The Gunns do Florida - Day 17 - Siesta Key

[bengunn]

Day 17 – Siesta Key

Previous episodes:

Prequel
Day 1 – The trip to Orlando
Day 2 – Animal Kingdom
Day 3 – Magic Kingdom
Day 4 – Typhoon Lagoon, Shopping and Illuminations Cruise
Day 5 - Islands of Adventure
Day 6 – Epcot
Day 7 – Seaworld
Day 8 – Universal Studios
Day 9 – Epcot and the Magic Kingdom
Day 10 – Discovery Cove
Day 11 – Kennedy Space Centre
Day 12 – Disney MGM Studios
Day 13 – Blizzard Beach
Day 14 – Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios
Day 15 - Cypress Gardens and the move to Bradenton
Day 16 – Anna Maria Island

The Cast:

Richard (bengunn): Chief planner
Kathy : DW, just wants to go on holiday
Josie : DD 20, at Reading University, Assistant Planner, not very good at getting up
Sam : DS 17, just done AS exams, can get up very quickly when he wants to


Sunday 1st September

Definitely in laid-back mode now; not sure what time we got up but we made a picnic and drove to Siesta Key Beach on Siesta Key, which is a barrier island by Sarasota just a bit south of Bradenton. We arrived at 11:20 and again managed to park without problems although it was obviously fairly busy.

This beach had a large salt water lagoon, which was only a couple of inches deep, between the car park and the main beach area. We walked through it and on a couple of hundred yards to where the beach was reasonably quite. These beaches are so long and wide that you can find space even when there are lots of people around. There was the same white cool sand as before; the whole coast seems to be like that.

We sunbathed and swam and had our picnic, then sunbathed and swam some more (what else do you do on a beach?). While we were in the sea, we saw some more pelicans, lots of fish jumping out of the water and assorted fish under the water, including some pipefish (not sure if that is the correct name but they are very long and thin with a pointed mouth) about 12” long.

The only slight downside was that there seemed to be a lot of large motorboats which cruised along the coast; they were at least half a mile out but the noise was slightly irritating.

Clouds built up during the afternoon and then went away again but there was no rain. We eventually left the beach at 17:00 and realised that we were all a bit red despite copious application of suncream. Josie seemed to be especially bad as she had worn her new bikini for the first time and we realised later that her stomach had never been exposed to the sun before.

We went back to the villa and eventually out to dinner at Bennigans in Bradenton. We were very impressed by Bennigans. We had not been to one before and there was lots of choice and huge portions; we only had entrees and I ended up eating mine and half of Josie’s as it was so huge (I couldn’t possibly waste such good food). I had Ribs and Steak, Kathy had Ribs and Shrimp, Josie had Ribs and Chicken Strips, and Sam had Chicken Strips; with sodas and 2 large Budweisers (for me), that came to $74, which is a bit more than average but very good value for excellent food and lots of it.

Dinner was finished by 20:00 and then it was back to the villa for our usual reading and TV; there was thunder rumbling around for a long while later in the evening.


Tomorrow: Sanibel Island

 

[KayleeUK]

Another great report

kaylee

 

[Scotfan]

Fantastic, we loved siesta key when we went in 96. Unfortunately we didnt find it until the last day.

 

[WDWfan uk]

We loved Siesta Key!

We were there at a busy time too but as you say, the beach is SO big that apart from the parking difficulty, the beach still isn't crowded.

It's funny, but we didn't see a single boat the day we were there! At one end of the beach, rays were coming in to the very shallow water and there were warnings that they may sting as they were coming into the shallows to mate!

 

[Minniespal]

Thanks for the fab report - luv reading them!!!