| Whether you are a winter visitor, vacationer or full-time | | | | boardwalk, |
| resident, Florida's 1,200 miles of coastline is yours to | | | | .34 mile nature trail, picnic area, restrooms |
| enjoy and we're going to help you by giving you all of | | | | Activities: swimming, shelling, walking, fishing, |
| the details on the top west Florida beach locations | | | | handicappedaccessible |
| including special amenities, recreational offerings, hours, | | | | Pets: no |
| pet regulations and more. Sarasota County is home to | | | | Of Special Interest: Caspersen is recognized as one of |
| many well known towns including Sarasota, Venice, | | | | the mostenjoyable shelling beaches in this area. This is |
| Englewood, Siesta Key and Longboat Key. Beautiful | | | | an exceptionallygood area to find prehistoric sharks' |
| Sarasota Bay separates the county's barrier islands | | | | teeth. You can seefreshwater and saltwater marshes, |
| from the mainland. With its 40 miles of beaches, | | | | mangrove areas, and tidalflats. Enjoy a 20 minute walk |
| Sarasota County is one of America's most desirable | | | | through Caspersen's nature trailwhich has been |
| places to live and to vacation. | | | | developed through a coastal hammock. Thesouthern |
| Sarasota accommodations are varied and many, from | | | | two thirds of beachfront has been left in its |
| Sarasota inns, to Sarasota resorts, to even Sarasota | | | | naturalstate. A dune restoration system with |
| motels and the same is true throughout the County. | | | | walkovers has beenimplemented to preserve the |
| You can find Sarasota vacations rentals in Siesta Key | | | | shoreline. |
| condos, Sarasota condominiums and Sarasota villas. | | | | Brohard Park |
| Sarasota Restaurants throughout the County are | | | | Location: 1600 Harbor Drive on the Venice Airport |
| many and palate pleasing! In Venice, Café | | | | property |
| Venice Restaurant & Wine Bar is the place to go. | | | | Phone: 941-861-5000 Sarasota County |
| Cork on St. Armand's Circle in Sarasota was named | | | | Hours: sunrise to sunset |
| "Best New Restaurant." It's a pretty exciting place with | | | | Parking: free lot |
| exciting food! Ophelia's on the Bay offers beautiful | | | | Amenities: 84 acres, Venice municipal fishing pier, bait |
| alfresco dining overlooking Sarasota Bay and | | | | shop, |
| Euphemia Haye on Longboat Key is legendary. Try | | | | Pelican Man Sanctuary, restrooms, food concession, |
| them all! | | | | restaurantnearby, Paw Park |
| On to the beaches! | | | | Activities: bird watching, swimming, fishing, |
| Here are 6 of the 17 beaches in Sarasota County: | | | | sunbathing,walking, shelling |
| Blind Pass Beach | | | | Pets: yes, in Paw Park |
| Location: 6725 Manasota Key Road, one mile north of | | | | Of Special Interest: For dog lovers, at the south end of |
| the | | | | Brohard |
| Charlotte County line on Manasota Key | | | | Beach is the Paw Park, with doggie drinking fountains, |
| Phone: 941-861-5000 Sarasota County | | | | showerson decks for dogs only, fire hydrants and |
| Hours: sunrise to sunset | | | | leash posts. Dog lovershave declared this park and |
| Parking: free lot | | | | beach to be the best doggy park inthe state, where |
| Amenities: ½ mile of beach and 66 acres gulf to | | | | dogs are allowed to roam free. |
| bay, canoelaunch, picnic shelter, nature trail, playground, | | | | Service Club Park |
| restrooms,handicapped accessible | | | | Location: 1190 Harbor Drive, north of and adjacent to |
| Activities: swimming, fishing, sunbathing, surfing, | | | | Brohard |
| walkingcanoeing, kayaking | | | | Beach, Venice |
| Pets: no | | | | Phone: 941-861-5000 Sarasota County |
| Of Special Interest: In addition to enjoying this beautiful | | | | Website: |
| beach,canoeing, kayaking and fishing are popular in the | | | | Hours: sunrise to sunset |
| coves andlagoon on the bayside. | | | | Parking: free lot |
| Manasota Beach | | | | Amenities: playground, picnic tables, restrooms and |
| Location: 8570 Manasota Key Road, west end @ | | | | showers,handicapped access, playground, dune |
| Manasota Beach | | | | walkovers |
| Road. | | | | Activities: swimming, fishing, shelling, sunbathing, |
| Phone: 941-861-5000 Sarasota County | | | | walking,fishing |
| Hours: sunrise to sunset | | | | Pets: no |
| Parking: parking lots are free and plentiful | | | | Venice Beach |
| Amenities: 1500 foot beach, 14 acres gulf to bay, | | | | Location: 101 The Esplanade, west end of Venice Ave., |
| lifeguards,boat ramps, boardwalk, docking facilities, | | | | Venice |
| dune walkovers,picnic shelters, restrooms, volleyball | | | | Phone: 941-861-5000 Sarasota County |
| courts, handicappedaccessible | | | | Hours: sunrise to sunset |
| Activities: swimming, boating, fishing, shelling, | | | | Parking: free lot |
| walking,sunbathing | | | | Amenities: 2 miles of beach total, 7.5 acres, |
| Pets: no | | | | lifeguards,handicapped accessibility and handicapped |
| Of Special Interest: The beach is situated between the | | | | wheelchairs,concessions, dune walkovers, pavilion, |
| Gulf andthe Intracoastal Waterway. On the | | | | restrooms, volleyballcourts |
| Intracoastal side, a boat rampand docking facilities are | | | | Activities: scuba, snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, |
| available allowing access to the Bayand Gulf. The 620 | | | | volleyball,walking |
| feet of dockage becomes a scenic boardwalkthat | | | | Pets: no |
| meanders through the mangroves. | | | | Of Special Interest: A reef containing fossilized material |
| Casperson Beach | | | | islocated a quarter mile offshore making it a favorite |
| Location: 4100 Harbor Drive, Venice, south of the | | | | spot forlocal divers. |
| airport | | | | We hope you enjoy your stay on a west Florida |
| Phone: 941-861-5000 Sarasota County | | | | beach, whether it's for the week, or for the rest of |
| Hours: sunrise to sunset | | | | your life. Now what are you waiting for? Get |
| Parking: free lots | | | | swimming! |
| Amenities: 2 miles of beach, 177 acres, 1100 foot | | | | |