We are rightly proud of the beaches in Southwest Florida. They’re at the top of the Sunshine State list, and one actually got the No. 1-in-the-U.S. designation last year from Stephen Leatherman — aka Dr. Beach.

Siesta Beach’s cool, white sand certainly does set it apart, but we’ve always appreciated the laid-back ambiance and natural beauty of our beaches, from Nokomis Beach through Venice and south all along Manasota Key. They are world-class, oil-free and generally clear of flotsam. (OK, the seaweed that washed up in the wake of Tropical Storm Debby has been nagging and annoying, but that’s an anomaly. The same with red tide and jellyfish. Absent unusual natural phenomena, our beaches are inviting and postcard pretty.)