Visitors to Longboat Key Club & Resort who are on their Florida beach vacation during this holiday season are sure to enjoy stopping by the Sarasota Jungle Gardens “Holiday Lights & Jungle Nights” event. Located on 10 acres of land, the Jungle Gardens feature exotic animal displays and is one of the most popular destinations for families staying at Longboat Key Club & Resort on their Florida beach vacation.

Guests on a Florida beach vacation will instantly be in the holiday spirit when they get a first glimpse of the thousands of sparkling lights and displays the Jungle Gardens has to offer. With easy access on paved walkways, Florida beach vacation visitors will get to enjoy more than 65 lighted displays, including traditional holiday scenes, as well as exotic lighted animals such as lemurs, parrots and flamingos.

According to those staying at Longboat Key Club & Resort, one of the most favorite displays among Florida beach vacation guests is the 21-foot-tall 3-D Christmas tree with its 4,000 lights. Also popular with kids is the 17-foot lighted elephant.

In addition to light displays, guests on their Florida beach vacation will also enjoy seeing the animals, such as monkeys, flamingos and other exotic birds. For adults, hors d’oeurves and cocktails are available for purchase. Kids’ entertainment includes a snowball toss, marshmallow roasting, and appearances by Santa Claus.

Holiday Lights & Jungle Nights is only open on select dates, so be sure to check with your concierge at the Longboat Key Club & Resort for a listing of dates, times, and admission policies. It’s the perfect way for Florida beach vacation guests to enjoy a Happy Holiday at Longboat Key Club & Resort!

Now through February 8, 2009, guests of such Florida resorts as Longboat Key Club & Resort can visit Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. The exhibition has been viewed by more than 20 million people worldwide and is currently located at Sarasota’s G.WIZ hands-on science museum.

Since the infamous ship sank in April of 1912, people have been fascinated with the story of 1,500 people who died in the ocean waters. Now, visitors to Florida resorts can enjoy learning about the tragic accident and about the lives of the passengers. Current science and technology allow this Titanic exhibition to focus on the human stories by making use of authentic artifacts and allowing guests of Florida resorts to travel through extensively re-created rooms.

As described by guests of Longboat Key Club & Resort, simply entering the exhibition is an awe-inspiring experience. Visitors to Florida resorts are handed boarding passes that have real information about actual passengers of the ship, whose fate you will learn as you exit the displays. They enter through glass doors that make it feel as if they are truly stepping foot aboard the ill-fated vessel.

Guests of Florida resorts travel through the exhibition in a chronological order, from construction, to life on board, to the sinking and rescue attempts. Throughout the journey, actual items from the ship are displayed, including pieces that have been recovered from the bottom of the ocean. Visitors to Florida resorts will also see photographs and stories of passengers before learning their fate at the end.

One final interesting display is the room with the “iceberg” in it. Guests from Florida resorts can touch the iceberg and get a sense of just how cold the water was the night the Titanic went down. Sarasota’s G.WIZ museum is open every day of the week. Admission prices are good for the entire museum, including Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.

From January to April, snowbirds flock to Longboat Key Club & Resort for a Florida beach vacation – that is, visitors from cold climates come by the thousands to enjoy the Gulf Coast’s warm temperatures while it’s still chilly back at home. But with beautiful beaches, sparkling waters, bustling wildlife, and a serene atmosphere, Longboat Key is also a perfect destination for a quiet Florida resort vacation in the off-season.

It’s easy to enjoy a relaxed Florida beach vacation on Longboat Key any time of the year. Even at the end of the year, temperatures stay warm enough to enjoy a quiet evening walk on the beach or a cocktail at your favorite Florida resort’s outdoor bar. Only 8,000 locals live on the key year-round, ensuring a laid-back feeling when the tourists are gone.

The absence of things like giant shopping malls and flashing neon signs allows the Florida beach vacation visitor to soak up the serenity of Longboat Key. The island is only 11 miles long and just a mile at its widest point, so you’ll feel secluded and comfortable at any of the Key’s Florida resorts. As you walk down the beach, you might see dolphins swimming off the coast or a great blue heron flying by.

For those on their Florida beach vacation looking for a little more action, St. Armands Circle is just a short drive away. Here you’ll find shops, dining, and entertainment to quell your craving for the action. You can take the time to sip a coffee and watch the people, with the comfort of knowing that your serenity and Longboat Key Florida resort is just a hop, skip and a jump away.

From October 9th through November 22nd, visitors on their Florida beach vacation may want to check out Ed Kashi’s exhibit at the Longboat Key Center for the Arts. Kashi is a photojournalist, filmmaker, and educator who is known for his work in documenting the social and political issues that define our time. His thought-provoking work is worth a visit for guests of Florida resorts.

For parents traveling with children on their Florida beach vacation, consider taking in a showing of Charlotte’s Web the Musical at the Venice Little Theater October 4-21. Parent, grandparents, and children will enjoy this musical on-stage version of the classic E.B. White tale of the friendly pig and his spider friend.

On October 25th and 26th, families on their Florida beach vacation may want to take the little ones to the South Florida Museum in Bradenton for the second annual Halloween family sleepover. Florida resort guests and their families will enjoy many activities, including a family-friendly movie in the planetarium, prizes, treats, and breakfast with the manatees.

For Florida resort guests who are interested in taking a drive to Tampa, psychic Sylvia Brown will be lecturing live at the Tampa Convention Center on October 2nd. She will be discussing “mystical travelers” such as Mother Theresa and Gandhi, and how ordinary people can channel their qualities. Travelers of all ages on their Florida beach vacation will enjoy this talk as they learn how to transform negativity into something positive.

These are just a few examples of how Florida resort guests might like to spend some of their time in October. Information about these and many other events is available for Florida beach vacation travelers at the concierge at Longboat Key Club & Resort.

During your visit to Longboat Key Club & Resort, consider the many options for shopping while on your Florida beach vacation.

Guests of Florida resorts will enjoy shopping at St. Armand’s Circle, where over 150 upscale shops are located. This European-inspired area features beautiful statues, palm trees, restaurants, and exclusive shops for the fashionable shopper. If you’re looking for high style during your Florida beach vacation, be sure to carve out a day to spend here.

For guests of Florida resorts who enjoy antiquing and consignment shopping, Sarasota holds a treasure trove of possibilities! On “Antique Row,” shoppers on their Florida beach vacation will enjoy browsing through non-profit thrift stores and consignment stores, up to high-end art and antique shops. Unique finds include china, figurines, furniture, art pieces, crystal, vintage clothing, collectibles, jewelry, and much more.

Travelers on their Florida beach vacation may also enjoy visiting the Saturday morning farmer’s market Sarasota’s Lemon Avenue and Main Street. Florida resort guests will certainly find the best in local products, including organic produce, seafood, fresh flowers, homemade baked goods, and lots of arts and crafts.

Finally, for the thrifty Florida resort guest, stop by the Sarasota Outlet Center, where merchandise is often reduced as much as 70% of regular retail prices. Shoppers enjoying their Florida beach vacation will find apparel, housewares, gifts, home décor, shoes, accessories, and much more, all at great prices.

Visitors to Florida resorts during September 2008 will find a variety of exciting events taking place in the Florida Keys; and Florida resort guests enjoying a Florida beach vacation at Longboat Key Club & Resort may want to consider exploring some of these nearby adventures.

On Saturday, September 13th, Florida resort guests can drive down to experience the 2nd annual 1960s Bird Bash in Key Largo, which benefits the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. Species from all over the world will be on display.

The weekend of September 19th-21st, motorcycle enthusiasts from around the U.S. will travel through the Keys to Key West to raise money for charity during the 36th Annual Key West Poker Run. We looking forward to thanking many of these bikers with a cause when that stop to enjoy a Florida beach vacation at Longboat Key Club & Resort along their way,

Also turning a Florida beach vacation into work and play, Some of the best bonefish anglers anywhere will participate in the Marathon International Bonefish Tournament in Marathon from September 25th-28th. You and your family can take a day tour from your Florida resort to come see the big ones that don’t get away!

These are all uniquely Florida events, and examples of why a Florida beach vacation is such an exceptional experience. Information about these and other area events is always available from the concierge to Florida resort guests at Longboat Key Club & Resort.

A set of bones found on the beach by a Texas woman and her children while on their Florida beach vacation could be a deep-sea snake or an eel, a taxidermist told the family.

However, an archaeologist told Tiffany Robinson, who was on a Florida beach vacation in the Longboat Key area, that the fossil might be that of a large fish.

Ms. Robinson has her own opinion about what the skeleton with a large head and sharp, daggerlike fins could have been.

She says, “It looks like a dinosaur.”

The remains mystified mammal researchers at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota and professors at the University of South Florida.

“I’m more baffled that the specialists, the people who should know what it is, have no idea what it is,” said Robinson, a Dallas native who is on a Florida beach vacation with her family.

When the family spotted the bones, their mother turned the find into a paleontology lesson. The family took the remains back to their condo and the children did Internet research, making their Florida beach vacation an educational experience.

When they could not identify the remains online, the family shopped the bones around to experts, who suggested it could be a reptile or a giant grouper.

Whatever the skeleton is, Robinson said she will ship it back to Dallas before the family’s Florida beach vacation ends next week. Her 8-year-old son, Kyle, plans to hang the strange remains in his room.

“But I told the kids that if it is something that has never been discovered before, we’ve got to share it with the world,” Robinson said.

Many families and couples plan spring break family vacations on Longboat Key each year to take advantage of the private, uncrowded beaches, premier golf and tennis facilities, and luxury accommodations that punctuate its 12-mile stretch of shoreline.  They also enjoy a number of incredible, local dining establishments, sensational boutiques and specialty shops, and exciting watersports.

Tranquil during spring break – while many other Florida family vacation destinations are uncomfortably packed and even chaotic – Longboat Key offers an exceptional, relaxing array of activities for those looking to recharge.  Also devoid of the garish attractions that characterize many Florida beach towns, Longboat Key is one of the quietest barrier islands on the Gulf Coast; thus, it is perfect for a spring break family vacation.

Sports enthusiasts take advantage of the key’s luxurious golf and tennis resorts – and, of course, year-round sunshine.  The Longboat Key Club and Resort boasts 45 holes of championship golf on site, as well as a highly rated golf school.  We also maintain 38 Har Tru tennis courts, great for friendly competition.

In addition, Longboat Key is known as the place to go for the finest dining in the Sarasota region, featuring a number of must-try restaurants to be enjoyed during a spring break family vacation. The famed restaurant Euphemia Haye dazzles critics and locals alike with its crispy roast duck, extensive wine list and upstairs dessert bar.  Another renowned spot, Harry’s Continental Kitchens satisfies both formal and casual dining desires, offering an upscale bistro on one side and a gourmet deli on the other.

For fine shopping, Longboat Key offers chic attire at Avenue of the Flowers and the Centre Shops. Next door, on Lido Key, St. Armands Circle is world-famous for its variety of high-end clothiers, jewelers and perfumeries.

To entertain you outdoors during your spring break family vacation on Longboat Key, fishing charters abound, helping cruise the key’s vast stretches of healthy sea grass and mangrove-lined waterways teeming with snook, redfish, and speckled trout. And Longboat Key’s warm waves play host to a variety of watersports and boat races, including the yearly Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix.

Finally, just minutes from the cultural attractions of Sarasota, Longboat Key is an ideal base from which to explore the area during your spring break family vacation.  Sarasota features a variety of fascinating attractions and activities – including the Ringling mansion (built by John Ringling of the Ringling Bros.).

On Longboat Key, you and your family will discover spring break excitement that doesn’t exhaust or annoy you.  Rather, you will feel renewed, relaxed and ready to take on the world after a fascinating, peaceful spring break family vacation.

Offering beautiful white-sand beaches, an array of exciting outdoor recreation opportunities, fabulous vacation rentals and year-round sunshine, it’s no surprise that Longboat Key and Sarasota are preferred by European travelers looking to take an extended Florida beach vacation.

The French and, for that matter, people in much of the rest of Western Europe, can afford to “check out” for a Florida beach vacation for a month because they receive an average of nearly two months a year in paid leave, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

A tropical paradise on the Gulf of Mexico, Longboat Key off the coast of Sarasota, Florida offers abundant natural beauty, a warm climate all year long, and reasonable, long-term vacation rentals for families, couples and individuals. Thus, the idea of a fantastic Florida beach vacation naturally entices European professionals with extensive time off.

Florida beach vacation guests visiting from Europe delight in pristine beaches, world-class shopping, international cuisine, renowned museums and galleries, Florida’s signature water sports and outdoor activities, the serenity of aquariums and botanical gardens, and the excitement of friendly street festivals – many for more than a month at a time!

When choosing accommodations, the AAA Four-Diamond Longboat Key Club and Resort is especially popular, as are its incredible vacation rentals. Featuring beachfront properties seated along gentle gulf waters, nothing compares to the unique tropical island lifestyle of Longboat Key – especially when your Monthly Vacation Rental includes resort privileges to four unique restaurants, two championship golf courses, a new 9,000 square-foot Island House Spa, 38 Har-Tru tennis courts and more.

As Longboat Key provides guests with such a vast selection of spectacular diversions – all under the sun – it ensures the ideal setting for many Europeans interested in lengthy Florida beach vacations.

Mauro Guillen, a professor at Wharton, claims, “It is a sign of social status in Europe to take a long vacation away from home. Money is not everything in Europe; status is not only conferred by money. Having fun, or being able to have fun, also is a sign of success and a source of social esteem.”

And having fun on the island of Longboat Key is inevitable. Thus, it’s incredible ability to attract European vacationers.

As the holidays approach our Florida vacation resort, Longboat Key Club and Resort, Charles Dickens takes up residence at the Crosley Estate to delight you with stories of mirth, merriment and redemption. It’s perfect seasonal entertainment for our Florida vacation resort guests, enjoyed by children and adults alike.

A cast of characters, including Clement C. Moore, P.T. Barnum, members of the Dickens family and characters from his beloved classics greet Florida vacation resort guests as they enter the mansion. And throughout this Powel Crosley Theatre production Florida vacation resort guests move from room to room to enjoy interactive presentations of Dickens’ holiday stories as well as the works of other authors whose tales reflect our favorite season.

Florida vacation resort guests will not want to miss the trunk show version of “A Christmas Carol.” Also during your stay at our premier Florida vacation resort, enjoy the touching story The Gift of the Magi – back by popular demand. Opening and closing festivities, in the courtyard outside, include caroling for all to enjoy!