Turtle Beach

Located in the city of Siesta Key, Turtle Beach is a half-mile long, wide, and rocky beach situated on the southernmost end of the city.  As the name suggests, Turtle Beach is a habitat for nesting sea turtles as well as many other sea creatures and birds. Turtle Beach is a well-known destination for boating, hiking, birdwatching, and wildlife watching.  

Turtle Beach offers many amenities including restrooms, outdoor showers, picnic tables, barbecues, boat ramps, horseshoe pits, a volleyball court, and a playground. 

There are many fun activities at Turtle Beach including swimming, surfing, snorkeling, fishing, sailing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, wildlife watching, birdwatching, and beach walking.

Getting to Turtle Beach is very easy – the beach's free parking lot is situated at 8000 Blind Pass Road and provides easy access to the beach.

If you are looking for attractions near Turtle Beach, you can drive 30 minutes to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium which is home to sea creatures including jellyfish, great white sharks, captive killer whales, rockfishes, African penguins, and the Pacific Sea nettles. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens are spread across 15 acres and feature preserved collections of more than 20,000 plants including orchids, bromeliads, banyans, bamboo, wildflowers, a butterfly garden, a koi pond, and an edible garden. The historical Sarasota Opera House has been the performance stage for many world-renowned artists including Elvis Presley, Will Rogers, Charlton Heston, and Dorothy Lamour. Another great attraction near Turtle Beach is St. Armands Circle which is well-regarded for its shopping centers, boutiques, ancient shops, and restaurants.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within a five-minute walk of Turtle Beach. Turtle Beach Grill is a tropical American bar-restaurant featuring live music from Thursdays to Sundays on the patio deck and has outdoor as well as indoor seating. The vegetarian-friendly Turtles on the Little Sarasota Bay is an American Caribbean restaurant with a diverse seafood-focused menu and happy-hour deals. Another good restaurant near Turtle Beach is the waterfront Ophelia’s on the Bay – it was mentioned in ‘The 100 Most Scenic Restaurants in the US’ list by Business Insider.

If you are looking for a hotel near Turtle Beach, there are many hotels within a 20-minute drive. Spread across 440 acres, The Resort at Longboat Key Club is a 4-Star beachfront hotel featuring a golf course, spa, gym, an oceanside pool, six restaurants, 20 tennis courts, and bike and water sports equipment rentals. The 3-Star pet-friendly hotel Lido Beach Resort has a pool, bar, gym, convenience store, and two restaurants with one on the roof. If you are looking for affordable hotels near Turtle Beach, the 3-Star Sandcastle Resort at Lido Beach offers a lounge, pool, gift shop, and restaurant – and Holiday Inn Sarasota - Lido Beach welcomes pets and has a poolside bar, restaurant, and fitness center.