Longboat Key

I have an uncle with a condo on Longboat Key, have stayed there several times. Staying there with my two little darlings was quite another story. My aunt was a collector extraordinaire & I almost had a heart attack putting all her lovely things up & away from the children. :)

Longboat Key is a small island off the coast of Sarasota, Florida. I would advise to fly in to Tampa/St. Pete’s and take the scenic drive down to Sarasota, as it is considerably more expensive to fly into Sarasota directly.

This area is primarily a retirement community. The main strip is Gulf of Mexico Drive, a long stretch of condo buildings that reminds me of Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. I would not recommend this area for spring break-type trips, as it’s not a party town. This is an area to visit if you are looking for peace and quiet, beautiful beaches and the soothing sound of the waves crashing.

There are condo rentals available and hotels, as well as B&Bs. Notable are the Hilton, the Colony and the Resort at Longboat Key Club.

There isn’t much in the way of nightlife on the island, itself. Those who want to pub crawl would do better on the mainland in Sarasota, where there are many sports bars and night clubs. There are also a few good night clubs on the neighboring island of St. Armand’s Key.

The focus of St. Armand’s Key is the Circle. This is primarily where all the shops, restaurants and clubs are. The shops include a Chico’s, Lilly Pulitzer, as well as local boutiques. Most of the shops are quite expensive, but I have found some good deals over the years. The Baltic Amber Gallery has some beautiful pieces, worth at least window shopping.

Lynch’s Landing is my favorite restaurant in the area. It used to be on Longboat Key, but they have since moved into a smaller space on St. Armand’s Key, right in the main circle near all the shops on St. Armand’s. They have Guinness on tap and excellent pub grub, as well as salads and seafood entrees. On Longboat Key, the Dry Dock is a very nice restaurant, fresh seafood with terrific views. I recommend the Dry Dock if you want fine dining, but still have to bring the kids. Mar Vista is a great seafood place with a fun outdoor seating area, but it is quite small and not very kid-friendly. Euphemia Hays is another restaurant that although good, is not kid-friendly. The Blue Dolphin and the Wave in Sarasota are good, as is Ernest Hemingway’s, also in Sarasota.

If you are staying in a condo, there is a Publix grocery store on Gulf of Mexico Drive. It has everything you could possibly need from toiletries to baby food. They have a fresh fish counter, good quality produce and deli with ready-made sandwiches using Boar’s Head products. There’s also a 7-11 on Gulf of Mexico Drive where you can get coffee and donuts in the morning.

There’s a place by the 7-11 where you can rent bicycles. Once while cycling between Longboat Key and St. Armand’s over a bridge, I managed to spot some manatees splashing and swimming.

As far as tourist attractions, you have to go back on the mainland for the major ones. I absolutely love the Ringling Museum. This was the property of John Ringling of circus fame. His mansion can be toured and there is a circus exhibit. My favorite part is his incredible art collection. There is a huge Rubens you encounter shortly after going through the main entrance which is amazing. The art collection is comparable to any major collection you would see in Europe. Mrs. Ringling’s rose garden is beautiful – I had no idea there were so many varieties of roses. And the smell! Watch out for the bees, though!

The Sarasota Jungle Gardens is a zoo we stumbled upon during our last visit while looking for something our two toddlers would enjoy. This is primarily a zoo that cares for rescued animals. They have flamingoes that eat right out of your hand and an impressive assortment of parrots and other colorful birds. There are shows as well. There’s an alligator show where one of the kids from the audience gets to hold a baby gator, a birds of prey show and a show with birds doing circus-type tricks. My kids loved the shows.

The sun setting on the Gulf of Mexico is a gorgeous sight to see. That and the fresh seafood make Longboat Key and St. Armand’s Key great places to visit for rest and relaxation, no matter what your age.