Walking through Longboat Key is like taking a trip through paradise. The palm trees, breeze, and beach background make up the breathtaking scenery of Longboat Key. Some people say to experience Longboat Key to the fullest; it’s best to do it from the trails. Longboat Key’s real beauty lies within its mangroves, hiking trails, and other little off the beaten path type of areas that you generally can’t find from inside the driver’s seat of your vehicle.
You will see that there is no shortage of beautiful scenery in Longboat Key, a walk might be your best choice for finding the sights that make even the best photographer envious. During your walk, you can explore the north to the south end of the island so you can take in everything along the way and experience the crisp, open air and pristine weather. Combining exercise and sightseeing on Longboat Key is where the fun is at!
Longboat Key Trail
Longboat Key is our top choice for walking trails because of the beautiful coastal views. This trail is a little under 10 miles and runs throughout Longboat Key. Be careful of the traffic because even though a 10mph speed limit is strictly enforced, it’s best to be vigilant and be aware of cars coming out of driveways and side roads. If you find that you want to continue your walk, simply continue over the bridge onto Anna Maria Island and explore Cortez and Coquina beaches. Your most surely catch a glimpse of a manatee or a dolphin so get your camera ready.
South Lido Park
South Lido Park in Sarasota is also a great place to start your walk. Complete with four bodies of water; the Gulf of Mexico, Big Pass, Sarasota Bay and Brushy Bayou encompassing it, it might be one of the most serene places other than the Key. It doesn’t get much better than being surrounded by such incredible views. Another great place to walk in the morning in Sarasota is the Legacy Trail which runs between Sarasota and Venice and covers over 12 miles of the coast.
Legacy Trail
Once you’re on the Legacy Trail, you have the choice of continuing onto Venice via the Venetian Waterway. The walking trail in Venice is flat and winds through a pleasant mix of urban, industrial, and open space. Venice is known for its creative murals and numerous picnic areas if you find that you need to rest. Venetian Waterway Park is connected to downtown Venice and Caspersen Beach Park. These walking trails overlook the pristine water of the bay.
Robinson Preserve
Bradenton has a ton of spectacular parks that offer great walking trails as well. Robinson Preserve is a place that allows you to walk, hike, bike, skate, and jog. It’s most notable feature about it is the 5-story observation tower that you climb up and see some of the most famed views of Tampa Bay, Fort Desoto, St. Petersburg, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Anna Maria Island, and Egmont Key. We promise it’s a view that you will want to remember again and again. Nothing else in Florida compares quite like this so try not to miss it!
