As I was wading in the warm, azure waters of the Gulf of Mexico, I saw their snoots emerge for a breath of air. One at a time, about a dozen of these gentle manatees came up for air and went back to munching on seaweed while swimming only 10 feet away from me without fear. Where else...but Siesta Key...could I enjoy freshly squeezed orange juice and morning coffee on my lanai while watching porpoise near the beach and take a morning walk with manatee?

Where else could my children discover a loggerhead turtle nest and watch as another nest "coned" in preparation of hatching? They used their sand bucket to help rescue a young octopus that was caught in the surf. They will not get a lesson in respect for other living creatures at an amusement park. Where else but Siesta Key could you get this kind of priceless "hands-on" experience yet still be an hour from Busch Gardens and 3 hours from Sea World and Walt Disney World?

And if you like dinner entertainment, take a picnic dinner to the beach and watch one of Siesta Key's legendary sunsets. Or, enjoy an after-dinner walk along the beach. Or, walk to Siesta Village for an ice cream cone.

No matter how hectic your regular life is, a week or so at Siesta Key will bring you back to what's really important. Come enjoy the calm, clear water along one of the world's most beautiful white sand beaches. Where else...but Siesta Key?