Lido/ST. Armands Circle or Siesta Key? (Longboat Key: restaurants, prices)

[mook68]

Hi,

One more question. I will be visiting for only a short time. There is so much I would like see, but won't be able to fit it all in. If you had to choose one beach area would it be Lido/St. Armands Circle or Siesta Key?

[FLBob]

I probably chose Siesta if my main priority was beach, and Lido if I wanted a balance of beach/shopping/restaurants.

[gypsychic]

If you are pressed for time, go for Lido/St. Armand's. It sounds like you don't really have a lot of time to hang on a beach, and Siesta is gorgeous but there isn't that much dining/ shopping there. Lido and St. Armands are right over the bridge from downtown, plus you could easily cruise up Longboat Key from there.

Have fun!

[whitesandbeachbum]

It depends on the time of day you will be going to the beach. Parking for the beaches at Siesta Key will be all gone by 11am. Siesta Key is very popular (for a reason!) and attracts lots of snow birds this time of year everyday. If you are willing to make it to the beach before 11am, I would go to Siesta Key hands down. Siesta Village has plenty of restaurants and open air bars that you can relax in (the prices are also less here than at St Armands).

If you don't want to get to the beach early, then Lido is excellent. You'll be able to find parking at all times of the day there, especially in the main public beach parking lot.

You have two great choices - you can't really lose either way.

Joe

[Ladywithafan]

Siesta has the sand; Lido has the accessability to easy in/out...I'd do Siesta from early and Lido/St. Armand's in the pm.