Beaches.

"WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE"--that's the key to understanding Sarasota and its beaches. We have 35 miles of beachfront in this county (17 in nearby Manatee), and we love every one of them.

Books, songs and epic dramas have been written about the mystical attachment between man and the sea. We can't hope to explain here the deeper meanings behind what draws us to the shoreline. It's enough for us that the waves are gently lapping at our feet, that the sand is never too hot to spread out our beach towel, that the azure sky and the turquoise waters blend perfectly at the horizon, and that there are cool drinks available at the concession stand just a few feet away.

When it comes to practical matters, we remind you to bring your sunscreen (and use it liberally), heed the warning flags that let you know about dangerous sea life or weather conditions, drink plenty of liquids, and don't spend hours in the sun your first day. Take it in small doses.

You may not get to explore all those miles of shoreline during your first stay here; that's what repeat visits are for. Here's our guide to the beaches of Sarasota and Manatee counties so you know where to start.

north of us on quiet Anna Maria Island, there are two small but welcoming beach areas: Bean Point, offering a view of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and Egmont Key with its famous lighthouse, and Bayfront Park, just north of Pine Avenue, where you can also walk out along the Anna Maria City Pier and do some fishing. If you're looking for more amenities and more parking, try the Manatee Public Beach, right off Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria. This public beach offers showers and restrooms, lifeguards on duty, a roomy concession area and a kids' playground, so it's ideal for families. Anna Maria itself is a low-key, stress-free island town with a friendly attitude and some beachy boutiques. A few miles further east lies the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue, frequently jammed on weekends with jet skiers, dog walkers and tailgaters.

Further south along Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach, you'll find miles of wide, sandy expanse as Cortez Beach meets Coquina. Cortez is a good spot for fishermen, while Coquina has plenty of trees, shelters and thousands of the small coquina shells after which it's named. Lots of families picnic here. Across Gulf Drive on the bay side, you'll also find a small playground and a walkway overlooking the water and neighboring islands.

Still heading south on Gulf Drive, you arrive at Longboat Key, home to some beautiful and relatively deserted beaches. That's because public access and parking can be hard to find (you've got to hunt for those little blue signs). Some of the best beaches are at private resort hotels where you may be staying, anyway. Whitney Beach, on the north end, offers a wide sweep of white sand for that away-from-it-all feeling (no amenities here, though).

Longboat also boasts some of the wealthiest residents, grandest homes and finest restaurants in the area. From this upscale resort island it's just a short drive to St. Armands Circle, a shopping paradise that always pleases European visitors as well as Americans with its mix of merchandise and ambience. Take the right turning off the circle and you'll arrive at North Lido Beach, graced by Australian pines and welcome privacy (you may have to walk a bit from the on-street parking, but it's good for you). To its south is popular Lido Beach, which features restrooms, a 25-meter pool, concessions, lifeguards, a gift shop and cabana rentals; and then comes South Lido Park, with picnic tables, barbecue grills, nature trails, an observation tower and great views of Siesta Key and the city of Sarasota (heed the signs regarding the current here).

Siesta Key itself is the island that bloomed in the postwar years as an "artists' colony." Creative types are still drawn here by the sheltering tropical greenery, low-key charm and expansive waterfront settings. Siesta Key Public Beach is wide, long, and famous for its quartz sand, judged in international competition as the "whitest and finest sand in the world." Besides digging your toes in award-winning sand, you can also take advantage of Siesta's picnic area, showers, volleyball nets, tennis courts, fitness trail and big parking lot. This is Sarasota's most popular beach, with shallow water a long way out. It even has beach "wheelchairs" available for special-needs visitors, so no one in the family gets left our of the fun.

Families also enjoy Turtle Beach, located on Midnight Pass Road at Siesta Key's south end. Turtle has a large picnic shelter, as well as free boat ramps allowing easy access to and from Little Sarasota Bay. There are also a playground, volleyball court and dune walkovers. Palmer Point, a lovely, private spot, begins at the southern tip of Siesta anti continues to the north end of Casey Key; you can walk all the way there, since the closing of Midnight Pass in 1984.

In the southern part of Sarasota County, more beautiful beaches await. Nokomis Beach on Casey Key presents 22 acres of beauty with a boat ramp, boardwalk, restrooms and a concession pavilion. On the southern tip of peaceful, pricey Casey is North Jetty Park, one of our best surfing (and fishing) beaches. Horseshoe and volleyball courts here, as well as picnic shelters, restrooms and concessions. Downtown in Venice, at Venice Municipal Beach, sharks' teeth and scuba diving along the coral reef a quarter-mile from shore are the big attractions. Amenities include a pavilion, concessions and restrooms, too. Caspersen, south of Venice Airport, is a great place for collecting shells. One-third of the beachfront here has been left in its natural state; take a walk along the 1,100-foot boardwalk. North of Caspersen, Brohard Park is home to the 740-foot Venice Fishing Pier and a wetland area that makes it ideal for bird watching. (Snack bar and bait shop here, too.) Manasota Beach, on Manasota Key at the west end of the Manasota Bridge, has a scenic boardwalk on its Intracoastal side that winds its way through the mangroves. There are also picnic shelters, restrooms and a boat ramp.

Across the bridge to Boca Grande, south of Englewood, lie seven more miles of unspoiled beaches on Gasparilla Island. Boca also has other attractions: a bike path, two lighthouses and a downtown perfect for strolling and shopping.

So slap on the sunscreen, grab your towel and get out there. We'll see you on the beach.