With so many people itching to get away, the idea of having an incredibly relaxing vacation is something on everyone’s minds. Of course, many people are looking into traveling to far-off tropical destinations, where they will be spending quite a bit of money on travel expenses. If only a relaxing tropical destination was a little closer, that wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to travel to.
Lucky for you, there is such a place: Anna Maria Island and Siesta Key! You don’t need to travel to the far south to find warm waters, luscious white sandy Anna Maria Island beaches, and temperate weather; you just need to travel to Florida! With so many great vacation rentals to choose from, you will feel like you are still at home, with all the benefits of being in this beautiful state! While you are enjoying your time on AMI, there are many other day trips near Anna Maria Island, including a beautiful little place along the Gulf coast.
We highly recommend taking a trip to Siesta Key. It isn’t a far trip, and we promise that you will enjoy everything that there is to do once there.
How To Get There
Getting to Siesta Key from Anna Maria Island isn’t a very long trip, depending on traffic, and directions to Siesta Key are very straightforward! This is a great day trip opportunity when staying in one of our Anna Maria Island vacation rentals.
You will head east on 50th St toward 2nd Ave, and then make a right onto Gulf Dr, a left onto Manatee Ave, a right onto E Bay Dr, and then continue onto FL-789 S/Gulf Dr. N. You will continue to a traffic circle where you will keep following the FL-789 S. Make a left onto N Washington Dr, left onto John Ringling Blvd and then continue onto the John Ringling Causeway and then onto Gulf Stream.
You will then make a right onto Bayfront Dr and continue to Mount St, turning slightly right and becoming S Tamiami Trail. Make a right onto Siesta Dr, continue onto State Hwy 758/Higel Ave, followed by a slight left onto Midnight Pass Rd. Finally, you have arrived in Siesta Key!
It might seem like a lot, but it’s straightforward, and there are signs all along the way to keep you on track should you forget which turn you should take. With little to no traffic, you can expect to be in Siesta Key in about 45 minutes.
The Beaches
The beaches that you will find on Anna Maria Island are some of the most beautiful around. Still, Siesta Key has a few of its own incredible beaches that you can visit while you are in town! The #1 beach to see is the Siesta Key Public Beach, which happens to be one of the top attractions! This beach gives you everything that the island offers and is regularly ranked as one of the top beaches in the US. We believe it is one of the top places to visit while you are here. Whether you are looking to just relax on the sand or are hoping to participate in some activities while you are here, this beach has everything you could want for an entire beach day!
Just a short trip down is another one of our favorites: Turtle Beach. This beach is the perfect location if you are looking for a more active beach experience. You can rent bikes to pedal there and back so that you don’t need to worry about driving all over Siesta Key. They have fantastic picnic areas, a playground for the kids, a volleyball court, and even horseshoe pits. There are also plenty of excellent fishing spots if that is something that you are into.
Our third favorite beach would have to be Crescent Beach. Crescent Beach tends to be a quieter beach, which is located just south of Siesta beach. It is listed as one of the most private non-private beaches because there is only one public access road. With the Point of Rocks a short distance away, you can also partake in some of the best snorkeling opportunities around.
Things to Do in Siesta Key
There are many things to do in Siesta Key, and we have a few of our personal favorites listed below. We adore the beaches in Siesta Key, but there are more than just beaches to enjoy while you are here.
One of our biggest suggestions is visiting the Farmers Market in Siesta Key. You will find plenty of delicious food, lots of freshly caught seafood, plenty of locally sourced produce, and many other exciting vendors in the market. The earlier you can arrive, the better, but they are open for a decent length of time so that everyone has a chance to visit!
We also suggest taking a parasailing tour while you are visiting. Climb into one of the many different parasailing companies’ boats, head out on the water, strap into a parasail, and take to the skies. We believe that there is no better way to view all of Siesta Key than from the aerial heights of a parasailing tour.
There are plenty of other fun things to do near Anna Maria Island, including unique shops to visit and historical sites to see. We highly encourage you to explore while you are here!
Plan Your Next Stay
With so many fun and exciting things to do while visiting Siesta Key, all you need to do is find a delightful Anna Maria Island vacation rental to call your home away from you during your stay here. We have lots of Anna Maria Island rentals available that are perfect for any size travel party and a customer service team standing by waiting to get you booked in for your next incredible vacation. So contact us today and let us help you start planning your next Anna Maria Island vacation.
Places to Eat in Siesta Key
One of the best parts about going on vacation is being able to “cheat” and enjoy lots of delicious food. Siesta Key has plenty to go around! With so many excellent restaurants to choose from, it can often be a little overwhelming to find the best place. Still, we highly recommend two incredible restaurants to enjoy while you are here.
Summer House
If you want to enjoy some delicious, quality cuisine, then we believe you should take a trip to the Summer House Steak & Seafood. Their hospitality is built on a solid foundation that puts people first, and you will want nothing while you are there. With their incredible fresh catch seafood options, a wide variety of steaks, and a drink menu that will have everyone pleased, you simply can’t go wrong dining here.
The Cottage
The Cottage is another personal favorite of many in the Siesta Key area. They boast mouthwatering food, delightful cocktails, and an incredible island atmosphere. They like to focus on inventive, seasonal cuisine, so their menu changes depending on what is being offered when you are here, but rest assured knowing that each dish they create is as delicious as the last.