Located just minutes from Longboat Key Club & Resort Sarasota hotel, St. Armands Circle is a favorite of guests on their Florida beach vacations. Its unique concept, long history and unparalleled beauty make St. Armands an unforgettable experience for Florida beach vacationers from all over the world.

To understand St. Armands, it helps to know about the Longboat Key itself. The key was originally purchased in 1893 by Charles St. Amand, a French fisherman, for just $21.71. (But they misspelled his name, “St. Armand,” on the deed.) Circus tycoon, John Ringling, bought the property in 1917 and planned a development that included homes and a shopping center built in the form of a circle. Unfortunately, the depression came along in 1929 and it took until the 1950s for St. Armands to begin drawing business and attracting Florida beach vacationers.

Today, St. Armands is an charming circle of boutiques, shops and gourmet restaurants with tropical landscaping, courtyards, antique statues and contemporary architectural design, all of which creates an atmosphere of warmth, elegance and style. Guests from Sarasota hotels, such as Longboat Key Club & Resort, can dine in the restaurants, explore the shops or just bask in the sun and watch the people walk by.

There are more than 100 stores in St. Armands Circle that pamper to Florida beach vacationers from all over the U.S. and many foreign countries. And John Ringling’s influence is still evident today in the planning and design of the streets, which radiate from the circle at the island’s hub. In fact, St. Armands looks very much as Ringling originally envisioned it, with the palm-lined medians, park-like setting, and tropical landscaping that attract guests from nearby Sarasota hotels.

St. Armands Circle is truly an experience – one that should be included in any Florida beach vacation. For more information, talk to your concierge at the Longboat Key Club & Resort and Sarasota hotel.

If you’ve ever been to the John and Mable Ringling Museum on your Florida beach vacation, you’ve probably seen paintings and sculptures by the great Old Masters, including Rubens, van Dyck, Velázquez, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, El Greco and Gainsborough.

Few Sarasota hotel guests, nor the museum’s namesake founders, would have ever expected to see a display of contemporary works by Michael Anderson, Iona Rozeal Brown, Vince Fraser, Gajin Fujita, Luis Gispert, Sofia Maldonado, Nadine Robinson, Mickalene Thomas, Hank Willis Thomas and Kehinde Wiley – 10 artists who all operate within, and are informed by, hip-hop culture.

Sarasota hotel guests will find this unique display – dubbed “Beyond Bling: Voices of Hip-Hop in Art” – at the John and Mable Ringling Museum through Aug. 14th. Museum curator, Matthew McLendon, Ph.D., came up with the idea after an experience in 2007 at Art Basel Miami Beach, one of the most prominent art shows in the country.

“I turned the corner and was confronted by a massive painting of an African-American woman studded with thousands of rhinestones,” McLendon said. “It was something very different and I started investigating how hip-hop is influencing art.”

To enhance this unique experience, the museum had a local hip-hop radio station create a playlist for “Beyond Bling” so guests on their Florida beach vacations who attend the show can listen to the music while viewing the street culture-inspired artwork.

When many guests from Sarasota hotel hear the term ‘hip-hop,’ the first thing they think about is music. According to Mr. McLendon, however, “Two-thirds of the people will find a soundtrack distracting, but for those interested we’re providing free iPods to use.”

While hip-hop and its culture have been around since the late 1970s, “Beyond Bling” represents a major advancement for the Ringling Museum.

For more information about the Ringling Museum, talk to your concierge at the Longboat Key Club & Resort Sarasota hotel, or visit http://www.ringling.org.

What began in 1965 as a one-week event with seven guest mentors has expanded over the years to received national and international attention. Now, for three weeks each June, guests on their Florida beach vacations can enjoy a magical combination of youthful promise and acclaimed talent that carries a reputation as one of the finest classical music events in the nation.

As regular summer guests of Sarasota marinas know, the Sarasota Music Festival brings the best up-and-coming young musicians from around the world to Sarasota for three weeks each June. Nearly 500 students audition, but only 58 are accepted to work side-by-side with 40 music masters, who make up the guest faculty. On any given day during the Festival, a student may rehearse in a faculty-coached ensemble, play in master classes and perform on stage for guests on their Florida golf resorts. These are rare opportunities for the public and guests of Sarasota hotels to hear the visiting artists rehearse or perform together.

Since its inception, the Sarasota Music Festival has assembled a remarkable and highly respected roster of guest artists, many of who have returned to the event to play for Florida beach vacationers for more than 20 years. Their teaching and performing credentials attract the world’s finest young musicians eager to study and perform with them. The Festival encompasses both education and performance with an intense daily schedule of master classes, coaching sessions, lectures, demonstrations and student recitals, as well as a series of twelve public concerts open to guests of Sarasota hotels.

Florida beach vacationers are entertained by a variety of symphonic artistry including: Thursday afternoon Artist Showcase Concerts, Friday and Saturday evening Chamber Concerts, and Festival Orchestra Concerts. Many guests of Sarasota hotels enjoy the option of purchasing Festival Passes, which allows them access to the artists’ master classes and rehearsals.

For more information about attending the 47^th showcase of this world-renowned musical event during your June stay at Longboat Key Club & Resort, contact the concierge or visit http://www.sarasotaorchestra.org/sarasotamusicfestival/festival.cfm.

Sarasota hotel guests looking for a break from the beach should seriously consider a Myakka Park Airboat ride, a scenic one-hour guided tour of the Myakka Lake on one of the world’s two largest airboats – “Gator Gal” and “Myakka Maiden.”

Located just 9 miles east of I-75 on S.R. 72, Myakka State Park is convenient to most Sarasota hotels, making it a perfect daytrip for a beach vacation. While on the Myakka Park Airboat Tour, guests of Sarasota marinas will find that the tour guides/airboat captains are outstanding, with extensive knowledge about the Myakka Lake and River, the ecosystem and even the history of the area

While guests of Florida golf resorts will enjoy the Myakka Park Airboat Tour whether or not they see any alligators in their natural habitat, it’s probably more fun to see one or two – especially while they’re on an airboat named “The Gator Gal”! But no matter what time of year Florida beach vacation guests find themselves at Myakka River State Park, it is still worth taking the guided airboat tour.

It turns out that the American Alligator is more visible in the spring because it’s mating season and the Florida weather is not too hot, when they spend a lot of their time underwater or in the shade staying cool – just like guests on their Florida beach vacation. Alligators dislike the extreme temperatures as much as we do.

The cost is $12 for adults, $6 for children 6-12. Save your ticket and if you return during another Florida beach vacation within 12 months, you will receive a 50% discount.

For more information about taking a Myakka Park Airboat Tours during your next visit to Longboat Key Club & Resort, contact the concierge or visit http://www.myakkariver.org/airboat.html.

For the second year in a row, the Sarasota Open USTA/ATP Men’s Pro Tournament is being held at Longboat Key Club & Resort, one of the most popular of all Florida beach resorts. This year’s tournament, which takes place April 23 through May 1, was preceded but what some called “the hottest party of the year” aboard the Sea Fair, one of the largest private yachts in the world (238 ft.).

Worth over $40 million, the Sea Fair came to the Southwest Florida area specifically to benefit the Sarasota Open Foundation, which helps children in need. Some Sarasota marina vacationers took a break from the shoreline to step aboard the Sea Fair, which carried over $400 million in art and is considered the largest Art Expo yacht in the world!

The Sea Fair travels to luxurious seaside cities up and down the East Coast. Once on board, visitors can browse 28 galleries, dine in one of two restaurants, and hang out at an open-air bar. The 28 spaces are each run by independent galleries that pay $40,000 to $120,000 a month in rent. The yacht seeks to attract not the seasoned art-fair attendee and collector, but instead the new buyer with ready cash – the very person that might find an invitation-only floating art gallery sexy.

That was certainly the goal of the promoters, who helped raise more money and awareness this year for the Sarasota Open Children’s Foundation by attracting area residents, Sarasota hotel guests and Florida marina vacationers to the $200-a-ticket event. And, of course, it also served as the precursor to the 2011 Sarasota Open.

This year’s tournament promises a schedule packed with highly competitive matches and fun-filled events, especially for guests of Longboat Key Club & Resort Sarasota marinas. For special rates and reservations during the April 23 – May 1, 2011 event, visit www.longboatkeyclub.com or call 855-847-7630 for reservations.

For guests of Florida golf resorts like Longboat Key Club & Resort, sea shells are by far the most sought after treasure. And Florida beach vacationers will be happy to know that Longboat Key offers an abundance of unique and beautiful shells.

All beaches have shells, but some of the best beaches for consistently productive shelling are located in southwest Florida, on the Gulf. That’s why Longboat Key offers beach vacationers such exceptional opportunities.

The hardest-to-find shells, and those in the best condition, are considered the most valuable. While many guests of Sarasota resorts may be drawn to a live shell – a shell that still has the living animal inside, such as a conch or clam – it is important to remember beach rules regarding collecting. Many beaches, including those on Longboat Key, do not allow the taking of live shells, including precious sand dollars

Shelling is one of the least expensive hobbies to enjoy on a Southwest Florida getaway. All you need is a bag or bucket to put the shells in and, unless you are an expert, a good shell identification guide. Here are a few shelling tips:

- The best places to find shells are during low tide in rock tide pools, sandbars, tidal flats, seaweed, piers and drift lines.

- Rinse the shells in water and let them dry away from the sun. You can also soak the shells in a 50/50 bleach and water mix for a few hours.

- Categorize your shells by size, shape, color and type. Use a plastic box with dividers and cushion the fragile shells with tissue or pieces of foam. Mark your box with the date so you can always remember that special day on your Florida beach vacation.

Check Longboat Key weather reports for low tide times; or ask your concierge at Longboat Key Club & Resort Sarasota hotel. Happy shelling!

Even after a day or two, guests staying in Sarasota hotels sometimes run out of things to do – or so they think. But there are plenty of things to do on your Florida beach vacation that are inexpensive and easy. Here are five examples:

1. Enjoy music on the bay. Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall holds Friday Fest one Friday a month. Liven up your Florida beach vacation with some live music on the waterfront from 5-9 p.m. http://www.vanwezel.org

2. Spend Monday at the museum. Close by your Sarasota hotel, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art opens its doors free of charge every Monday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. www.ringling.org

3. Go for a walk or bike ride. No matter what mode of transportation you prefer, there are many ways to see Sarasota on your Florida beach vacation. Bike through beautiful Longboat Key and marvel at the homes, or take a long walk on the beach or along Ringling Bridge.

4. Get festive. Sarasota has a packed festival schedule year-round and all are free and open to the public. Arts, crafts, food and music abound, from the Venice Sharks Tooth Festival to the Siesta Fiesta to the St. Armands Craft Festival. To see what’s going on during your Florida beach vacation, visit www.sarasotafl.org

5. Watch the sunset. It’s hard to believe you can experience something so beautiful without it spending a dime. Taking in a sunset is free and simple and you can do it from almost anywhere, including your own Sarasota hotel. The beach, the Sarasota marina and Ringling Bridge are favorite spots among locals.

For more information about all the things to do on your Florida beach vacation, ask your concierge at Longboat Key Club & Resort.

There was a time when tennis enthusiasts planning a Florida beach vacation chose the historic Gulf-front Colony Beach & Tennis Resort. But since the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort closed its doors in August of 2010, another nearby Sarasota hotel has successfully taken its place with newer and better USTA award-winning tennis facilities.

Longboat Key Club & Resort – one of the most prestigious Sarasota hotels, and winner of the AAA Four-Diamond award for 27 straight years – has a 20-court Tennis Gardens that rivals any tennis facility in Florida. Guests on their Florida beach vacations will be impressed to discover that the resort’s Tennis Gardens received the Best Facilities Award from the United States Tennis Association.

Longboat Key Club & Resort’s Tennis Gardens features 20 Har-Tru courts, including an impressive Center Court, a club house, fully stocked pro shop, locker and activity room, a players patio, and a café & lounge with terrace seating – perfect for guests on their Florida beach vacations to relax and watch a match.

Tennis fans planning a Florida beach vacations will be excited to know that this exclusive Sarasota hotel hosts the annual Sarasota Open USTA/ATP Men’s Pro Tournament, which is scheduled for April 23rd-May 1st, 2011. Now is the perfect time to book a Florida beach vacation at this Four-Diamond beachfront Sarasota beach golf resort and reserve your place at this event.

To learn more about the Tennis Gardens at this Four-Diamond beachfront Sarasota hotel, visit www.longboatkeyclub.com or call 855-847-7630 for reservations. For more information about the Sarasota Open, visit www.sarasotaopen.org

Many guests of Sarasota hotels were surprised in August of 2010 when the historic Gulf-front Colony Beach & Tennis Resort on Longboat Key closed its doors. Families who had been planning their Florida beach vacations at the Colony suddenly discovered that a dispute over repairs at the famed resort had doomed it to closure after 30 years as an international Longboat Key destination.

Fortunately for tennis fans, the nearby Longboat Key Club & Resort – one of the most prestigious Sarasota hotels and winner of the esteemed AAA Four Diamond award for 27 straight years – is a most-welcomed alternative. In fact, for tennis aficionados on their Florida beach vacations, the resort’s USTA-award-winning Tennis Gardens is a major improvement over the Colony’s aging facilities.

Not only was the beachfront Sarasota hotel’s 21-court facility lauded by the national association, Longboat Key Club & Resort also hosts the annual USTA Sarasota Open, which attracts and entertains hundreds of visitors and guests – many of whom plan their Florida beach vacations around the event every year.

Longboat Key Club & Resort’s Tennis Gardens is a spectacular complex that rivals any Sarasota hotel’s tennis amenity – as well as any tennis center in southwest Florida – ensuring that the resort maintains its stature as one of the country’s top tennis resorts. Now that Colony Beach & Tennis Resort has shut down, tennis enthusiasts planning their Florida beach vacations are discovering that Longboat Key Club & Resort is a major prize.

To learn more about the Tennis Gardens at this prestigious Four-Diamond beachfront Sarasota hotel, visit www.longboatkeyclub.com or call 855-847-7630 for reservations.

Guests of Sarasota hotels love to visit The Museum of Art, built by circus tycoon John Ringling in the 1920s to house his personal collection of masterpieces. Although the main attraction for those on Florida beach vacations is generally art by the Old Masters – including Rubens, van Dyck, Titian, Gainsborough and more – special exhibitions always draw interest and excitement.

The exhibition now attracting many guests of Sarasota hotels is titled “Gardens in Perpetual Bloom: Botanical Illustration in Europe and America 1600-1850.” The show features more than 100 prints – a fruitful collaboration of botanists, horticulturists, painters, and printmakers from the 17th to 19th centuries – colorful works that reveal the detail, structure, texture, tone, and lifelike appearance of magnificent flowers executed with an originality of design and composition.

Guests of Sarasota hotels will discover that, until the mid-19th century, gardening was purely the occupation of professionals employed by royalty and the wealthy – horticulturists who bred and cultivated new plants, and botanists whose concerns were the scientific classification of plant life.  This exhibition traces the transition of the study and appreciation of flowers from the world of monks and princes to the everyday gardener of modern times.

While on property, guests of Sarasota hotels will want to visit Mable Ringling’s Rose Garden, one of the loveliest spots on the Ringling estate.  The 27,225 sq. ft. garden was completed in 1913 and is patterned after a traditional Italian circular garden design. And just north of the estate is Mable Ringling’s Secret Garden, another beautiful sight for those on their Florida beach vacations.

For more information about all the exhibits at The Ringling Museum of Art, visit http://www.ringling.org; or ask your concierge at Longboat Key Club & Resort.