Click HERE for quick snapshot of Sarasota Beaches.
There are public beaches located at most of the Keys off mainland Sarasota and Bradenton, here are some >
Anna Maria Island ~ think flip-flops, think golf cart friendly roads, think laid back Florida. Lots of restaurants from very casual to upscale. My personal fav place to eat or get a drink on AMI is the BEACH HOUSE WATERFRONT RESTAURANT. and there are several beaches to enjoy – Click Here for the beaches at AMI.
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. There is limited parking at beach access points located at various points along Gulf of Mexico Drive—watch for the blue signs. One of most pop restaurants on LBK is the DRY DOCK WATERFRONT GRILL.
Lido Key – Not as big or crowded as Siesta Key Beach, has a nice vibe and is very close to shops and eats of St. Armands Circle, my fav dining on Lido Key is SHORE. Also, short walk from the public Lido Beach to Lido Beach Resort and enjoy a drink at the Resort pool tiki bar.
Also, check out the smaller, less populated South Lido Beach
Siesta Key – Ask anyone what you should do when you come to Sarasota, and the answer is and should be “spend some time at Siesta Key Beach“. After all, it is TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Top Beach in the United States. Since 2016, Sarasota County has made over $20M in improvements to its amenities & surroundings. Many great quality restaurants dot this Key, so pick one, enjoy, and then for dessert you gotta go to MEANEY’S MINI DONUTS. Don’t judge me.