The Resort at Longboat Key Club makes it easy to never leave the premises.
The AAA Four Diamond property, located just a few miles from the heart of Sarasota, Fla., features two golf courses, 20 tennis courts and a marina within its 410 acres. When I visited in mid-August, it had just wrapped up a full-capacity weekend despite it being considered the off-season. Many of the guests remaining at the resort took to the water for stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking.
Back on shore, Longboat offers barre classes, Zumba and bicycle rentals as well as shuttles to the upscale shopping haven of St. Armands Circle.
At its newly revamped spa, available services range from hot stone massages to microdermabrasion and pedicures.
There are spa options for children, too, but the on-site Camp Loggerhead might be more up their alley. The camp has crafts and games for morning, afternoon or all-day slots. The attentive staff also hosts a weekend party for children with sea turtle walks and tug of war, cornhole and hula hoop competitions.
My beautifully appointed junior suite came with a fully equipped kitchen, a washing machine and a dishwasher. Each of the resort's 200 rooms has a private stone terrace with unobstructed views of the Gulf of Mexico, swimming pool or golf courses as well as a flat-screen TV and WiFi access. Dining options range from upscale Italian eatery Portofino to sandwiches and fresh seafood at Sands Pointe.
Charming diversions nearby
When I eventually ventured off-site, I found that Sarasota has a charming variety of creative food experiences and cultural appeal.
Big Top Brewing, headed by the passionate Mike Bisaha, brews beers with creative monikers such as Gorilla Soul Black IPA and the jalapeno-spiked A Hotter Blonde, while JDub's Brewing Co. has a good-size beer garden with cornhole and board games.
There's also the sprawling campus of the Ringling Museum of Art for gorgeous, Renaissance-style influences and a vast collection of Baroque art.
Back at the resort, I parked my sandaled feet at the poolside grill for a frosty mojito and some conch fritters, thinking of the next day's agenda: heading down the boardwalk for beach yoga (where we were treated to a surprise dolphin sighting), a locally sourced lunch at the Tavern & Whiskey Bar and an elegant, alfresco dinner on the sand that offered uninterrupted views of a striking sunset. The Longboat experience is tranquility defined.
Rates at the Resort at Longboat Key Club begin at $399 per night. Visit www.longboatkeyclub.com.