Favorite beach near Bradenton? (Longboat Key, Holmes Beach: appointed, houses, restaurants)

[td1026]

Have already been to Holmes Beach, and loved it, but wanting to try a different spot. Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach or others. What about Longboat Key??

[gypsychic]

I think Coquina Beach and Bradenton Beach are nice.

[SoFLGal]

Conrad Beach on north Longboat is nice. It's usually not very crowed either.

[Sunny-Days-in-Florida]

Did you say beach?

Music to my ears.

Any beach along that area is nice.

You cannot go wrong from Anna Maria down to Siesta if you need to stay close to that area.

And save us some sand, we hopefully will be there in 2-3 weeks!!

Enjoy yourself at the beach.

[Sunshine Rules]

Coquina Beach is a favorite of mine because there's lots of parking, tall shade trees and has picnic benches too, although you have to be there early on the weekend if you want to grab one of them. On the northern end of Coquina you can walk across the street to a convenience store or ice cream parlor when you want refreshments. They have lifeguards on duty on the weekends.

Longboat Key has public beach accesses, but you have to look carefully for the little blue and white signs. Broadway street, on the north end, has the largest parking lot for the beach access locations. Some of the others only have parking for a few cars at best, and the posted signs state you must have a parking sticker from the town hall on your vehicle. If you can find a parking spot, Longboat Key beaches are very quiet, peaceful this time of year.

If you want to travel south to Nokomis, that is another of my favorite beaches for shelling. It's the public beach on Casey Key. Nokomis beach has lots of parking, a pavillion, concession stand, rest rooms & showers to wash the sand off of your toes before you leave.

We are blessed to have so many fantastic beaches in our area.

[gomet]

Word up on Nokomis beach in casey key. It is also great. All of them are awesome from Anna Marie to Nokomis. Can't go wrong.

If you go to Nokomis from US 41, make a right on Blackburn Point and follow the road all the way to the Beach. You will not be disappointed. What a view!

And the houses! Oh MY!

[teagal]

Originally Posted by td1026

Have already been to Holmes Beach, and loved it, but wanting to try a different spot. Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach or others. What about Longboat Key??

I prefer Coquina only because there is a restroom and they have a no alcohol rule. They also have great parking!

[joeyddog]

Another vote for Coquina Beach. I love the fact that the pine trees provide shade on a section of the beach. My husband and I love to walk along the shore so it's nice that there is a second set of rest rooms midway. Also there is a really nice tree shaded walk between the beach and parking. I noticed a trolley that goes along the main drag where the shops and restaurants are. I don't know if there is a charge or not.

[teagal]

Originally Posted by joeyddog

Another vote for Coquina Beach. I love the fact that the pine trees provide shade on a section of the beach. My husband and I love to walk along the shore so it's nice that there is a second set of rest rooms midway. Also there is a really nice tree shaded walk between the beach and parking. I noticed a trolley that goes along the main drag where the shops and restaurants are. I don't know if there is a charge or not.

They took a vote and as of right now the trolley is free.