There is something mesmerizing about sparkling blue waters, dazzling white sands and warm, caressing breezes. No wonder the Sarasota area is world famous for its beautiful, balmy beaches, not to mention fascinating historic sites and polished cultural calendar. Yet despite the popularity of this precious gem, it has hidden facets often overlooked. Explore Sarasota's lesser-known quiet side, just off the beaten path. Like a diamond in the rough, it's just waiting to be discovered.

Remote and exclusive, manicured Casey Key gives way to wild abandon at its beaches, which are as lovely as the community's Old Florida setting. You won't see any high rises on this beautiful barrier island. Take a winding drive along Casey Key Road... it is flanked with lush, tropical landscaping. At times the road just skirts the scenic shoreline, 'though the views of the multi-million dollar homes here are just as breathtaking. Two bridges welcome you to Casey Key. The one at the north of the island is an old "swing bridge" dating back to 1926 and leads to Nokomis Beach, Sarasota County's oldest public beach. The one at the south end is near North Jetty Park, an angler's dream and a favorite for

Historic Spanish Point

family outings. Both beaches offer picnic areas, volleyball, restrooms and a boat ramp, rendering them as convenient as they are unspoiled. Miles of uncrowded, powder-soft sand invites shelling and fossil hunting. Gentle gulf waters are pleasant for swimming. Add a blazing sunset, and you've spent a perfect day in paradise.

Casey Key is off the mainland of Nokomis, a town that time has forgotten. Its roots go back to 1868 and one hardy couple, Jessie and Rebecca Knight. They caravanned 15 children and 300 cows in eight covered wagons, built a rough home and a thatched roof chapel and school building, where a historic marker stands today. The laid-back community has retained its quiet, country charm and unassuming air.

The nearby town of Osprey appears to be a sleepy stop along South Trail (a.k.a. South U.S. 41). Once all farmland, this still-rural area has retained its hometown feel. But dig a little deeper and you'll unearth 4,000 years of Florida history at Historic Spanish Point, a tranquil oasis overlooking Little Sarasota Bay. The scenic 30-acre peninsula is the site of the most well preserved Indian village in Florida, where you can journey through time from prehistory to present. See burial mounds and pioneer homesteads, stroll elaborate gardens borne of prosperity and generosity and connect with people and events from the distant past.

While there are no public beaches in Osprey, you can take a refreshing swim at Oscar Scherer State Park, as well as fish, canoe, bike and hike nature trails amid native flora and fauna. See bald eagles, bobcats and river otters; watch wading birds feed in the water while Ospreys soar overhead.

Manasota Key straddles Charlotte and Sarasota Counties on the sandy shores of the Gulf of Mexico and Lemon Bay, just off the coast of Englewood. This enchanting barrier island has no high rises, no traffic lights – just a two-lane road – and four gorgeous beaches. Island living is easy here... restaurants, taverns, shops and beaches are comfortably with walking and biking distance.

Manasota Beach at the north end of the key is graced with romantic sand dunes and sand laden with shark's teeth. Mid-key, nature trails wind through Blind Pass Beach, an area so quiet it feels like an island in itself. Facilities there include free parking, picnic tables, showers and restrooms. The Hermitage (941-475-2098), an artists' colony on Manasota Key, attracts regional and international artists, composers and writers, who then share their talents with the larger community through workshops, seminars, lectures, demonstrations and performances.

Englewood Beach is slightly more populated, probably because of its full range of facilities, contrasting with Stump Pass Beach State Park at the southern tip, its relative isolation offering plenty of fishing, shelling and sunshine.

If you go:
Get away to The Springs at Warm Mineral Springs, where you can soak in the rejuvenating waters of the only warm mineral springs in Florida. The Crowley Museum and Nature Center is a wildlife sanctuary and education center with nature trails, a boardwalk, an observation tower overlooking the marsh and the Myakka River, a pioneer cabin and museum and more. The Celery Fields is truly for the birds. This exceptional birding habitat and wildlife haven attracts hundreds of species year 'round.