Longboat Key, Florida
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I fell hopelessly and completely in love with pelicans on Longboat Key. It became a morning ritual for me to open the back door of my right-on-the-beach condo and go out and sit and watch these entertaining birds for an hour or so. Frolicking and diving for fish while other birds sat back eagerly awaiting the breakfast leftovers the pelicans left behind.
Longboat key is the biggest of Sarasota's Gulf islands stretching from St Armands Circle to Anna Maria Island and it’s where the upper end residents live. It really is mile after mile of towering luxury apartments and hotels, topped by the Longboat Key Club and Resort which owns and operates a 5 star hotel, private residences, two and a half golf courses, a marina, a world class tennis centre and a luxurious spa. The Key also happens to be home to the oddly named Euphemia Haye, one of the finest restaurants I’ve eaten in. The island lacks the homely charm of Siesta Key and Anna Marie but there’s no denying the luxury that permeates all around.
Longboat Key Hotels
The Longboat Key Club and Resort 301 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key, FL www.longboatkeyclub.com
If it’s golf you’re after and accommodation with all the trimmings, then this is the place for you. The rooms are beautifully appointed, if a little dull on the outside, and with five restaurants to choose from you won’t go hungry. There are two golf layouts, the harbour side which is nearest to the hotel and features three 9 hole courses, the red, white and blue of which the blue is by far the best, and the 18 hole Island side course. There’s also a huge gym and a fabulous spa both of which have plans for extensive expansion, and the recently opened tennis centre offers some outstanding facilities for both teaching and playing.
La Playa Condos 4425 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, FL www.laplayacondo.com
What The Longboat Key Club and Resort lacks in personal touches and homely charm, the La Playa condos have in bucket loads. This is a really charming set of privately owned luxury condos that you can rent by the week (very unusual here) and managed by the Dowd’s, a couple who really care about providing personal service and doing even the small things right, whether it’s a greeting basket of essential items, or information about the local turtle nests. There’s over 200 feet of private beach with hammocks and a gas barbecue and free wifi everywhere. I thoroughly enjoyed their hospitality and highly recommend it.
Restaurants on Longboat Key
Euphemia Haye 5540 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key www.euphemiahaye.com
If you weren’t looking for it, you’d drive right by this fantastic restaurant. Tucked away behind the trees on Gulf of Mexico Drive, Euphemia Haye is a colonial style property owned and run by Raymond and D’arcy Arpke who provide one of the most original menus I’ve seen. Clear favourites are the Crisp Roast Duckling with bread stuffing, or flambéed Peppered Steak, but there is a veritable feast of other daringly different dishes. There’s also a Loft upstairs to either retire to and have dessert and coffee, or to just pop in to eat some light bites.
Read more about Florida's Gulf Coast:
Sarasota - Gateway to the Florida Gulf
Useful links
Euphemia Haye Restaurant, Longboat Key, Florida
La Playa Condos, Longboat Key, Florida
The Longboat Key Club and Resort, Florida
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