Longboat Key is a 10-mile barrier island just off Sarasota on Florida's southwest Gulf Coast, stretching between Anna Maria Island to the north and Lido and Siesta Keys to the south. It's a quiet, manicured, low-rise resort island - more relaxed and residential than glitzy - known for uncrowded white-sand beaches, two private golf-and-tennis clubs, and a calm, grown-up pace. For reunions, Longboat Key hits a sweet spot between the exclusivity of Boca Grande and the energy of Siesta Key: you get peaceful beaches and roomy resort condos, but you're a 10-minute bridge from St. Armands Circle (an upscale dining-and-shopping roundabout) and 20 minutes from downtown Sarasota's outsized arts scene - the Ringling Museum, the Sarasota Ballet, and Mote Marine aquarium. It's the island for a family that wants the beach as a base but also wants real restaurants, culture, and day-trips within easy reach.
Sarasota-Bradenton International (SRQ) is just 20-25 minutes away - small, easy, and increasingly well-connected with direct flights from 30+ cities (Allegiant, JetBlue, Breeze, and the majors). Tampa International (TPA) is about 1 hour north for the widest schedule. The island is drivable from Orlando (2.5 hr), Miami (3.5 hr), and Atlanta (7.5 hr). Lodging leans heavily to Gulf-front resort condos and 3-6 BR vacation homes, plus full-service resorts: the Resort at Longboat Key Club (the marquee property, with golf, tennis, and beach), Zota Beach Resort, and the Longboat Key Club's condo rentals. Big high-rises are deliberately limited, so the feel stays low-key. Peak season runs January through April (snowbirds - the busiest, priciest stretch). Summer is hot, humid, and afternoon-storm-prone but much cheaper, with bathwater-warm Gulf and quiet beaches. October-November is the underrated shoulder: 80°F days, low humidity, ebbing crowds, and pre-snowbird rates. Spring break weeks (March) spike demand at the family resorts.
Where it is
🚀 With Reunly
Planning a reunion at Longboat Key, Florida?
Reunly turns this page into a real workspace — pick a date, lock in lodging, send invites, take RSVPs, and split the budget across families. Free to start, no card required.
Things to do (with the family)
Hand-curated. Every entry links to its official source so you can plan without guessing.
Longboat Key Gulf beaches
Ten miles of quiet, uncrowded white-sand beach with calm, gradual-entry Gulf water - ideal for swimming and shelling. Public access points dot the island. The reunion-day anchor; far less crowded than Siesta or Anna Maria. Free (limited parking - know the access points).
Official source ↗St. Armands Circle
10 min south - an upscale dining-and-shopping roundabout on St. Armands Key with boutiques, ice cream, and 20+ restaurants under banyan trees. The graze-and-stroll evening that suits every age. Free to wander; dining and shopping extra. Park early on weekends.
Official source ↗Mote Marine Aquarium (City Island)
10 min south on City Island - the public aquarium of the renowned Mote Marine Lab, with sharks, manatees, sea turtles, and touch tanks. The reliable rainy-day / hot-afternoon family backup. ~$30/adult. (A larger Mote SEA campus is opening near I-75.)
Official source ↗The Ringling (museum & estate)
20 min in Sarasota - circus magnate John Ringling's bayfront estate: a world-class art museum, the Cà d'Zan mansion, and a circus museum, on 66 gardened acres. The marquee cultural day; something for every age. ~$25/adult, kids often free.
Official source ↗Kayak & paddleboard Sarasota Bay
Calm mangrove tunnels and seagrass flats on the island's bay side - beginner-friendly paddling with manatees, dolphins, and wading birds. Rentals and guided tours on the island and at Ken Thompson Park. The low-key active morning for teens and adults. ~$30-50.
Official source ↗Dolphin & sunset cruises
Bottlenose dolphins are common in Sarasota Bay and the Gulf year-round. Operators out of Sarasota and Anna Maria run dolphin-watch and sunset cruises; book a private group boat for 20+. The all-ages on-the-water hour. ~$35-55/adult.
Official source ↗Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
20 min in Sarasota - 15 bayfront acres famous for orchids and epiphytes, with a kids' garden, a rainforest conservatory, and a treetop walkway. The pretty, easy, shaded morning that works for grandparents and little kids. ~$25/adult.
Official source ↗Anna Maria Island day-trip
15-20 min north - the laid-back, old-Florida island with the Bridge Street pier, the free Anna Maria trolley, and Pine Avenue shops. The relaxed neighbor-island day-trip; great casual seafood. Free to wander; activities extra.
Official source ↗Siesta Key & its famous beach
30 min south - Siesta Beach's powder-quartz sand is regularly ranked America's best, plus the lively Siesta Key Village. The high-energy beach-and-village day-trip when the group wants more buzz. Free beach; parking fills early.
Official source ↗Lido Key Beach & Ted Sperling Park
10 min south on Lido Key - a wide public beach plus Ted Sperling Park's mangrove kayak trail. A good alternative beach with easy parking and a pavilion. The variety-day beach for groups based on Longboat. Free; kayak rentals extra.
Official source ↗Myakka River State Park
45 min east - one of Florida's oldest and largest state parks: airboat and tram tours, alligators, a canopy walkway, and miles of trails. The wild-Florida day-trip for groups wanting nature beyond the beach. $6/car plus tour fees.
Official source ↗Golf & tennis at the Longboat Key Club
The island's private golf-and-tennis club (45 holes, 20 tennis courts) opens to resort guests and through packages. The active-adults reunion afternoon; arrange tee times and courts through the resort. Fees vary; resort guests get access.
Official source ↗Bayfront fishing & shelling
Fish off island access points and Sarasota Bay, or shell the quiet Gulf beaches at low tide - whelks, conchs, and sand dollars wash up. The free, all-ages morning ritual; bring rods and mesh bags. Free.
Official source ↗Sarasota arts: ballet, opera & theater
Downtown Sarasota punches far above its size - the Sarasota Ballet, Opera, Orchestra, and several theaters. If your reunion has a culture-loving contingent, grab a block of tickets for an evening show. The grown-up night out. Varies by performance.
Official source ↗Find more things to do for your Longboat Key, Florida reunion
The picks above are general. Inside the Reunly app, Rosi tailors local activities, meals, and printables to your actual dates, group size, ages, and budget - and saves them straight to your reunion plan.
Where to hold your reunion near Longboat Key, Florida
Outdoor pavilions, county parks, fairgrounds, and event grounds within driving distance - places where your group can actually gather, not just visit.
The Resort at Longboat Key Club
🏨 Resort / LodgeThe island's premier full-service resort with Gulf-front ballrooms, lawn event space, 45 holes of golf, 20 tennis courts, and ~200 rooms and suites. The natural reunion-block-and-banquet anchor for large multi-gen groups.
Reserve / info ↗Zota Beach Resort
🏨 Resort / LodgeA Gulf-front resort with ~187 rooms, beachfront event lawn, and meeting space. A polished, slightly more casual reunion-block option with direct beach access on the north end of the island.
Reserve / info ↗Bayfront Park Recreation Center - Longboat Key
🌳 County ParkA town-run bayfront park and recreation center with a pavilion, tennis and pickleball courts, a pool, and bay access. An affordable municipal venue for island family gatherings and picnics.
Reserve / info ↗The Ringling - Event Venues
🏛 Event CenterThe historic bayfront Ringling estate rents its gardens, courtyards, and historic spaces for private events. A grand, culture-rich venue for a milestone reunion banquet or reception.
Reserve / info ↗Ken Thompson Park - City Island
🌳 County ParkA Sarasota bayfront park near Mote Marine with pavilions, boat ramps, and picnic areas overlooking the bay. A free outdoor gathering spot close to the aquarium and St. Armands.
Reserve / info ↗Robarts Arena / Sarasota Fairgrounds
🎪 FairgroundThe Sarasota County fairgrounds with arena and exhibition halls for large indoor gatherings. The big-banquet venue for very large reunions needing a single space the island can't provide.
Reserve / info ↗👥 With Reunly
Save Longboat Key, Florida to a real reunion plan
Reunly turns this destination into a workspace — venue picks, guest list, RSVPs, budget split, and a day-of schedule everyone can see. Free to start.
Good for
- Quiet beach-plus-culture reunions
- Multi-gen reunions with active grandparents (golf/tennis)
- Resort-condo reunions wanting space and amenities
- Reunions that want day-trips (Sarasota, Anna Maria, Siesta)
- Calm, low-key island reunions (less party, more relaxation)
- Arts-and-dining-loving adult groups
Practical logistics
- Closest Airports
- Sarasota-Bradenton International (SRQ) 20-25 min - small, easy, direct flights from 30+ cities (Allegiant, JetBlue, Breeze, majors). Tampa International (TPA) ~1 hr north for the widest schedule. St. Pete-Clearwater (PIE) ~1.25 hr for budget carriers.
- Drive Times
- Sarasota 20 min · Bradenton 25 min · St. Armands Circle 10 min · Tampa 1.25 hr · Fort Myers 1.25 hr · Orlando 2.5 hr · Miami 3.5 hr · Atlanta 7.5 hr.
- Group Lodging
- The Resort at Longboat Key Club (marquee full-service resort - golf, tennis, beach, ~200 rooms/suites; the reunion-block centerpiece). Zota Beach Resort (Gulf-front, ~187 rooms). Gulf-front resort condos throughout the island (Vrbo/condo programs). 3-6 BR vacation homes. Big groups book a resort block plus several condos.
- Rental Companies
- Longboat Key Vacation Rentals, RVA (Resort Vacation Accommodations), and Michael Saunders & Company handle island condos and homes. Vrbo and Airbnb list many. The Resort at Longboat Key Club runs its own room-and-condo block program for groups.
- House Size
- 3-5 BR is the standard vacation-home inventory; Gulf-front condos run 2-4 BR. Larger 6-8 BR estates exist (canal- and Gulf-front) but are premium-priced. Big groups (60+) typically combine a Resort at Longboat Key Club block with several condos or homes.
- Peak Season
- January through April - snowbird season. The busiest, priciest stretch; book 6-9 months ahead. Spring break weeks (March) spike family-resort demand. Christmas-New Year's is a secondary peak. Reserve resort blocks 9-12 months out.
- Shoulder Season
- October-November - 80°F days, low humidity, ebbing crowds, pre-snowbird rates (30% off peak). Early December and early May are also strong. Summer (June-Sept) is cheapest but hot, humid, and storm-prone, with quiet beaches and warm Gulf.
- Restaurants
- St. Armands Circle (Columbia Restaurant - Spanish landmark, Cha Cha Coconuts, Shore - 20+ options, the dining hub) · Euphemia Haye (Longboat fine dining institution) · Dry Dock Waterfront Grill (seafood, bay views) · Mar Vista (waterfront, old-Florida) · Harry's Continental Kitchens (island staple) · Blue Dolphin Cafe (breakfast). Reserve groups of 12+ 2-3 weeks ahead; peak season 4 weeks. Many reunions cook several nights in the condos.
- Kid Friendly
- The calm, gradual-entry Gulf beaches, Mote Marine Aquarium, Selby Gardens' kids' garden, kayaking the bay mangroves, and dolphin cruises suit ages 3-14. Older kids enjoy the Ringling, Siesta Key Village, and Myakka airboats. The quiet, low-traffic island is reassuring for parents of little kids; resort kids' programs help too.
- Accessibility
- Most island resorts and St. Armands Circle are flat and ADA-accessible. Beach wheelchairs are available through some resorts and public access points - ask ahead. The Resort at Longboat Key Club and Zota are fully accessible. Mote, the Ringling, and Selby Gardens are wheelchair-friendly. Soft-sand beach access varies by point.
- Weather Window
- Winter 70-78°F days, 55-62°F nights, dry and sunny - peak season. Spring 78-86°F, low humidity, the photogenic window. Summer 88-92°F, very humid, near-daily afternoon thunderstorms (brief). Fall 80-86°F days, humidity easing - strong shoulder. Gulf water 70-86°F by season.
- Park Fee
- No island entry fee. Beach access is free but parking is limited - know the public access points. Myakka River State Park $6/car. Selby Gardens, Mote, and the Ringling charge admission. St. Armands parking is free but fills on weekends.
- Official Site
- https://www.longboatkey.org/
When to go
October-November for the value shoulder - 80°F days, low humidity, thinning crowds, pre-snowbird rates. January-April for the warmest, driest weather and full programming (peak prices, book 6-9 months ahead; March spring-break weeks spike). Early December and early May are strong, cheaper windows. Summer is cheapest but hot, humid, and storm-prone.
Best for your group size
Small group · 10–25
10-25 fits in one 4-5 BR Longboat Key vacation home or two adjacent Gulf-front condos.
Medium group · 25–60
25-60 should book a cluster of Gulf-front condos or a 30-50 room block at the Resort at Longboat Key Club or Zota Beach Resort.
Large group · 60+
60+ groups combine a Resort at Longboat Key Club block (golf, tennis, beach, ~200 rooms/suites - the natural big-group anchor) with several condos or homes. The resort is the island's only property that can absorb a large reunion in one place.
💰 With Reunly
Split the cost across families fairly
Reunly's budget tool tracks who paid for what and splits the bill per-family or per-adult automatically. No more Venmo group-chat math.
Sample 5-day Longboat Key reunion
A starter agenda you can copy into Reunly's Schedule and customize for your group.
Sunday - Arrival & St. Armands
- 12:00 PM SRQ airport pickups (20-25 min)
- 2:00 PM check in at the resort or condos
- 3:30 PM unpack, first beach walk
- 5:30 PM drive to St. Armands Circle (10 min)
- 6:30 PM group dinner at the Columbia Restaurant
- 8:00 PM ice cream and a Circle stroll
Monday - Beach Day
- 8:30 AM breakfast at the condos
- 10:00 AM Longboat Key Gulf beach - swim, shell, relax
- 12:30 PM beach picnic lunch
- 2:30 PM kayak the Sarasota Bay mangroves or pool time
- 5:30 PM Gulf-front sunset cookout at the rental
- 8:00 PM s'mores and beach games
Tuesday - The Ringling & Selby Gardens
- 8:30 AM breakfast
- 10:00 AM The Ringling - art museum, Cà d'Zan, circus museum (20 min)
- 12:30 PM lunch in downtown Sarasota
- 2:30 PM Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
- 5:00 PM return to Longboat
- 7:00 PM dinner at Dry Dock Waterfront Grill (book ahead)
Wednesday - Mote & Anna Maria
- 9:00 AM Mote Marine Aquarium on City Island (10 min)
- 11:30 AM drive north to Anna Maria Island
- 12:30 PM lunch on Bridge Street; pier and shops
- 2:30 PM Anna Maria beach time
- 5:00 PM return to Longboat
- 7:00 PM cook night at the condos
Thursday - Golf, Tennis & Goodbyes
- 8:00 AM golf or tennis at the Longboat Key Club (active group)
- 8:30 AM beach morning for everyone else
- 11:00 AM final shelling walk
- 12:30 PM goodbye lunch at Harry's Continental Kitchens
- 2:00 PM travel home from SRQ
📅 With Reunly
Build the Longboat Key, Florida reunion schedule in minutes
Drag the sample itinerary above into Reunly's Schedule, add per-event RSVPs, and share one link with the whole family. Rosi (our AI) fills in gaps from your group size and dates.
Reunion organizer tips
Book 6-9 months ahead for January-April; reserve a Resort at Longboat Key Club block 9-12 months out. Spring-break weeks (March) and the best Gulf-front condos go first. October-November and December rentals can be booked 3-4 months ahead.
Choose resort vs. condos vs. homes. The Resort at Longboat Key Club gives you golf, tennis, beach, dining, and an easy 40-100 person block - the low-logistics play for active multi-gen groups. Gulf-front condos give you kitchens and space. Vacation homes give you the most room to spread out. Many reunions combine a resort block with a few condos.
Lean on the location. Longboat's edge is that it's quiet but central - 10 minutes to St. Armands Circle, 20 to the Ringling and downtown Sarasota arts, 15-20 to Anna Maria, 30 to Siesta Key. Plan one beach-base day, then one day-trip day, and rotate.
Make St. Armands Circle the group dinner hub. With 20+ restaurants in one walkable roundabout, it's the easiest place to feed a big, opinionated family - the Columbia Restaurant handles large parties, and there's ice cream and shopping for after. Reserve big tables ahead on weekends.
Build a culture day around the Ringling. The art museum, Cà d'Zan mansion, and circus museum on 66 gardened acres give a rainy-day-proof, all-ages outing 20 minutes away. Pair it with Selby Gardens or downtown Sarasota lunch.
Plan one bay-and-dolphin morning. Kayaking the calm Sarasota Bay mangroves or a dolphin/sunset cruise breaks up the beach routine and is a reliable hit for kids and grandparents alike. Book private group boats for 20+.
Group dinners 2-3 weeks ahead (4 weeks in peak season). Euphemia Haye and Dry Dock handle groups; the Columbia at St. Armands is the go-to for big tables. For casual nights, the condos' kitchens plus a Gulf-front cookout work well - most reunions cook 3-4 nights.
Stock from the Publix on the island or the Sarasota Costco / Detwiler's (20-30 min). Most condos and homes have full kitchens. Instacart delivers across Sarasota. Provision on arrival so you're not running back over the bridge.
Watch the summer storm pattern and hurricane season. June-September brings near-daily brief afternoon thunderstorms; plan beach mornings and indoor/culture afternoons. Peak hurricane risk is August-September - book refundable rates and watch the forecast if you go then.
Use the resort kids' and golf/tennis programs to split the group. The Longboat Key Club's golf and tennis keep active adults and teens busy while parents take little kids to the beach - a built-in way to let a big multi-gen group do its own thing and reconvene for dinner.
Reunly's tools handle the rest. Use the budget tool to split a resort block and condo shares fairly, the polls feature to pick the day-trips (Ringling, Anna Maria, Siesta, Myakka), and the itinerary builder to coordinate the beach-base / day-trip rhythm and St. Armands dinners across the whole reunion.
How Reunly helps you plan it
Reunly is the all-in-one app made for family reunion organizers. Free to start. No credit card. Cancel anytime.
Smart guest list
Drop in any spreadsheet - Rosi (our AI) reads multi-sheet, color-coded family groups, even handwritten exports. RSVP, dietary, T-shirt, paid status all in one row.
Open in Reunly →Public RSVP link
Share one link with the whole family. They RSVP per event (Friday BBQ, Saturday dinner) without making an account. You see live counts.
Open in Reunly →Budget that adds up
Track estimated vs. actual, who paid, who still owes. Auto-creates per-guest fee rows from your registration cost.
Open in Reunly →Day-by-day schedule
Friday welcome BBQ, Saturday photo, Sunday brunch - with location, meal flag, and per-event RSVPs.
Open in Reunly →Name tags + printables
Avery 5160 sheets color-coded by family, programs, welcome packets, packing lists - auto-filled from your data.
Open in Reunly →Rosi the AI helper
Stuck on a reminder email? A budget? A timeline? Click Rosi anywhere in the app - she drafts it from your live data.
Open in Reunly →Plan your Longboat Key, Florida reunion with Reunly
Free to start. Build your guest list, share an RSVP link, track payments, and print name tags - no spreadsheets.
Frequently asked
What's the best time for a family reunion on Longboat Key?
October-November is the value sweet spot - 80°F days, low humidity, thinning crowds, and pre-snowbird rates. January-April brings the warmest, driest weather and full programming but is the busiest and most expensive (book 6-9 months ahead; March spring-break weeks spike). Early December and early May are strong, cheaper windows.
Should we stay at a resort or in condos on Longboat Key?
The Resort at Longboat Key Club gives you golf, tennis, beach, dining, and an easy 40-100 person block - the low-logistics choice for active multi-gen groups. Gulf-front condos and 3-6 BR homes give you kitchens and room to spread out. Many reunions combine a resort block with a few condos.
How big a place do we need for 30 people on Longboat Key?
Plan on a cluster of Gulf-front condos, two or three adjacent 4-5 BR homes, or a 30-room block at the Resort at Longboat Key Club or Zota Beach Resort. The resort is the cleanest way to house 30 in one place; condos give more kitchen-and-space flexibility.
What's the closest airport to Longboat Key?
Sarasota-Bradenton International (SRQ) at just 20-25 minutes - small, easy, with direct flights from 30+ cities (Allegiant, JetBlue, Breeze, and the majors). Tampa International (TPA) at about an hour north has the widest schedule for families flying from smaller markets.
Is Longboat Key good for a multi-gen reunion?
Yes - it's quiet but central. Calm gradual-entry beaches suit little kids, the Longboat Key Club's golf and tennis keep active adults and teens busy, and St. Armands Circle, the Ringling, and Mote are minutes away for culture and rainy days. The low-traffic island feel is reassuring for grandparents and parents alike.
How does Longboat Key compare to Siesta Key or Anna Maria?
Longboat is the quietest and most manicured of the three - lower-key and more grown-up, with uncrowded beaches and resort condos. Siesta Key (30 min south) has the famous powder-sand beach and a livelier village; Anna Maria (15-20 min north) is laid-back old-Florida. From Longboat you can day-trip to both, which is part of its appeal.
How much does a Longboat Key reunion cost per family?
Peak season (Jan-April): roughly $3,500-6,000 per family of 4 for a week including a condo or resort share, dining, and activities. Shoulder season (Oct-Nov, early Dec): about 30% less. Resort blocks at the Longboat Key Club run higher than condo shares but bundle golf, tennis, and beach amenities.
Do we need to worry about hurricanes or summer storms?
Summer (June-September) brings near-daily brief afternoon thunderstorms - plan beach mornings and indoor/culture afternoons. Peak hurricane risk is August-September; if you book then, choose refundable rates and watch the National Hurricane Center forecast. October onward the weather settles and the peak Jan-April season is essentially storm-free.
Other reunion-friendly spots nearby
Helpful planning guides
The complete family reunion checklist
12-month, 6-month, and day-of checklists organizers actually use.
Read the guide →Family reunion budget guide
How to estimate, track, and split costs without spreadsheets.
Read the guide →Family reunion on a $2,500 budget
A real budget breakdown for a destination reunion under $2.5K.
Read the guide →