Hey everyone, thanks so much for watching. Siesta Key is one of the barrier islands we first explored when we moved to Florida many years ago. We have so many great memories from the area. If you have been to Siesta Key, what is your favorite thing to do in the area? If you have any questions about the area let us know in the comments and we will do our best to answer :) If you are looking for other ideas to plan a Florida's gulf coast get away, check out our playlist here: th-cam.com/play/PLOT_jgQ5dAKzNkBvqS83b6taklWlf0e1q.html
I believe it. Real Estate can be a great investment, especially at times like these when housing prices and rents are at record highs. Thanks for watching!
@@Explorcation love getting the review/preview of places that we have either been looking at or even never heard of and now their on the radar. You two do a great job and looking forward to more episodes!
Siesta Key is probably the thing we miss most about living in Sarasota. It's still only an hour away from us now, but having it just 15 minutes away was such a luxury!
Lovely the dress Jaime! So cute! The sand at Siesta really looks amazing and the beach is so wide. There's a lot of space to spread out! Wow, those martinis look amazing and dessert for dinner is never a bad idea. Nice day out!
Thank you, I really love the color of that dress :) We do recommend a day trip to Siesta for anyone in the area, we think it is worth visiting! Thanks for watching :)
The beach looks lovely. we are currently in Ecuador and it's getting a little too cold for us. Your shots look so inviting. We are in need of some sun. Wow, the blue skies with the fluffy skies look awesome. Looks like a fun day.
Thanks for posting this. Excellent job editing and very informative. I especially liked the tip on "Public Beach Access Number 11". I'm headed down to Florida from Idaho next Tuesday. Was going to stay down in Key West, but because of your video, I decided on Siesta Key instead. You actually saved me some money as well. My accommodation in Siesta Key costs 455 dollars less over 11 days than the one I had in Key West. Thank you!
Wow that's so great to hear that our video helped you decide to visit Siesta and save some money while you're at it! We hope you love Siesta Key as much as we do.
Siesta Key looks stunning! Our favourite sand so far is in Half Moon Cay in the Caribbean. Would love to see how Siesta’s sand feels in comparison😍 You two really do have the best places to explore nearby, those Martinis looked really good!🍸 The ice cream made instantly with liquid nitrogen sounds really cool, love that idea!
The pictures of Half Moon Cay look stunning! We agree you should visit some day to compare 😀 We do feel so fortunate to be able to explore this area of Florida, there is soo much to do and experience ❤ Thanks for watching!
I am such a fan of your beach days... its like the perfect mix of food, drinks, sightseeing and beach time. That sand looked so soft 😍 And your martinis, mini donuts and ice cream afterwards looked great. I love how well numbered the beach access areas are too, so nice there 👌
We agree, in each of these beach areas we think there is something for everyone. I do wish we could have highlighted one more restaurant, but I think all of the time in the sun decreased our appetite's - that is alright, i am sure not complaining about getting donuts and ice cream 😆
Wow that’s so beautiful 😍 look how white the sand is and that charming village looks awesome! I love all the restaurants and island music. Your salmon looked especially delicious. Ps I love your dress ☺️
That mojo coffee shop looked right up my street! The beach looked so beautiful, definitely worth walking to get a quieter spot. Beach walks are fun anyway! Another great travel guide. The pacing and amount of information you provide is brilliant, and the tropical beaches and bars always get me in the mood for a holiday, haha!
Mojo is one of our faves due to it's location on the island AND the quality of coffee. We go to a lot of coffee shops on our day trips and this coffee is top quality. Thanks so much for the kind feedback, we have definitely been working on our editing skills to keep our videos flowing 😀
Yes, very popular. The good thing is that it's a huge beach and is very long and wide, so even on the busiest days, you can typically find plenty of room for yourself if you are willing to walk a little bit!
Thanks for watching! We lived in Sarasota for 7 years, and now live just a bit to the north in St. Pete. We try to make it back to Siesta every now and then, as the quality of the beach is really unmatched.
I watched the video with a subscription and a like, and the content is very special, very wonderful and very useful, my friend, may God bless you, your friend Osama from Egypt, with a full view of beautiful and distinguished content
Mojo Rise seems like such a cool coffee shop! Really like the place you had brunch as well. Love how you are getting around with scooters, that's so much fun! Wow the water is 80 degrees early May! Btw can't believe you are having desserts for dinner, those mini donuts are looking delicious though!
It really is. It may actually be our favorite coffee shop of all coffee shops. It's soooo good! Yes, the water is really nice already, and by July it will be in the mid 80's. By August it basically feels like a bathtub!
That skyway bridge looks soooooo cool. I wouldn't complain about having to drive across it. Looks like another amazing day, so many things to do in Siesta Key. Have you ever tried the Canadian version of a Bloody Mary (a Caesar), definitely delicious if you like bloody mary's. THAT BEACH 😍...you guys are making us jealous over here.
It really is a beautiful bridge. It's especially fund to go over when the cruise ships are sailing under it! And yes, we have had Bloody Ceasars and love them. We often buy a bloody ceasar mix at one of our local markets, and it is excellent.
You guys always come up with the best places to visit wherever you go! You also do a fantastic job of creating a throughline with your voice over. I think we can work on doing that a little better. Powder Beach at Siesta is definitely for the win! How cool is that!? OMG that Strawberry Shortcake Martini looks FANTASTIC! Can we please get a drink together when we are in Florida!?!? Loving your videos!
Thanks so much for the kind comments. We definitely do things a little differently than most other travel vloggers, but we think it works for us. We will absolutely have to meet up for a drink when you guys make it to FL!
Hey guys, oh my goodness, Siesta Key looks soooooo amazing. The breakfast looked so yummy, made me want some bacon and eggs for dinner lol :) the scooters you guys have is just so awesome especially when you cant get parking. The sand at Siesta Key definitely looks like powdered sugar, i don't think we've ever experienced sand like this. Jamie, i just have to say, i absolutely LOVED your dress in this video, that colour is my favorite. Ah your martini looked amazing Jamie, nothing like a pink drink :) those mini donuts look like they'll light up my life. Ah i think Siesta Key stole my heart, looks like such a cool beach destination.
Their are a lot of beach in Florid with really soft sand, but Siesta is the softest that we've experienced anywhere. I think we'll have to visit a few hundred more beaches to know where the softest sand is for sure though!
I've recently found you and *always* appreciate that you add maps in your videos. They add visual grounding for the entire vid. I am curious to know about your back story...where are both of you from? Where did you grow up? How did you end up in Florida? What kind of work do you do that affords you such wonderful travels? Thanks for sharing such interesting videos about Florida's west coast. I enjoy them very much.
Thank you so much for the feedback. I think we have done a better job of including some sort of map in more recent videos and are glad to hear that it is helpful :) We share a bit about our story in this video (th-cam.com/video/pPquW57Chk8/w-d-xo.html) and eventually we may share more details. We both grew up in the Midwest and had visited the Tampa Bay area with my family years ago. After many snowy, cold winters being cooped up inside for too long we decided we wanted to try living close to the beach, where we could be outside year round. We sold most of our belongings and moved to Florida, we have been here ever since :) We have both been fortunate to work for companies that allowed us to work from home and offered paid time off every year. All of our travels so far have been on weekends or using our PTO. Because of the area we live in, there are endless options of things to do only a few hours away - and when cruising was up and running, it was really easy (and budget friendly) for us to book a trip and visit multiple counties in one vacation. We do make an effort to travel on a budget. We prefer to travel on a budget multiple times a year to be able to experience as much as possible! Thanks so much for watching and for your questions too :)
A few of our favorite spots aren’t in the Village but still on Siesta Key: breakfast-Toasted Mango; lunch-Anna’s Deli; dinner-Big Water Fish Market; ice cream-Orange Octopus. For dinner, we also like Flavios in the Village and Philippi Creek just outside of Siesta Key on Tamiami Trail.
Thanks for the suggestions, Sandra. We will certainly be visiting Siesta Key again in the near future, and can't wait to give some of these places a try!
This is one reason why I want to explore Florida...those really long bridges...lol. I think the longest one we have been on over here is the sea cliff bridge... really nice along the coast but we don't have any to island. These beaches your always showing in your area are magnificent... the white powder is amazing and definitely a highlight to anyone's vacation. I would be really bad at that ring toss...especially after a few drinks...haha Love love love donuts... those ones your guys got looked awesome...your making me hungry. This sub zero ice cream looks really interesting... we don't have shark tank show here but I can see why there feature of the liquid nitrogen ice cream has increased their franchises
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is one to see, it can be a bit nerve wracking on a windy day. This particular beach is very touristy, but given the nice sand, shallow water and all of the business close by we can' t help but love it! I (Jamie) was so happy to finally try Sub Zero, it is really cool to see it made :) Thanks so much for watching!
@@Explorcation omg...I bet it would be nerve wrecking crossing those bridges in the wind... I can feel it sometimes on our reall5 high bridges. I might have to look for the sub zero over here...I'm not sure anyone does it 😁👍
It's great to hear you are still loving living on Siesta after 7 years, Kevin. We've visited Siesta countless times, but have often wondered what it would be like to actually live on the island. I'm sure we'd have no problem keeping ourselves entertained!
Siesta is definitely more relaxed, less crowded, and quieter than Clearwater Beach, and the sand at Siesta is the softest we've ever experienced. Clearwater Beach does offer more to do, especially for a younger crowd. At this stage in our lives, we do generally prefer Siesta Key, although we still like to visit Clearwater every once in a while too!
Mid-December can be a bit on the busy side, but not too bad during the week. If you enjoy a lot of activity and don't mind the crowds, then you'll probably enjoy it on the weekends as well. The water is pretty cold in mid-December, so most people don't find it comfortable for swimming, but you'll likely get some days that are great for relaxing on the beach!
Love this video. It helps a lot as I am taking my daughter here shortly. My biggest question - is there a place to rent chairs/an umbrella while on the beach? We are flying in. Thank you for any help.
Yes, you can definitely rent both chairs and umbrellas at the main beach access. We hope you and your daughter have an amazing time. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for watching. We generally try chain the scooters up to a bike rack, but if none are available we often chain them to a fence, tree, or sign post. We lock them up with a Titanker Bike Chain Lock that we purchased of of Amazon.
We have been wanting to visit the Phillipines for quite some time. It's actually Skylar's #1 spot to visit, so I'm sure we will get to experience Boracay Beach sooner or later. When we do, we will definitely compare the sand to Siesta! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment, Gerlyn.
Your videos are very helpful. My wife and I are moving to FL in a few months. We’re trying to decide between Venice and Naples areas. We know very little. Do you think one is better than the other? Please be brutally honest.
Hi Brian, thank you so much for your comment 😊 we hope your move goes smoothly. As far as deciding between Venice and Naples, that is tough. Unfortunately we haven't spent much time in Naples to really compare :( We are hoping to continue to make our way south but by the time we get there on the channel you may already be here! I am sorry we don't have more helpful feedback!
@@Explorcation honestly, the most helpful thing would be for someone to tell us where NOT** to move...people are shy about saying which places are ghetto/redneck...i guess we're about to find out the hard way haha
@@brianmeadows9639 yeah, I understand that. Obviously there is no substitute to just coming down here and driving around to experience it for yourself. But if you can't do that, Google Street View is always your friend. You can also find crime statistics online.
@@brianmeadows9639 lol we definitely will be getting down there sooner or later. We just did Manasota and Don Pedro a couple weeks ago, and will be doing Boca Grande this weekend... so we're getting a little closer with every video!
I've never been to Siesta Key beach but years ago I went to Clearwater Beach and thought the sand was very soft and wonderful. Being from St. Pete you've probably been to Clearwater so which do you prefer - Siesta Key sand or Clearwater Beach? You commented that Siesta Key Beach lacked the bard and restaurants on the beach so what beach would your recommend for that type of atmosphere?
We just released a Top 10 Tampa Area Beaches video that I think you would really enjoy. In the video we discuss many aspects of Clearwater Beach, Siesta Beach, and several others, and how they compare (and rank) among each other. We do agree that the sand on Clearwater is wonderful, but we do believe that Siesta Beach's is slightly softer. As far as a beach to go with lots of great bars and restaurants, either St. Pete Beach or Clearwater Beach would give you the most options, but several others on our top 10 list offer great restaurants as well.
It really depends on what you are looking for. On days where we are just wanting to relax, we pick Anna Maria. But if we're looking to do a little more than just relax on the beach, then we'll usually chose Siesta Key.
Clarity of the water really depends on how rough the water is. The water at Siesta (or anywhere on the Gulf Coast) is rarely crystal clear, but some days are definitely clearer than others.
Depends when you go, but normally not too bad. We've heard a lot of stories about the congestion on Sanibel, and I don't think Siesta is generally quite at that level.
Siesta key was just as nice decades ago, but with far less people. at least off season. In the mid 90's you wouldnt believe the sort of property that was up for sale on the island and all over town. Sarasota was still well off most peoples radar, most people didnt even know about the place outside of its past history as a retreat for older seniors, veterans and old money. but with the passing of that generation so did the realestate value become so unbelievable affordable. I cringe now, considering what i couldve owned, instead of renting long term. But that time has long passed and the gig is now up. people are well aware of one of the nations biggest secrets. but how we enjoyed it to ourselves for a decade or two prior.
Yeah we've heard the same from many others that Siesta Key hasn't changed much over the years other than the amount of tourists/traffic. It's still one of our favorite places to visit when we actually have some free time! We can relate to your experience to some extent. When we first moved to Florida you could get a 2-BR condo on the beach around here around $200k. Sure wish we would have jumped on that opportunity! We're hoping that as we continue to travel more we'll discover an awesome, but relatively unknown and inexpensive beach town. I'm sure we'll find one, but I doubt it will be in the US!
@@Explorcation yup during that time i was attending Ringling for computer animation. and boy do it have some stories. Anyways my last year in school was nothing short of movie making material. Job my dream job in my dream career in my junior year. and having spent the summer break at that job made enough Coin to get my dream car and rented with option to buy at a condo in Harbor towers. That's one big building. build more like a hotel than a condo. and during that time its interior decor would've only impressed characters from the Popeye the sailor man comic series. lol seems its gone thru two renovations since then. Yes not to much has changed outside of renovations that were much needed for the beach. new real-estate. And like you said, a boat load of tourist and new residents. ironically the gulf coast has become the getaway vacation for native Floridians as well as we know how vastly different it is from east coast to west coast. Atlantic vs gulf. The east is all about money on the move.. while the gulf is about keeping in tune with nature. replenishing ones self. I do miss it. its a place that just makes you feel good.
@@xevious2501 we would have loved to have experienced the area around the time you did. We also really enjoy the focus on nature on the west coast. We had even more fun then we expected exploring the "Nature Coast" area this past year.
Is that Moldavite in your necklace? I am going to send you a FB message about jewelry. I make handmade silver, and turquoise jewelry. I love making the "old hippie heart vibe" kind of jewelry.
We are not aware of any car rental places on Siesta Key. But there are several within a few miles of the island which we think you could return a car from TPA at.
Hi Gloria, we have not tried any on Siesta but hear there are great options at The Cottage and The Lobster Pot in Siesta Village. Thanks so much for watching!
Be on the lookout for the Red Tide. This morning I went to the beach and was full of dead fish all around. I could barely take the smell and had to leave immediately. Be on the lookout.
We are so sorry to hear that :( Currently we do recommend checking the red tide status before heading out to any of the beaches in the area. We hope you were able to find another way to enjoy your day :)
Hi Derrick. We have never been to Boca Beach so we can't comment on which one we prefer. We do hope to make it to Boca someday though. Thanks for watching!
OK but it's nothing like Miami or Hallandale Beach its nothing really to do up there living there was boring, I rather stay in Hallandale Beach or Miami, or Hollywood.
If you like a fast pace and a really active nightlife scene, we could definitely understand why Siesta Key could be a bit boring. For us, it's a place we love to visit, but we're not sure if we'd enjoy living there or not.
Hey everyone, thanks so much for watching. Siesta Key is one of the barrier islands we first explored when we moved to Florida many years ago. We have so many great memories from the area. If you have been to Siesta Key, what is your favorite thing to do in the area? If you have any questions about the area let us know in the comments and we will do our best to answer :)
If you are looking for other ideas to plan a Florida's gulf coast get away, check out our playlist here: th-cam.com/play/PLOT_jgQ5dAKzNkBvqS83b6taklWlf0e1q.html
Thank you for taking us along. I feel like I'm special because I know you both on a personal level. Keep the amazing content coming! LLWAV!!
We really appreciate your support and hope you and LRM are doing well 😃
Lived here 20 years, everyone I know has at least one rental house. They are making tons of money. Way better than the stock market!
I believe it. Real Estate can be a great investment, especially at times like these when housing prices and rents are at record highs. Thanks for watching!
Adding to our list of places to go and stops to make 😊
We're always happy when our videos can help with your vacation plans!
@@Explorcation love getting the review/preview of places that we have either been looking at or even never heard of and now their on the radar.
You two do a great job and looking forward to more episodes!
Siesta Key is one of our fave beaches!
You and us both!
Perfect travel guide for me. Foodies, beaches, drinks, music..sweet! Siesta Key is very appealing to me, stoked thanks:))
Siesta Key is probably the thing we miss most about living in Sarasota. It's still only an hour away from us now, but having it just 15 minutes away was such a luxury!
Lovely the dress Jaime! So cute! The sand at Siesta really looks amazing and the beach is so wide. There's a lot of space to spread out! Wow, those martinis look amazing and dessert for dinner is never a bad idea. Nice day out!
Thank you, I really love the color of that dress :)
We do recommend a day trip to Siesta for anyone in the area, we think it is worth visiting!
Thanks for watching :)
Love the dress Jamie 💙
Siesta key looks amazing! I can just imagine how soft that sand must be 😌
The bridge is sooo cool!
Those martinis 🤩
We have yet to find softer sand, but I'm sure it's out there somewhere!
Thanks SO much for sharing I LOVE the white sand so much.
Our pleasure! It really is a beautiful beach, and the sand is the best we've ever experienced.
The beach looks lovely. we are currently in Ecuador and it's getting a little too cold for us. Your shots look so inviting. We are in need of some sun. Wow, the blue skies with the fluffy skies look awesome. Looks like a fun day.
Well Florida is definitely the place to be if you are in need of sun! I hope you two get some warm weather in Ecuador soon!
Siesta Key, FL is absolutely beautiful!
We agree 100%. It's hard to find a nicer looking beach town.
What a beautiful day at the beach!
We were lucky, not too humid and no rain! Thanks for watching :)
Great video. Packed with the helpful info. Thank you.
We are so happy that you found the video to be helpful, Bill. Thanks for watching!
My best friend, Great... We liked and enjoyed to the end. Thanks Have a happy day! Keep it up! +thumb up3!
Thanks so much for watching :)
Thanks for posting this. Excellent job editing and very informative. I especially liked the tip on "Public Beach Access Number 11". I'm headed down to Florida from Idaho next Tuesday. Was going to stay down in Key West, but because of your video, I decided on Siesta Key instead. You actually saved me some money as well. My accommodation in Siesta Key costs 455 dollars less over 11 days than the one I had in Key West. Thank you!
Wow that's so great to hear that our video helped you decide to visit Siesta and save some money while you're at it! We hope you love Siesta Key as much as we do.
Still my fav vid!
It was one of our favorites to make as well. We love Siesta Key!
Siesta Key is an amazing beach. Nice vlog guys
Thank you so much 😀
Best place in America
That's very hard to argue against! Thanks so much for watching.
Wow... !!! My best friend, Great Good... !!! I wish you every day of your development.
Thank you! You too!
Siesta Key looks stunning! Our favourite sand so far is in Half Moon Cay in the Caribbean. Would love to see how Siesta’s sand feels in comparison😍
You two really do have the best places to explore nearby, those Martinis looked really good!🍸
The ice cream made instantly with liquid nitrogen sounds really cool, love that idea!
The pictures of Half Moon Cay look stunning! We agree you should visit some day to compare 😀
We do feel so fortunate to be able to explore this area of Florida, there is soo much to do and experience ❤
Thanks for watching!
It’s very beautiful, thank for sharing
Thank you so much for watching 💗
I LOVE that place! My brother lives 20min away from that beach, amazing!
It really is an amazing place. We don't get to visit as much as we used to but still enjoy visiting as much as ever.
Ooh those donuts look good 10:27 🍩
We can confirm that they are every bit as delicious as they look!
I am such a fan of your beach days... its like the perfect mix of food, drinks, sightseeing and beach time. That sand looked so soft 😍 And your martinis, mini donuts and ice cream afterwards looked great. I love how well numbered the beach access areas are too, so nice there 👌
We agree, in each of these beach areas we think there is something for everyone.
I do wish we could have highlighted one more restaurant, but I think all of the time in the sun decreased our appetite's - that is alright, i am sure not complaining about getting donuts and ice cream 😆
Great video! I think only the White Haven Beach could beat the sands of Siesta's. ;)
Well we are 100% going to be adding White Haven Beach to our travel list for when we finally make it to Australia. Thanks so much for watching!
Beautiful city
It really was! Thanks so much for watching.
Wow that’s so beautiful 😍 look how white the sand is and that charming village looks awesome! I love all the restaurants and island music. Your salmon looked especially delicious. Ps I love your dress ☺️
Thank you 😀❤ The village is definitely a place worth walking around to experience the island vibe.
That mojo coffee shop looked right up my street! The beach looked so beautiful, definitely worth walking to get a quieter spot. Beach walks are fun anyway! Another great travel guide. The pacing and amount of information you provide is brilliant, and the tropical beaches and bars always get me in the mood for a holiday, haha!
Mojo is one of our faves due to it's location on the island AND the quality of coffee. We go to a lot of coffee shops on our day trips and this coffee is top quality. Thanks so much for the kind feedback, we have definitely been working on our editing skills to keep our videos flowing 😀
beautiful beach White Sand❤️
It really is hard to find a beach with nicer sand than Siesta Key. It is so white and so soft as well.
Nice beach! But it is so crowded. Didn't expect that. Obviously it is very popular.
Yes, very popular. The good thing is that it's a huge beach and is very long and wide, so even on the busiest days, you can typically find plenty of room for yourself if you are willing to walk a little bit!
The Doors coffee shop was cool. I’ve only been to Siesta once but it was really nice. Gotta come back after the summer crowds leave. Great video!
It really is such a cool place, plus their coffee is amazing too! Thanks for the support, Lauren.
Keep uploading, keep sharing and keep safe master, nice video your fishing buddy here 🐟🎣
Thanks so much, Kevin. You do the same.
Fun video! We are enjoying some time in Sarasota this summer and love Siesta Key.
Thanks for watching! We lived in Sarasota for 7 years, and now live just a bit to the north in St. Pete. We try to make it back to Siesta every now and then, as the quality of the beach is really unmatched.
So Nice. Have a happy and prosperous new year. 🌝🌝🌝
Thanks so much. We hope you have a great new year as well!
I watched the video with a subscription and a like, and the content is very special, very wonderful and very useful, my friend, may God bless you, your friend Osama from Egypt, with a full view of beautiful and distinguished content
Thanks for watching!
I enjoyed your video. Found out about a beach and restaurants I never knew about. Thank you!
We are so happy to hear that you found our video to be beneficial, Anette. Thanks so much for watching.
Mojo Rise seems like such a cool coffee shop! Really like the place you had brunch as well. Love how you are getting around with scooters, that's so much fun! Wow the water is 80 degrees early May! Btw can't believe you are having desserts for dinner, those mini donuts are looking delicious though!
It really is. It may actually be our favorite coffee shop of all coffee shops. It's soooo good! Yes, the water is really nice already, and by July it will be in the mid 80's. By August it basically feels like a bathtub!
Very nice beaches and great videi...like+S...Best regards!
Thank you so much for watching. It really is a beautiful beach.
What an adventure today 😀
Thanks so much for watching :)
beautiful place i loved it watching video from dubai stay con♥️🙏
We are so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for watching!
Very beautiful beach
We agree. It was one of the nicest beaches we'd ever experienced. Thanks so much for watching!
That skyway bridge looks soooooo cool. I wouldn't complain about having to drive across it. Looks like another amazing day, so many things to do in Siesta Key. Have you ever tried the Canadian version of a Bloody Mary (a Caesar), definitely delicious if you like bloody mary's. THAT BEACH 😍...you guys are making us jealous over here.
It really is a beautiful bridge. It's especially fund to go over when the cruise ships are sailing under it! And yes, we have had Bloody Ceasars and love them. We often buy a bloody ceasar mix at one of our local markets, and it is excellent.
You guys always come up with the best places to visit wherever you go! You also do a fantastic job of creating a throughline with your voice over. I think we can work on doing that a little better. Powder Beach at Siesta is definitely for the win! How cool is that!? OMG that Strawberry Shortcake Martini looks FANTASTIC! Can we please get a drink together when we are in Florida!?!? Loving your videos!
Thanks so much for the kind comments. We definitely do things a little differently than most other travel vloggers, but we think it works for us. We will absolutely have to meet up for a drink when you guys make it to FL!
You are so pretty 😍 and I love your hair!!!
Thank you so much for the kind comment!!!
Hey guys, oh my goodness, Siesta Key looks soooooo amazing. The breakfast looked so yummy, made me want some bacon and eggs for dinner lol :) the scooters you guys have is just so awesome especially when you cant get parking. The sand at Siesta Key definitely looks like powdered sugar, i don't think we've ever experienced sand like this. Jamie, i just have to say, i absolutely LOVED your dress in this video, that colour is my favorite. Ah your martini looked amazing Jamie, nothing like a pink drink :) those mini donuts look like they'll light up my life. Ah i think Siesta Key stole my heart, looks like such a cool beach destination.
Their are a lot of beach in Florid with really soft sand, but Siesta is the softest that we've experienced anywhere. I think we'll have to visit a few hundred more beaches to know where the softest sand is for sure though!
beautiful beach and place
i like your ice cream
Thanks so much for watching, Kait. The ice cream place was really cool!
I've recently found you and *always* appreciate that you add maps in your videos. They add visual grounding for the entire vid. I am curious to know about your back story...where are both of you from? Where did you grow up? How did you end up in Florida? What kind of work do you do that affords you such wonderful travels? Thanks for sharing such interesting videos about Florida's west coast. I enjoy them very much.
Thank you so much for the feedback. I think we have done a better job of including some sort of map in more recent videos and are glad to hear that it is helpful :)
We share a bit about our story in this video (th-cam.com/video/pPquW57Chk8/w-d-xo.html) and eventually we may share more details. We both grew up in the Midwest and had visited the Tampa Bay area with my family years ago. After many snowy, cold winters being cooped up inside for too long we decided we wanted to try living close to the beach, where we could be outside year round. We sold most of our belongings and moved to Florida, we have been here ever since :)
We have both been fortunate to work for companies that allowed us to work from home and offered paid time off every year. All of our travels so far have been on weekends or using our PTO. Because of the area we live in, there are endless options of things to do only a few hours away - and when cruising was up and running, it was really easy (and budget friendly) for us to book a trip and visit multiple counties in one vacation. We do make an effort to travel on a budget. We prefer to travel on a budget multiple times a year to be able to experience as much as possible! Thanks so much for watching and for your questions too :)
@@Explorcation Thanks for your response and I look forward to upcoming videos. :-)
A few of our favorite spots aren’t in the Village but still on Siesta Key: breakfast-Toasted Mango; lunch-Anna’s Deli; dinner-Big Water Fish Market; ice cream-Orange Octopus. For dinner, we also like Flavios in the Village and Philippi Creek just outside of Siesta Key on Tamiami Trail.
Thanks for the suggestions, Sandra. We will certainly be visiting Siesta Key again in the near future, and can't wait to give some of these places a try!
Amazing footage 🔥🔥
So glad you liked it!
This is one reason why I want to explore Florida...those really long bridges...lol. I think the longest one we have been on over here is the sea cliff bridge... really nice along the coast but we don't have any to island.
These beaches your always showing in your area are magnificent... the white powder is amazing and definitely a highlight to anyone's vacation.
I would be really bad at that ring toss...especially after a few drinks...haha
Love love love donuts... those ones your guys got looked awesome...your making me hungry.
This sub zero ice cream looks really interesting... we don't have shark tank show here but I can see why there feature of the liquid nitrogen ice cream has increased their franchises
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is one to see, it can be a bit nerve wracking on a windy day.
This particular beach is very touristy, but given the nice sand, shallow water and all of the business close by we can' t help but love it!
I (Jamie) was so happy to finally try Sub Zero, it is really cool to see it made :)
Thanks so much for watching!
@@Explorcation omg...I bet it would be nerve wrecking crossing those bridges in the wind... I can feel it sometimes on our reall5 high bridges.
I might have to look for the sub zero over here...I'm not sure anyone does it 😁👍
@@AquariusTraveller let us know if you find anything similar to the sub zero ice cream in your area!
@@Explorcation Seems there are a couple in Australia, just not near me!!! Maybe one day when words gets around
Lived here since 2014, and although im not a native or " Keyster" ive never felt as at home as I do in Siesta
It's great to hear you are still loving living on Siesta after 7 years, Kevin. We've visited Siesta countless times, but have often wondered what it would be like to actually live on the island. I'm sure we'd have no problem keeping ourselves entertained!
Sending full support
Thanks so much, Gilbert!
Great video! I really enjoyed watching all of them. In your opinion, is Siesta Key better than Clearwater Beach?
Siesta is definitely more relaxed, less crowded, and quieter than Clearwater Beach, and the sand at Siesta is the softest we've ever experienced. Clearwater Beach does offer more to do, especially for a younger crowd. At this stage in our lives, we do generally prefer Siesta Key, although we still like to visit Clearwater every once in a while too!
Great video!
How is Siesta Key beach to visit during mid December?
Mid-December can be a bit on the busy side, but not too bad during the week. If you enjoy a lot of activity and don't mind the crowds, then you'll probably enjoy it on the weekends as well. The water is pretty cold in mid-December, so most people don't find it comfortable for swimming, but you'll likely get some days that are great for relaxing on the beach!
I like
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
Love this video. It helps a lot as I am taking my daughter here shortly. My biggest question - is there a place to rent chairs/an umbrella while on the beach? We are flying in. Thank you for any help.
Yes, you can definitely rent both chairs and umbrellas at the main beach access. We hope you and your daughter have an amazing time. Thanks for watching!
Great video& info
Were did you leave your scooters 🛴 went you go to beach?
Thanks 🙏
Thanks for watching. We generally try chain the scooters up to a bike rack, but if none are available we often chain them to a fence, tree, or sign post. We lock them up with a Titanker Bike Chain Lock that we purchased of of Amazon.
We don't have sand here on Siesta. It's quartz. That's why it doesn't burn our privileged residents feet.
Thanks for this interesting bit of info, Craig. Learn something new everyday 😂
Try the Boracay beach and compare the sand between siesta and boracay :)
We have been wanting to visit the Phillipines for quite some time. It's actually Skylar's #1 spot to visit, so I'm sure we will get to experience Boracay Beach sooner or later. When we do, we will definitely compare the sand to Siesta! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment, Gerlyn.
🌹😍🇩🇪👌👌❤️🙏🙏
Thanks for watching.
Your videos are very helpful. My wife and I are moving to FL in a few months. We’re trying to decide between Venice and Naples areas. We know very little. Do you think one is better than the other? Please be brutally honest.
Hi Brian, thank you so much for your comment 😊 we hope your move goes smoothly.
As far as deciding between Venice and Naples, that is tough. Unfortunately we haven't spent much time in Naples to really compare :(
We are hoping to continue to make our way south but by the time we get there on the channel you may already be here!
I am sorry we don't have more helpful feedback!
@@Explorcation maybe we can star in your Naples video haha
@@Explorcation honestly, the most helpful thing would be for someone to tell us where NOT** to move...people are shy about saying which places are ghetto/redneck...i guess we're about to find out the hard way haha
@@brianmeadows9639 yeah, I understand that. Obviously there is no substitute to just coming down here and driving around to experience it for yourself. But if you can't do that, Google Street View is always your friend. You can also find crime statistics online.
@@brianmeadows9639 lol we definitely will be getting down there sooner or later. We just did Manasota and Don Pedro a couple weeks ago, and will be doing Boca Grande this weekend... so we're getting a little closer with every video!
I've never been to Siesta Key beach but years ago I went to Clearwater Beach and thought the sand was very soft and wonderful. Being from St. Pete you've probably been to Clearwater so which do you prefer - Siesta Key sand or Clearwater Beach? You commented that Siesta Key Beach lacked the bard and restaurants on the beach so what beach would your recommend for that type of atmosphere?
We just released a Top 10 Tampa Area Beaches video that I think you would really enjoy. In the video we discuss many aspects of Clearwater Beach, Siesta Beach, and several others, and how they compare (and rank) among each other.
We do agree that the sand on Clearwater is wonderful, but we do believe that Siesta Beach's is slightly softer. As far as a beach to go with lots of great bars and restaurants, either St. Pete Beach or Clearwater Beach would give you the most options, but several others on our top 10 list offer great restaurants as well.
I remember when only the locals knew about Siesta Key. Sigh ... I stopped going years ago.
Siesta Key Or Anna Maria Island?
It really depends on what you are looking for. On days where we are just wanting to relax, we pick Anna Maria. But if we're looking to do a little more than just relax on the beach, then we'll usually chose Siesta Key.
How clear is the water? Do you recommend Siesta Key or Anna Maria Island?
Clarity of the water really depends on how rough the water is. The water at Siesta (or anywhere on the Gulf Coast) is rarely crystal clear, but some days are definitely clearer than others.
How’s the traffic? Sanibel was awful.
Depends when you go, but normally not too bad. We've heard a lot of stories about the congestion on Sanibel, and I don't think Siesta is generally quite at that level.
Siesta key was just as nice decades ago, but with far less people. at least off season. In the mid 90's you wouldnt believe the sort of property that was up for sale on the island and all over town. Sarasota was still well off most peoples radar, most people didnt even know about the place outside of its past history as a retreat for older seniors, veterans and old money. but with the passing of that generation so did the realestate value become so unbelievable affordable. I cringe now, considering what i couldve owned, instead of renting long term. But that time has long passed and the gig is now up. people are well aware of one of the nations biggest secrets. but how we enjoyed it to ourselves for a decade or two prior.
Yeah we've heard the same from many others that Siesta Key hasn't changed much over the years other than the amount of tourists/traffic. It's still one of our favorite places to visit when we actually have some free time! We can relate to your experience to some extent. When we first moved to Florida you could get a 2-BR condo on the beach around here around $200k. Sure wish we would have jumped on that opportunity! We're hoping that as we continue to travel more we'll discover an awesome, but relatively unknown and inexpensive beach town. I'm sure we'll find one, but I doubt it will be in the US!
@@Explorcation yup during that time i was attending Ringling for computer animation. and boy do it have some stories. Anyways my last year in school was nothing short of movie making material. Job my dream job in my dream career in my junior year. and having spent the summer break at that job made enough Coin to get my dream car and rented with option to buy at a condo in Harbor towers. That's one big building. build more like a hotel than a condo. and during that time its interior decor would've only impressed characters from the Popeye the sailor man comic series. lol seems its gone thru two renovations since then. Yes not to much has changed outside of renovations that were much needed for the beach. new real-estate. And like you said, a boat load of tourist and new residents. ironically the gulf coast has become the getaway vacation for native Floridians as well as we know how vastly different it is from east coast to west coast. Atlantic vs gulf. The east is all about money on the move.. while the gulf is about keeping in tune with nature. replenishing ones self. I do miss it. its a place that just makes you feel good.
@@xevious2501 we would have loved to have experienced the area around the time you did. We also really enjoy the focus on nature on the west coast. We had even more fun then we expected exploring the "Nature Coast" area this past year.
Is that Moldavite in your necklace? I am going to send you a FB message about jewelry. I make handmade silver, and turquoise jewelry. I love making the "old hippie heart vibe" kind of jewelry.
That is really cool! I think I was wearing Amazonite in this video 😊 I will definitely look out for your FB message ❤
Is the water alot cleaner then venice.. venice was dirty the other day
We were just at Lido Key (which is right by Siesta) last Saturday, and the water did appear to be clean.
@@Explorcation awesome sounds good. I went down to sanibel island and it was real nice a couple days ago
@@mikefrye447 very nice we still have to check that area out.
if I rent a car from Tampa airport, I'm assuming I can return it in Siesta key?
We are not aware of any car rental places on Siesta Key. But there are several within a few miles of the island which we think you could return a car from TPA at.
Is there a vendor that rents out beach umbrellas there ?
Yes, you can rent chairs and umbrellas.
Any suggestions for good lobster rolls?
Hi Gloria, we have not tried any on Siesta but hear there are great options at The Cottage and The Lobster Pot in Siesta Village. Thanks so much for watching!
Be on the lookout for the Red Tide. This morning I went to the beach and was full of dead fish all around. I could barely take the smell and had to leave immediately. Be on the lookout.
We are so sorry to hear that :(
Currently we do recommend checking the red tide status before heading out to any of the beaches in the area.
We hope you were able to find another way to enjoy your day :)
not bad...really hard to hear
Sorry to hear there were issues with the sound, thank you for watching :)
Boca beach vrs siesta key?
Hi Derrick. We have never been to Boca Beach so we can't comment on which one we prefer. We do hope to make it to Boca someday though. Thanks for watching!
I Explorcation around city for you
Sounds great. Thanks for watching!
OK but it's nothing like Miami or Hallandale Beach its nothing really to do up there living there was boring, I rather stay in Hallandale Beach or Miami, or Hollywood.
If you like a fast pace and a really active nightlife scene, we could definitely understand why Siesta Key could be a bit boring. For us, it's a place we love to visit, but we're not sure if we'd enjoy living there or not.