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Longboat Key vs. Siesta Key; Where Should You Go?

Compared to Siesta Key, Longboat Key is a calmer, more affluent neighborhood where visitors tend to be a little older. I’ve been to Siesta Key in recent years, and it’s a wonderful family destination. 

There aren’t many hotels on either island, so beachfront condos are the primary lodging option. A little more people will be on Siesta Key. I’m not sure what you mean when you ask which is better or what matters most in a beach location. 

Restaurants are accessible to both within 15 minutes, and St. Armands Circle is close by. You actually can’t go wrong with either island, but I think Longboat will be more peaceful for your stay.

So that is my personal idea about the Longboat Key vs. Siesta Key, and in this article I’m going to discuss everything about those two places, helping you to plan your next trip. So welcome to Travo Love, and stick around until the end to find out what you’ve been looking for. 

Table of Contents

What can you do in Longboat key?

The town of Longboat Key, which shares a name with the barrier island of the same name, is situated in Manatee and Sarasota counties on Florida’s central west coast. Between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Longboat Key is located south of Anna Maria Island.

Coquina Beach.

Longboat Key vs. Siesta Key; Where Should You Go?
Coquina Beach.

On Longboat Key, the traffic can make it difficult to talk to people going to and from this beach, but that is pretty much the case for all the beaches. Along the sand at Coquina Beach, there is plenty of free parking.

The beach itself is made of fine, white sand that is covered in countless tiny shells along the water’s edge. Many families with young children could be seen playing in the beach, gathering shells, and splashing in the sea.

Joan M. Durante Community Park.

Joan M. Durante Community Park.

A lovely park or garden with an outstanding walking path! My daughter and I enjoy to have picnics there on the gorgeous, roomy covered deck and in the privacy of the front fountain-sprayed pond. 

The bay may be seen from the walking trail, which also features decking walkways that have been expertly built and maintained. After a day at the beach, stop here for your picnic and take in the peace and shade of this tranquil park if you want to make it more special.

Quick Point Nature Reserve.

Quick Point Nature Reserve.
Quick Point Nature Reserve.

These lush wetlands and mangroves, which are situated on the southeast side of Longboat Key, offer a variety of crucial advantages to Sarasota Bay. 

These habitats help protect shorelines from erosion, offer food and shelter for bay life, and filter pollutants. 

Wetlands in Sarasota Bay have decreased in both quantity and quality over the past 50 years as a result of development.

Bayfront Park

Bayfront Park

This park, located in the center of Longboat Key near Ace Hardware, was established in November 2017.

A tiny playground for kids, stunning views of Sarasota Bay, basketball courts (complete with basketballs! ), shuffleboard courts, pickleball courts, and tennis courts are all there. The courts are open until 11 p.m. and have lighting. 

A multipurpose field for baseball or soccer is also available. A community center offers yoga and other physical exercise classes. It is an excellent local resource.

Harbourside Golf Course

Three unique 18 hole alternatives are provided by Harbourside’s three nines. Our own Longboat Key Club Moorings and Sarasota Bay are both nearby to many of the holes. 

Each of the three nines has unique qualities. This course offers something for every player with stunning views in every direction and a test for every part of your game.

Is Longboat Key worth visiting?

Longboat Key is fantastic in every way. Without the traffic and crowds of Siesta Key or Lido Key, it is quiet and serene. It exudes an affluent vibe because to its lovely resorts, eateries, and greenery. White sand and gorgeous emerald water may be found on the beach.

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Are Longboat Key beaches nice?

Longboat key, Florida Gulf Coast

Longboat Key and Lido Key are well recognized for their outstanding beaches, where the Gulf of Mexico offers mild tropical breezes, warm water, and fine sand that welcomes relaxing, walking, playing, and taking in the sunsets.

Is Longboat Key crowded?

There is a limited amount of parking available at beach access spots along Gulf of Mexico Drive; look for the blue signs. The majority of the beaches on Longboat Key, Florida don’t have facilities like restrooms (a couple have portable toilets), however they are rarely crowded.

Longboat key cost of visit 2022.

For those who are ready to take standby flights, put up with inconvenience, and otherwise keep travel costs to a minimum, a trip to Longboat Key can be taken for as little as $115 per person per day. 

Vacation rentals can be rented for as little as $21 per night, and about 1% of total rentals are available for between $0 and $100. 

These low-cost accommodations must be reserved as soon as possible and might not be in the most attractive locations. There are more likely to be 1-star hotels available, with rates beginning at about $76.

What can you do in siesta key?

Best Things to Do in Siesta Key, Florida

Off the coast of Sarasota, Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico is a barrier island called Siesta Key. Sand beaches make it famous. 

Shallow waves, a playground, and tennis courts can be found at Siesta Beach, which is close to the shops and cafes of Siesta Key Village. 

Point of Rocks, a group of limestone outcroppings that encircle coral reefs and tidal pools, is accessible from Crescent Beach. Boat ramps and picnic sites can be found at Turtle Beach to the south.

Crescent Beach at Siesta Key.

The beach is surrounded with condos, villas, and vacation rentals in this area of Siesta Key, which offers easy access to the water.

The single public entrance into Crescent Beach is Midnight Pass Road, which is also the most obvious. A 25-space parking lot and a walking route run out to the beach from there.

Even though it lacks some of Siesta Beach’s attractions, you can still go shelling, make sandcastles, and enjoy the beach in a more private setting.

Play beach volleyball.

Play beach volleyball.
Play beach volleyball.

Grab a volleyball and some buddies while you’re at Siesta Beach and play a few games. It’s a fun way to work out while getting away from the crowds and the sea. The volleyball courts are close to the parking lot’s southernmost point at Siesta Beach.

Turtle Beach.

leisurely beach time, Compared to other beaches, Turtle Beach is a little bit quieter, and the sand is grittier and less pure white.

The depth is around 4 feet, and you may wade out 50 feet. The locations of turtle nests along the shore are well marked. Both parking and service are fairly scarce.

The beach is less crowded though, so it only takes a short stroll to go to the water’s edge or away from the people. Nice beach that is worth visiting.

Shell Beach

Shell Beach is stunning, serene, and serene. Excellent fishing is right outside the first residence. Although the homeowners on the left have tried to prevent people from visiting this beach, Florida considers wet sand to be public property.

The security guy, Alex, will be sent to bother you, but if you offer him a bourbon, he will leave. Like all Florida beaches, this one is open to the public until the very end.

Siesta Key Village

The ideal location to spend some time away from the beach is Siesta Key Village. The town is enjoyable to explore on foot. 

It is home to a number of highly regarded galleries, boutique shops, and local markets that offer fantastic indoor entertainment. 

The community also offers a grocery store where you can stock up on foods that are ideal for a BBQ at the beach if you don’t want to dine out three times a day.

Is Siesta Key worth visiting?

Siesta Key is a fantastic destination if you’re searching for a lovely beach to relax on. Families can enjoy the stunning beach and ocean at this wonderful location. The best beach on Florida’s Gulf Coast is frequently selected to be Siesta Key Beach. There are so many interesting things to do in Siesta Key, Florida.

Does Siesta Key have nightlife?

It is simple to understand why “The Deck” is such a significant component of Siesta Key nightlife given its lengthy hours, entertaining parties, and unique daiquiri concoctions. It also hosts a lot of special events, like volleyball tournaments, bikini contests, and Spring Break parties, among many other things.

Is Siesta Key crowded?

In the months of June and July, Siesta Key is not at all crowded, and finding lodging shouldn’t be a problem. In the summer, tourists typically avoid Florida, leaving the locals in charge of the area. For us down here, the peak tourist season begins when it gets chilly up north.

What is the best time to visit Siesta Key?

The greatest time to visit Siesta Key is in the spring, when temps range from 70 to 80 degrees and there is less rainfall than in the summer and early fall.

Conclusion, Longboat Key vs. Siesta Key, Where is better?

Travel publications consistently rank Siesta Key Beach among the top five in the nation, and yes, people, it’s all about that snow-white sand.

Even though Siesta Key can hold its own when it comes to nightlife, Long Boat Key is more akin to a bed-and-breakfast neighborhood for wealthy condo residents.

Long Boat Key is probably for the more mature generation, whereas Siesta Key caters more to families and the younger crowd in general. 

Long Boat Key has a few high-end restaurants, while the nightlife in Siesta Key Village is more reminiscent of a “Jimmy Buffet” revival.

Between Siesta Key and Long Boat Key is Saint Armands Square on Lido Key. Everything revolves around stores, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants.

Written by Layla

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