The Barrier Islands
The Sarasota Barrier islands offer lots to choose from. Each Key has a different feel and suits different tastes. All of them are easily accessible and within a short drive of all the amenities you need and want. This is but a brief overview on the Keys:
Longboat Key
| Longboat Key is the largest of the Keys, boasting 12 miles of pristine beachfront. Easily reached from downtown Sarasota, it has a year-round population of around 8,000. The winter months see a significant influx of both visitors and second-home owners. The Gulf side of the island is primarily spectacular beachfront with quite a selection of condominiums. The Bay side of the island has terrific boat access, with many single family homes and condominiums on bayfront and canals. There are plenty of restaurants, as well as a Pharmacy and a full-service grocery store. If golf is your passion, you will find two spectacular golf courses on Longboat Key. The 2000 census shows median per capita income on Longboat Key was just over $80,000. The housing prices are comensurate with the income levels in this lovely community. |  |
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Siesta Key
 | Siesta Key is home to the world famous Siesta Key Beach, known for it's sugar white sand. It is easily accessible via 2 bridges from Sarasota, one at the north end of the island and the second being mid-key. With about 3.5 square miles of land, the Gulf side is primarily beachs and the Bay side is primarily canal-front. Siesta Key village has lots of restaurants as well as grocery, pharmacy, and a few shops. With just over 7,000 year-round residents, Siesta Key is more densely populated and a bit more casual and than Longboat Key. The median per capita income is just over $50,000. Whether you are looking for a condominium or single family home, there is lots to choose from here. |
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Bird Key
| Bird Key is a gated enclave of just over 500 single family homes, many on canals or directly on Sarasota Bay waterfront. It is home to the Sarasota Yacht Club. Accessible from the John Ringling Causeway connecting downtown Sarasota to St. Armand's Circle and Lido Key, Bird Key is quickly accessible to all that downtown Sarasota has to offer. It's population hovers around 1,000 with more owners in residence over the winter months. Construction started on Bird Key in 1960, on land that was reclaimed from Sarasota Bay. Today, you will find original 1960's and 70's homes as well as an occasional building lot and many homes that have been more recently built. |  |
Lido and St. Armands Keys
 | Lido Key has primarily condominiums, directly on the gulf. However, there are some single family homes as well, and most are within an easy walk of the St. Armand's Key shopping paradise. St. Armand's Key has many single family homes surrounding the shopping mecca. Many of these are waterfront homes with deep water docks. Both keys are less than 5 minutes drive from downtown Sarasota, directly across John Ringling Causeway. |
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Casey Key
| Casey Key is an exclusive and secluded enclave just south of Siesta Key. 8 miles long and about 300 yards wide, the single primary road twists and turns it's way through the island. There are few services here, but if privacy is what you want, Casey Key is a tropical paradise. You won't find any hotel chains and few condominiums on the key . Therefore, even when the populations of other areas swell, Casey Key retains it's private and exclusive feel. While Casey Key is home to many new beach mansions, this is "old Florida" at it's best. |  |
Anna Maria Island
 | Anna Maria Island is just north of Longboat Key. Accessible from Longboat Key and also via two bridges from the mainland in Bradenton, Anna Maria is a popular beach destination. With only about 1 square mile of land area, it is home to about 2,000 residents. There are plenty of restaurants and shops in the village, as well as grocery and pharmacy. Anna Maria has about 1500 housing units, composed of single family homes and condominiums. |
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