Longboat Key, Lido Key, and St. Armands Key are ideal beach and bayfront settings for the ultimate Florida vacation. Stretching between the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico and serene Sarasota Bay, these keys attract many visitors who come to enjoy the average year-round temperature of 73 degrees. Longboat Key is a barrier island community located on Florida’s west coast. The Town lies within two counties. The northern portion of Longboat Key is in Manatee County and the southern portion is in Sarasota County. The island is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico on the west and Sarasota Bay on the east.
 

The area is appreciated by wildlife as well, so these waters are home to manatee, dolphins, and fish, while pelicans, osprey, and a variety of shorebirds find sanctuary here. Tennis and golf enthusiasts will find first-class facilities here,and there are several parks on the Keys to visit for a relaxing afternoon.

Whether you like to spend your time shelling, biking, shopping, fishing, golfing, or dining, opportunities for these activities are boundless on Longboat Key, Lido Key, and St. Armands Key. Well known as private islandparadises, there are accommodations here to suit everyone, from deluxe suites in plush resorts and condominiums to beachfront cottages and modest hotel rooms.

The Longboat Key Center for the Arts, with a permanent collection and changing exhibits of juried and invitational shows, hosts art classes, workshops, and cultural events here on Longboat Key. Sarasota’s many cultural centers are only minutes away over the south bridge, including Van Wezel Performing Arts Center, Asolo Theater, Ringling Museum, Sarasota Ballet and Opera, and several other live theaters.
You’ll find terrific shopping on Longboat Key, and St. Armands Key. Anna Maria Island and Bradenton, over the north bridge, both also offer a variety of shopping, theater, and cultural experiences.

The area is popular among retirees and is also a popular resort and second home community. Longboat Key has a population of approximately 8,000 permanent residents and grows to approximately 20,000 during peak tourist season.

Gulf of Mexico Drive, also referred to as State Road 789, is the only main thoroughfare and runs north-south through the island. The Town is accessed by bascule (draw) bridges, from the south by New Pass Bridge connecting Longboat Key and Lido Key and Longboat Pass Bridge on the north connecting Longboat Key to Anna Maria Island. Both bridges connect to secondary roads to the mainland in each county which lead to major regional facilities, including Interstate 75, US 41, and US 301. These regional facilities provide access to Bradenton and Tampa to the north and Sarasota, Fort Myers, and Naples to the south.

Copy From: Longboat Key - Lido Key - St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce, 5570 Gulf of Mexico Drive • Longboat Key, FL 34228, Phone: 941-383-2466, Fax: 941-383-8217.