Travel Channel 

Best Romantic Lodging
Turtle Beach Resort
Where: 9049 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key, FL 34242
Phone: (941) 349-4554
Web site: www.turtlebeachresort.com/
Email: info@turtlebeachresort.net
Rates: $200-$385 per night
Guests will recapture and revel in romance at the charming, sun-dappled cottages of Turtle Beach Resort, nestled into the Sarasota Bay waterfront. Seducing couples for over 11 years, the resort and its accommodations offer unparalleled views of the tranquil bay. Studios, one- and two-bedroom cottages are available, and all feature private hot tubs and decks. The rooms feature an airy, island elegance, and many include wrought-iron canopies draped with decorative ivy, ceiling fans and lace curtains. Relax with a drink while lounging in your own hammock, or enjoy a champagne toast by the resort's heated pool. Water lovers can cozy up with their sweetie in one of Turtle Beach's complimentary canoes, kayaks or paddleboats.

Best Camping
Gulf Beach Campground
Where: 8862 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key, FL 34242
Phone: (941) 349-3839
Web site: www.gulfbeachcampground.com
Email: office@gulfbeachcampground.com
Rates: $27 to $62 daily
Campers and RVers can sleep under the Siesta Key stars at the Gulf Beach Campground, located directly on the Gulf Coast. Rippling waves, spectacular sunsets, and nearby restaurants and shops are among the perks that entice visitors to stay a while. Both tent sites and RV hook-ups are available; many are in a wooded area, mere steps from the beach, and offer shade. After a peaceful night's sleep, folks can explore the campground's beach, play in the water or simply enjoy the gorgeous Florida sunshine.

Best Family Resort
Tropical Sun Beach Resort
Where: 6722 Midnight Pass Rd., Siesta Key, FL 34242
Phone: (941) 349-2442
Web site: http://www.tropicalsunresort.com/
Email: info@tropicalsunresort.com
Rates: $49-$269
Deciding to spend the family vacation basking on the beaches of Siesta Key? Grab the kids and the sunscreen and head directly to the Tropical Sun Beach Resort. From its efficiencies to its three-bedroom suites, Tropical Sun is sure to meet every family's needs. All accommodations feature kitchens, and the resort's garden area is a perfect place for the kids to unwind. Shuffleboard and sand volleyball courts are at guests' disposal, and the heated pool and tiki hut barbecue grill are great communal hangouts. Love to be active? Aqua sport and bike rentals are offered.

Best Condo Rental
Sea Club V
Where: 6744 Sarasea Circle, Siesta Key, FL 34242
Phone: 1-800-475-1176
Web site: http://www.seaclubv.com/
Email: info@seaclubv.com
Rates: $700 to $1,950
Most Siesta Key accommodations are condo rentals, and deciding among them can be overwhelming. When looking for a great condo, look no further than Sea Club V. These luxury rentals rest on the Gulf shores, and include studios, one-, and two-bedroom accommodations, all with fully equipped kitchens. Guests will enjoy amenities such as the pool, whirlpool and continental breakfast. If you're looking to unwind, do so on the beach in a chaise under one of the resort's wooden cabanas. Sports enthusiasts may take advantage of the complimentary kayak, canoe and catamaran rentals. Kids and adults alike can seize the island spirit at Sea Club's weekly beach cookouts, featuring games, prizes and live music.

Best Bar
Daiquiri Deck
Where: 5250 Ocean Boulevard, Siesta Key, FL 34240
Phone: (941) 349-8697
Web site: www.daiquirideckgrill.com/
Email: gpetramale@aol.com
After a day in the Siesta Key sunshine, visitors and locals beat the heat with a trip to the Daiquiri Deck - the island hot spot with the coolest frozen drinks. The covered deck provides a shady respite and overlooks Siesta Key's main drag, Ocean Boulevard, which is perfect for people watching. Spend cocktail hour with a Green Parrot: mango, tropical juices, Blue Curacao and a splash of Malibu Rum. Or, better yet, sizzle with a vodka and lemon-filled Electric Lemonade. Beware the Deck Diesel - think grain alcohol, grain alcohol and more grain alcohol!

Best Waterfront Dining
Ophelia's
Where: 9105 Midnight Pass Rd., Siesta Key, FL 34242
Phone: (941) 342-2212
Web Site: http://www.florida-secrets.com/Restaurants/SW/Ophelias.htm
A visit to the bay side of Siesta Key allows diners to experience Ophelia's, truly the island's premier waterfront dining venue. The restaurant's unspoiled bay views, coupled with delicious food and an eclectic wine list, have given Ophelia's its deserved reputation as one of the area's finest restaurants. House specialties include a cashew-crusted grouper with papaya jam and duck confit with port wine sauce. The romantic deck, lit by candles and twinkling white lights, and framed by colorful tropical plants and flowers, is the perfect setting to enjoy water views and celebrate the beauty of island living.

Best Local Seafood
Marina Jack's Bayside Dining Room
Where: 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, FL 34236
Phone: (941) 365-4232
Web site: http://www.marinajacks.com/bayside.htm
Perched above Sarasota Bay's fish-filled waters, Marina Jack's offers the region's freshest and finest seafood dining. The restaurant features an enormous variety of entrees, including all-lump crab cakes, snapper, scallops, grouper and salmon - each uniquely prepared and guaranteed to be fresh. For a classic treat, indulge in the Twin Lobster Tails, broiled and simply served with drawn butter. Adventurous diners should try the Ahi Tuna Wasabi, served medium rare with Dijon soy and wasabi cream sauces.

Best Family Dining
Captain Curt's Crab & Oyster Bar
Where: 1200 Old Stickney Pt. Rd., Siesta Key, FL 34242
Phone: (941) 349-3885
Web site: http://www.captaincurts.com/
Kids will love munching on finger foods by the handful at Captain Curt's Crab & Oyster Bar. Fried fish nuggets, clam strips and corn fritters are among the fun delights offered on the menu. The restaurant prides itself on maintaining low, wallet-friendly prices, and parents can breathe easy knowing the Children's Menu is a flat $3.99, including french fries. Conveniently located across from the public access beach, Captain Curt's features outdoor picnic tables perfect for casual, family dining.

Best Museum
Ringling Museum of the Circus
Where: The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, FL 34243
Phone: (941) 359-5744
Web site: www.ringling.org/
Email: circusmuseum@ringling.org
Rates: $15 adults, $12 seniors, free for children under 12
Hours: 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. daily
Come one, come all, to a history of the Greatest Show on Earth! At the Ringling Museum of the Circus, big top fanatics can explore exhibits detailing circus history in the United States. The museum was founded in 1948 in Sarasota, which, as home of the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus, boasted an enormous concentration of circus performers. It was these performers who donated personal memorabilia to the museum, helping the collection rapidly grow. Today, rare handbills, art prints, business records, costumes, props and equipment continue to wow museum-goers. Among the more dazzling mementos are delicately carved parade wagons, giant utility wagons, authentic tent poles and bail rings.

Best Kid Stuff
Sarasota Bay Explorers Kayaking
Where: 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota FL 34236
Phone: (941) 388-4200
Web Site: http://sarasotabayexplorers.com/
Rates: $50 adults, $40 children, free children under 5
At Sarasota Bay Explorers Kayaking, families can bond in an authentic Florida Backwater excursion - complete with kayaks, naturalists and lots of wildlife. Perfect for keeping kids active, entertained and educated, these three-hour trips begin on the Explorer II, a boat that ferries guests and their kayaks to a marine sanctuary. After instruction, a naturalist guides kayakers through a mangrove forest as they witness native wildlife in a face-to-face encounter. A limited number of booster seats are available for small children.

Best Nature Encounter
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Where: 3701 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, FL 34234
Phone: (941) 355-5305
Web site: http://www.sarasotajunglegardens.com/
Rates: $11 adults, $10 seniors, $7 children 3-12, free children under 12
Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., daily
The Sarasota Jungle Gardens are an outdoor adventure certain to dazzle the whole family. This sprawling, 10-acre property is explored via cool jungle trails, and the gardens boast far more than indigenous and exotic plant species. In addition to rarities such as the Australian nut tree and Peruvian apple cactus, visitors will encounter diverse animals. This wild paradise is home to unusual species such as Asian leopards, squirrel monkeys and numerous native dwellers, including alligators and ever-popular pink flamingos. Worried the kids will get bored? A petting zoo, pony rides, bird and animal shows, and a shell and butterfly museum will keep little ones amused.

Best Fishing Excursion
CB Outfitters
Where: 1249 Stickney Point Road, Siesta Key, Sarasota, FL 34242
Phone: (941) 349-4400
Web site: http://www.cbsoutfitters.com/
Email: fo@cbsoutfitters.com
Hours: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m., daily
A trip to Siesta Key is hardly complete without experiencing the region's outstanding fishing. At CB Outfitters, the island's premier sport fishing outfitter, anglers of all skill levels can bait their hooks and hope to pull in the bluefish, barracuda, hammerhead sharks and tarpon that call these waters home. CB's can arrange for fishing charters, which include a guide and all tackle, and fly-fishing trips for fishermen trying to perfect this skill. Prefer the freedom of your own boat? It's possible to rent a variety of craft to explore the intercoastal waterways, possibly encountering dolphins and manatees or stopping at one of the area's dockside restaurants.