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When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Siesta Key?
Planning a trip to Siesta Key is exciting, no matter what time of year you decide to visit. Whether you are looking for the most optimal weather, peace, and quiet without a crowded beach, good deals on airfare and accommodations during the off-season, or the best time to admire Florida’s marine wildlife, you are sure to have an unbeatable experience. Your friends here at Best Western Siesta Key are the perfect people to share some insights into when you might want to visit the world-renowned white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico.
Ideal Weather
If hitting the beaches on Siesta Key in the best weather possible is your number-one priority, then you will want to plan your trip between March and May. Spring is the best time to visit Siesta Key as these months experience temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees with less rainfall than the summer and early fall months. With daylight savings beginning in the spring, the days are sure to offer more sunlight and time for beaching, watersports, golfing, and simply enjoying the great outdoors. While September through November also may seem to be a great time to visit the area, you are more likely to encounter tropical storms as hurricane season runs from June through November.
Seasonal Weather Patterns
Spring (March-May): Temperatures between 70 – 80 degrees with minimal rainfall
Summer (June – August): Temperatures between 80 – 90 degrees with increased rainfall
Autumn (September – November): Temperatures between 70-80 degrees with steady rainfall
Winter (December -February): Temperatures between 60 – 70 degrees with decreased rainfall
Beat the Crowds
Spring is the second busiest time of year, right behind winter, to visit Siesta Key. Snowbirds arrive in this part of Florida between late autumn and early winter and hang out until at least the spring when it begins to warm up in the northern states. Prices are also at their height when these snowbirds are in town, traffic is heavier, and the beaches and attractions can get pretty crowded. The busiest months to plan a Siesta Key vacation are March, followed by February and April. If you are looking for a low-key, quiet, and less populated Siesta Key vacation, then September is your best bet, as long as you don’t mind the increased chance of rain. As the least crowded month, September is also one of the least expensive times to visit Siesta Key.
Best Deals and Rates
In addition to September and other autumn months, June through August will also offer visitors thinner crowds in addition to lower airfare and hotel rates. As schools are typically out of session, many families with children plan their Siesta Key vacations in the summer months as well. This can be a great way for your own family and children to have others to hang out with and make friends. However, there is a reason the rates dip during this time of year, as Siesta Key sees more rainfall, humidity, and much higher temperatures, making it not the most comfortable time of year to visit.
Greater Chance of Wildlife Encounters
The best time of year to encounter manatees swimming along waterways near Siesta Key are the winter and early spring months. As the temperatures drop, these marine animals tend to stay closer to shore and inhabit the shallow waters of the slow-moving estuaries, bays, and coastlines where the water tends to be warmer. Dolphins can easily be spotted all year round in shallow waters as well, but you may have a greater chance of seeing groups of dolphins in the early morning, as they travel together while feeding. Another clue to spying dolphins is if birds are diving for fish, as nearby dolphins will also be waiting for their chance at a snack.
Winter is also a good time of year for birdwatching. Spot various gulls, terns, sanderlings, willets, plovers, and other shorebirds migrating to Florida. Shorebirds also nest on the Gulf Coast and shores of Siesta Key in the summer months. Finally, sea turtles are more easily spotted from May through October. Spy tiny turtles nesting in the sand this time of year as it is turtle nesting season.
Although autumn is often hit with a significant amount of rainfall as hurricane season wraps up at the end of November, the temperatures are almost perfect. September through November offers mid-high 70s to lower 90s, with a nice ocean breeze and a decrease in humidity compared to the summer. You can find great flight and accommodation deals during the fall as well since it is less crowded and in lower demand for Siesta Key travelers. You may even spot your favorite marine wildlife, like nesting sea turtles waiting to make their journey into the water through October. While you plan your long-awaited and well-deserved vacation to Florida’s Gulf Coast, your friends here at Best Western Siesta Key will be getting ready for your warm welcome.