I moved back for the beaches. I mean, wow you guys! I’m on a permanent vacation! I have struggles and pressures banging on my walls, but- there’s the beach! OK, I’m here to make a list of our favorite beaches in Florida. I want to write what I love and don’t love about them and everything in between. I will add on to this list as we go, so keep posted.

Lets start with my favorite beach of them all so far that is. And, it was voted #1 beach on the US a few years1v Let me tell ya, they are very proud of that title, the signs are all over the place. It has my heart as well.

1) SIESTA KEY BEACH

why I love it? The sand is just perfection. It’s 99% crystal quarts, so it stays cooler in the blazing heat and is just so soft. I love that parking is free, and the beaches are clean. Our favorite place to park is on one of the “beach access” spots. There are a few of them after passing the mail parking. Although, I like the main parking because I can wash the kids off at the showers. And they have a little snack bar is you forgot to pack a lunch or don’t want to leave the beach to eat lunch. There is also a little shop to get a floater and sunscreen too. Siesta Village is awesome too. Really good places to eat and get icecream. I don’t dislike anywhere I’ve eaten there except a pizza place, I forgot what it was called, I was so underwhelmed with it. Our favorite place to eat is Siesta Key Oyster Bar and The Cottage (favorite). There’s a little grocery store, and a laundromat so you never have to leave the Key (I call it an island). Oh! if your looking for a place to stay, there are condos all over to rent. I really recommend doing that. So many options, then you will get the private beaches and pools. I like that.

what I don’t love? I really don’t dislike anything about Siesta. The public beach tends to be packed, and the village is getting loud and saturated with restaurants, it’s getting harder to find parking and getting on and off the island on weekends is crazy these days in the summer.

2) BLIND PASS BEACH, Manasota Key, FL

OK, this is the very first beach I visited when I got married and moved to Florida. It is my husband’s favorite beach. For fishing and shark tooth hunting off the beach. So fun. I’ll have to post a video once I get one recorded and maybe even start to edit those things. You know- become a Vlogger. :)

back to this beach…

PROS- When you drive into the parking lot, if you keep driving down towards the boat launch to the intercoastal, you will find a play ground and a picnic shelter. So cool to have lunch there and wait out a rain storm. We’ve done that before. Another coo thing about this area is when you do drive into the parking lot, the lot on the left has a nature walk off it. You can walk it towards the intercoastal and fish off the deck pier there and watch for lizards and crab. do spray bug spay on before heading into the mangroves and explore. We’ve done that too. pack a lunch or snack for this one because there aren’t restaurants and grocery stores right near by, unless you go back to Englewood beach. It’s a short drive to grab food at the restaurants there, or a little 7/11 type store they have there. we’ve gotten waters there before and quick snacks. They have a beach sore there as well with towels and beach umbrellas and such too. My brother recently stayed on Manasota Key and absolutely loved it. they found a place on the intercoastal with a dock heading into the water, on Airbnb. Great deal, great place, a little gem is what one of my Social Media friends called it, and it really is just that. Oh, and there is a shower and bathrooms there. That is a big pro.
CONS- ummmm…. the water edge here has a drop off when you walk into the beach. Not like Siesta that gradually gets deeper. I’m ok with that on day they serf is still, but it’s a but harder for my littles to get in and out when the waves pick up a bit. We still manage and love it any ways.