Looking for a great place to vacation? Try the beach voted number one in the U.
S.
: Siesta Beach.
The beach is terrific and Dr.
Beach considers many different criteria when grading the top beach in the nation: water quality, weather, facilities, crowds, sand, cleanliness, parking, surf, activities, size, and width of beach.
The water is crystal clear and the surf is usually gentle and shallow enough for children.
The sand is pure and white, almost like sugar.
The weather is temperate year round, and the breezes make it pleasant even in summer.
Facilities are convenient and tennis, beach volleyball, and other activities are available.
The ribbon of beach covers over forty acres and the 100 yard width ensures that there are almost never wall-to-wall beachgoers climbing all over each other.
There is free parking available and traffic isn't crazy.
Bring the kids and come to Mote Marine Aquarium where kids will delight in the sea life.
To see more Florida wildlife, check out the Sarasota Jungle Gardens.
The children will also enjoy the Myakka River State Park, Almost Heaven Kayaks, and, if they're particularly daring, they can go parasailing.
Myakka River State Park covers hundreds of square miles of virgin Florida surroundings, and includes a tower from which visitors can view a panoramic view that is breathtaking.
The Siesta Key Crystal Classic involves exotic sand sculptures.
The Crystal Classic is a sand sculpture competition that is open to the public at no cost.
It is staged at Siesta Beach.
In case you don't know, Sarasota is about one hour south of Tampa on the Gulf coast of Florida.
Siesta Key offers great shopping, and a huge array of wonderful restaurants.
Wonderful accommodations include hotels, cottages, condos, and homes for rent.
There are a number of Amish/Mennonite restaurants that offer the home baked foods which have become famous.
The area is known for fine dining, which includes two four-diamond restaurants: Michael's on East, and Vernona's at the Ritz-Carlton.
Cultural attractions include the Ringling Museum of Art, the lush Selby Gardens, the Players Theatre, Circus Sarasota, and the Florida Winefest.
Looking for more outdoor fun? Go deep sea fishing, rent a bike, kayak, scooter, skim board, and so much more from convenient places such as Siesta Key Sport Rentals.
Sarasota, or more specifically, Siesta Key, is one of the best kept secrets in the state of Florida.
Most tourists flock to Tampa, Miami, Daytona Beach, Ft.
Lauderdale, and Orlando.
They don't realize they're passing over one of the most tourist-friendly towns in the state.
You can avoid the traffic jams and tumultuous clamor of some of the biggest tourist traps.
Kick back and enjoy the peace of a city in repose, yet one that offers all the attractions you could wish for.
Parents, bring the whole family to a vacation heaven.
As you can see, there are many activities whole families will enjoy.
But there are also attractions that appeal more to adults.
For the one family vacation per year that many folks have, couples may desperately need a few hours of adult time.
There are babysitting agencies with fun, friendly sitters to spend a few hours with the kids.
They will take the kids to an attraction, go swimming with them, play games or make crafts with them, or tend young infants.
Make this the vacation you parents will enjoy as much as the kids.