Florida's Siesta Beach Named Top U.S. Sandy Spot

By: NY1 News

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Shoveling your way through another winter is definitely no day at the beach, especially when compared with a visit to Siesta beach, America's top-rated beach on Florida's Gulf Coast. NY1's Valarie D'Elia filed the following report.

Siesta Beach on Siesta Key, Florida is like the sandy version of Miss America, as it is the reigning queen of beaches in the United States of America.

Every year, a scientist nicknamed "Dr. Beach" ranks America’s top 10 strips of sand, and most recently after many times the bridesmaid, Siesta Beach is now the bride.

"I know that we are coming off of the busiest summer ever, ever, with revenue here in Sarasota County. So we think that had a lot to do with the 'Dr. Beach' ranking," says Erin Duggan of the Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Dr. Beach (www.drbeach.org) has a list of 50 criteria, including water quality, waves, concessions and services. But most visitors can easily crystallize why it’s their favorite.

"I’ve been up and down the Florida, coast both sides, I’ve been out to California and this is by far the best beach I’ve ever been on," says one visitor. "The sand is amazing here. It is so soft it doesn’t even stick to anything."

"It never gets hot, it's always cool. It looks like sugar, flour," says another visitor.

"This sand is 99.8 percent quartz, 100 percent natural," says a third.

At morning, Siesta Beach is practically empty and chances are good of spotting a pod of dolphin feeding close to shore.

Siesta Beach is located on Siesta Key, an eight-mile-long barrier island between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Visit www.sarasotafl.org for details.

It has an array of rental accommodations such as Siesta Bungalows, where I stayed on a media visit. It's a sweet, little no-frills complex with 10 one-bedroom apartments on a lagoon. For more information, visit siestakeybungalows.com.

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As is common practice in the travel industry, Travel With Val often receives complimentary travel or reduced "media" rates at hotels, resorts and attractions, including those that may be featured in these reports. Such consideration is not taken in exchange for any express or implied promise or understanding of any nature, particularly regarding the content of these reports. These reports only feature travel providers personally recommended by Valarie D’Elia in the exercise of her independent editorial judgment, and do not represent the endorsement of Time Warner Cable or any third party.