Siesta Key wins the ‘Beach Oscars’

Dr. Beach, otherwise known as Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, named Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota, ‘America’s Best Beach’ as part of his annual list of America’s top 10 beaches. According to his website, ‘His annual list of America’s Top 10 Beaches is to the travel and tourism industry what the Oscar is to the movie industry.’ Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota, is the ‘Number One’ beach in the 21st annual Top 10 Beach List for 2011. Dr. Leatherman, Director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research, has selected the Top 10 Beaches annually since 1991. Fifty criteria are used to evaluate beaches, which include water and sand quality as well as safety and environmental management. Those who live and holiday in Sarasota have long recognised Siesta Key Beach as a natural treasure – made of 99% pure quartz and known for its powdery white sands that are cool to the touch. Sarasota’s picture book qualities offer the perfect getaway for families playing on the sprawling beaches, hundreds of yards wide, ideal for volleyball players, beachcombers or couples just looking for a quiet romantic spot of their own. Its balmy sunsets and clear blue water create a laid-back ambiance with a wide array of bars, restaurants, shops and accommodation ranging from shoeless chic to luxurious beach clubs. The beach park is also complete with showers and bathrooms, grills, picnic tables, shade trees, and a large parking area. Siesta Key Beach is a smokeless beach, earning extra points for cleanliness and environmental management. The ultimate combination of sun, surf and sand, Sarasota invite you to experience this year’s winning beach this summer. Siesta Key Beach is an eight-mile-long crescent-shaped barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico’s Gulf Islands, comprising of Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armand’s Key, Manasota Key, Casey Key, Englewood, Nokomis, North Port, Osprey and Venice. Sarasota and her string of eight islands are located along Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast between Tampa and Ft. Myers. In addition to sandy beaches, Sarasota and Her Islands also offer numerous cultural and ecological attractions.