Siesta Key for Sand and Water Clarity

by Tim Hackett
(Hobe Sound Fl)

We choose Siesta Key for sand and water clarity and here is why...

This is the sand you only dream about. White, white, white.

Soft, soft, soft. It's like this beach is made of flour but firm for walking. The pure white sand flows into the crystal clear water of blue and turquoise colors.

You can walk out into the Gulf a considerable distance and never get up to your head but not have to look for sea urchins.

There are multiple sand bars you can reach as you walk out. The water is SOOO very clear you can see your toenails perfectly when you are in waist deep water.

The key is watching the tides as the crystal clear clarity will diminish as the tides come in or go out but at dead low or dead high tide you have to be in the islands or in the Fla Keys on a perfect day to beat it.

The sand is unique to this beach and perfect. Not hot and like walking in talcum powder. The beach is large and long and while there is a considerable amount of development it is not like St Pete or Myrtle Beach with too many towering mid rises or rises.

Lots of old Florida 2 story structures that are a throw back for those that recall jalousie windows and terrazzo floors from the 50s. It is not the Ritz but Sarasota hosts numbers of high end hotels and is a short drive away. In some ways like Myrtle Beach but with perfect water and sand.

There is a daily ritual about this beach. People come and set up for the whole day very early. They bring their tents, beach chairs, coolers and beach toys and dig in.

Families will line up 2, 3 and 4 tents. Once set up they go back and gather the kids, have breakfast and then "to the beach" they go.

Generally they leave by 4 to shower and grab refreshments to return to the beach for magnificent sunsets.

Thus you must stake your claim early even if only 2 beach chairs that you often drag down from your hotel and return them at the end of the day.

The next important thing is the beach varies as you walk along the miles and miles of beachfront. We stayed at Siesta Sun and it turns out in my opinion if you are ocean front to be the best of the best.

The dunes have been leveled and you walk into a private beach area that opens to the dream beach. As you walk towards the south and the rocks and inlet you will find areas with heavy vegetative growth in the water.

If you unfortunately rented in these areas you will be disappointed but it is a short walk to clear waters.

As you walk to the rocks the beach narrows to only a yard or so and you find bird nesting areas much like the Gulf Shores national park area that are protected during nesting season but provide great bird watching opportunities.

Speaking of bird watching this is their beach and the birds do not let you forget it. You can walk up within a couple of feet from a large number of different species.

Their attitude is obvious. Give me my space and do not touch me. There are a considerable number of turtle sightings. Fiesta is a big nesting area.

The dolphin cruise by every morning to say hello before the kayaks and stand up paddle boards take to the water.

There are all the beach toys you can imagine; jet skis, para sailing, kayaking, sunfish sailboats but because the beach is so large and so shallow so far out they do not interfere with one another. So how does one rate the beach.

It depends what your basis for rating a beach is. If Grayton Beach is your standard and you want natural beauty and an undisturbed beach Grayton would win but not for sand, water quality or color.

The same would go for Destin, Navarre's, Gulf Island National Park, Pensacola, Sanibel, Captiva, Sana Rosa Island, Seaside, Alays Beach, Rosemary Beach, St Georges State Park, Cedar key, Clearwater Beach, Boca Grande, Fort Desoto Beach, Ft Meyers Beach, Naples, Longboat Key or Marco Island, Daytona, Cocoa Beach, Vero Beach, Hutchinson Island, Stuart, Hobe Sound, Jupiter, Palm Peach Delray Beach, Ft Lauderdale or Miami Beach.

This simply is the best beach beach in Florida from this list we have visited.

Find out what the experts think are the best beaches in Florida

Sure, there are tons of people. But there's enough beach to claim enough of a spot but again a lot determines where you chose to stay and where you are along the beach.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the huge public beach that I watched a tractor rake for over 2 hours as the sun rose one day and only get maybe a third of the way done.

It is a day trip for many in the area and is not for those looking to have their own private spot in the sand. It is however a great place for beach activities and a day at the beach.

Fiesta Key is for sure, one of the top beaches I've ever visited in Florida thanks to my location at Siesta Sun. For sand and water clarity it is the best in Florida.

The beauty while disrupted by buildings and amenities behind the dunes is still outstanding at both low and high tides just not purely natural.

We spent a lot of time beach hopping to determine this. Now Siesta has spoiled us and we wonder how we will rate our next venture beach hopping visit.

Discover more great experiences to Siesta Key!

Plan your Siesta Key Trip Now!