Great article in today's CNN.com travel section about Longboat Key:
LONGBOAT KEY, Florida (CNN) -- Like any sun-drenched beach paradise, Longboat Key offers water sports, biking and tennis, but the best way to enjoy the island may be by doing nothing at all.
Low season on Longboat Key, Florida, generally starts in May and runs until late fall.
This thin sliver of land off Sarasota on Florida's west coast is home to 8,000 people year-round, but come winter, the population swells dramatically.Thousands of visitors from colder climates flock to LBK -- its shorthand moniker -- from January to April to enjoy its balmy temperatures and the sparkling turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Off season, however, the only crowds are the sea gulls grooming their feathers on the warm white sand, and Longboat Key feels like the closest thing to having a private beach.
On a recent late-September visit, the temperatures hovered in the mid-80s, palm trees swayed gently in the wind, hibiscus flowers bloomed and the sun's rays were on par with their intensity in July.
The only signs of fall were the pumpkins on display at the local grocery store, along with regular fare, like mango Key lime pie.
See photos of Longboat Key's beaches, birds and sunsets »
Tell people you are heading to Longboat Key, and many will think it's part of the Florida Keys off the southern tip of the state, but LBK is about 200 miles to the north-northwest of -- and in some ways worlds away from -- Key West and its neighbors.
Key Facts
• Longboat Key is an offshore barrier island about 60 miles south of Tampa, Florida.
• The nearest airport is Sarasota/Bradenton International.
• The island is home to 8,000 permanent residents, but the population swells to 22,000 during peak months.
• Average daily high temperature in January: 72°.
• Average daily high temperature in July: 90°.
• Longboat Key incorporated as a town in 1955.
• There are no schools on the island.
Source: Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce
Nightlife on the island is likely to mean a moonlit walk on the beach rather than a drink at the bar, and the odds are good the locals will sport gray hair.
Elegant setting
Buffered by Sarasota Bay on one side and facing the Gulf of Mexico on the other, the Key is sheltered from the tourist hustle and bustle of mainland Florida.
At less than 11 miles in length and no more than a mile across in its widest places, LBK also feels like a secluded community with an elegant flavor of its own.
The surroundings are lush, upscale and serene. A trip down Gulf of Mexico Drive, the island's main artery, reveals golf courses, condominiums and homes ranging from newly constructed mansions to older, one-story houses.
The traffic is light, life moves at a slower pace and the mood is relaxed.
"You won't find mini-malls, towering billboards, or glaring neon signs," the local Chamber of Commerce promises.
Nonhuman island visitors also contribute to the mellow atmosphere. Dolphins regularly swim just offshore. Great egrets and great blue herons fish along the beach, while pelicans dive into the water in search of a meal. Birds of all sizes regularly patrol the palm-lined parking lot of the local supermarket looking for scraps of food from the lunch crowd.
Wingless creatures also pop up in unexpected places. Visitors walking into one establishment are greeted by a stern voice exclaiming, "Bear, no!" Bear, it turns out, is a curious 5-month old Chesapeake Bay retriever who insists on checking out all the customers entering the store despite his owner's orders to stay put.
To read the complete article, click here.
If you're considering finding a winter home or moving permanently to Florida, Longboat Key is a wonderful option. Feel free to contact me so I can show you this serene area and the many Longboat Key real estate opportunities available.
Here's a quick link to search for real estate on Longboat via my website:
Search for Longboat Key Real Estate
LONGBOAT KEY, Florida (CNN) -- Like any sun-drenched beach paradise, Longboat Key offers water sports, biking and tennis, but the best way to enjoy the island may be by doing nothing at all.
Low season on Longboat Key, Florida, generally starts in May and runs until late fall.
This thin sliver of land off Sarasota on Florida's west coast is home to 8,000 people year-round, but come winter, the population swells dramatically.Thousands of visitors from colder climates flock to LBK -- its shorthand moniker -- from January to April to enjoy its balmy temperatures and the sparkling turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Off season, however, the only crowds are the sea gulls grooming their feathers on the warm white sand, and Longboat Key feels like the closest thing to having a private beach.
On a recent late-September visit, the temperatures hovered in the mid-80s, palm trees swayed gently in the wind, hibiscus flowers bloomed and the sun's rays were on par with their intensity in July.
The only signs of fall were the pumpkins on display at the local grocery store, along with regular fare, like mango Key lime pie.
See photos of Longboat Key's beaches, birds and sunsets »
Tell people you are heading to Longboat Key, and many will think it's part of the Florida Keys off the southern tip of the state, but LBK is about 200 miles to the north-northwest of -- and in some ways worlds away from -- Key West and its neighbors.
Key Facts
• Longboat Key is an offshore barrier island about 60 miles south of Tampa, Florida.
• The nearest airport is Sarasota/Bradenton International.
• The island is home to 8,000 permanent residents, but the population swells to 22,000 during peak months.
• Average daily high temperature in January: 72°.
• Average daily high temperature in July: 90°.
• Longboat Key incorporated as a town in 1955.
• There are no schools on the island.
Source: Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce
Nightlife on the island is likely to mean a moonlit walk on the beach rather than a drink at the bar, and the odds are good the locals will sport gray hair.
Elegant setting
Buffered by Sarasota Bay on one side and facing the Gulf of Mexico on the other, the Key is sheltered from the tourist hustle and bustle of mainland Florida.
At less than 11 miles in length and no more than a mile across in its widest places, LBK also feels like a secluded community with an elegant flavor of its own.
The surroundings are lush, upscale and serene. A trip down Gulf of Mexico Drive, the island's main artery, reveals golf courses, condominiums and homes ranging from newly constructed mansions to older, one-story houses.
The traffic is light, life moves at a slower pace and the mood is relaxed.
"You won't find mini-malls, towering billboards, or glaring neon signs," the local Chamber of Commerce promises.
Nonhuman island visitors also contribute to the mellow atmosphere. Dolphins regularly swim just offshore. Great egrets and great blue herons fish along the beach, while pelicans dive into the water in search of a meal. Birds of all sizes regularly patrol the palm-lined parking lot of the local supermarket looking for scraps of food from the lunch crowd.
Wingless creatures also pop up in unexpected places. Visitors walking into one establishment are greeted by a stern voice exclaiming, "Bear, no!" Bear, it turns out, is a curious 5-month old Chesapeake Bay retriever who insists on checking out all the customers entering the store despite his owner's orders to stay put.
To read the complete article, click here.
If you're considering finding a winter home or moving permanently to Florida, Longboat Key is a wonderful option. Feel free to contact me so I can show you this serene area and the many Longboat Key real estate opportunities available.
Here's a quick link to search for real estate on Longboat via my website:
Search for Longboat Key Real Estate
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