Beach Bound NITA ETTINGER Dig your toes into the powdery soft sand and you’ll understand why folks come from all over the world to relax and play on <strong>Sarasota</strong>’s beaches. Grab a towel, sunscreen, and some beach games or a good book, and discover for yourself what all the fuss is about! Visit <strong>Must</strong><strong>Do</strong>.com for additional information on area beaches. NITA ETTINGER NITA ETTINGER 10 | <strong>Must</strong> <strong>Do</strong> <strong>Visitor</strong> <strong>Guide</strong>s
MUST DO BEACHES Brohard Beach • Paw Park 1900 Harbor Drive South, Venice A paved walkway leads directly to the area’s only beach where dogs can be off-leash. Paw Park features shaded fenced play areas, doggie waste bags and receptacles, doggie fountains, dog showers, and leash posts. <strong>Do</strong>g owners are responsible for supervision and picking up their pet’s waste. Limited free parking and restrooms are available. Open daily from 7 a.m. to dusk. Concessions <strong>Do</strong>g-Friendly Fishing Parking Restrooms Nokomis Beach 100 Casey Key Road, Casey Key The area’s oldest beach is quite popular with families. Though not as prevalent as on Caspersen Beach, there are sharks’ teeth that can be found washed up on shore. Offers some of the best surfing on the Gulf Coast. Fishing enthusiasts will enjoy shoreline fishing. Lifeguards on duty year-round, free parking, concessions, picnic tables, and restrooms available. Also features a boat launch. Open from 6 a.m. to midnight. CHECK IT OUT Caspersen Beach 4100 Harbor Drive, Venice Known for the many prehistoric sharks’ teeth of all types and sizes that wash up on shore. There is over 9,000’ of Gulf beach frontage where beachcombers will also find a great selection of shells. Features a boardwalk, canoe/kayak launch, paved and unpaved walking/hiking/biking trails, fitness park, canopied ADA playground, restrooms, outdoor showers, and ample free parking. No lifeguards on duty. Open from 6 a.m. to midnight. Coquina Beach 2650 Gulf Drive, Bradenton Beach At 1 ½ miles long, this is the longest stretch of beach on Anna Maria Island. Features soft white sand and often very clear water. Amenities include plentiful free parking, picnic tables, grills, lifeguards, sand volleyball, restrooms and showers, a paved multi-purpose trail, and gift shop. Beach wheelchairs are available. Boat launch nearby. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Open from 6 a.m. to midnight. Lido Beach 400 Ben Franklin Drive, Lido Key A great place for a beach stroll. Offers more than one mile of white sand beachfront extending through North Lido. Ample free parking, lifeguards on duty year-round, concessions, picnic tables, daily-fee heated swimming pool, playground, and umbrella and chair rentals make it a family favorite. Beach wheelchair rentals available. Located one-half mile southwest of St. Armands Circle. Open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Longboat Key Beaches Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key Longboat Key’s access to its beaches is limited, but your reward is 10 miles of uninterrupted, uncrowded beach with wonderful Gulf of Mexico water and white sand. Whitney Beach, at the north end of Longboat offers public parking, all other access points have very limited parking. No amenities. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Siesta Beach 948 Beach Road, Siesta Key Powder-soft, sugar-white sand is 99% quartz. Awards include America’s Best Beach and Top U.S. Family Beach. Family-friendly amenities include year-round lifeguards, concessions, playground, tennis courts, sand volleyball, grills, and picnic tables. Beach wheelchairs and floating wheelchairs available. A great place to fly a kite. Although there is a large parking area, it fills up quickly during peak season so plan to arrive early in the day. Open from 6 a.m. to midnight. South Lido Park Beach 2201 Ben Franklin Drive, Lido Key A favorite with families, boaters, kayakers, and fishermen. Located on the southwestern tip of Lido Key, the 100-acre park is surrounded by water—Gulf of Mexico, Big Pass, <strong>Sarasota</strong> Bay, and Bushy Bayou. Offers shaded picnic areas, grills, playground, volleyball, canoe trail, nature trails, restrooms, and free parking. Swimmers beware strong currents and no lifeguards on duty. Open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Turtle Beach 8918 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key Located at the southernmost end of Siesta Key and features some of the tallest dunes in the area. Amenities include a handicap accessible boardwalk, pavilion, boat ramp, kayak launch, horseshoe courts, picnic shelters, free parking, restrooms, and playground. No lifeguards on duty. Fishing is permitted in Blind Pass Lagoon. Popular campground adjacent. Open from 6 a.m. to midnight. Venice Municipal Beach 101 The Esplanade, Venice A favorite beach spot for locals and divers who come for its coral reef located ¼ mile off-shore. Like Caspersen Beach, you have a good chance of finding sharks’ teeth washed up on the sand. Amenities include a boardwalk, concessions, picnic area, lifeguards, restrooms, sand volleyball courts, and beach wheelchairs. Parking is free but limited, so plan to arrive early in the day. Open from 6 a.m. to midnight. PET FRIENDLY BEACHES Pets are not allowed on Siesta, Lido, and Longboat Key beaches. The only beach in <strong>Sarasota</strong> County that allows pets is Brohard Beach in Venice. Off-leash pets are welcome providing you pick up after them. Please don’t bury pet waste–children like to dig in the sand as much as pets! CHECK IT OUT SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON From May through August hundreds of sea turtles lay their eggs on <strong>Sarasota</strong> area beaches. Hatchlings emerge through October to make their way to the water. Please do not approach or disturb nesting females or hatchlings. Remember to fill in any holes dug on the beach, ensuring they have a clear path to make it safely to the Gulf waters. <strong>Must</strong><strong>Do</strong>.com | 11