John was a tour guide and was Great!! He took me and my family to some very cool snorkeling spots,…read moreand provided us with all the gear and water.

We had the best time ever! We saw tons of dolphins. Went to Egmont Key and then went snorkeling…read more The kids had a blast and our captain was so nice!

This has become our go to beach in Sarasota. We like it better than Turtle Beach, our other go-to…read morebeach. We don't love Siesta Key as well bc it's so crowded. This is always a chill gem of a beach. We find the same parking in a side lot or the street that are always free as well. This beach is on the way to and from St. Armand's Circle. We can also go to the restroom at the nearby Lido Beach Resort if we need to, plus they have a beach bar too.

Beautiful beach and great for shell hunting!…read more We used the free breeze trolley to get here and that was a very quick and smooth ride. It dropped us right at the pavilion area that has tables and bathrooms. The back is very wide and has tons of shells. The water is calm and it's really overall relaxing. The sunset view here was gorgeous! If you plan to stay long, make sure to bring some sort of shade as, opposed to the beaches that I'm more used to on the east coast of the state, there's not really many trees or anything in the sand.

I liked Turtle Beach even more. It's just so close to the free parking. It's super convenient…read more There's not so many people even on the Saturday before Mother's Day. People will gravitate towards Siesta Key not so far away for the sand etc. but it's so crowded and the walk to the beach is a hike. I'm so happy that Turtle Beach is not crazy busy like that. It is truly relaxing. Now, if u are ok with not having that fine powder sand this one will be everything else perfect. I'm ok with not having the same sand. That's the huge difference here besides the crowd. Yes there are bathrooms and showers not right outside the beach but just a little walk away.

This hidden, off the grid beach is exactly the kind I love and always go looking for! Turtle Beach…read moreis right next to Siesta Key, so if you're looking for a much less busy location to still soak up some sun, salt air and hear those lovely ocean waves, this is your place! Parking is free and there is a lot of it. They even have bathrooms and rinse stations, as well as a playground and picnic/ grilling area. My friends and I actually stopped at a to-go Daquiri bar that was literally minutes away from this beach, so there's still a lot nearby without going directly into Siesta Key. One thing that may be a letdown- the sand is not the crazy soft white that you find at SK or Clearwater. It's more the characteristic darker sand of the Engelwood beaches. Personally, I don't have a problem with it, but don't come in expecting otherwise. This beach still has so much to offer! The water is clear and gorgeous, there are plenty of shells to find and enjoyment to be had! There's a sandbar if you swim out far enough, and I even saw a large school of manta rays swim by and it was the coolest thing ever. This is for sure a quiet gem beach I'll come back to.

If survival shows had a snorkeling episode, it would be here. You have to walk FOREVER just to get…read moreto the ocean, then walk through the water to even reach the snorkeling spot. Parking? Better wake up at 5:30 a.m. because there's barely any unless you enjoy circling like a lost seagull. And the waves??? Felt like the ocean had personal beef with everyone there. People were getting tossed around and there were basically no signs warning how rough it was. Came to snorkel, almost left fighting for my life.

Found lots of great shells during our week stay here! Also got to enjoy the sunset and early…read moremorning beach runs. We stayed on Point of Rocks road, so it was a quick walk to the beach.

Great experience! my daughter, son-in-law, grandsons, husband and I all agree it was everything we…read moreexpected and more. We highly recommend booking with Captain Bruce! Enjoyed the entire experience!

Bruce was fantastic! My wife usually leave the reviews but I just had to say how great it was. Toms…read moreof Manatees and some great videos of the dolphins jumping right at the boat! Very knowledgeable about pretty much anything you could ask.

I'm not saying Siesta Key Beach is the best beach in the United States... but I'm also not not…read moresaying that. This beach is easily in my personal Top 5. The sand was CLEAN, WHITE, and ridiculously soft, while the water was so clear and warm it felt like somebody set the Gulf to "luxury bathtub" mode. I could've stayed out there all day with absolutely ZERO plans beyond: Beach chair Umbrella Get in the water Nap Repeat And the breeze?! 10/10. No notes. It was giving "why do I have responsibilities?" We rented 2 beach chairs and an umbrella for the entire day for $70 including tip, which I honestly thought was pretty reasonable considering we basically secured ourselves a beachfront living room for the day. I went on a Friday around 2 PM, so I'm sure conditions and crowds can vary, but my experience was giving PERFECTION. And yes, I ate. I grabbed a hot dog with fries and a virgin piña colada. Everything was tasty, and I asked them to get my hot dog as well-done as humanly possible. They heard me loud and clear. At this point, I was basically living my best retired-person life: chair, umbrella, water, breeze, snack, nap. Please don't call me back to reality. I'll DEFINITELY be back to Siesta Key much sooner than later because apparently I've found my new emotional support beach.

A couple things to note The walk from the car is kinda long…read morejust fyi There is a big visitor center you can stop at and buy things (;food alcohol sunscreen) There are big Publix bathrooms and picnic tables which is great. Parking is free No dogs allowed Water is super clear and awesome and you can go way out and just hang out Not a lot of waves. Very cool beach! Definitely recommend !! You can buy frozen drinks and take them on the beach Drinking is allowed at this beach

I was in Florida visiting my dad for his birthday in march and knew he'd want to get out on the…read morewater. We found Kokomo charters by chance and it was legit the best day of the trip. We did the half day tour with Captain Aaron on One Love and it was phenomenal from start to finish. His boat is gorgeous which is also a nice bonus. He took us all the way to Sarasota and showed us a bunch of the sites and then took us to a little cove where we swam and paddle boarded for a bit. We got to see a bunch of dolphins and he even got some to play in the wake of his boat which was gorgeous. All in all, I would recommend this to anyone who is going to be in the area and will deff be returning next time we visit my parents. My dad didn't stop talking about what a nice day it was for the rest of the weekend so it would also make a great and unique gift!

We rented the memory maker for a sunset cruise for my mom's 60th birthday and I couldn't think of a…read morebetter way to celebrate. This charter company is absolutely incredible. I was able to show up early and decorate the boat and set up food, Coree and Michael were so helpful with everything including even helping us set up our food drinks and decorations. They have everything you need on board like cups, plates, serving platers, silverware, ice, wine glasses etc! Michael was our captain and he was fantastic in every way. Coree was our first mate and she was amazing, helpful, and so fun! I highly recommend this crew if you rent from Kokomo! 10/10 experience and I'll be back for more 100%.

My boyfriend and I would come back all the way from AZ just to dive with Ally V. again! She's…read moreincredibly kind and patient, and made our fossil hunt dive super fun. She's so knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and elevated our dive experience above and beyond.

Fantastic full service scuba shop and I mean full service (lessons, gear, trips, community, etc.)…read moreand the most knowledgeable diver I have ever met, yes that's you Greg , so fortunate to have found Florida Underwater Sports.

Good host captain Bobby! Awesome experience tons of wildlife! Byob and he had free water and ice!read more

Best sunset tour we have ever been on. Captain Cory…read morepersonalizes the tour around who is on his boat. Prefect sunset. Cory was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the area and wildlife.

Last night we took a Sunset Cruise with Captain Thomas. He navigated us around Sarasota Bay and was…read moreprofessional and personable. The boat was tidy and he offered us waters. We had our own spread so we were taken care of there. The sights and sunset with so delightful. Seeing the bay at night was a real treat, whole different perspective. Highly recommend.

What an excellent adventure, especially with Captain Charles (Charlie) Alexander! I met my friends…read morein Sarasota as the family was there on Spring Break and booked this 4-hour catamaran excursion. The harbor area was easy to locate based on the directions given, and a parking pass is provided (as the lot posts a free 3-hour limit). We set sail a little after 1pm. It was a little windy starting out, but Captain Charlie maneuvered the catamaran expertly. He also provided local commentary on the area and made us laugh with his jokes and statements. Sandwiches were provided at the halfway point, and we were allowed to bring drinks and snacks on the catamaran. There were 12 of us in our group and we easily moved around the boat and had plenty of room to stretch out. Captain Charlie even directed us to a small cove area where dolphins played along the seawalls. We got to see a mother, father and baby dolphin frolic in the water as well as one dolphin (probably the dad) swim along and under the catamaran. We all enjoyed that experience! I highly recommend Kathleen D Sailing Catamarans for a fun family day and a great excursion! Hi