Before winter fully set in we decided to take a short family trip to the beach. I decided Longboat Key in Sarasota would be a fabulous place to visit for a three day weekend, since it’s world famous and said to be one of the most beautiful beaches. It surely did live up to the hype, so I thought I would share my travel experience with all of you so you can see how wonderful The Resort at Longboat Key Club is for yourselves!

The Resort at Longboat Key Club is a breathtaking family-friendly luxurious beach vacation resort with 410 acres of lush landscaping, adjoined by 2 golf courses and a 9-mile path perfect for taking that romantic walk, or biking and taking in the scenery. Umm did I mention tennis? This is what got me the most excited because my whole family can enjoy that together. There are 20 courts, so if you enjoy this sport, you will have found heaven here! There are year round kids activities through Camp Loggerhead which means you can go get some adult time in at the pool, or spa while the kids are well occupied. A perfect staycation is just a drive away if you are a Florida local like myself. If you aren’t, it’s so simple to fly into a nearby airport and head on over for a wonderful trip.

BEACH / POOL

I seriously feel like summer never ends whenever I set foot onto a Sarasota beach. With an average year round temperature of 75 degrees its a place you can go visit year round. There are so many things to do on the beach from lounging in chairs, or a cabana, to water activities. My kids really loved the pedalboards that were out on the beach and wore themselves out going up and down the strip of water in front of the resort.

I also loved how there was very little waves, so we could enjoy wading in the water peacefully. The possibilities at the pool and beach are endless. Order a drink from the endless supply of waiters, play in the water, soak in the hot tub, take a stroll along the sand, or watch the wildlife. The sunset is beautiful along this stretch of beach as well!! You really could spend the entire time just soaking up the sun at the beach, but there are so many great activities that the Resort at Longboat Key offers.

*Photography courtesy of The Resort at Longboat Key Club

Swimsuit / Cover-up / Sunglasses / Sandals / Hat

KIDS ACTIVITIES

When I go on vacation as a family I want to go somewhere that is also going to have things to entertain my children. I love spending time with them, but its also nice to get that date night dinner and know that your kids are being well taken care of and having fun with friends while you get a bit of relaxation. Unfortunately we missed the Sea Turtle nesting, but there were quite a few activities for watching wildlife, exploring, and learning a bit more about nature. I feel like the kids got to not only have fun, but received something educational out of it. They also have more intensive camps during the summer that include tennis, golf, and other sport activities.

*Photography courtesy of The Resort at Longboat Key Club

TENNIS

I did a major happy dance when I not only saw the tennis courts, but the café and shop. This is like it’s own resort in itself and boy did we have a good day there. We had no problem securing a couple of courts for the 6 of us and could rotate who was playing who. We could have even stayed there well into the evening since a quarter of their courts are lighted for playing at night. We didn’t take any lessons while we were there, but if we had been there for a week it definitely would have been in the game plan. There are water fountains all over and towels provided, so you really don’t have to worry about bringing much along. The Resort at Longboat Key Club is recognized as the #1 tennis resort in Florida, so if tennis is your jam, then this resort will surely leave you with lasting memories.

*Photography courtesy of The Resort at Longboat Key Club

GOLF

The Resort at Longboat Key golf course has been consistently ranked as one of the country’s finest courses. It has also earned the “Best Places to Play” award from Golf Digest, and with 45 holes, it is a golf lovers dream. After you are done either improving your game with a lesson by an experienced PGA pro, or have completed a round on either one of the two sets of links, you can unwind at Spike ‘n Tees for cocktails and lunch. We didn’t play a round this trip, but my family is a group of avid golfers and would take advantage of this on a longer vacation.

*Video courtesy of The Resort at Longboat Key Club

SPA/WELLNESS

I didn’t check out the spa on this trip, because we just had too many other things going on. However, on my next visit I will definitely be going and getting a massage, or mani/pedi. This is a great activity to do if you are there with your girlfriends, part of a bridal party, or if you want to be romantic and get a couples massage. They have different specials going on every month, so I would check that out before you visit. The wellness programs really intrigued me as well since they have quite a few options such as stress relief, better sleep, and balanced nutrition. You can not only physically relax, but mentally relax as well.

DINING

I loved waking up every morning to a delicious room service breakfast that I could eat on my balcony over looking the ocean. It was so peaceful and relaxing. With the variety on the menu, you could really eat all three meals in your room if you really wanted to. I didn’t though haha, especially since I wanted to take advantage of trying out one, or more of the 6 other restaurants on site. They have it all from casual to elegant. My favorite dish was the Ratatouille that I ate at their upscale American style cuisine restaurant. Then one night we tried out the Portofino which is located on the marina with an outdoor Mediterranean terrace and Northern Italian dishes. This definitely felt like a journey to Italy.

The cocktail list was extensive between the craft cocktails and wines at the restaurants to the delicious frozen drinks at the pool and the beach. I definitely drank many Pina Coladas and my kids really enjoyed getting virgin frozen drinks after being in the hot sun. Everything we needed was only steps away from our room.

SHOPPING & NIGHTLIFE

There is some shopping on site at The Resort at Longboat Key. They have basic toiletries and beach items, plus a shop that boasts swimwear, golf attire, and tennis outfits. There is also an amazing tennis selection at the Tennis Pro shop!! My mother in law ended up purchasing me a gorgeous tennis bag that we saw there for Christmas.

Dress/ Shoes / Clutch / Earrings

Five minutes away though is the renowned St. Armand’s Circle. This is the place to eat and shop till you drop. Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer, Everything But Water, and boutiques that carried designer items such as Trina Turk are just a few of the places you can find there. My favorite place was this really cool spice and tea shop called The Spice & Tea Exchange. There is also some great nightlife spots in St. Armand’s. We went to a Restaurant called 15 South who in the evening, turns the upstairs into a night club with a live band. We had so much fun dancing to live salsa music and the drink prices weren’t bad either. Then we went over to Daiquiri Deck and tried their strong frozen drinks which came in soooo many flavors. My favorite was the banana daiquiri, and I’m not sure if I will find another one as good as that, because goodness knows I have tried. So, I know I will make my way back over there just for that!!

 All in all it was a fabulously fun filled weekend. I wish we could have stayed longer, but we had to get back to work and life. I plan on going back next year though again!!

Swimsuit – Victoria’s Secret

Peace out Resort at Longboat Key…you were a blast!!

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