bar
serves sandwiches and cold drinks during the day. Bring
your picnic basket and enjoy lunch under one of the
covered pavilions, and stick around for one of our
famous Florida sunsets. There is also a boat ramp,
boardwalk, deck and plenty of restrooms.
For the surfer, North Jetty Park
located on the southern tip of Casey Key is the place to
go. The jetties make it one of the best surfing spots on
the west coast. It is a popular picnic location and |
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a good
fishing area. Boats pass through the jetties from the Intracoastal to the Gulf, so the view is always
changing. There are volleyball and horseshoe courts,
restrooms and a concession stand. Lifeguards keep watch
year round.
If you’re a scuba diver, Venice Beach,
located at the west end of Venice Avenue, one mile west
of business Route 41 has a reef containing fossilized
material located a quarter of a mile offshore. You can
also find sharks teeth along the beach, so it is a great
place to take children and visitors to sift through the
sand. The beach has restrooms, a volleyball court,
concession stand and picnic tables. Lifeguards are on
duty year round.
For a more secluded beach, even during the high season,
visit Caspersen Beach. Located south of
the Venice Airport on Harbor Drive. Two thirds of the
beachfront has been left in its natural state, so you’ll
discover plenty of shark’s teeth and shells. There is no
lifeguard on duty, but there are restrooms, a nature
trail and a 1,100 ft. boardwalk/fishing pier.
For a truly relaxing day, try Manasota Beach
located at the west end of Manasota Beach Road. This is
a small beach (1,400 feet on the Gulf), offering a great
place to collect shells, walk or relax. It has a
620-foot dock that continues as a boardwalk winding
through the mangroves. There are restrooms as well as
large and small picnic shelters. Lifeguards are on duty
year round.
The beautiful beaches of Sarasota County are just one of
the many reasons why we all live, work and play in
paradise.
Written by Susan Cairo. |
