You won't be surfing in Sarasota but the beaches are in fact a reason to list "by the beach." Not many beaches (Boracay, Lombok and Sulawesi, some areas of Phuket) compare to what can be found from Sarasota down to Boca Grande and on to Sanibel and Captiva.
I live in Sarasota and find it boring. But then most of my time is either coding or outdoors. I can't think of many more places I'd rather be.
Clearwire Wimax covers the Tampa Bay area now; you should take your laptop out to Fort Desoto and code with inspiration.
edit: In fact, I may have just talked myself into signing up with Clearwire; care to start a co-working space just around the bend from the northernmost parking lot?
I live in Sarasota and find it boring. But then most of my time is either coding or outdoors. I can't think of many more places I'd rather be.