Calling all Sarasota/Longboat Key /Siesta Key experts
 

I am looking at several places to stay in southwest/gulf area.
One is near Whitney Beach on the north end of longboat key; another is mid-longboat key, one is siesta key and finally several homes in Holmes beach.
My priorities are beautiful beaches,
access to beachfront/funky restaurants,within driving distance of st armands circle or othe interesting shopping area. I am attracted to the northern longboat key place but worry it might be too far from anything.
Thanks.

Anyone?

Hi

I have a home on the north side of Longboat Key and I absolutely love it!! Longboat Key has one of the most beautiful beaches anywhere but then so does Anna Maria Island (Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach)and Siesta Key.

There's great restaurants on each of the islands from Beach Bistro on Anna Maria to Euphemia Haye on Longboat to Ophelia's on Siesta.

St Armands Circle is just south of Longboat Key as you are driving in to Sarasota. It's quite easy to get to from either Longboat or Anna Maria but it's a roundabout drive to get there from Siesta Key. There's a lot of good restaurants there (Columbia, Hemingways, Crab and Fin, Tommy Bahamas & a lot more) and some of the most unusual shopping in the country.

As far as being too far from anything on the north end of Longboat you wouldn't be as the island is only 12 miles long. There are bike trails running the length of the island as well as runners up and down Gulf of Mexico Dr (the main road).

There's two (2) golf courses on the island (within The Key Club) kind of pricey and many people go off island for better rates.

Any questions - ask away - when I get back online I'll reply. Tonight is Christmas Eve and I had to help Santa.

Merry Christmas to you and thank you so much for the helpful reply.
I am considering renting a home that is on Linley near the bay in North LBK. I am concerned that it may be far from the beach since it bayside. I also want to go the Ringling Museum and the Dali in St.Pete. What are realistic driving times from the northern end to those places?
Are there any smaller places like Harrington House/a cottage colony in the area that you would suggest?
I don't want any area that is too noisy and liked laid back but somewhat upscale (although I am trying to keep the rate to a $300 night max. ) I really liked Captiva years ago and I liked the Jupiter area; love Seaside. Just to give you an idea of my taste.

Hi again

Longboat is only about 1/2 mile wide (perhaps a bit wider at the Village where Linley is). Everything is very convenient to the beach. I live on the bayside and can walk to the beach in 5 minutes. Whitney Beach has a very wide, gorgeous walking beach.

Linley is in an area called :The Village" or "Longbeach" and its a delightful area that dates back a good bit. Many people choose it as "THE" area to live in.

You would be about 45 minutes from the "Dali" and about 15/20 minutes from Ca D'Zan (the Ringling)

The smaller cottage places you describe can be found more often on Anna Maria Island (Harrington House etc). Longboat is more homes and condos than smaller rentable cottages. If I can think of any (today's thoughts are pretty filled) I'll email back.

If you loved Captiva and Jupiter then you'd love the beaches and peacefulness of LBK.

Merry Christmas!!

Right on the beach at Siesta Key I would suggest Midnight Cove. We rent unit Firethorn 310 which is an downstairs, end unit. Very nice unit. Recently updated. Worth about 1.5M. Very quiet and close to the things you mention.

I stayed at the Longboat Key Club approx. five years aago, and loved everything about LBK..St Armand's was a short drive.

Beaches are beautiful, people are friendly, and would return in a heartbeat!

Autoeng: Got availability? Are you on vrbo?

Not my place. We just rent it. Check out midnightcove.com. I have nothing to do with either the owner or MC.

Autoeng

If you're deciding on Siesta Key, I'd like to suggest Siesta Dunes, which in my opinion is a nicer property than Midnight Cove, which is certainly nice enough. It's on a nicer stretch of the beach, has tennis courts and a great deck on the gulf. We've stayed at and visited many properties on Siesta Key and think this is one of the best. I think the web site is SiestaDunes.com.

We have vacationed on Longboat for years at our timeshare. Depending on how long who wish to stay, you might consider renting there if there is a vacancy. The name of the place is Veranda Beach and is on the gulf side near the middle of the island. Access to shopping, restaurants, and activities is not far. Longboat is a beautiful place to stay.

Now that's interesting - we owned a timeshare at Veranda Beach when we first came to Longboat key. After we fell in love with the island we bought a place.

It is a beautiful place and each condo is huge!! There's two bedroom and four bedroom directly on the gulf. You can google it and see for yourself.

I would recommend that as I always find myself hesitant in recommending the old Florida style homes as many as very small and not updated to what people expect.