Sarasota Beaches and Artful Delights

BEST FLORIDA BEACHES TO RETIRE

When exploring the top Florida retirement cities, Sarasota is one of the best places to start. Here’s why. With over 35 miles of pristine white sandy, award winning beaches and 6 islands to choose from Sarasota truly has an abundance of sun, sand and water and has an average year round temperature of 71 degrees.  The barrier islands are Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Lido Key, Casey Key and Venice Island and each one has its own distinctive personality and natural beauty to offer visitors and its residents.  Recreational activities and exquisite cultural events make this area one of the best beach retirement places.

There are several beaches to choose from in Sarasota:

Siesta Key Beach/Siesta Key voted the "Best Beach in the USA" is a top choice for visitors to the region and for locals.  Long walks, sunbathing, dining, shaded picnic areas, lifeguards and water sports are all available at this beach located on Siesta Key. For the finest real estate in Sarasota, Siesta Key makes the top of our list.

Crescent Beach is yet another choice found on Siesta Key and is a very popular vacation spot for those who want to live right on the beach as the ocean is only steps away.  The beach is lined with condos and hotels and offers spectacular views of the sunset.

Turtle Beach is also located on the south end of Siesta Key and is less crowed than the other beaches found here.  It has nearby picnic shelters and playground areas for the kids as well as boat launches at Turtle Beach Lagoon and wide expansive sandy beach.

Lido Beach/Lido Key is one of 3 beaches found on Lido Key each offering its own distinctive qualities and folks are encouraged to visit all three.  There is also a magnificent park found here.

Brochard Beach – Dog Beach/Venice Island is known to locals as Dog Beach and Paws Park and is the only “dog friendly” beach on this part of the Gulf Coast.  Those who endear their “4-legged friend” may want to explore this beach and properties found nearby.

Caspersen Beach is a secluded unspoiled beach also found on Venice Island.  It is the longest beach in Sarasota County and visitors here can enjoy no distraction with the exception of Pelicans and frolicking Dolphin.  A great place to relax and enjoy the austere scenery.

Venice Beach is also located on Venice Island and is known around the world as the best place to hunt for shark’s teeth.  After the hunt, folks can enjoy soaking up the rays, swimming or simply a walk along this incredible beach.

Nokomis Beach/Casey Key is a family friendly beach and is known for its wide array of sea shells.  Sea shell hunting is popular here and visitors and residents can sunbathe, picnic and swim with the family at this beach location.

Manasota Beach/Manasota Key is an “old Florida style” beach just south of Venice.  In south Sarasota County on north Manasota Key there is easy access to this long and wide stretch of sand where beach goers can enjoy this picturesque sea shore.

Blind Pass Beach is yet another beach found on Manasota Key.  It is peaceful and located a distance from the bustling Sarasota area.  Considered “off the beaten path”, this beach offers serenity and a great place to read a book or spend time with family without interruptions.

Whitney Beach/Longboat Key can be found at the northwestern-most tip of Longboat Key and is somewhat secluded.  This white sandy beach has no amenities but experiencing the natural beauty in this “out of the way” location makes it a one of a kind beach experience.

Coquina Beach/Anna Maria Island is unique as it is full of tall, shady pine trees that line the shoreline which authenticates it as one of Florida’s most beautiful old style beaches.  There are amenities available beach side and picnic tables are available for that perfect family outing while enjoying the shade of the trees.  A great place to relax.

Cortez Beach is also on Anna Maria Island just north of Coquina Beach and is another old style Florida beach worth visiting.  Located on the “main drag” to the south of AMI, Gulf Drive South, roadside parking is available where visitors/residents can walk down to the beach and imbibe this wonderful beach experience.  

In addition to spectacular beaches, residents can enjoy a multitude of activities in one of the top Florida retirement cities, Sarasota. For art lovers, there are circus posters through the Ringling School of Art (Ringling Brothers magnate John Ringling resides here); there is also the Rubens and Poussin seashell creation display and sand sculptures art.  For theatre goers, there is the Foreign Film Festival, the Asolo Theatre Company, Florida Studio Theatre, Island Players, Lemon Bay Playhouse, or Theatre Works for live entertainment.  There is also the distinctively lavender seashell-designed Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.  Other attractions include Sarasota Boat Races, the Offshore Racing Festival and a Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings.  Shopping downtown is a luxury with palm lined trees and hosts lots of fabulous vendors and boutiques as well as some world class eateries and the infamous Bayfront Park.

For music buffs there is the Florida West Coast Symphony, Key Chorale, Gloria Musicae, The Jazz Club of Sarasota, Sarasota Ballet of Florida, Sarasota Blues Society, Sarasota Opera Association or the Sarasota Concert Band.  With easy access to Interstate 75, folks can travel to Tampa to watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Florida Aquarium, and the Dali Museum only an hour north of Sarasota.  For the family, Disney World in Orlando is only 2.5 hours away.  No wonder Boomers and middle age folks are flocking to Sarasota. 

Real estate in Sarasota is hot! Combined with Manatee County and Charlotte County to the north and south, Sarasota is the 7th largest market in Florida and the 3rd fastest growing major market with over 600,000 people residing here.  It is also one of the most affluent markets and in the last 5 years it has experienced a growth rate 4 times faster than the national average with a marked acceleration of middle-aged adults and their families.  Sarasota is known for its unique contrast of new and old architectural style, with some homes built over 50 years ago as snowbird retreats.  Newer gated majestic bayfront estates with esthetic landscaping, spectacular views and high-tech features can also be found here. To us, it's not a surprise that Sarasota is one of the best beach retirement places in Florida.

While searching for that perfect winter haven of a place to call home, visitors to the region should take a look at Longboat Key Club located on Sand Point Road. Longboat Key Club has it all. Residents enjoy a daily view of the emerald green water of the Gulf of Mexico and can walk along the white-sugar sand beaches native to the region.  It is one of the best golf resorts in Florida and is also a premier Sarasota real estate development and the resort was named the #1 Tennis Resort on the Gulf Coast by Tennis Magazine and a Top 25 Gold Medal Resort worldwide by Tennis Resorts Online with 45 holes of championship golf.

There is a wide array of Longboat Key properties available for sale.  Whether it’s an oceanfront condo, a beachfront estate, or a deepwater home on Sarasota Bay, residents can enjoy living in paradise with over 5,000 palm trees and pink and white oleander adorning the golf course and canals.  The Tennis Garden at Longboat Key Club has an extremely active social calendar hosting tennis clinics, tennis camps and family-friendly tournaments.  The Sarasota Open, a $100,000 USTA Men’s Pro Circuit Tournament is also held at the resort.  Additionally for boaters, Longboat Key Club’s deepwater marina has been designated as a “Florida Clean Marina” for the past 10 years and has 29 boat slips off the Sarasota Bay connecting to the Intracoastal Waterway.  Additionally the Longboat Key Club has the following amenities:

LONGBOAT KEY CLUB AMENITIES

• Miles of White Sandy Beaches
• Two Championship Golf Courses originally designed by William Byrd (45 holes of golf) 
  • Islandside 18 Hole Golf Course
  • Harbourside 27 Hole Golf Course
• Golf Pro Shop and Driving Range
• Two Clubhouses - One Oceanfront and One Bayside
• Six Restaurants offering fine and casual dining
• Two Resort-style Swimming Pools, one with Jacuzzi
• 9,000 Square Foot Island House Spa - Full Service
• 6,300 Square Foot State of the Art Fitness Center
• 20 Har-Tru Tennis Courts with an Exhibition Court
• 29 Slip Deepwater Full Service Marina
• 9.5 Miles of Walking and Bike Paths
• Camp Loggerhead Day Camp for Kids

With an impressive golf membership that includes access to 45 holes of golf, all restaurants and the spa and fitness center that offers a wide array of classes that includes Pilates, yoga, spinning, cardio machines, weight training equipment as well as private stretching sessions provided at the staffed fitness center. One of the top 10 spa master planned communities on our website, The Island House Spa offers massages and 50 special spa treatments.  There are 6 restaurants on the property to satisfy the palate ranging from Northern Italian cuisine at Portofino to Court 21 Café and Bar at The Tennis Garden.  There are also excellent academic choices for young families to explore.  Armand’s Circle only 2 miles south offers great shopping, outdoor cafes and live entertainment.

While visiting and shopping for Sarasota real estate, why not stay at The Resort at Longboat Key Club to check it out. The resort features 223 spacious beach resort rooms overlooking the Gulf of Mexico in Sarasota.  All guest rooms and suites are 100% smoke-free and feature modern Florida-inspired décor and contemporary comforts from flat screen televisions to Bose® Wave® radios.  The Junior Suites have full kitchens and a dining table for four.  Families can enjoy a comfortable stay in the residential style one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites.  This Four-Diamond resort offers the following amenities to its guests:

• Furnished Private Balconies
• Plush Pillow-Top Beds and Custom Duvets
• 42" Flat-Screen Plasma TVs in Living Rooms
• 32" LCD TVs in Bedrooms
• Cable Channels
• High Speed Internet Access
• Bose® Wave® Radios
• Mini-Bars
• Gilchrist & Soames® Spa Bath Amenities
• In-Room Safes
• Hair Dryers
• Irons and Ironing Boards
• Bathrobes
• Coffee Makers
• Daily Housekeeping and Turndown Service

In addition to living in this cultural rich beach city, researchers have found that being near a beach makes one feel healthy.  Studies suggest that the old adage that “being near the seaside is good for your health” may be true.  Research shows that “spending time by the ocean has many positive effects on health and well-being” according to epidemiologist Lora Fleming of the University of Exeter in England at the American Geophysical Union conference.  As early as the 18th century, doctors were prescribing trips to the shore or visits to “bathing hospitals” where special clinics offered seawater bath treatments.  New research is underway studying the ocean’s health benefits experimentally according to Fleming.  Additionally Harvard found that the most natural and substantial source of vitamin D depends on how much UVB light gets through to you.  Vitamin D is essential for bone health, creates healthy skin and has also been found to improve mental well being.  Another study found that the minerals in the ocean may help reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.  The study found that patients who used bath salts made from the Dead Sea minerals experienced fewer symptoms, like morning stiffness and pain when hand gripping. Even just a short walk on the beach is known to decrease stress and improve overall muscle tone. 

So when looking for the best beach retirement places in Florida, start with exploring real estate in Sarasota which provides the ultimate lifestyle choice for people of all ages. Enjoy better health while living on the emerald green Gulf of Mexico at one of Sarasota’s six barrier islands. If you're like many of our clients, after visiting, it will only be a matter of time before becoming a full time Sarasota resident.

If you exploring the area for the first time, ask for our free Sarasota relocation information to help you learn more about the area.