IN THE KEYS OF LIFE

Escape to the island paradises off Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Just offshore from the pleasant cities of Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida, lies a small collection of barrier islands, perched between the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay. Connected to the mainland and to each other by a series of bridges and causeways, Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, Lido Key, St Armands Key and Siesta Key all share the same powdery white-sand beaches and tranquil turquoise Gulf waters. Any one of the five offers enough natural beauty, recreation and relaxation to justify a visit—taken together, they could easily fill up an entire holiday itinerary.

But how to choose? While each island has its passionate devotees, it’s fair to say that each will appeal to different travel sensibilities. If the phrase “private island paradise” makes you prick up your ears, look to Longboat Key, where the resorts are beautifully designed and maintained, the landscape is lush but impeccably groomed, and the beaches are pristine and tranquil. Longboat Key has 11 miles of seashore dotted with elegant resorts and family-style condominiums, many with private beach access, heated pools, state-of-the-art spas, health clubs and tennis courts (Longboat’s Colony Beach Resort is near the top of Tennis magazine’s annual “50 Best” list.) This diminutive island also boasts two championship golf courses and a 10-mile bike path popular with cyclists and rollerbladers. On the bay side, Quick Point Nature Preserve showcases mangrove wetlands and a tidal lagoon, and Joan M Durante Community Park encloses another type of Florida ecosystem, the coastal hardwood hammock forest. Longboat Key also hosts two of the most highly-rated restaurants in the state, Euphemia Haye and Mar Vista.

Cross the bridge at the north end of Longboat Key and you’ll enter an entirely different version of beach heaven, Anna Maria Island, where pastel cottages peek from behind mounds of bougainvillea and jasmine, and the highest posted speed limit is 25mph. A 7.5-mile barrier island graced with the same natural wonders as its more upscale neighbor, Anna Maria is a welcoming slice of old Florida with a fun small-town vibe, a family-friendly atmosphere and a master plan that prohibits high-rise development. Its low-key accommodations include mom-and-pop motels, quaint inns and private seaside vacation homes. The island’s three unpretentious beach towns—Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach and Anna Maria—are positively oozing with local color. Three county-run gulf beaches offer a full complement of facilities—free parking, picnic tables, playgrounds, restrooms and concessions—and the three other public beaches are equally inviting, if not quite as stocked with mod cons. On Bradenton Beach’s historic Bridge St, you’ll find colorful souvenir shops, restaurants (including a French creperie) and a spa. At the end of the strip is the remains of the old bridge to the mainland, now a picturesque pier topped with a clock tower. All three of Anna Maria Island’s towns have an array of eateries, from stone crab-shacks to intriguing bistros.

Lido and St Armands Keys, located to the south of Longboat Key, were originally purchased by circus impresario John Ringling for development as a resort. Ringling didn’t manage to fulfill his plans, but he would not be disappointed by what Lido and St Armands have become. The main attraction on St Armands Key is St Armands Circle, a collection of 130 upscale shops and restaurants set amidst tropical greenery, quaint courtyards and Italian statuary. St Armands Circle is also a lively nighttime venue, with outdoor restaurants and a high-energy dance club, the Patio Lounge. Lido Key offers a quiet counterpoint to St Armands’ more expansive mood, with beaches, nature trails and boardwalks to wander. Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, one of the Sarasota area’s must-see attractions, is located at the tip of Lido Key. Here, you can experience a 135,000-gallon shark tank, touch tanks and a marine mammal rehabilitation center.

One more key to the south, Siesta Key has some of the finest and whitest sand in the world (its Crescent Beach won in these categories in the World Sand Challenge in 1987), as well as 50 miles of inland canals to explore by canoe or kayak. Siesta Key is also a top fishing destination, with stellar surf casting, bridge fishing and deep-sea fishing opportunities. In Siesta Village, Ocean Boulevard is lined with pubs, restaurants and wine bars that attract a young, lively crowd from Sarasota. Many of the bars have live rock music in the evening.

With the distinctions out of the way, it’s time to review what these small Gulf jewels have in common. Consider the following: manatees and dolphins frolicking just off the beach; great blue herons competing with surfcasters for fish; dunes covered with sea oats and sea grapes; an abundance of seashells to collect as you stroll on the beach; meteor showers lighting up the night sky over the Gulf of Mexico. Not to mention sailing, sea kayaking, canoeing, hiking, parasailing and shopping (if St Armands Circle leaves you hungry for more, there is a huge outlet mall in Ellenton, about half an hour away). Factor in the considerable cultural offerings of Sarasota—worthy of an article unto themselves—and you’ve got a pretty irresistible package.

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