Siesta Beach (sometimes known as Siesta Key Beach) is a beach located on Siesta Key in Florida. The sand is 99% pure Quartz (Silica sand), soft and cool on the feet. Siesta Beach is known as one of the most beautiful beaches anywhere in the world

The many awards it has earned include:

• “the whitest and finest sand in the world” (The Great International Beach Challenge, 1987)
• “The Best Sand Beach in America” (The Travel Channel, 2004)
• “The Best Beach in America” (Dr. Beach, 2011, 2017)^[
• 2015 awarded #1 U.S. Beach (TripAdvisor source Orlando Sentinel February 18, 2015)

Unlike beaches elsewhere that are made up mostly of pulverized coral, Siesta Beach’s sand is 99% quartz, most of which comes from the Appalachian Mountains. Over time the feldspar and mica have been removed from the rock, leaving almost pure quartz. Even on the hottest days, the sand is so reflective that it feels cool underfoot. According to Harvard University geologists, it’s estimated that the sand on Siesta Beach and Crescent Beach on Siesta Key is millions of years old, having its origin in the Appalachians and flowing down the rivers from the mountains until it eventually was deposited on the shores of Siesta Key.^[

Shallow water depth in the near shore area together with year-round lifeguard protection, makes this one of the safest beaches in the county and great for small children. I spent couple of hours yesterday morning along with a colleague from local office, exploring some photography using my usual gadgets (as seen below) and beach walk.