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Beach and Boaters Paradise! Heated pool, Fish off the dock, walk to the beach!

Photo gallery for Beach and Boaters Paradise! Heated pool, Fish off the dock, walk to the beach!

Peering east past our pier to Sarasota Bay.  If you have a boat, bring it!
The home is within walking distance of both the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay
We are located in a quiet, waterfront residential neighborhood
The home is well maintained and inviting ...
... and the 'Welcome' mat is out for you.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 8232.3 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Pool
  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Longboat Key, FL
  • Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Lido Beach
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • St. Armands Circle
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Sarasota, FL (SRQ-Sarasota-Bradenton Intl.)
    ‪23 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Corner bedroom

1 King Bed

Master Suite

1 King Bed

Middle Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Second Master Cabana Suite

1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Guest Half Bath

Toilet

Master Suite Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Second Master Cabana Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Shared Bath

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Beach and Boaters Paradise! Heated pool, Fish off the dock, walk to the beach!

Welcome to Beach & Boaters Paradise a home in a residential community where you will have immediate access to beautiful Sarasota Bay, the Gulf of Mexico and Longboat Key’s sugar white sand beaches and emerald green waters.

Picture yourself vacationing in this beautifully remodeled home on fabulous Longboat Key - perfectly located on a deep water canal with a dock that can accommodate a 40+ foot boat, only minutes by boat to the Bay and less than two miles to the Gulf inlet. The deeded beach access is a short walk across Gulf of Mexico Drive. This 4-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom luxury waterfront vacation rental was designed to provide you and your family a lifetime of vacation memories to cherish.

The dock-side screened patio has a large family-friendly heated pool and abundant lounging areas that invite you to swim the day away or just relax and read a book. Enjoy sunset dinners cooked on the built-in gas grill and dine “al fresco” at the outdoor dining table next to the pool as you watch the fish jumping by the dock!

This one story home features chiseled travertine stone floors throughout. The spacious, yet comfy, great room has pocket sliding glass doors that open to the patio and maximize the outside water views. The high-end kitchen easily accommodates a large group with center Island, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and all the cookware you will need to make sumptuous meals!

There are several amenities to make you feel at home including washer and dryer. The great room has a large screen smart TV with and a Blue Ray player and sound system. You can stay connected with friends and family with the free secure high speed wireless internet.

All of the bedrooms were designed with comfort in mind. The master suite has a king size bed that overlooks the pool and canal. The elegant ensuite bath has dual sinks and an oversized shower. If you need the storage space, there is a huge walk-in closet.

The second Master cabana suite features a queen size bed, adjoining full bath and French doors opening to the pool. The third bedroom has a king size bed and the fourth bedroom is furnished with a queen size beds. They are adjacent to the third full bathroom with tub and shower.
The guest half bath is located just off the great room.

The home has an open floor plan and will easily accommodate a family reunion-vacation or group of friends on an excursion. We invite you to be our guests.

[A word about Longboat Key: Longboat Key is a desired vacation spot because it has a laid-back feel with its sunny, pristine beaches. It is a residential community and the town requires a 30-day stay. If you want to visit local attractions or activities, they are close to our home. Some of our attractions include: St. Armand’s Circle (2.5 miles), downtown Sarasota shopping and restaurants (4.3 miles), Mote Marine Aquarium (1.7 miles), Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (5.6 miles), Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall (5.7 miles) or John and Mable Ringling Museum Complex (8.2 miles). The Sarasota-Bradenton airport is 8.5 miles.]

Property manager

Marcia Benson

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Longboat Key

Located in Longboat Key, this holiday home is near theme parks and on the waterfront. St. Armands Circle and Mall at University Town Center are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Lido Beach and Siesta Key Beach. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Ed Smith Stadium or LECOM Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Longboat Key, FL

What's nearby

  • Harborside Golf Course at Longboat Key Club - 2 min drive - 1.8 km
  • Islandside Golf Course at Longboat Key Club - 2 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium - 3 min drive - 2.6 km
  • Lido Beach - 4 min drive - 3.2 km
  • St. Armands Circle - 5 min drive - 4.1 km

Getting around

  • Sarasota, FL (SRQ-Sarasota-Bradenton Intl.) - 23 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Lido Beach Restaurant - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Columbia Restaurant - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Old Salty Dog - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Daiquiri Deck - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Cha CHA Coconuts - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Beach and Boaters Paradise! Heated pool, Fish off the dock, walk to the beach! have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is Beach and Boaters Paradise! Heated pool, Fish off the dock, walk to the beach! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Beach and Boaters Paradise! Heated pool, Fish off the dock, walk to the beach!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beach and Boaters Paradise! Heated pool, Fish off the dock, walk to the beach!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Beach and Boaters Paradise! Heated pool, Fish off the dock, walk to the beach! located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is 1.1 mi (1.7 km) from Quick Point Nature Reserve and within 3 miles (5 km) of Lido Beach and St. Armands Circle. Harborside Golf Course at Longboat Key Club and Islandside Golf Course at Longboat Key Club are also within 1 mile (2 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 33 out of 36 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 36 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 36 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 36 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 36 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Spacious Vacation Getaway

Immediately upon entering the home, we noticed how spacious it was with an open concept and a direct view through triple sliding glass doors to a beautiful lanai and large pool. There are 4 good -sized bedrooms, 2 of which have full en suite baths , and there is another full bath adjacent to the other 2 bedrooms. A half bath is located off the entranceway. Two of the bedrooms have direct access to the lanai. The home was clean and comfortable , and the kitchen was fully stocked. Beach chairs, pool toys, bicycles, and fishing equipment were available. St. Armands Circle is 2 miles away, offering boutique shops and many fine restaurants. Even though the red tide kept us away from the beach, we spent many hours relaxing in the pool and enjoying happy hour on the lanai. Marcia and Lou were the perfect hosts! We had a simply marvelous stay and plan to return next year.
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Tracy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Home away from home

Clean and comfortable Plenty of room for family of 8 Great kitchen Wonderful pool area, close to beach, quiet area, bikes and beach supplies Check in was easy Owners are responsive and kind Can’t wait to return!
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mark S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Longboat Key Living

We had 5 adults visiting Longboat for the Thanksgiving weekend and could not have had a better stay at this house. The house is in great shape, the pool area is excellent and the house is in a very nice area. We spent 7 days at the house with no issues and would recommend it as an exceptional rental.

10/10 Excellent

Crystal R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Vacation!

We’ve been staying in Longboat Key for a few years and love it. This house was amazing in every way! Will definitely be back.
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Judy L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved it!

We were here to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary with our grown kids and spouses - 6 of us. We had a terrific time in part because this property was perfect for us. Immaculate, with a beautiful working kitchen and lovely pool area. The guys fished off the pier and enjoyed some football on TV - all of us enjoyed the pool. It is obvious that Marcia takes a lot of pride in her property and cares that her guests have a great vacation. She’s attentive, friendly and helpful. The home is amply supplied with everything a guest would need. We could not have found a better place for our celebration vacation. Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Peggy C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location

This property worked beautifully for our family reunion. Thank you.

10/10 Excellent

Paul J., Annapolis, MD

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family fun

This was our third trip to Longboat Key and the second stay at Gunwhale Drive. We had a really wonderful trip. This time we brought our family, so it was 8 of us in the house for a week. The bedrooms are very private and the house layout works very well with lots of comfortable common space for the family to gather. Nice large tables indoors and out for dining. The pool is great and the pool furniture was generous in size, as were the lounge chairs. There are lots of places to sit and relax. The house’s location on the canal provides endless fascination watching all of the herons, egrets and pelicans fishing for dinner. We really enjoy this house.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2019

10/10 Excellent

Henry Y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fully Satisfied

Great house, spacious, clean, everything worked. Kitchen well equipped. Wonderful swimming pool, large, deep with an ample deck. 10 minutes from St Armands. Marcia was on top of everything, very service oriented. Thank you.
Stayed 12 nights in Jul 2019

8/10 Good

Leia K., Bowling Green, KY

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Great space for the family

The house was perfectly suited for my family, including 3 boys and a mother-in-law. The rental had all the amenities of an everyday lived-in home. The two masters were on opposite wings of the house, both opening up to the pool. The neighborhood was quiet. The boys loved the pool more than the beach. Plenty of pool & beach supplies, fishing poles, bikes, and games. The only minor flaw is the walking distance to the beach, which is about 1/2 mile walk. We remedied that by driving to a public access about 2 miles away, which then put us only walking a few steps to the beach. The owner was great to work with - easy instructions/check-in/check-out. The circle at St. Armand’s Key is only a few miles away - great shopping and dining! I’d recommend this house!

10/10 Excellent

Nona H., Atlanta

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome stay

Had never been to the area. Beautiful place and central location. Very quite safe area. Grandson loved pool
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Peggy P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise

Beautiful home , beautiful setting, everything was most enjoyable.

10/10 Excellent

Lynn B.

Great property

Our second time staying here. Great home and close to the beach! Thank you!

10/10 Excellent

Jeff H.

Awesome Longboat Key House

The house was big open and lovely. It was perfectly located for what we needed. All the amenities of home and tastefully decorated. It is perfect to have everyone in one place to eat and chat and watch TV or enjoy each others company. Really a 5 star place.
Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Melanie, Lakeland

Beautiful property. Home was very comfortable for our family . Dock was a big plus for our boat.

Home was beautifully furnished and comfortable. Kitchen was great for cooking for our family of eight. Marcia responded very quickly with a question that I had. Only drawback I found was that beach access was not doable with small kids. Luckily we had our boat for beach access. Will definitely recommend this property and will rent again in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Stacy B.

Fantastic Place For Relaxation and Fun!

We loved this house on Long Boat Key. The house was spacious and had great furnishings along with everything we needed. There were floaties for the pool and everything we needed for the beach; chairs, wagon, umbrella, a cooler would have been the only thing that would have been helpful. The kitchen had pots, pans, plates, utensils everything we needed for cooking, and we cooked almost all of our meals. We loved using the bikes to ride to St. Armands Circle, Madison Ave Cafe was our favorite place to get coffee in the morning, great food and ambiance! The pedestrian beach wasn't our favorite, but we drove down a little further where the beach was a little bigger. We also drove to Siesta Key Beach about 20 minutes away, it's our favorite! You will love this house, there was plenty of room and the pool/patio made it complete!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Mary D., Fulton

Our extended family fully enjoyed this wonderfully located and beautifully decorated home.

Booking was easy, communication with the owner was clear and timely. The home was even better than described. We rented additional furniture for the two babies who were part of our party but found EVERYTHING else needed already provided.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Karen T., Bay City, MI

Great spring getaway on Longboat Key!

We are Michigan siblings who just spent a week at this lovely home on Longboat Key. It was spacious enough for six adults to share, with plenty of bathrooms to give everyone their privacy. The home is super clean, furniture was colorful and comfortable, and the kitchen was well stocked. We loved the outdoor grill and swam in the heated pool every day. The bikes were an added plus, which allowed us to cycle around the neighborhood, the golf course, and enjoy the very upscale surroundings near the beach. Loved the access to St. Armand's Circle and the great shops and restaurants. We did not see any manatees in the canal behind the house, but the pelicans and herons had a field day fishing right off our dock! It was the perfect getaway for our family "sib trip". The property owner Marcia was available and responsive for any questions, but we had no issues during our carefree week. Loved it, hope to repeat the experience! Many thanks for sharing your lovely home. --Karen from Michigan
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2018

8/10 Good

Ed F.

Another good year. Great weather in Feb.

Always a pleasant experience on Longboat Key. Very warm, and traffic much worse because of it.
Stayed 42 nights in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

Mike F.

Beautiful big house.

Nice open main area. 2 masters were perfect for 2 families. Landlord very attentive but not overbearing. In a great area of town. Would rent again.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Lynn B.

Great place to vacation

Our family of five stayed in this home for a week in July 2017. We were impressed by the quick response by email from the owners and we truly enjoyed their lovely home. This was the first time we have used VRBO; it was so easy and such a great property. Our adult children enjoyed the pool, fishing dock, bikes, and the closeness to the beach. My husband and I appreciated the quietness of the neighborhood, the comfortable beds and furnishings in the home. It was nice to have a private pool and bikes so all of us could ride together! Our daughter caught fish every time she fished off the dock and we even saw a manatee one evening close to the dock. Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Chris W.

Wonderful home with plenty of room for everyone.

We rented this home for 2 weeks and loved the location. Very close to beach, St Armand's circle and Sarasota downtown district. The island is beautiful and quiet. There were bikes to ride and plenty of beach items to use. The colors in the house and decorations were high quality. Beautiful kitchen and bathrooms. We had 2 families and enjoyed having 2 master bedrooms. The dock was a plus for fishing. The kids caught some large fish and saw a manatee right off the dock. I highly recommend this property for families. Hope to stay again.
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Dennis H.

Great Home for a Family vacation

Our family had a great week of vacation at Beach and Boaters paradise. We enjoyed fishing from the dock and it was a good place to launch our kayaks. We have made Longboat key a family tradition but this was our first time staying on the southern end of the island. We were not disappointed in the least. The home is just as advertised and is a good place to spend the day hanging around the pool and cooking on the grill. We definitely hope to return in the near future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Catherine H.

Outstanding location

This is our 3rd year at this beautiful home in Longboat Key. We spent 6 weeks with visits from our children and grandchildren. The home is well equipped with everything we needed during our six week visit. It is large and comfortable.The pool area is great. The location is conveniently located to St Armand's, the Mote Aquarium and great restaurants. Thanks to the owners for the use of their home providing an outstanding getaway from the weather in Ohio.
Stayed 42 nights in Mar 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Ed F.

Fun relaxing time

Enjoyed every day
Stayed 42 nights in Feb 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

John V.

Perfect Gathering Place for Family

We took a week vacation with our twin, 20-year-old sons, and grandparents, and were torn if we should rent directly on the beach, or on the bay side. This house ended up being the perfect match for our laundry list of priorities. We needed a home on a single level for my father in law who has mobility issues, we needed to be near enough to the beach and other things to do for our sons, and we needed a full kitchen and good size dining/gathering space as I have celiac and prepare most meals for the family myself. The home has a very spacious, open feel to it, and the gathering places (kitchen/family TV/pool) are all connected, with easy access to bedrooms, bathrooms, and garage. We used the large dining space to finish a monster puzzle over the week, a long standing family tradition. All but one meal was prepared in the full kitchen, the appliances are of good quality, and the cookware and utensils were adequate. We used the grill several times, and ate almost every meal at the dining table by the pool. The grocery store was a 5 minute drive and had everything anyone could need, even for me. One night we ate a delicious meal at Euphemia Hayes, including a trip upstairs to their unbelievable dessert room. My father in law was able to sit with us by the pool, watch our boys fish off the dock, and could put his feet up in a comfy chair in the evening, so he never felt isolated. Our boys absolutely loved having the bicycles available, and took off to the beach and to go explore quite a bit. The bike paths are fantastic. The beach access was like having a private beach, it was so quiet and the water was so clear. If the boys weren’t on a bike, they were jumping in the pool, and all of us enjoyed the floats provided. The bedrooms all had good mattresses, and high quality linens. Towels, including beach towels, were plentiful, and the house was very clean when we arrived. Parking in the garage was a bonus, getting the car out of the hot sun was a blessing for us Northeners. Overall, we couldn’t have been more pleased with this rental. Marcia checked on us several times to make sure all was well, and answer any questions we had. This property truly felt like home from the time we walked in the door, and we would definitely plan to stay again in the future.

About the host

Hosted by Marcia Benson

Host profile image
I was born and raised in Ohio and when I met my husband, Lou, he was living in Florida. It took a little convincing and moved to Stuart, Florida in 2000 – and in case you were wondering, I don’t miss the snow and ice at all!
I invested in real estate even when I was in Ohio. So when I relocated to Florida I became a licensed realtor with Berkshire Hathaway.
My sister and brother live in the Sarasota area, and when we came to visit, I would hunt for real estate. When we saw this house we liked the layout, location and possibilities. It was big enough for large gatherings, yet not too big for a couple.
My husband and I completely remodeled the home – literally from top to bottom. We wanted to make the home family-friendly, open and welcoming.
We’re sure you’ll enjoy it as much as we do.

Why they chose this property

Like us, you will find that Longboat Key is a unique place. The island life style is casual and fun. Our home is in a nice residential community and only 2 miles to St. Armand’s Circle for shopping and restaurants (and there’s a Kilwin’s Ice Cream Shop). The Mote Marine Aquarium is a mile away. There are miles of beach just across the way.
We are boaters and love the west Florida waters. The house has a big deep water dock. We are minutes to Sarasota Bay and a little over a mile by water to the New Pass Inlet to the Gulf.
And if that wasn’t enough we have easy access to all the culture that Sarasota has to offer.
Plus we love the sunsets.

What makes this property unique

This home is a one stop shop for a perfect vacation, retreat or family get-together. The deep water dock allows you to rent or bring your boat next to the house.
The layout of the house has large gathering spaces and at the same time separated bedrooms for privacy.
The kitchen is fully equipped with high-end appliances and has lots of counter space and room.
The expansive beach is close by and all the amenities of a big city are a short ride over the bridge. Or you can stay at home and enjoy the grill, deck and pool.

Languages:

English