Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast south of Sarasota and Venice, Manasota Key is an 11-mile barrier island known for its peaceful beaches and diverse wildlife. A short bridge over the calm waters of Lemon Bay connects the island to mainland Florida, while the key’s white sand and turquoise water provide limitless shelling and snorkeling opportunities, often yielding an assortment of fossils and shells. You can frequently spot local wildlife here, including dolphins, manatees, and gopher tortoises. With several nature parks, hiking paths, and picnic tables stationed near many of the beaches, there are many ways to enjoy the magnificent sunset views and the warm Gulf breeze in Manasota Key.

Hop over to the nearby cities of Sarasota and Venice for additional restaurants, shopping experiences, and museums, such as the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and the 1927 Historic Venice Train Depot.

Winters on Manasota Key are generally mild, while summers are hot and humid, so you likely won’t need to pack a jacket. While the summer months tend to see more rainfall and a potential hurricane here and there, the showers are generally short and more risky weather is rare, meaning there is plenty of time to enjoy the beach during this season. In addition, May through October is turtle nesting season, and around July, you may spot large numbers of baby sea turtles emerging from the sand and rushing toward the water. Be sure not to disturb these animals, and give them plenty of space.

The weather cools down somewhat in the fall, and in mid-November, fun activities such as the Siesta Key Crystal Classic Master Sand Sculpting Competition also bring people into town. You can vote on your favorite sand sculptures, take sculpting lessons, enjoy live music, and indulge in the local food trucks for all-around entertainment.

Stump Pass Beach State Park

Located on the south end of Manasota Key, the park is situated between the Gulf of Mexico and the calm waters of Lemon Bay, giving visitors year-round swimming, snorkeling, shelling, fishing, and birdwatching opportunities. The secluded beach is also lovely in wintertime when hiking trails make the park a popular place to catch a glimpse of the many native animals that reside here, including manatees, tortoises, and numerous species of birds.

Venice Area Audubon Rookery

The Venice Area Audubon Rookery is a small island in the center of a pond that is internationally known for its bird- and wildlife-watching opportunities, as well as being suitable ground for a picnic pit stop. Feast your eyes on the numerous different species as they build nests, incubate eggs, and raise their chicks. Bat houses have been added to the rookery, allowing you to view hundreds of bats emerging in the evenings. The rookery is run entirely by volunteers, who won’t hesitate to share an extra pair of binoculars for optimal viewing.

Blind Pass Beach

Blind Pass Beach is considered a sheller’s dream, with half a mile of shoreline sand studded with seashells and shark’s teeth. You can fish, kayak, or walk the trails lined with mangrove trees, all while checking out dolphins making their occasional loops in and out of the warm Gulf waters.