Siesta Key, Barrier island in Sarasota County, Florida, US
Siesta Key is a barrier island in Sarasota County, Florida, stretching between Roberts Bay and the Gulf of Mexico and connecting sand beaches with residential areas. The island includes several beach sections with different atmospheres as well as a small commercial district in the center.
A bridge connected the island to the mainland near Sarasota starting in 1917 and replaced the earlier ferry service. The connection opened the island for permanent settlement and made it accessible to residents from the city.
Siesta Key Village serves as the main commercial district on the island and shows small shops and restaurants in wooden buildings. Many visitors gather here after a beach day, while residents run errands or walk around in the early evening.
Two bridges lead from the mainland onto the island and bring visitors to different beach sections. Traffic can increase during holiday periods and weekends, so arriving early is often easier.
The sand at the beaches consists mostly of fine quartz and feels cooler than ordinary beach sand. This composition comes from rock deposits that have been washed here from the Appalachians over thousands of years.
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