Make Favorite Family Memories in Longboat Key Florida

Your vacation is one you’ll talk about for years

by Lisa Moretti

You could stay in one of those Gordon-Gekko-Greed-Is-Good perfect condos for a family vacation but if you want something you and your kids will remember with a smile for years to come, consider Longboat Key and a small hotel like the Sandpiper Inn.

My mom has a good theory for everything and one is: if you don’t come home dirty, you didn’t have fun!  The Sandpiper is the perfect kind of place for kids (and dogs too –they’re pet friendly.)  Rooms have direct access to the beautiful, baby-powder-soft sand and bathtub temperature waters of the Gulf. There’s a shower outside to wash away the sand before you come to your room and all the rooms have tiled floors for easy clean up.  Each room also has a small efficiency kitchen for making a quick meal and a full-sized ‘frig for afternoon cocktails and mocktails when it’s time to watch the sunset.

This is the kind of vacation that’s about slowing down and spending time together.  Richard and Mary Lou, the innkeepers, have lots of suggestions about where to go and what to do; but really, building massive sandcastles and gathering shells is pretty cool stuff when you’re kid. This is a place where kids can get dirty, get sandy, and get salty!  They can collect found treasures and make memories that last a lifetime.  Savor your morning cup of Joe or lunchtime grilled cheese in the seaside gazebo and of course a long, leisurely stroll down the miles of beach is good for the soul and wears kids out.  (Sadly, the beach itself is not dog-friendly, but the park across Gulf of Mexico Drive is!)

Chillin’ Out

The operative word when it comes to dining out in Longboat Key is “laid back.” It’s how they roll old-style Florida -- everything is at a relaxed pace.  Across the street from the Sandpiper, is the Blue Dolphin Café which is the perfect little breakfast “dive” that’s anything but!  Be prepared for huge portions and all your breakfast favorites (they serve lunch too) in a relaxed atmosphere that welcomes flip-flops and shorts.

There’s no shortage of great food and fine dining in Longboat Key and Sarasota if you’re looking for a special meal for one of your family’s evenings out.  Former Florida Governor Lawton Chiles’ son Ed has some great places that welcome you and the kids; you can even bring your well-behaved pet if you want to dine outside – and who wouldn’t want to?!  The Dockside in the Mar Vista area, The Sandbar, and The Beachhouse on Bradenton Beach are all local favorites for food and ambience.  Arrive a bit before sunset and cheer when the sun dips below the horizon like all the other locals do!Each restaurant is right on the beach (you’ll get sand in your flip flops) and the menus are full of fresh fish and local specialties.

For something a little fancy, try the exotic stylings at Patti George’s with their Asian fusion out-of-this-world  entrees; or for real, homemade mozzarella and Italian foods like mama made (that will knock your socks off) relax at Alessandro Danieli’s ReFrederico hidden in the Publix shopping center – who knew?!  All of these restaurants welcome families and have food everyone will enjoy.

Get Out – Life Can Be a Circus!

After some evenings of Monopoly or a killer game of Jenga, venture out to Mote Marine Aquariumto touch some sea life, see manatees, watch the dolphins tease each other, and just generally get to know our friends under the sea.  Mote is also a hospital facility for sea life so the kids will enjoy finding out how sea turtles make a full comeback and how a gentle octopus likes to slowly show himself to special kids.

Sarasota is also home to the circus!  John Ringling’s estate on the water along with the Ringling museum dedicated to the circus arts dazzle – the costumes and Lou Jacob’s little clown car along with a miniature model circus that takes up an entire football field are pretty darn cool.  If you’re in town at the right time of year, you can catch special circus events at the Ringling or get yourself under the big top for a real-live circus with Circus Sarasota.  Dolly Jacobs honors her father’s legacy (his image is the classic clown icon featured on a postage stamp) by keeping the circus alive; and Dolly’s no slouch – she’s one of the top aerialists in the world.  Sarasota was the winter home of Ringling Brothers and many of the performers and their kids still live in the area.  Circus Sarasota brings top acts from around the world for just 3 weeks every year along with including many of the old-time performers and clowns like Jackie LeClair, the local Ambassador of Mirth.

Homegrown Fun

For something a bit different and close to your hotel, contact Captain Mark Gore who is a professional fisherman.  Mark likes to fish in front of the Sandpiper and is happy to teach kids (and adults) how to net some bait fish, cast a line to catch local fish, and how to release them.  Mark’s also an expert on local wildlife and local lore.  If your kids have a “need for speed,” hook up with long-time local Captain Jimmy Seaton for a tour on his Liquid Limousine.  Captain Jimmy has the fastest boat on the water, the Blew By You, and more insider knowledge of who’s who and what’s what than anyone else you’ll talk to – his family has been in the area for three generations; Jimmy will zip you across the channels to see the dockside/backside of many posh estates and celebrity homes while also giving you an up-close look of the local wildlife/sealife including cool jellies, osprey, and manatees.

Slow Down, You Move Too Fast

In the hustle and bustle of life, we often forget that what makes for favorite family memories isn’t stuff you can buy, it’s experiences.  Creating a memorable family experience in Longboat Key is easy.  Because of Florida’s tropical climate, you can also count on warm weather when it’s freezing up north.  You can dig your toes into the sand year-round and even if it’s raining there’s still plenty to do.  Whatever you do, take time to appreciate the glow of Forgotten Florida; there really is something unique about the light at the beginning and end of each day and the sunsets are breathtaking.  Teaching kids to slow down and appreciate the view will be a gift that lasts them a lifetime!

Getting There:

If you’re flying in from a distance, book your flight into Tampa Bay International Airport.  From the airport, take 275 toward St. Petersberg.  Cross Tampa Bay on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, a marvel of engineering!  From 275 take 19 toward Bradenton, merge onto 41 and then turn west onto Cortez Road.  Turn left onto Gulf of Mexico Drive and head south to Longboat Key. (Total drive time: about 1 hour and 27 minutes.)

You can also fly into St. Petersberg – Clearwater International Airport on some smaller carriers.  Again take 275 and follow the directions above. (Total drive time: about 1 hour and 5 minutes.)

There are also some flights into Sarasota-Bradenton International Ariport.  From the airport, take 41 south to John Ringling Causeway.  Go west across the bridge and turn north on to 789/Gulf of Mexico Drive.  Stop into the Columbia Restaurant in St. Armand’s Circle on your way to Longboat Key. (Total drive time: about 22 minutes…unless you stop for empanadas!)

Planning Your Trip:

The Sandpiper Inn – www.sandpiperinn.com Richard and Mary Lou are your innkeepers

Blue Dolphin Café -- www.bluedolphincafe.com

The Dockside, The Sandbar, and The Beachhouse -- www.groupersandwich.com

PattiGeorge’s -- www.pattigeorges.com

ReFrederico -- www.refrederico.com

Mote Marine Aquarium -- www.mote.org

Family-friendly Attractions – www.gobeyondthebeaches.com

Circus Sarasota – www.circussarasota.org

Captain Mark Gore -- www.captainmarkgore.com

Captain Jimmy Seaton & The Liquid Limousine -- www.liquidlimousinecharters.com

Columbia Restaurant – www.columbiarestaurant.com

Credits:  Lisa Moretti is writer based in Los Angeles, CA and Tampa Bay, FL.  She often travels the highways and byways with her photographer partner and her trusty team of dogs sniffing out new adventures for the entire pack.

All photos with an iPhone by Lisa Moretti except Clown Jackie LeClair which is by David A. Monroe, www.damimagist.com