Day Trippin' — Point of Rocks, Siesta Key

Here in Sarasota, we have the luxury of being surrounded by beautiful beaches. However, it can be difficult to see the wildlife below the ocean's surface — if you don't know where to look. On today's day trip, I headed to Siesta Key Beach Access No. 12, where you can easily stroll down the beach to access 13 (as there is no parking at access 13).

Here, at Point of Rocks, you can do some snorkeling and see a lot of cool things. With a snorkel and mask in hand, you only need to swim a mere 20 feet into the gulf, and you'll start to hit some rocks. From here, all you need to do is put on your snorkel and head southwest. It's a pretty big span of rocks and coral, roughly 7 feet deep at the most, depending on the tides, with tons of sea life within.

Depending on the time of year, you can see anything from anemones, schools of fish, crabs, and I've even heard rumors of octopus hanging near. Growing up in Sarasota, this has always been one of my favorite places for fishing and snorkeling, as the coral is bright and vibrant, the fish are plentiful and the water is usually pretty clear and calm.  If you own a kayak or a paddle board, that can be another good way to see the area — the water is so clear!  I recommend going earlier in the morning, as you have a better chance of seeing more exotic sea life, compared to the middle of the day when the beaches are crowded.