This Secret Island Escape In Florida Was An Easy Flight From My Midwest Home
By Ben Jones|Published March 13, 2024
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
A man stood in the warm sand, watching a fishing line that floated in the aqua water. Nearby, a heron stood in the retreating surf and watched the man and his line. Nothing was biting, and no one seemed to care in this Florida secret waiting to be discovered.
“When you talk to people here, they say, ‘Don’t tell anyone about this place,’” the man, a vacationer from Barron County, Wisconsin, said with a smile.
Welcome to Manasota Key. I recently traveled to this little stretch of paradise, trading in a gray Wisconsin sky, frozen earth, and cold wind for picture-perfect sunsets, an endless sand beach, and a Gulf breeze that smelled like summer. Overshadowed by other Florida destinations, this island gem is a place you can make your own. The Manasota Key Resort was my base camp – the ideal place to stay on the island. Like the fisherman I met on the beach, I was in for a good time.
Editor’s note: Our writer in Wisconsin escaped the state for a little bit of a reprieve from this winter’s drear. This is his story.
Manasota Key is an 11-mile-long barrier island, separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway, and connected by a bridge. There are a lot of ways to get here. I flew into the Fort Myers Airport and departed via the Sarasota Airport.
When I arrived, I knew I was somewhere special. The front desk at Manasota Key Resort is just steps from the water – and the Lemon Bay Market. The market serves fast and delicious food, as well as cold beer and wine that you can enjoy at one of the patio tables, or by a fire pit.
Once you're checked in, head to the beach. The island offers some spectacular Florida sunsets on the Gulf side. When the sun dips below the crashing waves, you might hear someone down the beach blowing a celebratory honk through a conch shell.
But I did not sleep in. The great thing about the island is that it also offers some great Florida sunrises – just walk over to the Lemon Bay side. I photographed this bird right on the resort’s grounds.
The island is also home to a lot of wildlife. At night, the outdoor lights cast a warm amber glow – it’s a strategy to protect the sea turtles that nest here.
This stretch of Florida water is home to manatees and dolphins, but not many people. I found my own Florida secret waiting to be discovered. And there, I watched the sun rise from the beach.
But if you feel like enjoying some company, you can also find that in Manasota Key. There are some lively Florida dining spots on the island that offer great seafood, live music and cold drinks.
I had lunch at the Beachcomber and sat close to the water. I had to make sure I didn’t lean back too far, or I’d end up dining with the dolphins!
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The resort has kayaks and bikes that you can use for free, and the chef in your group will find a well-equipped outdoor kitchen that’s complete with a pizza oven.
If you’re an angler, great inshore fishing can be had right from the dock, and there are also slips available if you want to tie up a boat. You can find beach supplies at the market; or you can pick them up at home before you visit.
While I felt far from home, I felt completely at home at the resort. When you see the resort’s corn-hole games, you’ll get a clue to the vibe: Manasota Key Resort is decidedly unpretentious, and it caters to people who want to relax on their own terms.
One of the best things about a resort like this is that you don’t have to do anything.
It’s why that fisherman really didn’t care that the fish weren’t biting – it’s perfect here, and it could be your secret.
I’m already looking forward to a return trip – I miss those Gulf waters! The weather on Manasota Key is pretty wonderful any time of the year. If you have flexibility, months like May and December can be great times to visit Manasota Key – it’s a little quieter, so you’ll have the biggest selection of accommodations. Book early to secure the perfect place, and make it your Florida secret waiting to be discovered. Learn more about Manasota Key Resort on Hotels.com.
Disclosure: I was invited to this location by Manasota Key Resort, with expenses covered. However, all opinions and thoughts expressed in this piece are my own.
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