We were so happy to go beach hopping this weekend! So far my ranking of all the beaches we've seen is (from most ---> least favorite):
vero (has the mouse!!) lido key (St Armand circle puts this over siesta even tho siesta's sand o's better) longboat key (blue water!) siesta key (awesome sand!!) bradenton (great water, but shells!! Ouch!) Clearwater, Sanibel island (too far, too shelly!) ft meyer's beach & cocoa. (both too party-ish)
I still need to see new Smyrna and the keys (we will see the keys on our cruise when we go next spring!)