Longboat Key
 

Have heard some nice things about Longboat Key, so I'm looking for info:<BR>1. Closest airport -- Tampa?<BR>2. Car necessary?<BR>3. Good place for long weekend or should we stay longer?<BR>4. How about weather in February and/or April?<BR>5. Good places to stay / reasonable rates?<BR>(Don't need anything fancy -- just clean and preferably on a beach)<BR>6. Things to do?<BR>7. Dining recommendations?<BR>8. Area attractions?<BR>9. Anything to avoid?<BR>10. Anything you'd like to add...<BR>Thanks!<BR>

Hi, I am also looking for the info., as we are headed to Longboat Key in Nov. We are flying into Tampa, and will rent a car to drive, however all the other inquiries I would also like to know...thanks

Hi<BR>Longboat Key is delightful. The closest airport is actually Sarasota but many use Tampa and take a shuttle or rent a car to come down. A car would be very helpful as you're out on an island. A long weekend or week is great on the island. The weather in February, March, and April is great with February sometimes a little iffy. There's a Holiday Inn and a Hilton Inn and also a Silver Sands motel plus the Colony (a tennis resort) but in the time period mentioned I would grant anything tooo reasonable. Each of these is on the beach. Lots to do - Beach of course, shelling, Mote Maritime Museum, Sarasota markets Sarasota theatre (plays and ballet at the Asolo) cruises on the Sarasota and on the Tampa Bays. Dali museum in Tampa and the Ringling Museum in Sarasota. Baseball in Sarasota and in Bradenton. Plus the Red barn in Bradenton (such a treasure) Dining recommendations run from Euphemia Haye to Pattigeorge to Chinese to Chart House and then smaller places like Mar-Vista. LBK has the nicest, whitest, softest sand and wsaters on the gulf coast with Siesta Key a close second!!

Longboat key is very nice - been there 3x. Sarasota is closest airport - 30 min. but Tampa is also a good choice - about 1 hour 15 min. I would say a car is necessary is you want to explore the area. St. Armands circle is where all the shopping and dining is - very fun- from there you branch off to Longboat Key, Siesta Key and Lido key - the circle is a 5-10 min. drive from most places on Longboat. The key itself is primarily residential. You can also drive across the bridge to Sarasota - lots of great restaurants and things to do there, too. Weather is Feb. is always iffy - can be warm but could also be a cold snap. April is a better guarantee for pleasant weather - our best monthe in Fla. I think! I have stayed at the Longboat Key club and the Holiday Inn- both on the Ocean. Longboat Key Club is Luxury- condo style. The Holiday Inn is very clean and has a great beach - the pool is Indoor and they have a beach bar. The beaches are beautiful and you can go over to the other "keys" as mentioned above , also. There is great shopping at St. Armands circle - the main activity area! Have fun!

The best restaurant in Longboat, the Dry Dock, great food & you can eat outside right on the water. It's right across from Longboat Key golf course, behind the Mobil Station, hard to find, but worth it!

Sarasota-Bradenton is the closest airport, however Tampa (1 hour north) may have many more flight options depending where you are arriving from. A car is necessary! I'd suggest a week for total R&R. Having nver been there in the winter I cannot address the weather in February or April. AVOID the Longboat Key Hilton at all costs. I have stayed at condominiums next to the Hilton and have heard only complaints about the Hilton from people who stay there...they always inquire about the condos I stay at because they are unhappy at the Hilton. I HIGHLY recommend the Sand Cay Beach Resort condominiums. They are clean, well maintained, and affordable. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, patio or deck, kitchen, dining, living room areas, and laundry available in each unit. Units are gulf front, gulf view, or garden view. A pool, tennis court, shuffleboard, and barbeque are available on the property. For the cost of the Hilton you will get a better deal and a lot more living space in a condominium. Things to do would include beach time, dining, shopping, and sightseeing at the places mentioned in above posts. Although I bashed the Longboat Key Hilton based on other people's complaints, I will tell you they do have a great beach bar and make delicous mud slides, pina coladas, and tequila sunrises. If you want to make the drive, Busch Gardens is 1 hour north in Tampa and Disney World is about 1 1/2 hours east in Orlando. Make your reservations for accomodations as soon as possible. Winter is the most popular season on Longboat Key and the most expensive. Also, traffic in Sarasota and Longboat Key will be moving at a snail's pace with all the visitors and the influx of the winter senior citizen population. I heard that from my senior citizen neighbors who lived in Sarasota one winter...they hated the traffic. Sunsets on Longboat Key are spectacular. You will fall in love with the place!

I second the Drydock--best Grouper I've ever tasted!

This is not a "spring breaker" haven is as is Ft. Lauderdale? I would like to avoid that time frame.

No it is not a "spring breaker" place. Longboat Key is very exclusive (lots of $$$$) and the police presence there is very noticable. They fool around with nothing. All police calls are printed each week in the local paper "The Longboat Observer," so most people think twice before atempting anything foolish. Longboat Key is definitely not a "spring break" type of place!

Enjoy Longboat!<BR>Weather is April is fantastic! Can be crowded depending on when Easter falls.<BR>February is a bit variable.<BR>I second all of the attraction choices and love Dry Dock as well.<BR>St. Armands Circle is a great place to spend a day shopping or window shopping at the very least.<BR><BR>I had to laugh about the post on The Longboat Observer. We live in Tampa but have been going to Longboat for 25 yrs. It is a family duty when we go to pick up a copy of the Observer and have a good laugh over the police calls.<BR><BR>Just a sample<BR><BR>10:30 A.M. Wild animal sighting.<BR>10:45 A.M. Snake found.<BR>10:47 A.M. Snake taken away and shot.<BR><BR>That is how bad the crime is on Longboat.<BR><BR>Enjoy!

Re Crime in Longboat Key: Now that you mention it.. there are some unsavory characters out there... Leona Helmsley even has a place out there....