Every year, more than four million people visit Sarasota. And what’s the number one reason they choose to vacation here? Sarasota’s spectacular beaches.

Siesta Key beach in particular continually ranks as a top beach in the nation. Most recently it ranked the second best beach in the continental US by Dr. Beach, and the world’s largest travel website, Tripadvisor, also ranks Sarasota’s beaches in their US top ten.

Beyond a doubt, the most pivotal factor that makes Sarasota one of the most desirable places to live in the country, and subsequently the Sarasota Real Estate Market so robust, is also the beaches; proximity to which can add 25 percent to Sarasota investment property values. As Sarasota Realtors know the Sarasota beaches draw people year-on-year to vacation and relocate to Sarasota, ultimately driving the community, the Sarasota real estate market and the economy.

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sarasota Beach Health Benefits

And the health benefits of the beach are incredible and tangible, supporting what we already know instinctively. Scientists now know that ocean waves and sand are charged with negative ions, helping to offset the damaging effects of positive ions (from TVs, computers, pollution etc.) in our environment. And Thalassotherapy -using seawater as treatment for injuries and conditions such as osteoarthritis – has been around for centuries and has proven effects on health. Something John F.Kennedy, a true beach lover, clearly understood:
“It is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea—whether it is to sail or to watch it—we are going back from whence we came.”

– John F. Kennedy

Protecting Sarasota’s Best Resource

The community in Sarasota, and Sarasota Realtors realize just how fortunate they are to enjoy some of nature’s best work, and Sarasota County and its residents have a long history of protecting the beautiful beaches, flora, fauna and natural resources of the area. Some of the ways Sarasota achieves this are:
• Beach re-nourishment- Replenishing the beaches by bringing in sand
• Growing natural grasses
• Protecting bird and turtle habitats
• Mote Marine Laboratory water monitoring
• Seabird Volunteer Centre – Save our seabirds

In recent weeks Sarasota organizations have been an integral part of the response to the catastrophic Gulf oil spill, with Mote Marine’s robots scanning the water for chemical dispersants and providing some of the only independent information on water quality.

It’s a wonderful thing to see that Sarasota people, the County, and its organizations recognize, and are all firmly committed to preserving the beauty and natural integrity of Sarasota beaches. The future of our community, the health of our real estate market and economy and the wellbeing of all of us are positively impacted by this commitment.