I used to live in Sarasota and we used to go to Siesta Key Beach at least once a week. It's a great beach, but it doesn't compare to South Beach. South Beach is the only beach I've been to in Florida that compares with the beaches of the Carribbean.

You might be right about the traffic and the Greek food. Although I don't what Greek food has to do with the beach itself, but the water and sand at South beach is the best I've seen in the US

We lived in Port Charlotte prior to moving here. At lest twice a month we would drive 35 minutes north to Siesta Key Beach (Siesta Key Beach Information | Siesta Key Beaches | Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce) If you like to sun or especially walk the beach it is the best around. About 15 minutes north is St Armands Circle (St Armands Circle Homepage) in Sarasota just across the inter coastal waterway. Great restaurants and shopping. Probably 2 1/2 hours to the beach so an early departure from TV would give you a half day at the beach and a great shopping and dining experience at St Armands. Such tough decisions!

I'd like to know the closest sandy beach to The Villages on the gulf side.

Probably Honeymoon beach. It cost $8 a car to get in and it is beautiful!! A natural park setting but the facilities are fantastic! We stop in Tarpon Springs for the best Gyro's I have every had...stick them in the cooler and 17 mins later...we're entering the park. They have food there too, over looking the ocean, I've heard it's good, but I've never eaten there. YOU WILL NOT be disappointed! I was leery of going and I'm so glad we went! You may need beach shoes for the shells that are abundant at times...

It seems that they're all about 2 hours. The ones that appear closer on the map require smaller slower routes to get to so that all end up taking about the same amount of time.

We've been to two due west or a bit northwest of here and didn't like them at all. One was Fort Island I can't remember the name of the other but the beaches were disappointing.

The Clearwater/St Pete area is the best. Honeymoon Beach is part of that chain of keys. Sarasota is another 45 minutes or so.

I agree. For Florida, as I've mentioned many times in the past, Sanibel Island/Captiva Island......natural.
Try to have lunch at the Bubble Room on Captiva.

Now, remember......there are alligators on Sanibel & Captiva.

Go for a week or at least a long weekend.........you will return relaxed. April is still nice......not too hot.
May, is o.k. as well.

Winter is the high season if you are looking to rent a condo; they reserve quickly. Summer is HOT; sun is intense......unless you go out very early in the a.m............& again in the evening.

Sanibel Island is a great place. We think that mid-Sept through October is the best time. Be sure to spray yourself with lots of Deep Woods Off in the early morning or at dusk or the no-see-ums will be biting you and they really ITCH.

St. Pete Beach is only 2 hours away, the beaches are very wide, the slope is gentle, and is a good day or two getaway.

I am currently vacationing in the Sarasota area and agree with those who say Siesta Key is a fabulous beach. I was at St. Armand's Circle yesterday, as well as the fabulous Marie Selby botanical gardens, with its world renowned collections of epiphytes. This is a very art conscious community, with the Ringling Art school, many galleries and an art museum.

I haven't yet done the Ringling circus museum, because, ladies, there is a Dillard's, Macy's, and Saks Fifth Avenue not far from the beach. With the and of summer sales on, I'm spending more time in the dressing room than on the beach.

Ringling is definitely worth a list.

Another great time to visit is the week after Thanksgiving .
Although bustling prior to Thanksgiving, the next week is wonderful.
For FRESH seafood , Timbers is a must.
After a busy day,The Bubble room offers deserts that cannot be beat.

Clearwater may be best but Fort Island is a nice small beach and 1 1/2 hours closer. No charge to use. About 50 miles West. Honeymoon Island State Park is 95 miles southwest.

Take CR 44 East and it ends at the Fort Island Beach.

Fort Island Gulf Beach - Crystal River - Reviews of Fort Island Gulf Beach - TripAdvisor

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The ART Museum (only) is usually FREE on Monday....

Go to admissions....get free pass ...go out back door to your left...
....Behind the Gift Shop is FREE Golf Cart Transportation...

..they will take you to ART Museum and ALL other destinations in the compound..
..runs continious..
..just hop on at any stop.
There is a Starbucks upstairs above the Gift Shop.
There is an Elevator.

Entire Compound and Buildings are Handicap Accessable.

.....be sure to also see The Joseph's Coat Skyspace Sunset
by James Turrell. ( I think it runs on Thur Evenings)

Here is a map of 14 nice beaches on Gulf Coast
 

http://www.simplysarasota.com/BeachesMap.html
Here is a map of 14 nice beaches on the Gulf Coast .........for a longer weekend or week trip.

Scroll down on map to see all of the locations, from #1 to #14.......
(That's not a major airport in Venice, but a small local one; in fact, that is where the 911 terrorists learned how to pilot airplanes, unfortunately. How naïve we all were. SARASOTA does have a very nice manageable airport, not huge nor tiring; ditto for Fort Myers, Fl.......very nice smaller airport if wanting to fly to Sanibel Island/Captiva.)


We owned a beachfront condo on Venice Beach (which at the time had its sand newly refurbished by the Corps of Engineers).....slightly below it, Casperson Beach is practically desolate/natural. Entire area great for hunting shark's teeth. Whereby SANIBEL ISLAND is known for their seashells, these beaches are known for their sharks teeth.

Slightly north of Venice, NOKOMIS BEACH (#7) is empty*......beautiful white sand......which glistens in the sun; continue "right" on the beach road which is a lovely ride via CASEY KEY. (*There will be no trouble finding parking at Nokomis Beach as the area is predominately residential; there is a very short little wooden crossing onto the sand)......(actually, we got the idea for the slate/tile on our front balcony, plus front foyer in our Venice condo from a charming quaint "chapel" in Nokomis.....muted shades of greys, mauve, etc.)

The Gulf of Mexico is a beautiful shade of azure blue. Many beaches have sugar white sand, unlike the Atlantic Ocean side of Florida, however, be aware that there is the red tide bacteria that every now and then, makes its presence known. As beautiful as these beaches are, they have their issues............no place on earth is entirely "perfect", but for a getaway, can't be beat. Just read the online newspapers of the area (Sarasota primary city) to know if the red tide has been reported.)


Sarasota is a GREAT CITY.......its beaches are also BEAUTIFUL. We had friends there. Great Cuban restaurants. Be sure to visit the John Ringling Art Museum which is right on the water........great architecture from the Florida of bygone years, for those who enjoy history& art, as we do. A must see. For those who want a vibrant retirement, Sarasota also welcomes many new retirees each year.......as a city that has it all, including beaches & culture......
Our friends lived into their late 90's & thrived there, walking on beach for exercise, etc.


Here are some links to the above mentioned John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Fl.

http://www.ringling.org/bayfront-gardens

""Michelangelo’s David oversees the Museum of Art’s central courtyard, the living embodiment of the ideal Renaissance garden.""

Very unique place to stroll. We met people from all over the world at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.......it also gets numerous bus tours....

Sarasota and also Naples were our favorite small "cities" on the Gulf Coast......& we saw the entire gulf coast during our 50 years of marriage....from the northern top all the way down to Marco Island. Plus, Naples had a "Ben & Jerry's" Vermont ice cream shop for our kids. Great upscale shops/restaurants. Go to Sarasota if you long for some "culture".

http://www.ringling.org/circus-museum

When we lived there, Venice was the winter home for the circus.....

http://www.ringling.org/visit

Nice trip if you have winter visitors & want to leave the "bubble".....beautiful art work, etc. Pretty setting on the bay.

http://www.ringling.org/about-ringling

Scroll down for pics of the exterior of the museum & more info.


　


　


　


　


　








　







　

We didn't like Fort Island Beach at all. The water was this ugly brown color. Where the tide had gone out, the beach was mud. No facilities and only a food truck. Not my kind of beach.

Close is good, but some of the negative reviews on Trip Advisor re Fort Island mention high bacteria levels and a Nuclear Plant within view. :eek:
It seems hard to find a nice beach on the Gulf side without driving a goodly distance.
I guess we'll settle for Flagler Beach or Ormond Beach on the East coast. Flagler has a very nice dog beach.