Siesta Key Florida is three hours from Gainesville on the Gulf coast. This barrier island off of Sarasota offers gorgeous white quartz sand beaches which stay cool to the touch.
Siesta Key, Sarasota, and Venice Florida are all within a short drive of one another, making a Gainesville weekend trip to the area a no-brainer.
On this particular weekend trip from Gainesville we stayed at Tropical Shores, a beach resort located along Siesta Key’s famed Sara Sea Circle. Beach motels along Sara Sea Circle all share convenient beach access as well as access to a charming park. Several restaurants are within walking distance of Siesta Key’s Sara Sea Circle motels, minimizing your need for a car.
A colony of quaker parrots nests in the area. Although not native, Quaker parrots have adjusted well to the region’s tropical climes and are a common sight (and sound) throughout the region.
We also love using our Freedom Boat Club membership to take out a boat for a day while we are visiting the area. Riding up and down the Intracoastal Waterway and stopping at Casey Key Fish House for a meal is one of our favorite things to do while we’re visiting.
If you are looking for a Gainesville weekend trip to take, make sure you put Siesta Key on your list — you will be glad you did.
