Shopping on Lido Key, Florida

St. Armand's Circle is Lido Key's biggest attractions, with over 130 upscale shops, restaurants, and galleries spilling into the street. At night, the sparkling outdoor lights give it a European feel. For classic American mall shopping, there's Sarasota's upscale Southgate Plaza. For designer threads at a fraction of the price the large Prime Outlets in Ellenton is a twenty-minute drive away. In downtown Sarasota, the picturesque Main Street offers a Rockwellian assortment of charming shops and boutiques. On the first Friday of each month, the boutiques stay open late, and shoppers browse while checking out live performances on the street. For trendier art galleries and shops, try the blocks around Palm and Pineapple Avenues.

Fishing & Watersports on Lido Key, Florida

Lido Key is an ideal spot for avid anglers with its variety of backwater and off-shore habitats. Lighted docks provide the most avid trawlers night time fishing. For adventurous types, there's windsurfing, boogie boarding and all the watery amusement that are standard in any beach destination worth its salt. Warm, clear water and year-round sunshine will tempt even the most timid of swimmers to catch a few waves in the Gulf of Mexico.

New Virtual Catalog

Check out our new virtual catalog!

The catalog allows you to:
- Browse all units within our inventory
- Take a virtual tour of Southwest Florida, which includes links to activities on our beautiful islands.
- Click on the links within the catalog to bring you to the unit page on the RVAFL.com site
- Book online!

Dining on Lido Key

Lido Key restaurants are some of the finest in the Sarasota area, with a variety of menus sure to please any appetite. The plaza at St. Armand's Circle is the place to go for chic bistros, cafes, and pubs with tables that spill out onto the street. Minutes away, downtown Sarasota is well-known among gourmands as a city with flavor. The city's Southside Village is the best place for hip restaurants and people watching.

Some of our favorite restaurants include:
- The Columbia Restaurant
- Fleming's Prime Steakhouse
- Roy's Hawaiian Fusion
- Cafe L'Europe

Arts & Entertainment on Lido Key

Lido Key attracts visitors looking for sun, sand and world-class shopping. Elegant St. Armand's Circle draws shoppers from all over the world with its huge assortment of high-end boutiques and hip bistros. On the north end of the key, the Mote Acquarium delights visitors with fascinating exhibits and shows. On the south end, the South Lido Park is a popular spot for picnics, hikes and canoeing. Just minutes from the beach, downtown Sarasota's bounty of attractions await. Thanks in large part to the efforts and arts-minded developer and circus magnate John Ringling, Sarasota has long been considered Southwest Florida's "Cultural Capital." A happening theatre district, world-class museums, scores of galleries, and the yearly Asolo Theatre Festival keep artsy types busy for days on end. Fans of major league baseball enjoying catching the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates playing spring training games.

Golfing on Lido Key, Florida

Although there are no courses on Lido Key, that doesn't stop golfers from bunking at the island's luxury accommodations. Its convenient location makes Lido Key a prime stop for golfers who want to take advantage of Sarasota's array of 30+ courses. Fine public facilities and upscale semi-private golf communities join posh private clubs in making Sarasota a dream golf getaway. Of the Top 20 Southwest regional courses voted by the readers of "Florida Golf News," nine are in the Sarasota area; and four local courses are in the top 100 places to play in the whole state.

Choose from the following premier golfing locations:
- Sarasota
- Bradenton
- Venice
- North Port

Spa & Wellness on Anna Maria Island, Florida

Luxury resort spas on Anna Maria Island offer high-tech fitness centers, decadent spa treatments, and beach front yoga classes. Beauty buffs looking for pampering at a fraction of the cost can take advantage of a variety of gyms, day spas and salons in the area. Some of our picks for the area include:

- Acqua Aveda Salon & Spa on Holmes Beach
- Ana Molinari Salon and Spa on Longboat Key
- SpaRenity in Bradenton

Arts & Entertainment on Anna Maria Island, Florida

The main attractions on Anna Maria Island are the beautiful beaches and tropical weather. However, visitors can supplement their lazy days with shopping trips, strolls around the City Pier, and excursions to nearby Bradenton and Sarasota. Theater fans can take in a show by The Island Players, who put on a full season of comedies, mysteries and a special summer presentation of classic Shakespeare. If history is your buff, nearby Bradenton offers many historical attractions of Native Americans and dramatic Spanish conquests.

Dining on Anna Maria Island, Florida

Most Anna Maria resorts boast formal restaurants with upscale menus, but the real flavor of the island is best samples at its low-key beachfront restaurants. For ribs and burgers, head to casual eateries lining Holmes Beach. For jerk chicken or bangers and mash, head to Bradenton Beach, where tropical-themed waterfront bars boast eclectic menus. Venture to the mainland, where even more fine dining choices await.

Fishing & Watersports on Anna Maria Island

Three popular piers on Anna Maria Island give the rod n' reel set plenty of places to try their luck. With 20-miles of beaches in the greater Bradenton area, and easy access to the Manatee River, Sarasota Bay and Tampa Bay, Anna Maria is a playground for fishing and boating. Scuba diving, parasailing, windsurfing, jet skiing and wave running are popular activities, and a variety of local outfitters supply rentals, classes and guided excursions.

Shopping on Anna Maria Island

Shoppers can fill their days exploring the island through its variety of shopping districts, offering everything from evening wear to jewelry, to sculptures and antiques. The city of Anna Maria offers one of the finest full-service marinas in the county, with several souvenir, jewelry, clothing and antique shops. In Holmes Beach, coffee shops, galleries and boutiques stretch across a seven-block section of town. In funky Bradenton Beach, the newly restored Bridge Street is home to many shops offering an unusual blend of arts and crafts. Die-hard fashionistas can venture to mainland Bradenton, where upscale malls and bargain-friendly flea market await. Great shopping and dining is available on Lido Key's beautiful and luxurious St. Armand's Circle.

Golf Courses on Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island's resident golfers enjoy an easy commute to wealth of fine courses in both Bradenton and Sarasota. Bradenton's courses garner regular awards from Golf Digest and Golf Magazine, thanks to world-famous architects, impeccably manicured greens, and state-of-the-art facilities. Sarasota gets similar critical raves, and boasts over 30 courses, from fine public facilities to upscale semi-private golf communities, and posh private clubs.

Complimentary Bike Rentals at Sunrise Garden Resort on Anna Maria Island

Sunrise Garden Resort, Anna Maria Island's secluded hideaway, just got better. Book your next getaway for 4 nights or more and receive a coupon for a complimentary bike rental or $20 off services or merchandise redeemable during your vacation at local Beach Bums.

Hidden away on a quiet, residential street in the heart of historic Anna Maria Village, Sunrise Garden Resort offers 16 suites neslted among exotic gardens, coconut palms and tiki huts. The large, heated swimming pool is surrounded by lush flora and fauna and provides the perfect amount of shade from the Florida sun. Located just outside of the ground level suites is a private, tropical patio -- the perfect place to plan the day's activities or relax after a long day exploring.

You will receive your coupon upon arrival, and once they're redeemed at local Beach Bums just down the street, the fun can begin. Beach Bums is known in the area as being the premier island store for souvenirs as well as activities like biking, kayaking and their famous weekend barbeques. This offer is exclusively for guests of Sunrise Garden Resort, so take advantage of this great added value.

Free Bike Rentals at The Beach on Longboat Key

The Beach on Longboat Key, the island's newest chic resort, just got better. Book your next getaway and receive 2 complimentary bike rental coupons redeemable for one day of your vacation.

The Beach on Longboat Key recently underwent complete renovations to meet our Gold standards of excellence. New designs were created using South Beach flair resulting in comfortably modern furnishings and decorations. Located directly on the beach, this resort features beautiful Gulf of Mexico views from your private balcony or patio, direct beach access and memorable sunsets.

You'll receive your free bike coupons upon arrival, and once they're redeemed at the local Ace Hardware just down the street, relaxation can begin as you stroll the town of Longboat Key. This offer is exclusive for guests of The Beach on Longboat Key, so take advantage of this great added value.

To learn more about this deal call: 866-527-3107 or email us at TheBeachLBK@rqswfl.com.

Top Longboat Key Restaurants

Longboat Key restaurants boast cuisine and ambience befitting heads-of-state, who are known to pop in for a meal on occassion. However, visitors seeking flip-flop friendly, casual eateries will take comfort in the key's cafes, diners and ethnic restaurants.

Resort Vacation Accommodations, a ResortQuest Affiliate, has taken the guess-work out of your next visit by compiling our Top 10 Longboat Key Restaurant picks:

1. Pattigeorge's Restaurant
2. Harry's Continental Kitchens
3. Euphemia Haye Restaurant & Lounge
4. Mattison's Steakhouse at the Plaza
5. Blue Dolphin Cafe
6. Dry Dock Waterfront Grill
7. Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant
8. Chart House
9. Lazy Lobster
10. Re Federico

My Ideal Sarasota Valentine’s Day

By: Jana Troyer,
RVA Marketing Coordinator

It might not sound like much, but for a mother of a toddler living in
Sarasota, Florida Valentine’s Day is the one time of the year where I can be over-the-top fabulous. And while my evening won’t consist of half of the things I’ve picked, a girl can dream. So for all those gentleman out there looking to woo their significant others – take a tip from a romantic herself. There’s no such thing as over-extravagant when it comes to the big V. Treat your lady right, and for my contribution to your cause I’ve compiled My Ideal Sarasota Valentine’s Day. I give you full permission to use all or part of my discoveries –guaranteed to make 2010 the Valentine’s Day she always dreamed of.

Best of luck!
_________________________

Valentine’s Day – Sunday, February 14th 2010

9:00 am – REM: Just for one week, we don’t want to meet your mother for brunch. Instead, take the kids or the four-legged friends without us and let my body catch-up on years of missing REM cycles in peace.

10 am – Brunch: With a quiet house and coffee aromas, let me stir out of bed to a table prepared with my favorite First Watch Healthy Turkey omelet, a pot of coffee and the newest SRQ Magazine to peruse.

11 am – Relaxation: After leaving the monsters (either human or four-legged) with your mother for the day, take me to Pineapple Holistic Day Spa for a romantic Henry V couples massage designed to bring us together in a relaxing, sensual environment.

12 pm – Shopping: Schedule a session at Saks 5th Avenue with their personal shopping service where I can find the perfect evening attire in style - all in the comfort of a private runway just you and me.

2 pm – Prettied: After an hour being drenched in massage oils a girl needs to get prettied up for an evening of romance. Take me to Spa Hollywood for their Pretty Woman retreat including a rejuvenation multi-vitamin facial, much-needed mani/pedi, make-up application and a style…all while you prepare the last-minute details of the evening.

6 pm – Dinner: Reservations at Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion or Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse would both please my appetite. But nothing says romance more than knowing you’re loves cuisine style – so make sure the restaurant of the evening is up to HER standards (whatever that might be).

8 pm – Dessert: Nothing tops a night out like The Original dessert at The Melting Pot. There’s just nothing quite like dipping marshmallows and rice-crispy treats into a freshly melted chocolate and peanut butter mixture. It is hands down the best dessert she’ll ever indulge in and is well worth the extra yoga class. Period.

9 pm – Icing: While driving past the infamous St. Armand’s Circle and escaping the hustle-and-bustle of the city stop at Armel Jewelers to purchase the Yvel collectable BIWA PRY necklace…as if you haven’t spoiled me enough for the day.

10 pm – Bubbles: After checking into resort The Beach on Longboat Key – the area’s premier nightly getaway – champagne and a stroll along the beach is the only way to celebrate our love. We can open the doors and windows and listen to the sound of the waves rolling over the tides as we drift to sleep.

16th Annual Siesta Key Craft Fair

Come out this Saturday, February 6 for the 16th Annual Siesta Key Craft Fair. This year marks a milestone year for the fair -- creating an all-craft festival. Take in the sand and the sea along Ocean Boulevard and Beach Road as you discover wonderful crafts including handmade jewelry, ceramics, stained glass, paintings, photography and much, much more. All crafts are handmade in the U.S.A., and adding to the arts & crafts will be an expansive Green Market with plants, floral and handmade soaps.

Siesta Key is world-famous for its quartz-sand beaches and friendly beach-town vibe. Although it is just minutes away from Sarasota's cultural attractions, Siesta Key has its own identity, with a thriving artist's colony, eclectic shopping village and low-key nightlife. Siesta Key is ideal for vacationers seeking a quiet tropical-island feel with a splash of culture.