Vacation treasures are just waiting to be unwrapped on this beach-lined ribbon of land in the Gulf of Mexico west of Bradenton and Sarasota. Known as a great location to pull out your fishing pole, Longboat Key also offers elegant resorts and upscale dining, plus opportunities to see nature up close and personal. It's only 30 minutes away from Bradenton-Sarasota airport, and just as easy to reach the cultural and family-friendly attractions in both communities. A Longboat Key vacation rental is a relaxing place to warm your heart on a midwinter getaway.
A Longboat Key vacation rental is a convenient launching place to visit attractions around the area. Mote Marine Aquarium, just over the bridge to the south, has an open-water Shark Zone and exhibits on alligators, sting rays, manatees, sea turtles, and other aquatic life. South Florida Museum in Bradenton features a manatee aquarium and planetarium, plus exhibits on natural and cultural history. In Sarasota, visit the vast collection of the Ringling Museum of Art, plus the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy. Sarasota also offers botanical gardens and encounters of the retail kind.
If you're looking for sport fishing, Longboat Key is the place. Tarpon and cobia can be caught from the beach, and some docks are lighted for nighttime fishing. Redfish and speckled trout lurk in the mangroves. You can book a charter for offshore fishing—or a cruise just to view the dolphins. Gulf-side beaches beg you to loll in the sun, swim, take up windsurfing or parasailing, and rent paddle boards and boogie boards. There's a public tennis center. Beer Can Island is a boat-in stretch of beach for picnicking at the key's northern tip.
Sunshine rules for 256 days a year on Longboat Key, making outdoor activities enjoyable all year from a Longboat Key vacation rental. Summer is the hottest season, and often humid, with July highs around 90. It's also the wettest, with August rainfall around 9 inches. January high temperatures are generally in the 80s, with the average low around 50. May to late fall is actually the slower season, with lower prices. The cooler, busier winter season is when visitors seek escape from cold and snow elsewhere. Spring and fall are in-between, for both weather and crowds.
Longboat Key occupies a narrow barrier island between the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay. Everything is packed into 4 square miles of dry land, and you could bike the 10 miles from northerly Beer Can Island to Quick Point in about 50 minutes. Sea turtles and shorebirds nest along the Gulf beaches from April to November, but habitats are protected by keeping observers at a distance and outdoor lights off at night. Crabs and conchs, egrets, herons, and osprey are seen from trails and boardwalks through 34 acres of wetland and mangrove lagoons at Quick Point Nature Preserve.
Longboat Key boasts gorgeous beaches ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and watersports. Vacation homes are available near places like Siesta Beach, a sandy beach with seaside amenities, and Anna Maria Public Beach, a white-sand beach with gentle surf for swimming. You'll also like Coquina Beach, a tranquil beach with turquoise waters and spectacular sunset views.
The nearest airport is in Sarasota-Bradenton Intl. Airport (SRQ), located 6.7 mi (10.8 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that works for your travel itinerary, you could book a flight to St. Petersburg, FL (SPG-Albert Whitted), which is 24.4 mi (39.2 km) away.
If you're looking for a romantic retreat, Longboat Key has an array of tranquil locations to explore. Vacation rentals are available near places like St. Armands Key, a bay island with serene tropical surrounds and parklands, and Leffis Key, an island nature reserve and tidal habitat with nature trails and boardwalks through the marshland. You could also visit Palma Sola Botanical Park, a landscaped garden with exotic plants and lakes.
Luxury villas, quirky treehouses and cozy cottages — everyone's dream getaway is different. Whatever you're into, you're sure to find something you love among these top vacation rentals in Longboat Key:
For even more great options, use the search bar at the top of the page to find the perfect Longboat Key vacation rental for you.
Those chores can wait, because weekends were made for having fun. Get cozy at one of these weekend getaways in and near Longboat Key and experience all the exciting things to do nearby:
Typically small, easy on the wallet and well located, it's hard not to fall for the appeal of a studio apartment. Get cozy in one of these options and experience the energy of Longboat Key up close:
There are lots of sights around Longboat Key to add to your agenda. Satisfy the culture buff in you and visit Island Players and Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site.
Yes, you certainly can! Vrbo's short-term rentals in Longboat Key are an excellent alternative to your typical cookie-cutter hotel room. Offering many of the conveniences of home, you'll easily be able to slip right into vacation mode the minute you arrive. Try one of these fantastic rentals on for size:
Forget flowers and chocolates. Sometimes all you need is to get away for the weekend, just the two of you. At Vrbo, we've got romantic getaways in and around Longboat Key that would make Cupid swoon. Here are some we think you'll love:
Nothing screams "Best. Vacation. Ever." like staying in a mansion. Treat the family to an unforgettable getaway at one of these mansions for rent in and around Longboat Key:
Big groups mean big-time fun. They also mean finding a place that'll comfortably fit your whole gang. Browse our large group vacation rentals in or around Longboat Key and get your favorite people together under the one roof:
Of all the conveniences a vacation rental can offer, a pool is without a doubt the most fun. Have a look at these houses for rent with a pool in or near Longboat Key and spend your days splashing around. Just remember to bring your unicorn floatie:
Unsure how to pack your bags for your Longboat Key break? This popular destination has a humid subtropical climate. During summer, you can expect average temperatures ranging from 80 ºF to 90 ºF. Browse our selection of Longboat Key vacation rentals by using the search bar at the top of the page. Simply adjust the filters to get more great ideas about where to stay.
Every get-together with the family should be a memorable one. Whether you're planning a getaway with the kids or that long-overdue family reunion, our large family vacation rentals in or near Longboat Key offer a home away from home with ample space for everyone:
If you want to see some family-friendly attractions in the area, you have plenty of choice. TreeUmph! Adventure Course, Main Street at Lakewood Ranch and Historic Bridge Street Pier promise lots of fun for all the crew.
Time spent with family is priceless, which is why we'll help you find a place where you can truly connect. Book one of these family cabin rentals in or near Longboat Key and hang out with the people you love the most:
For more options, use the search bar at the top of the page and adjust the filters to find the Longboat Key vacation rental that's perfect for your needs.