Bradenton Beach or Long boat key
 

O.K. Our choice is down to these two:
This is for one week in January (praying for warm weather, I know it's tricky in Jan.)
Bradenton Beach on Ana Maria Island or Long Boat Key
We are two fairly active seniors who like to do long walks, be able to walk to restaurants for breakfast and dinner, will rent a car anyway, want to be right on the beach. Also, do you recommend bayside or gulfside? Since, we dont really need a condo, can you recommend a hotel or motel on the beach. I am actually considering the hilton on Longboat key. Is it worth the splurge?
Thanks for all your help, past and present.

Yes, I'll be praying for nice beachy weather in January too.

I don't know your budget but LBK is generally more expensive than Anna Maria. Anna Maria is really nice with a lot of old Florida charm. But the Bradenton Beach area down near the police department and Cortez Road is not an area that I care for.

If you can get a place on the gulf I'd go for that as the beaches are absolutely white, talcum powder sand. Are there any particular places that you're looking at? Run them by me and I'll give my opinion if I'm aware of them.

I'll try to check on a few places now and will get back online as I'm not on the island and won't be back for a little more than a week.

skip Bradenton Beach. I agree longboat is more elegant and probably less hectic. Ana Maria is a neat little place to explore and has a great beach. We go every year to visit. Good luck with weather .

Siesta Key?

Long walks on the beach, Siesta Village with restaurants and shops. Many condos with wonderful views of the gulf and wonderful sunsets.

www.siestakeychamber.com

Try Anna-Maria-Directorybeachdirectory.com and you should come up with some good beach places. Harrington House seems to get good reviews and the Hilton on Longboat is a great place (more beachy than high end. I haven't been in any of the rooms though as I live on Longboat. There are some wonderful restaurants by Hilton.

Harry's, Euphemia Haye, Cafe on the Bay - not cheap or reasonable but very good. I like dessert upstairs at Euphemia Haye.

LN,
Thank you so much for your attention to my quest. One of the places that has been recommended is the "White Sands". But, this is from someone who wants a kitchen. I would prefer to go out for breakfast but not if I have to drive, I would prefer to walk. Maybe I should spring for the Hilton. I want to be able to swim, walk and maybe bike and have good dinners at waterside restaurants.

If you mean "White Sands" on Longboat I have been inside their townhouse units. They are VERY nice and well kept as I believe they are still managed by the Michael Saunders Group.

There's a good bit of bike riding on trail on Longboat and if you do like biking there's some places to rent bikes.

Breakfast out is good at the Blue Dolphin in the Center Shoppes (there are only 3 shopping centers on Longboat with a Publix in one).

There's also a wonderful art center (if you'd like to visit or take a class) and the Mote Acquarium

my goof!! the Mote Aquarium is wonderful for a visit. Sarasota is a fantastic town for theatre with the Asolo and Van Wezel. Plus there are many restaurants worth exploring on Sarasota's Main St. Not many could miss a visit to St Armands Circle while visiting here either.

If you have any questions.....

The Ringling museum is fascinating.

We rent a beachfront, first floor condo for one week each November on Longboat Key. We love the wide sidewalk/bike path that runs almost the entire length of the island as well as strolls at St. Armands in the evening.

You will probably pay as much for the Hilton as you would for a condo on the beach. I prefer the extra space in a condo - it doesn't mean you can't eat all your meals at restaurants!

Anna Maria is lovely- especially the park beach. Good luck with having the water warm enough to swim in January. However, I would be happy with just walking on the beach and shell collecting.