Longboat Key, Florida

What It Is Like to Retire in Longboat key

Longboat Key is a small town on a barrier island surrounded by the beautiful waters of Gulf of Mexico and the Sarasota Bay. Its history begins with the Calusa and Timucan Indians who lived on the mainland but traveled to the island to enjoy the beaches and seafood. Today it is home to approximately 7,000 year-round residents, who also enjoy the beaches and seafood, but the population can swell to about 20,000 during the winter months. Many snowbirds have second homes on Longboat key, and it is a tourist destination as it boasts beautiful parks and beaches, great fishing, kayaking, and sailing, along with several resorts which also attract visitors. Longboat Key and the Historical Society created a self-tour of the town involving sites that tell its history and can be taken in your car or on your bike. Picture of Longboat Key Beach courtesy of Wikipedia and Ebyabe; picture of The Longboat Pass Bridge raising for vessel traffic courtesy of Wikipedia and Mykhaylovdimitriy, Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0/

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Where to Retire in Longboat key and Home Prices

Real estate in Longboat Key is made up of single-family homes and condominiums. Zillow reports the median home value to be $669,568 in late 2020. At the north end of the island is LongBeach Village which was a transient fishing village where homes date back to the 1920's, but newer contemporary homes are also mixed in. There are resorts and homes to rent here also.

What Is Special about Longboat key

Longboat Key is a quiet, small town that offers natural beauty with its beaches, parks and outdoor recreation including biking trails with wonderful Gulf views. It is a popular spot for retirees and snowbirds, and is close to Sarasota.

What Is Not Special about Longboat key

Traffic going on and off the island during the winter months is a problem and can take a long time to get to Sarasota; There are no hospitals located on the island.

Who Will Like Retirement in Longboat key

With an average age of 73, retirees must enjoy it here. Boating, sailing, hiking, golf and tennis are all offered, along with an historical society, a library and The Longboat Key Education Center that offers courses, yoga, book clubs, lectures and guided day trips throughout Southwest Florida.

Local Economy Is Driven by

The economy is driven by professional services, real estate and tourism.

Climate and Physical Environment

January's average temperature is 61 degrees, with July's average at 81 degrees.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

There are several restaurants in Longboat Key with a few of them recognized as top restaurants in the state of Florida. The local cultural scene is provide by the Longboat Key Education center which provides over 150 courses and activities, and the Longboat Key Historical Society that preserves and exhibits materials, photography and artifacts, and offers educational activities. Nearby Sarasota provides many cultural events, museums, galleries and festivals.

Crime

The crime rate in Longboat Key is very low.

Medical facilities

Medical facilities and hospitals can be found in Bradenton and Sarasota about 12 miles from the island.

Transportation

There is bus service and shuttle service offered; biking is popular and there is a Longboat Key Bicycling Association; The nearest airport is the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport about 17 miles away.

Valuable Links

Town of Longboat Key Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce