![]() ![]() There are a lot of options from a quick sunset dolphin cruise, to a half day fishing excursion to a full day island exploring trip. Take a Boat Trip: The waters around this part of Florida are so beautiful that a boat trip is a must do. There are a lot of trees in the area and a ton of staubs (where pieces of the roots stick up through the sand) so either wear water shoes or be careful where you walk. Beercan Island is a big local hangout so while it feels pretty secluded, there’s always plenty of people around. The end of the island (by the bridge) is a popular spot for boats to hang out. There was some construction going on when I was there this time so we weren’t able to go all the way around the end of the island (where you can see across to Anna Maria Island and the bridge), but normally you can. There’s a pier right at the access point that’s great for watching sunset, but most people keep making their way north around to the end of the island. There’s not a ton of parking so you may have to be patient. The best access is off N shore Road (the very last left turn as you’re driving north across the island). It’s not really an island, although it can seem like one at high tide. Sunset at Beercan Island: One of the best spots for shelling on Longboat, it’s also a great spot to watch the sunset. Much like the beach, it seemed like the shelling was better when I stayed on the south end of Longboat Key, but it’s also pretty good at the far north end. ![]() Sand dollars are definitely easier to find more towards the beginning of the year. This is a great area for it and although I didn’t find any sand dollars on this trip, I have in the past. ![]() Shelling: I’m a casual sheller, but I still LOVE to look for shells. Overall, there’s a lot better public beach access on Anna Maria Island (just north) than on Longboat so if you’re not staying on the beach but you’re packing it in, Anna Maria Island is probably the better place to head for the day. It was quite a bit coarser and darker than in pretty much every other area in this stretch. I will say that the beach in front of the Zota Beach Resort (where I stayed most recently) had my least favorite sand in this whole area. THE BEACH: It’s why you go to Florida, right? The sand in this area is a great combination of being soft and white but still with a good mixture of shells. The beach is obviously the big draw, and Longboat is definitely the “sleepiest” island in this cluster, but there’s surprisingly quite a few things to do in the area. It’s a little over an hour drive from TPA to the Longboat/Bradenton area. While the Sarasota airport is closer, there aren’t as many flight options (and flights are usually a little more expensive). To get to the Longboat Key, you can either fly into Sarasota (SRQ) or Tampa (TPA). If you like a laid back beach vacation (think more small beachtown vibes and less high rises) without gobbs of people around, this is the place for you.Īll of these islands and beach towns in the area are great, but I grew up spending summers on Longboat Key so I’m kind of partial. While the beaches and water are comparable to the St Pete and Clearwater areas just to the north (Tampa), the vibe in this area is totally different. 20+ miles of white sand beaches stretch along (from north to south) Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, Longboat Key, Lido Key, and Siesta Key. Just off the coast of Sarasota on the gulf coast of Florida (the west side) is a chain of barrier islands that, while they’re home to some of the best beaches in Florida, tend to fly a little under the radar.
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