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Siesta Beach is #2 in US!
SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — The warm clear water… the wide white sandy beaches…and dozens of other categories have put Siesta Key Beach #2 in Dr Beach’s annual list of best beaches in the country.
The President of Visit Sarasota County was surprised to be back on this prestigious list.
“We know in the past (that) once you reach #1–as we did in 2011– you are retired from the list, but he decided to allow the #1’s to come back, and the fact Sarasota County just invested $21 million dollars in that beach rocketed us right up to #2,” Virginia Haley said.
It’s true, Sarasota County invested in nine hundred new parking spots and also built a new pavilion area complete with a raised restaurant and snack bar.
Vacationers aren’t surprised Siesta Key beach is still among the best beaches in the country.
“I think it deserves to be yeah. It’s beautiful, absolutely beautiful…. just so beautiful, everything is just clean, it’s beautiful.”
All this beauty translates into a huge financial boost for the area. V Haley says the nationwide press will translate into more visitors.
“This is a significant economic impact. I’d say within one hour of the press release at 10 am this morning, you saw US News & World Report, AP pushing the story, it goes all out over the country and of course we’re known to take advantage of stories like that,” she said with a smile.
The top beach this year is in Oahu, Hawaii. The only other two beaches in the Top Ten from Florida include (#6) Grayton Beach State Park in the Panhandle and Caladesi Island State Park (#9) in Clearwater.