Things you Need in Longboat Key

When looking for a spectacular beach vacation, avoid the crowds in big-city Florida destinations and focus on lesser-known shores. Longboat Key, for example, has much to offer families and couples looking for a fun and relaxing holiday. From a stunning shoreline to exquisite hotel service, this island has it all. Find out why a vacation in Longboat Key is what you need.

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Abundant Outdoor Activities

The island offers several activities for nature lovers. Fishing and kayaking are popular, and you can rent a boat at Cannons Marina for a day exploring the sea. If you’re a bird lover, check out bird watching while walking in a local park. Exercise and sports enthusiasts can play golf or tennis on the island, as well as learn how to row.

Beautiful Scenery

This small island in Southwest Florida has 12 miles of soft, white sand beaches surrounded by palm trees, flowering shrubs, and ocean waters. Families can enjoy the safety of the water with very little surf, no undertow, and depths with a gradual descent. Charter a fishing boat or take a scuba class for beautiful ocean views. Explore the local parks to view wildlife in its natural habitat.

A Wealth of Cultural Attractions

If you’re a patron of the arts who prefers cultural activities to outdoor enterprises, Longboat Key can satisfy your needs with its proximity to the larger Sarasota area. Head for the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium on Sarasota’s City Island for interactive exhibits and more than 100 marine species featuring the lab’s groundbreaking marine research.

In Sarasota, you’ll also find The Ringling Museum of Art and Circus Museum from the Ringling family, an opera, an orchestra, a ballet company, and several theater troupes. A short jaunt from Longboat Key can ensure you’ll never lack for things to do in this larger city.

Fine Dining

Longboat Key offers great local seafood at area restaurants such as the Dry Dock Waterfront Grill or the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant and Pub, both overlooking Sarasota Bay. You’ll also find cafe fare created by graduates of the Culinary Institute at the Blue Dolphin Cafe, serving breakfast and lunch. Friday dinners are available during the winter season, and you can enjoy bistro cuisine at Harry’s Continental Kitchens on the outdoor patio.

Excellent Hotel Accommodations

Longboat Key provides visitors with a variety of comfortable accommodation options. You’ll find condos, beach house rentals, clusters of cottages, and hotels ranging from small motels to swanky resorts on the island. If you’d rather stay where the nightlife is, Sarasota is a short drive away, making it easy to party, take in the Sarasota sights at night, and return to the beautiful beaches of Longboat Key during the day.

Whether you’re traveling as a family or as a couple, you want an exciting vacation with ample opportunities for fun. Longboat Key, Florida, offers both cultural and outdoor pursuits, excellent food, gorgeous sights, and clean and relaxing accommodations. Longboat Key just may become your new favorite vacation spot.