Is Sarasota crowded year around? (Siesta Key, Nokomis: condo, houses, to buy)

[Dry509]

Hello

Is Sarasota, and especially Siesta key, crowded year around or is it just during the winter and the holidays? Just wondering if it has gotten so crowded that it is busy all the time or just during the times I mentioned? Thanks in advance.

[bbronston]

I guess it depends on your definition of crowded. Our area is well populated all year but winters are always more populated for all the obvious reasons.

[gypsychic]

Every year it gets more crowded all year. However there is a dramatic dropoff after the season. Siesta is always crowded, I just won't go there anymore.

[Nancy in Nokomis]

No - mostly crowded in the Winter - when I first moved here I went to Siesta a lot but lately it seems to be always crowded and since they re-did it I find it is too "urban" and rough for my taste - there are many more calmer and more natural beaches around here.

[d4g4m]

Yogi Berraism 'That place is so crowded, nobody goes there anymore'.

[macyny]

Siesta is dead after the season. Busier on weekends when locals go to the beaches, but during the week it is not crowded and you can live in peace!

[Dry509]

Originally Posted by Nancy in Nokomis

No - mostly crowded in the Winter - when I first moved here I went to Siesta a lot but lately it seems to be always crowded and since they re-did it I find it is too "urban" and rough for my taste - there are many more calmer and more natural beaches around here.

First thanks all for the comments.

Per above from Nancy, what are the calmer more natural beaches around there? Thanks.

[upgrader]

Originally Posted by macyny

Siesta is dead after the season. Busier on weekends when locals go to the beaches, but during the week it is not crowded and you can live in peace!

Dead is an exaggeration. The roads return to workability. But with all the condo's on the beach, Siesta will never be the same as it was in the '70's.

I also have to ask, why is traffic management so bad on Siesta Key? There was this invention call the camera that many areas use to show people when to take to the roads. Yes, there are beach goers that will storm the key in the morning, and retreat at dusk, but the locals might try to avoid that flow and choose the better bridge if they got some good information.

[macuserftw]

Sarasota in general is becoming less seasonal based on what I've seen. You get a surge of people October - May where it almost feels like the population doubles, but I still notice a lot of people coming down in the summer (but they are families with kids on summer break). I also think many of those "snowbirds" are starting to buy houses here and are becoming permanent residents.

Siesta Key is our main tourist attraction beach so, it always seems crowded. I can't remember the last time I've been to Siesta Beach, as I avoid that whole area entirely due to the crowding.

[craigiri]

Originally Posted by upgrader

I also have to ask, why is traffic management so bad on Siesta Key? There was this invention call the camera that many areas use to show people when to take to the roads. Yes, there are beach goers that will storm the key in the morning, and retreat at dusk, but the locals might try to avoid that flow and choose the better bridge if they got some good information.

There is a newer invention called the Google Maps which clearly shows anyone exactly what the traffic situation is on Siesta Key or anywhere else. I never leave home in SRQ without a careful study of the maps...which is why I hardly ever sit in traffic.