Walking in Siesta Village

I've always chuckled at the quote on a t-shirt in the window of the Beach Bazaar gift and apparel shop on Ocean Boulevard in Siesta Village: "A quaint drinking village with a fishing problem." Well, Siesta Key is more than that, of course, but it does offer lots of opportunity to eat, drink, and be merry.

In addition to the food and libations, many of the restaurants in the Village hire local musicians to provide entertainment, which gives a tropical soundtrack to your walk along the street. Here's The Hub Baja Grill, which is across from the Beach Bar. Both are very popular with vacationers.


The Lobster Pot reminds me of the fish shack restaurants familiar on Long Island and in New England. It's a long-time fixture on the corner of Ocean Boulevard and Canal Road. To the right is Siesta Key Market, an outdoor laundromat, and Siesta Key Hardware.











Last year, as part of the village-wide sidewalk redesign and landscaping project, Siesta Village added a brand-new gazebo for sitting and watching the world go by.


At the end of Ocean Boulevard, where it curves into Beach Road, you can walk onto Siesta Beach at Beach Access #5. Here's the sidewalk leading from Siesta Village up to Access #5, with lovely native grasses to the left.














In addition to restaurants and bars, Siesta Village offers lots of casual shopping, including jewelry stores, gift boutiques, a used bookstore, and ice cream shops.

Walking on Siesta Beach

The sands of Siesta Beach, on Siesta Key, in Sarasota FL, are 99% pure crystal. They are world-renowned for their soft, powdery texture.

Every day, Siesta Beach is groomed, to fluff up the sand for another round of beachgoers.


In contrast to beaches in other parts of the country, Siesta Beach parking is free and public, so everyone has access, via 10 different entry points.
















People of all ages enjoy walking along the blue-green surf, swimming, building sand sculptures, picnicking, riding their bikes, or quietly napping or reading a book.














In recent years, the small-scale wooden beach cottages that used to line Beach Road have been replaced by 3-4 story beach mansions in some places.
Siesta Village is an easy walk from any of the beach access points. Once you've had your fill of sand and surf, you can amble over for a meal at the numerous cafes and restaurants, stock up on basics at Siesta Key Market, or shop for beachwear, jewelry, and gifts in Village stores.

Island Park at the Sarasota Bayfront

Downtown Sarasota's Island Park is a beautiful multi-use greenspace that follows the arc of the shoreline at the west end of Main Street.


It's one of Sarasota's many delights that one minute you're walking along a city street with shops and restaurants, and the next minute you're ambling along the water's edge, surrounded by yachts,

small craft,
walking paths,
a playground, and numerous spots to read or rest under the shade of a banyan tree.


The panoramic view towards the John Ringling Bridge, which connects downtown to Lido Key, is not to be missed.
And, Sarasota being the artsy town that it is, you can enjoy permanent sculpture such as this exuberant dolphin fountain
and the very interesting "Season of Sculpture", a biannual temporary outdoor exhibit of large-scale creations that follows the curve of the bayfront. This year's selection is now installed, so make sure to schedule an amble along the Bayfront to see the artwork up close.