Siesta Beach's gorgeous water

Man, I really have to make it over to Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Florida. I’ve been wanting to go ever since I read fellow Uptake blogger Barbara Weibel’s post about it back in late 2008, but I’ve just never made the time. Friends have recently gone and told me how amazing it is; not only is the beach and water itself lovely, but there are apparently lots of things to do around the area for families such as museums and an aquarium, which sets it apart from the Rosemary Beach area, as much as I love it.

So what exactly makes Siesta Beach so lovely? According to Barbara Weibel, it’s the sand; made up of 99% quartz, it reflects most of the sunlight, keeping it cool on the hottest of days. The sand is wonderful for sand castle building as well. And, the beach is shallow, and there are lifeguards around at all times, making it very safe for everyone. Lifeguards are rarely present at the beaches I have visited recently.

The impossibly why sands on Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Florida

However, Dr. Beach pointed out something else about Siesta Beach which makes it highly attractive to me — it’s smokeless! This means no cigarette butts in the sand and no having to look at smokers on the beach — it always ruins the healthy beach vibe for me.

I was also proud to see that San Diego’s Coronado Beach made #2 this year, as it should! Such a gorgeous beach, it’s my favorite on the West Coast. Here are the details on the other beaches that made the list this year.

Putting Siesta Beach at the top of my list for beaches to visit in the very near future. Perhaps I can sneak a visit in this fall? I love the name – it means “nap” in Spanish, which pretty much sums up my favorite beach activity.

Photos: mylerdude, matthewingram