Siesta Key is one small island, that may be better to visit. The island is a hidden treasure in Florida, especially in the summer. Siesta Key is an eight-mile-long, crescent-shaped barrier island on the Gulf Coast south of Sarasota. The island is more popular during the summer months, where tourists discover sugar -white sand, cool gulf breezes, clear turquoise water and huge disaccounts on accommodations from July to September.

Siesta Key was uninhabited until the 1880’s. First called Sarasota Key, it was connected to the mainland in 1917, when the first two bridges was built and the island was discovered by artists, writers and business men. Residents changed the island’s name to Siesta Key in the 1920’s.

Siesta Key boasts with several luxury resorts, including the $100 million Hyatt Siesta Key Beach Residence Club, offering time-share units that costs from $140,000 to $695, 000. But there are also accommodations across the street from the beach, that are affordable for other type of pocket. The Ringling Beach House for example, a pink stucco building has rooms starting at $120 a night. The island also offers a huge range of dining options. There are tapas bars, tiki bars, raw bars, and crab shacks. But the most hopping spot on the island is the public beach pavilion famous for its Psychedelic Superman ice cream. People of all ages walk around to reggae music, licking melting cones.

When to go: From July to November. Population: 9,581 (doubles in winter). How to get there: Domestic and international airlines serve several major airports in Florida. The Sarasota/Bradenton Airport (SRQ) is located conveniently between two towns (Sarasota & Bradenton) and very close to Siesta Key. Rental cars are readily available at the airport. Ask about special fly-drive package rates. Photos by: Chip Litherland