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.

Liked the beach itself, amenities are close by. Heard the shelling is usually grand here. Not so…read moremuch the morning we were there shortly after sunrise, so sat down on the black sand and prayed. I liked the secluded feel and the was intrigued by the difference in the sand from just a little further up on Siesta and Crescent. Recommend to at least walk the shore line.

We came to Longboat Key for vacation in June. We're lucky enough to stay at a place that has…read morebasically a private beach. The sand is soft, the water is beautiful shades of blue, and there always seems to be a breeze, which is nice. We got to see a lot of different types of birds each morning, manatees, dolphins, and the occasional shark. Shelling on this beach can be hit or miss. If there winds up being a storm out at sea, you may be lucky enough to find various conch shells!

The beaches of Longboat Key are absolutely stunning. We had a wonderful sunset picnic and it was…read moresome of our best memories in the Sarasota area.

Yes I recommend it cuz it's Gorgeous waters but a couple of things…read more - no dogs allowed - no alcohol allowed - the little chairs with umbrellas that are out you have to rent from the shop/ cafe right there -free parking -there are bathrooms and showers -parking isn't far from your car -water is super clear and sand is great! This is. A part of Anna Maria island I believe. The little shop sells alcohol and food but you can't take it on the beach. There are lifeguards and guards that drive around. I saw some people bbq by the parking lot so not sure if that's up for grabs or not

This is one of the most beautiful, publicly maintained beach I have ever been to!…read more Here is what to expect: - Free and abundant parking - Clean bathrooms - Picnic tables, grills - Playground And the main star of the show .... the beach! The fine, white sand is made of quartz so it actually stays cools in the summer heat. If your children like hunting for seashells or building sand castles, this place can't be beat. This beach borders Longboat Key and the views going over the bridge of the undeveloped, stretches of pure white sand, and aquamarine water is breathtaking. This truly is one of my favorite places in the US to be.

When we went, the sand felt just like siesta beach and the water was super calm. There wasn't much…read moreshells. It was kind of crowded but we found a spot.

Running south from Siesta Key Beach, Crescent Beach is a popular spot for those staying in the many…read morenearby hotels and vacation rentals. (some count it as part of siesta key beach only). It's not a local favorite, it's one of the quieter destinations in the area for visitors looking for peace on their trips to one of the most popular islands in the U.S. With its sweeping coastline carves out a huge "C" where it meets the Atlantic Ocean (the crescent shape, of course, giving the area its name). it maintains an "old Florida" vibe as a quieter beach with white sand and is primarily residential. If you're staying along Crescent Beach, your accommodation may provide roped-off sections of glorious white sand for your enjoyment. beautiful crescent moon-shaped beach, just right for laying out on or for strolling the strand. Soft gulf breezes. Breathtaking sunsets. It gets no better. Parking: We used public beach access # 12 (I guess there is just one public access road, Midnight Pass Rd, and it's very easy to miss). it's a cramp, one-way alley and only suitable for compact cars. to go back, drive forward, take a K-turn, and merge into the main street. yup as it's one way you can find yourself stuck when someone comes from the same side. see the pic and you would understand.

Nice place Kids enjoyed burning off the much needed food…read moreintake from Oleary's. Nice layout. Love that shade option. Keep up the great work. Will return when in the area! Respectfully, Bryan Oklahoma City

Nice park with a half a mile walking loop that is close to the marina, lots of nice boats. There's…read morea restaurant located on the premises that I didn't get to try. Enjoyed the swing bench and watching the water while exploring Sarasota. There's a lot of art featured here also. The huge parking lot is three hours max I believe.

we had a great experience in this area. The place we were supposed to stay had a broken pipe and…read moreMichaela provided us an incredibly nice Vrbo home and was great to work with. http://www.dammrealty.com

This Beach is great and very nice is nice and calm waters and mostly clear water this beach should…read morebe call betiful greenish blue water beach

Heaven on Earth can be found here. If I could just stay here, & go no where else I would be happy…read more Only thing is the beaches aren't dog friendly here. The closest is in Venice. It's ok though. We go to the same spot on the beach. We have the best free parking here always found and the beach is steps away. There's no restrooms here. The closest is the Walgreens. There's also a nearby plaza with Crepes, tacos, ice cream, and souvenirs, Publix and CVS are just down the street. It's a perfect spot in our happy place in Anna Maria Island. Also pretty close to getting off the island which is good bc the traffic is crazy in other spots.

My friends and I had a perfect beach day! It was my first time at this beach and I loved it! There…read morewater is so clear and pretty and the sand is very soft. There are so many food options at the Anna Maria Island Cafe! My friend got a chicken tender platter, and although I think the prices are a bit high, you do get a lot of food. Also she was charged .50¢ to pack her food "to go" which is strange. All in all we had a great day and will definitely be back!