Presenting

T By Marcy Chapman Inn, later hosting famous visitors including Cecil B. DeMille, Bette Davis, Charlton Heston, Dorothy Lamour, Cornel Wilde, Betty Hutton and Agnes Moorehead. he casual elegance of this fun and engaging island is evident the moment you drive across the North Bridge. The very essence of a vibrant tropical lifestyle, Siesta Key is a place to play, explore, and relax. The powdery white ribbon of sand stretching into the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico is, above all, a place to connect with nature. An eight-mile-long, crescent-shaped barrier island of Sarasota, the key is connected to the mainland via two drawbridges that span the Intracoastal Waterway. It is renowned for its stunning sunsets, gentle waves and infamous clean, crystal-white sand, composed of 99-percent quartz, which feels like talcum powder. It is soft and cool to the touch, allowing for an enjoyable beachwalk, even in the hottest sun. In 1907, Captain Roberts and Harry Higel, fellow Sarasota visionary, organized the Siesta Land Company. They platted the first subdivision on the northern tip of the island, named Siesta. The name Siesta stuck with the island, previously known as Little Sarasota Island. Today, Siesta Key is recognized as one of the top coastal destinations in the world. Dr. Stephen Leatherman (aka " Although Siesta Key has changed considerably over time, its special charm remains. In 1860, it was a sleepy, virtually uninhabited barrier island. It was covered in dense vegetation and mosquito-filled swamps riddled with poisonous snakes. With a population of only 300, it was primarily comprised of fishing camps. However, in 1880, Captain Louis Roberts and his wife had a grand dream for the little island. The Roberts began by building a large home and taking in boarders. Enlarged in 1906, the home became known as the Siesta "Beach Ambassadors" welcome visitors and offer assistance. At The Pavilion beach-goers can buy a delicious lunch, snacks, drinks and ice cream treats, a delightful alternative to lugging a heavy cooler through the sand only to be left with a soggy sandwich for lunch. The very essence of a vibrant tropical lifestyle, Siesta Key is a " place to play, explore, and relax. Dr. Beach) distinguished Siesta as the No. 1 beach in the U.S in 2011. Last year, "National Geographic" listed it as one of the Top U.S. Family Beaches. It is now home to approximately 24,000 full-time and part-time residents and attracts over 350,000 visitors each year. The Pavilion housed on the expansive public beach facility serves as the heart of beach life on Siesta. Volunteer The beaches of Siesta provide varied opportunities for a great experience, with familyfriendly shallow water near the shoreline, year-round lifeguard protection, 800 free parking spaces (along with 13 beach accesses located between the pavilion and Siesta Village), grills, tennis courts, a fitness trail and the availability of beach wheelchairs for special-needs visitors. Turtle Beach, at the southern tip of Siesta Key, offers "sporty" beach activities away from the crowds: picnic areas, a playground, restrooms, a volley ball court, a horseshoe pit and unlimited shell-hunting. A boat launch is available and fishing is permitted nearby at Blind Pass Lagoon. Turtle Beach is one of the few Harry Higel built a hotel, Higelhurst, on Siesta Key in 1914. Higel ran his boat to ferry guests to and from the mainland. He worked tirelessly to get the Army Corp of Engineers to build a bridge to Siesta Key, which opened in 1917, the year he mysteriously died. FloridaHomesMag.com | 25

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