Vacationing in Florida is a long-awaited trip to a tropical paradise with beautiful beaches.
The most important thing on such a trip is to choose the right beach, which we did in advance.
To find out the main features of a great beach holiday, I decided to make a route along the beaches of Florida and visit the best beaches in this state.
It turned out to be both difficult and simple at the same time: simple thanks to the American infrastructure and difficult because of the huge number of really cool beaches.
Now we are ready to share with you all our experience of a beach holiday in Florida because we have visited Florida so many times already!
It is clear that there are a lot of beaches in Florida.
From Jupiter to Key West, there is one continuous strip of beaches on the Atlantic Ocean.
And to the north, of course, there are also beaches, just not continuous ones.
From Marco Island to Panama City along the Gulf Coast!
What is Better, Key West or Siesta Key?
For me, personally,Siesta Key Beach is better than Key West.
In recent years, it has been officially recognized as the best beach of the year in the United States several times.
Unlike many other beaches in Florida, it is a public beach with a completely democratic environment, free parking, modern locker rooms, and even a special shuttle for vacationers.
It can be great for a self-guided vacation.
| Destination | Key West | Siesta Key |
| Description | Key West is a stunning beach resort and the capital of the Florida Keys. You can get here along one of the most beautiful roads in the United States, stretching right across the ocean. But be careful, because, as the locals like to tell tourists, “you need to arrive in Key West for 2 hours and leave immediately. Otherwise, you will stay here forever.” And indeed, the resort is unlike any other city in the world; everyone here is so good-natured, relaxed, and truly happy every day. And the wonderful climate, vibrant nature, and gentle ocean with insanely beautiful coral reefs make you seriously wonder if you really should stay in this paradise. | Siesta Key is an island in the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. The local beach has been repeatedly nominated as the “Best Beach in the USA”. In reality, it has fine white sand, huge free parking, and many other facilities. Of the minuses: usually a lot of people… |
Siesta Key
Is Key West and Siesta Key the Same?
No.
The island on which Siesta Key Beach is located is connected to the mainland by two bridges.
So getting to Siesta Beach can be quite easy by car from the city of Sarasota in the north or Fort Myers in the south.
A passenger bus runs along the beaches of Siesta Key.
To get to Key West, you have to overcome almost 126 miles of highway and dozens of bridges connecting the islands scattered off the coast of Florida.
You will find yourself in the southernmost resort of America, Key West.
The island town is internationally renowned as the southernmost point of the continental United States and as a carefree, sunny resort town.
Key West Overview
The island town is world famous as the southernmost point of the continental United States and as a carefree, sunny resort town.
Many different cultures are mixed here.
The beautiful Victorian houses are inhabited mainly by writers, artists, and retirees.
Key West is a place where cruise ships moor almost daily, and thousands of passengers, taking a camera and a wallet, head to the city for souvenirs and impressions.
A must-visit point has long been the famous Sloppy Joe’s pub, located on the no less legendary Duval Street, stretching from the Atlantic coast to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.
A less noisy atmosphere awaits at Schooner Wharf, while at Mallory Square Pier you can watch the sunset surrounded by circus performers, jugglers, fire-eaters, and other performers.
How Far Apart are Key West and Siesta Key?
There are 368 miles from Key West to Siesta Key by car if you drive the I-75 S route.
Beaches: Siesta Key and Key West
| Key West | Siesta Key | |
| Beach | Key West beaches are nice, but all of them are crowded. The entrance to the water is quite unpleasant due to coral debris, but this strip of trouble is overcome quite easily. There is a suspension of coral dust in the water, which makes the water look cloudy in the shallows. | Siesta Beach is a beach with soft white quartz sand and calm waves, located on the barrier island of Siesta Key in the southwest of the sunny state of Florida in the USA. Its length is more than 3 miles. So there is plenty of free space for all vacationers. |
| Sand | Unfortunately, the beaches in Key West are not very good. Lots of rocks and shells. | It turned out that unlike other beaches on the Gulf of Mexico with a lot of shells that are inconvenient to walk on barefoot, this really wonderful sandy beach has a gentle shore and soft sand, almost like in the Maldives. White quartz sand creaks pleasantly underfoot and does not heat up much in the sun. Such sand on the west coast of Florida is still on the beaches of Clearwater. |
| Facilities | Entrance is paid. Large parking lot. On the territory, there are places for barbecue; you can have a picnic. For entertainment, there are small cafes and many equipped picnic areas. | Siesta Beach is well suited to almost everyone due to its facilities, natural beauty, and large size. There are cafes, restaurants, showers, and a playground for children. As for the beach Unlike many other beaches in Florida, this public beach with a completely democratic environment, free parking, modern changing rooms, and even a special shuttle for vacationers is great for a self-guided vacation. |
Siesta Key
Nightlife: Siesta Key or Key West
Siesta Key
When it comes to nightlife, Siesta Key is considered a real beehive of nightclubs and parties on the beaches in open-air clubs.
Nightlife here becomes lively after sunset over this beautiful beach paradise.
In Siesta Beach, you can relax in both clubs and bars with restaurants.
If you want a lively nightlife, you can go to the closest city, Sarasota.
Key West
Key West is an amazing place because there is hardly another such resort in the world where the same event is celebrated almost every day.
Evening, to be precise, because we are talking about the Sunset Festival.
It takes place on Mallory Square and the adjoining pier, which offers a breathtaking view of the sun as it sinks into the ocean.
This event is attended not only by tourists but also by local residents, for whom it has become a good tradition.
Nightlife is more noisy and stormy here than during the day, and it begins with the last rays of the sun.
And if you come to Key West in the summer, when it often rains, there is a chance to admire several rainbows at once against the backdrop of a fiery sunset.
Activities: Siesta Key vs. Key West
Siesta Key
There are many activities on Siesta Key.
Siesta Key, a small beach town with a relaxing atmosphere, will exceed all your expectations.
In nearby Sarasota, you can visit museums, circuses, opera, ballet, musical performances, theaters, film festivals, botanical gardens, spring baseball practice, art, and wildlife.
In Siesta Key, from Ride & Paddle, you may rent scooters or bicycles to cruise and explore the southern part of the key.
You can have a picnic at Turtle Beach and watch a sporting event or live music at Captain Curt’s Crab & Oyster Bar.
and even observe the nests of sea turtles.
Key West
What are the residents doing here?
Practically, nothing.
They spend the whole day loitering around the city, lounging, and having fun.
That is why it seems that time in Key West has stopped and just stood still.
And the people who live here are incredibly slow.
Therefore, one should not be surprised that a tourist will have to wait for his order in a cafe or restaurant not for 5 minutes but for half an hour, and sometimes even more.
Siesta Key
What is so Famous about Key West?
It is famous because visitors have opportunities to go fishing, kayaking, yachting, kite flying, snorkeling, and biking on the beach by renting bikes.
The variety of nightclubs, bars, and restaurants gives the city and its tourists a vibrant nightlife.
Is Key West, Florida, Expensive?
It is expensive at peak tourist season.
Tourists have a strong demand for hotels, and the island’s scarcity of lodgings periodically results in price increases.
What Month is best for Key West?
From November to April, it is dry on the island, but between May and November, the rainy season begins.
At this time, there are often showers and thunderstorms, but usually they happen early in the morning; in the afternoon, the sun is already shining with might and main.
In this regard, Key West holds the record for the state; the island receives less rainfall than any other city in Florida.
What is the Cheapest Month to go to Key West?
The best and cheapest time to visit the US is in the spring (late March to late May) or autumn (late September to late October).
These off-season periods are characterized by moderate temperatures and a decrease in the number of tourists in the most popular places.
Do you Need a car in Key West?
No, you do not need a car in Key West because the island is only four miles long and about one mile wide, so almost everything is within walking distance.
It is hard to imagine, but the Florida Keys archipelago unites about 1.7 thousand islands that separate the waters of the Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of Mexico.
The most amazing thing is that each of these islands is strikingly different from the neighboring one!
If you are planning to travel around, then you definitely need a car.
What Airport do you Fly into for Key West?
The nearest airport to the city is International (EYW).
The airport can serve both local and international flights.
Located just 6 miles from downtown Key West.
The second-most remote airport is Miami (MIA).
The airport also serves international and local flights.
The distance from the center of Key West is 145 miles.
What Airport do you fly into to go to Siesta Key?
The nearest airport to Siesta Key to fly into is Sarasota/Bradenton Airport (SRQ), located 8 miles away.
Including other nearby airports: Petersburg (PIE), Tampa (TPA), Ft.
Myers (RSW), and Orlando (MCO).
Why is Siesta Key so popular?
Because Siesta Beach has one of the finest white powder sands in the world, it looks like it’s been ripped out of a tourist catalog.
No wonder it has received a number of international awards for being one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
On Sunday evenings, a group of drummers is located near the main entrance to the beach and makes you dance, whether you like it or not.
There are restaurants and cafes nearby in the village, but in fact there are a lot of them on the way to or from Siesta Beach; choose according to your taste.
Is Siesta Key the Number-one beach in America?
Yes, Siesta Key Beach is one of the best beaches in the United States, with TripAdvisor and other travel sites and publications repeatedly rating it the country’s No.
1 beach.
Its soft white powder and stunning turquoise water make it particularly attractive for swimming and sunbathing.
The beach has some wildlife sightings where you can see dolphins and manatees, pelicans, and herons, among other coastal birds.
There are lifeguards on duty all year round, concessions with soft drinks, beach chair and umbrella rentals, a playground, floodlit tennis courts, outdoor showers, BBQ grills, and more.
Is Siesta Key a Party Town?
Yes!
Siesta Key at night is amazing, with bars bordering the beach and live music every evening.
Siesta Key is the ideal destination for anyone wishing to soak up some Florida sunshine while partying all night because it has its own distinct ambiance and is positioned away from any big city lights or noises.
Can you Walk Everywhere on Siesta Key?
Yes.
Take advantage of this 2.8-mile out-and-back track close to Sarasota.
It usually takes 48 minutes to finish and is regarded as being simple.
Although this is a well-liked walking and birding track, you can still find some peace and quiet during the slower periods of the day.
Is There no Swimming on Siesta Key?
No, Siesta Key is the best place for swimming when there is not a strong wind and the waves are not so big.
On these windy days, this beach is more suitable for surfers.
Can you Drink Alcohol on Siesta Key Beach?
No.
In Florida, alcohol consumption in public is prohibited.
There are so many laws that no one knows them, and there are some very surprising ones: the restaurant has the right to pour on the tables inside every day and in the courtyard only on Fridays.
It is best to rely on common sense or ask.
For example, in state campsites, which, as a rule, cannot be drunk in the territories of state parks and national parks, In practice, this means that if you do not flaunt bottles and sing drunken songs, then there will be no problems quenching your thirst.
On private campsites, as a rule, you can drink.
Does Siesta Key Have Clear Water?
Yes, the water is clear, but not in late summer when “sea bloomed” got into the red tide.
There was the persistent smell of fish walking along the shore; every 32 feet we observed dead fish on the shore.
There was no desire to go into the water.
(To the north on the island of Anna Maria, the state of the sea was better.) In local newspapers, there is even a forecast for the coming days on red tide, which beaches are less affected.
Does Siesta Key Have Turquoise Water?
Yes, the turquoise water with the sand is snow-white; it creaks underfoot; it is fine as flour, almost dust.
