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Gulf Islands: Find your perfect match

A tour of eight of Florida's Gulf Islands reveals that each key of the archipelago has a unique vibe -- offering enough variety to match any personality.

A sunrise yoga session takes place on the beach in historic Venice, Fla. A volunteer organization, Venice MainStreet, works to maintain the island's small town atmosphere. "You still find the original Venice and many of the homes from the 1920s, '30s and '40s," says K.C. Quaretti-Lee, the organization's executive director. "We want Venice to look the way Venice has always looked."

A sunrise yoga session takes place on the beach in historic Venice, Fla. A volunteer organization, Venice MainStreet, works to maintain the island's small town atmosphere. "You still find the original Venice and many of the homes from the 1920s, '30s and '40s," says K.C. Quaretti-Lee, the organization's executive director. "We want Venice to look the way Venice has always looked."

Al Messerschmidt

Waitress Jennifer Tongate serves daiquiris at the Daiquiri Deck in Siesta Key Village, a spray of beach party-like shops on Siesta Key. More than a dozen slushie-style machines line Daquiri Deck's back wall, churning out tropical cocktails like "the Decksickle," the restaurant's signature orange creamsicle-inspired drink.

Waitress Jennifer Tongate serves daiquiris at the Daiquiri Deck in Siesta Key Village, a spray of beach party-like shops on Siesta Key. More than a dozen slushie-style machines line Daquiri Deck's back wall, churning out tropical cocktails like "the Decksickle," the restaurant's signature orange creamsicle-inspired drink.

Al Messerschmidt

Jim Britt swims in a public pool by the Lido Beach Resort. Nearby St. Armands Key offers sunset views, retail shopping and eco-tours of Sarasota Bay.

Jim Britt swims in a public pool by the Lido Beach Resort. Nearby St. Armands Key offers sunset views, retail shopping and eco-tours of Sarasota Bay.

Al Messerschmidt

A bike rider walks on the white sands of Siesta Key. Ranked by Dr. Beach as the world's no. 2 strand after Kauai, Siesta Key's sand is 99 percent quartz, keeping it cool and soft even in the swelter of summer.

A bike rider walks on the white sands of Siesta Key. Ranked by Dr. Beach as the world's no. 2 strand after Kauai, Siesta Key's sand is 99 percent quartz, keeping it cool and soft even in the swelter of summer.

Al Messerschmidt

A beach goer relaxes on Siesta Key's beach, which is 2 1/2 miles long and 150 yards at its widest point.

A beach goer relaxes on Siesta Key's beach, which is 2 1/2 miles long and 150 yards at its widest point.

Al Messerschmidt

Mary Carr dances on Casey Key's Nokomis Beach, where a drum circle greets the sunset twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Mary Carr dances on Casey Key's Nokomis Beach, where a drum circle greets the sunset twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Al Messerschmidt

A bike rider stretches on a park bench near Lido Beach.

A bike rider stretches on a park bench near Lido Beach.

Al Messerschmidt

Trapeze artist Tito Gaona climbs the rigging near the Venice Arena. Once the winter home of John Ringling's circus, Venice island is still home to Gaona's circus school. "Venice has a lot of circus history behind it." he says.

Trapeze artist Tito Gaona climbs the rigging near the Venice Arena. Once the winter home of John Ringling's circus, Venice island is still home to Gaona's circus school. "Venice has a lot of circus history behind it." he says.

Al Messerschmidt

Eco-tours launch from Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium on City Island between Longboat and St. Armands keys. The tours are streamed live on Seesarasotalive.com.

Eco-tours launch from Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium on City Island between Longboat and St. Armands keys. The tours are streamed live on Seesarasotalive.com.

Al Messerschmidt

During a Sarasota Bay Explorers eco-tour, passengers can spot pelicans nestling at a bird sanctuary in Sarasota Bay.

During a Sarasota Bay Explorers eco-tour, passengers can spot pelicans nestling at a bird sanctuary in Sarasota Bay.

Al Messerschmidt

A snow egret perches on the Venice fishing pier. On any given day, you'll find folks picking through the sand for prehistoric sharks' teeth in Venice, known as the "Shark Tooth Capital of the World."

A snow egret perches on the Venice fishing pier. On any given day, you'll find folks picking through the sand for prehistoric sharks' teeth in Venice, known as the "Shark Tooth Capital of the World."

Al Messerschmidt

A sunrise view of the fishing pier at Anna Maria Island, which is known for its natural beauty. "The look of the place has been passed down from one generation to another. It's all of those words: quaint, neighborly, natural," says Rhea Chiles, the wife of former Florida governor Lawton Chiles, whose family has owned property here since 1958.

A sunrise view of the fishing pier at Anna Maria Island, which is known for its natural beauty. "The look of the place has been passed down from one generation to another. It's all of those words: quaint, neighborly, natural," says Rhea Chiles, the wife of former Florida governor Lawton Chiles, whose family has owned property here since 1958.

Al Messerschmidt

Sunset is a momentous occasion on the Gulf Islands, including Santa Maria Island, pictured here. At Sundown, a restaurant on Santa Maria's beach, waiters ask diners to guess the time of the sun drop. Those with the correct answer win a bottle of champagne.

Sunset is a momentous occasion on the Gulf Islands, including Santa Maria Island, pictured here. At Sundown, a restaurant on Santa Maria's beach, waiters ask diners to guess the time of the sun drop. Those with the correct answer win a bottle of champagne.

Al Messerschmidt

Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor, Producer Dan Murano Text Editor Sarah Marston

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This Story In the Gulf, enough islands to match any personality Article \| A tour of eight of Florida's Gulf Islands reveals that each key of the archipelago has a unique vibe -- enough variety to match any personality. The Florida issue: A fairway runs through it The Florida issue: Designers, foodies and fashionistas unite in Miami's Design District Gulf Islands: Find your perfect match The Key Distinction The Florida issue: Details: Gulf Islands The Florida issue: Where to go, what to do in Miami		TOOLBOX E-Mail This Save/Share + Digg Facebook Reddit Twitter myspace del.icio.us NewsTrust Stumble It! COMMENT 0 Comments Your browser's settings may be preventing you from commenting on and viewing comments about this item. See instructions for fixing the problem. Discussion Policy CLOSE Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post. Who's Blogging » Links to this gallery		More on washingtonpost.com • More Photo News » washingtonpost.com
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