Vamoschile Gold.

Ben Franklin

Whether you are a winter visitor, vacationer or full-time resident, Florida's 1,200 miles of coastline is yours to enjoy and we're going to help you by giving you all of the details on the best FLorida Beach City: Sarasota. Sarasota is in a county of the same name: Sarasota County which is home to other favorite small towns including Venice, Englewood, and Longboat Key. Beautiful Sarasota Bay separates the county's barrier islands from the mainland. With its 40 miles of beaches, Sarasota County is one of America's most desirable places to live and to vacation.

Sarasota accommodations are varied and many and you can choose from a quaint Sarasota inn, to a Sarasota resort and even a Sarasota motel or two. You can find Sarasota vacation rentals in Siesta Key condos, Sarasota condominiums and Sarasota villas. Sarasota Restaurants throughout the County are many and palate pleasing! In Venice, Café Venice Restaurant & Wine Bar is the place to go. Cork on St. Armand's Circle on Lido Key was named "Best New Restaurant." It's a pretty exciting place with exciting food! Ophelia's on the Bay offers beautiful alfresco dining overlooking Sarasota Bay and Euphemia Haye on Longboat Key is legendary. Gift certificates to all of these well known and great restaurants are available in The Florida Beach Book. Try them all!

On to the beaches!

Turtle Beach

Location: South end of Siesta Key

Hours: sunrise to sunset

Parking: parking lots are free and plentiful

Amenities: ½ mile beach, free Wi-Fi at the Campground, boat ramps, canoe/kayak launch area, horseshoes, picnic shelters with grills, playground, restrooms, volleyball courts, campground, restaurants within walking distance

Activities: camping, boating, swimming, fishing, surfing, snorkeling, volleyball, sunbathing, walking

Pets: no

Of Special Interest: Turtle Beach is named for the turtles that like to nest in the soft, mounded sand here. YOU can also nest here as Turtle Beach Campground offers one of the few remaining opportunities to park a recreational vehicle (RV) or pitch a tent near the Gulf of Mexico and wake up the next morning under the Florida sun. The Campground features 40 sites for camping, with areas for both RVs and tents. Electricity and cable TV hookups are available.

Crescent Beach

Location: Siesta Key. Beach Access #12 - Stickney Point Road & Access #13 - Point O' Rocks Road

Hours: sunrise to sunset

Parking: limited, roadside

Amenities: none

Activities: swimming, sunbathing, fishing, scuba, snorkeling, walking, surfing

Pets: no

Of Special Interest: Offers the best scuba diving and snorkeling at Point of Rocks on the off shore formation

Siesta Key Beach

Location: 948 Beach Road, south end of Beach Road, Siesta Key

Hours: sunrise to sunset

Parking: free lot

Amenities: .4 mile beach, lifeguards, restrooms, showers, picnic tables and grills, concessions, volleyball courts, handicapped accessible and handicapped wheelchair, soccer field, tennis courts, safety building, ball fields.

Activities: swimming, sunbathing, volleyball, fishing, snorkeling, parasailing. Special events throughout the year including: Kids' Summer Fun Run Series, Sand Sculpturing Contest, Sandy Claws Arts and Crafts Festival, Sandy Claws Beach Run, "Say I Do Again."

Pets: no

Of Special Interest: Siesta Beach is known as one of the most beautiful beaches found anywhere. At the "Great International White Sand Beach Challenge", Siesta Beach was recognized as having the, "whitest and finest sand in the world." Shallow water depth in the near shore areas together with year round lifeguard protection, make this one of the safest, most popular beaches in the County. The sand on Siesta Key is 99% pure quartz and exceptionally soft and white. Combine that with turquoise blue water and you have a winning combination! Rated #2 in the Country by Dr. Beach in 2009.

Siesta Key (Accesses)

Location: There are 10 beach access points on the north side of Siesta Key:

Beach Access #1 - Shell Road

Siesta Drive, west to Higel, west on Shell Road

No Swimming

Beach Access #2 - Avenida Messina

Ocean Boulevard, west on Avenida Messina

No Swimming

Beach Access #5 - Ocean Boulevard

Ocean Boulevard and Beach Road Intersection

Beach Access #7 - Calle de la Siesta

Beach Road and Calle de la Siesta

Beach Access # 8 - Plaza de las Palmas 1

Off of Beach Road, north of Siesta Beach

Beach Access # 9 - Plaza de las Palmas 2

Off of Beach Road, north of Siesta Beach

Beach Access # 10 - Calle del Invierno

Beach Road, north of Siesta Beach

Hours: sunrise to sunset

Parking: free, limited on street

Amenities: none

Activities: swimming unless otherwise indicated, sunbathing, walking, fishing, shelling

Pets: no

South Lido Beach (Park)

Location: south end of Ben Franklin Drive at the southern tip of Lido Key

Hours: sunrise to sunset

Parking: free lot

Amenities: 640 feet of gulf beach, 3500 ft on the Bay, seasonal lifeguards, picnic tables and grills, jogging trail, multi-purpose field, nature trails, playground, self-guided canoeing trail, restrooms, volleyball courts, observation tower and decks, showers

Activities: swimming, fishing, sunbathing, canoeing, volleyball, sunbathing, shelling, volleyball, hiking

Pets: no

Lido Beach

Location: 400 Ben Franklin Drive, one half mile southwest of St. Armand's Circle, Lido Key

Hours: sunrise to sunset

Parking: free lot

Amenities: 3100 feet of beach, 15 acres, lifeguards, handicapped access and handicapped wheelchair, concessions, gift shop, observation decks, playground, recreation building, restrooms, showers, picnic tables, 25 meter swimming pool

Activities: swimming, sunbathing, fishing, surfing, volleyball, walking

Pets: no

Of Special Interest: great beach for small children and very active

North Lido Beach

Location: 400 Bean Franklin Drive, one quarter mile northwest of St. Armand's Circle, off John Ringling Blvd., Lido Key

Hours: sunrise to sunset

Parking: free, small lot

Amenities: 77 acres, nature trail, handicapped accessible

Activities: sunbathing, walking, fishing

Pets: no

Of Special Interest: The beach is easy to get to, yet visitors experience privacy. Caution must be used when swimming at this beach as the currents are very strong.

The Best Florida Beach City - Sarasota, welcomes you for a day, a week, or for the rest of your life. Now what are you waiting for? Get swimming!

Maria Norton is the creator of Florida-Retirement.Net, a website designed for those who are considering retiring to Florida or buying second homes there. She is a licensed Real Estate Broker and a 20 year veteran of the Relocation Industry. She provides comprehensive, personalized & free, Florida Relocation Services. She has also published 4 eBooks: A Guide to Establishing Florida Residency, The FLORIDA BEACH BOOK, How to Create the Perfect Retirement & How to Buy a Second/Vacation Home in Florida. The FLORIDA BEACH BOOK is a Guide to over 350 Florida Beaches and the Best Restaurants On or Near Them, and includes OVER $750 in restaurant gift certificates, including Ophelia's, Cork, Cafe Venice & Euphemia Haye. The Guide also contains Florida Beach Maps. The information in the article above is excerpted from The FLORIDA BEACH BOOK. TO GET YOUR COPY visit her website at http://www.florida-retirement.net.

Ben Franklin $39.99 Ben Franklin - Giclee Print

Ben Franklin Wig $34.99 Ben Franklin Wig

Ben Franklin In Paris $9.49 Ben Franklin In Paris

Ben Franklin's Vision $19.99 Ben Franklin's Vision - Premium Poster

The Etude: Ben Franklin $59.99 Alan Foster The Etude: Ben Franklin - Wall Decal

Ben Franklin's Vision1950 I $19.99 Ben Franklin's Vision1950 I - Premium Poster

Ben Franklin Fish And Visitors $19.99 Ben Franklin Fish And Visitors - T-Shirt

Ben Franklin's Flying Experiment $34.99 Ben Franklin's Flying Experiment - Giclee Print

Ben Franklin Beer Tee $19.99 Ben Franklin Beer Tee - T-Shirt

Ben Franklin Prime Of Senility $19.99 Ben Franklin Prime Of Senility - T-Shirt

The Remarkable Ben Franklin - Softcover $7.95 The amazing story of Ben Franklin told through paintings and creative narrative.

The Remarkable Ben Franklin - Hardcover $17.95 The amazing story of Ben Franklin told through paintings and creative narrative.

Ben Franklin Glasses $2.99 They are right here,rectangular wire rimmed spectacles,to complete Ben's costume. Ben Franklin costume sold separately. One size fits most. Wig not included.

Ben Franklin™ Initials $25.99 Download the Ben Franklin™ Initials font for Mac or Windows in OpenType, TrueType or PostScript format.

Ben Franklin's War $8.99 A motley crew of orphans is flung into adventure when they hide Ben Franklin from the British during the War of Independence.

Statue of Ben Franklin in Boston, Massachusetts $34.99 Tim Laman Statue of Ben Franklin in Boston, Massachusetts - Photographic Print

Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia $3.95 Benjamin Franklin was one of the busiest men in the American colonies. He was a printer, a postmaster, an inventor, a writer, and a diplomat. When the Revolutionary War began, Ben supported America in the Continental Congress. Like the clever adages from his "Poor Richard's Almanac," Ben Franklin still sets an example for Americans today.

Ben Franklin Costume - Colonial Costumes $31.34 Ben Franklin Costume This Ben Franklin Costume includes the jacket with attached vest and jabot. Gender: Male Age: Adult Size: Adult Std. Color: As Shown Historical Period: Colonial Culture: American

Ben Franklin Child Costume $19.99 Sign a Declaration of Independence from silly costumes and wear this Ben Franklin child's costume with authority and pride. After all, a penny saved is a penny earned - earn respect and have fun in