Siesta Key
Friends went off to explore the Galapagos and left me their apartment on Siesta Key, one of the best beaches in the USA. A girlfriend floated off to India on a prolonged meditation retreat and left me her Volkswagen. What’s a poor boy to do?
SUGAR SANDS
I don’t care what part of the planet you hail from; Siesta Key is ideal, especially if you’ve just escaped the depths of another Scottish winter!
It had become an annual pilgrimage. I was working for Golf Vacations magazine. Every January, the editor would send me off to the PGA Show in Orlando to do a big feature on all the latest golf gear. Bliss!
stepped onto the sugar-white sands of Siesta Key and seriously thought I’d arrived! I’d escaped mid-winter Scotland and landed here.
I immediately took long walks from my base in Peppertree Lane all the way up to a couple of miles on the beach.
Despite the Snowbird vibe, Siesta Key really is that cool place, with miles of soft white sand and a beach culture that feels both relaxed and lively.
🏖️ The Beach itself stretches along the Gulf of Mexico with sugar-white sand that goes on forever — one of the longest, widest beaches in Florida’s Gulf Coast, perfect for long walks and beachcombing.
🌅 Activities Along the Beach
Walks from places like Peppertree Lane take you right onto the sand, and the beach is ideal for:
Sunbathing & swimming in warm, shallow Gulf waters.
Volleyball and casual games right on the beach.
Must Do Visitor Guides
Picnics and sunset watching — catching the sun dip into the Gulf is a highlight.
Siesta Beach
Weekly community tradition: the Siesta Key Drum Circle happens every Sunday evening on the beach about an hour before sunset. It’s a free, organic gathering of drummers, dancers, hula-hoopers, and vibe-seekers that can last a couple of hours and gives off that hippy-beach energy you remember.
Siesta Beach
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🌊 Water & Beach Activities Nearby
Siesta Key Watersports — parasailing rides and water experiences.
Siesta Key Aqua Adventures & Ride & Paddle by Siesta Sports Rentals — boat tours, paddleboards, kayaks and gear rentals if you wanted to explore the water beyond the shore.
Siesta Key Bike and Kayak also rents bikes and kayaks if you wanted to expand beyond walking, great for mangrove or village exploration.
🍹 Vibes After the Beach
Siesta Key Village and nearby spots had the kind of social energy you mentioned:
Live music and nightlife staples like The Beach Club, Captain Curt's Sniki Tiki Bar & Live Entertainment, The Big Tiki Lounge, The Blasé Martini Bar & 3.14 Pi Pizza, Crescent Club, Gilligan's Island Bar & Grill, and Island House Tap and Grill — all lively places with bands, DJs, and good beach-town energy.
Siesta Key Oyster Bar — great casual spot with live music too if you were grabbing dinner.
