Siesta Key with Kids: The Ultimate Family Travel Guide (Beaches, Things to Do & Where to Stay)
Siesta Key, FL is an island right off the south coast of Sarasota. It is a great destination for a family, and as someone who has visited over 10 times, I wanted to share all about what makes this island a favorite of ours. My late husband and I actually met on this island back in 2008 when I was 21 years old and were both on Spring Break. To be clear, this is not a huge party spring break destination. It is a family vacation spot, we just both happened to be here. I was with friends and he was visiting family at the time. The year before he passed away we brought our kids here to show them the exact spot where we met before he passed away so of course this place holds a special place in my heart. With that all being said it is one of the most family-friendly beautiful vacations we have been too.
It continuously ranks as one of our favorites because of the beautiful white sand beaches, the convenience of being able to bike or drive a golf cart on the main road and the town center (known as the village) has a variety of restaurants (a mix of casual and more upscale) you can go to without needing to be dressed up. Instead of it being built up with a lot of private beaches, its got an amazing public beach accessible to everyone with lots of houses available rent for large groups, extended families or multiple families. We feel this is a great place for all ages with so much to do without it being too built up and touristy.
Where to stay?
1. Siesta Key Luxury Rentals- we stayed at the property “Dry Dock”. It was gorgeous, spacious and only a 5 minute walk from “The Village” (the strip of restaurants, bars and shops). It was one block from the beach and we walked there for sunset almost every night because they were absolutely breathtaking. The house itself had an in ground pool, ping pong table and a dock off the back of the house on a canal to fish off of. This was a great place for a multi generational trip (or for multiple families). We stayed here with 16 people very comfortably.
2. Ringling Beach House - (not somewhere we have personally stayed but had friends love it) Another option for a smaller group or family. Still walkable to the beach or by golf cart and in a good location. It also has a heated pool which is a huge plus! We love having a pool because the first thing my kids always want to do when they wake up is swim. I will enjoy my coffee and they will swim as the start to the day!
Note: there are not many hotels on the island but lots of rentals, which is actually what we prefer for a beach vacation.
What airport should we fly into?
Option 1: Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is the closest but but it is a smaller airport and usually more money per flight. It is about a 20 minute drive (11 miles).
Option 2: Tampa International Airport (TPA) is the best option and only about a 1 hour 20 min drive (72 miles). We usually choose to fly into here and make the drive. We always rent a car anyways so it’s not a problem.
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Where to eat?
The village (main area of downtown Siesta Key) has about 10 different restaurant options. They have a mix of fast casual options and nicer restaurants. Staying in a rental, we would try to cook breakfast or lunch in the rental since we had a full kitchen. Then we would usually have most dinners out. You don’t need reservations for most places but there are a select few you would need for dinner. These would be:
- The Cottage
- Siesta Key Summer House Steak and Seafood
Some other places we ate at and loved but did not need reservations:
- Lobster Pot
- The Hub Baja Grill
- Siesta Key Oyster Bar
Many restaurants in the village are casual and kid-friendly with seafood, pizza, and ice cream options. It is a beach town so you don’t need to be dressed up.
How to get around?
We rented a car to get from the airport and back specifically, but we ended up loving having the car. We drove to the grocery store to get groceries and we drove to the dock where we rented a a boat from.
We also did rent a golf cart for the week. This was so much fun and the kids absolutely loved riding around the island in it. We would usually drive this to the beach because parking was easier and then we didn’t have to deal with lugging lots of beach gear and heavy coolers. Most of the companies will drop the golf cart off and pick it back up at your rental - which is so convenient. If you do want to rent a golf cart, I recommend trying to do it head of time, especially if its peak season because they do tend to sell out.
There is also a free trolley - Siesta Key Breeze Trolley. This is a free service that runs every 20-30 minutes and connects: Turtle Beach, Siesta Beach & Siesta Key Village.
NOTE: You don’t necessarily need the car if you fly into Sarasota airport and uber from the airport to your rental. You can walk around the island - like to and from the beach and to and from the village if your rental is in that area.
What to do?
Siesta Key beach is repeatedly ranked among the best in the U.S. and world for its soft, cool, white quartz sand. It is cooling and I can honestly say it’s the most beautiful sand I have seen in the U.S. The main beach access has a restaurant, snack bar that also serves ice cream and even alcoholic drinks. They have nice and clean public restrooms with baby changing stations. There is tennis courts, a huge playground for kids and seasonal events held on the beach,
There are many activities for all ages. You can rent paddleboards, kayaks, go paragliding, rent a boat for the day, drive around golf carts and so much more!
Siesta Key is one of the best places to watch the sunset, as sunsets on the Gulf Coast are a big deal.
Best spots:
Siesta Beach
Sunset Point
A sunset cruise
What to pack?
Depending on what time of the year you go, will make a big difference. Always check the weather before going. If you go between March-October I would say the packing would stay the same. No matter what time of the year you are going (even in the middle of summer) make sure to have one hoodie or zip up per person because the AC inside of stores and restaurants can be very strong.
Overall, Siesta Key is very casual. Each person should only need a few of each of thee items, depending on how long your stay is!
T-shirts / tank tops
Shorts
Lightweight dresses
Light cover-ups
1–2 casual outfits for dinners
Light sweater or hoodie (AC can be strong)
Flip-flops
Comfortable walking shoes
Water shoes (optional)
Our most practical tips for visiting Siesta Key:
The public beach access is great. The main area has playgrounds, a restaurant (that even serves alcoholic drinks), clean restrooms (with changing tables) etc. but at the main entrance parking can get crowded. There are lots of other smaller beach access points up and down the same street if you drive a little farther down you will find them. We could actually walk to one from our rental, which made a huge difference!
The actual water point is a long walk from the beach entry. If you have a lot of stuff or have little kids, be prepared. We were very thankful our rental had a beach wagon and we used that to transport chairs and the cooler. In the sand, I would say it was about a 5-10 minute walk. Something to just be prepared for when carrying a lot.
One way to save some money is to buy groceries the first day you arrive. The island is made up of more rentals than hotels so it is likely you will have a kitchen of some sort. Our rule of thumb is to only have 1 sit down meal a day and we usually pick dinner. Kids are way better behaved and usually tired at this point and ready to just chill. We opted to make most lunches and a few dinners at the house! We packed sandwiches and snacks for the beach and stocked up on drinks - this was a huge cost saver.
When looking for your rental look how close is it to a beach access point and the village. We were in walking distance of both in Our Rental - about 5 minutes. If you choose one farther away or cant find something closer, consider renting a golf cart. Kids love riding in them and they are street legal here.
You don’t need to make dinner reservations at MOST places here. They are mostly casual beach vibe bars and restaurants. Although if you have a larger party and want to all sit together I would recommend it, especially in the busy season. The Cottage is one of the nicer places on the island so if you did want to do a lunch or dinner here, I would recommend calling ahead. We had dinner here one night and the food was phenomenal!
FAQ
Q: Do you need a car?
A: No, you don’t need one. We prefer to rent a golf cart and bikes because you can use these to get all around the island. But, we would recommend renting one if you fly into Tampa because it is a long ride to the island and would be most likely cheaper than taking ubers.
Q: Do we need to get to the beach early?
A: If you are going to be driving a car, then absolutely yes! If not, then it really doesn’t matter. The main beach does fill up fast but it’s not overwhelming to the point there wont be anywhere to set up your belongings. We were able to walk to a smaller beach access from our rental with more room and better beach spots.
Q: When is the best time to visit Siesta Key with kids?
A: The best time to visit is between March–May and October–November when the weather is warm but not too hot, and crowds are smaller compared to peak summer.
Q: Is Siesta Key worth visiting with toddlers?
A: Yes! The soft, cool sand and gentle waves make it especially great for toddlers. It’s one of the easiest beaches in Florida for little kids to safely play and explore.
Q: Where should families stay in Siesta Key?
A: Families typically prefer staying near Siesta Beach or within walking distance of Siesta Key Village. Condos and vacation rentals are especially popular since they offer more space, kitchens, and easy beach access.
Q: Are there kid-friendly restaurants in Siesta Key?
A: Yes—Siesta Key is very laid-back and casual, which makes dining out with kids easy. The Village is full of family-friendly restaurants, outdoor seating, and ice cream spots your kids will love.
