Longboat Key: Island Nature and History

Longboat Key is a barrier island: the Gulf of Mexico lies to the west and Sarasota Bay to the east. Local features include restored natural areas, a cycling route across the island and historic landmarks. If you are planning a hotel stay, you can compare Longboat Key’s offerings with your travel interests.

Natural Areas and Wildlife Watching

Joan M. Durante Park was created by enhancing and restoring one of the few remaining undeveloped properties on the island. The property was developed into a functional wetland and a coastal hammock forest. These two habitats set the park’s focus apart from wildlife watching at the tidal lagoon in Quick Point Nature Preserve.

The lagoon in Quick Point Nature Preserve is man-made. Visitors can observe whelks, fighting conchs, juvenile crabs, many small fish and wading birds there. Bird species include Snowy Egret, White Ibis, Herring Gull, Great Blue Heron, Great American Egret and Osprey. Which animals appear varies naturally and by season. If you are particularly interested in wildlife watching, this seasonal variation is an important part of planning.

Cycling Across Longboat Key

A cycling route almost 10 miles long runs across Longboat Key. Alongside the specific natural areas, there is also a cycling route that extends across the island. The two activities differ in how you plan for them: a route length is specified for cycling, while wildlife watching in the lagoon varies by season. Conditions on the cycling route can change; check them before setting out.

Historic Traces of the Island

Longboat Key has seven historic markers that highlight events from the island’s history. One marks a house from the 1900s at 631 Broadway. At the northern end of the island, a few houses built in the early 20th century also still stand. These landmarks offer different clues to the area’s history: a dated house designation, surviving early buildings and markers commemorating events in the island’s history.

One specific example is the Rufus P. Jordan House, also known as Mar Vista. It was built in a settlement that Rufus Jordan subdivided between 1911 and 1914. Because of its local significance through its connection to Jordan, the house was nominated for inclusion in the National Register under Criterion B. Mar Vista is the only surviving building in Florida directly associated with Rufus Jordan.

Getting Around

The Breeze OnDemand transportation service offers curb-to-curb service in Lido/Longboat Key. Check the route status before your trip. This allows you to connect the island’s themes—nature, cycling and history—with the travel arrangements that matter to you as you plan your visit.

Discover more destinations: Englewood, Vamo, North Sarasota, Siesta Key, Gulf Gate Estates, Sarasota, Nokomis, The Meadows

Go to the broader travel overview: Sarasota.