Dining on the beach at sunset with toes in the sand sounds like something that would happen on a luxurious vacation at an exotic, remote location. However, I was on the Brews, Bites & Beaches press trip in Sarasota, Fla., where I learned that a dinner in this setting is something readily offered to groups at The Resort at Longboat Key Club.
When I boarded the plane for the Gulf Coast city last August, I wasn’t sure what to expect. A life-long California native, I had never traveled to the Sunshine State. The trip began at The Resort at Longboat Key Club, the beachfront property located at the southern end of Longboat Key and concluded on Lido Key at the Lido Beach Resort.
My first day started off at The Resort at Longboat Key Club, which has 223 guest rooms and 12,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. I had a private tennis lesson from John Woods, the director of tennis for the resort. Recognized as the “Number One Tennis Resort on the Gulf Coast of Florida” by Tennis Magazine and a “Top 25 Gold Medal Resort Worldwide” by Tennis Resorts Online, the Tennis Gardens feature 20 Har-Tru tennis courts, including a USTA-certified stadium court. If tennis isn’t your thing, the property, named one of the “Best Places to Play” by Golf Digest, also has two courses, the Harbourside Golf Course and the Islandside Golf Course, as well as two driving ranges.
All that hard work earned us lunch and beer tasting at The Tavern & Whiskey Bar. The on-site restaurant is committed to using the freshest locally grown products from Florida growers, farmers, ranchers, fishermen and producers. The Tavern & Whiskey Club offers space for private lunches for up to 24 and also offers groups customized menus like our beer tasting-paired lunch.
The following day we were able to explore the fitness club and experience the resort’s spa. In addition to the fitness classes at the center, groups can arrange for workshops, classes or teambuilding activities such as beach yoga, paddleboarding or kayaking.
Mid-day we checked in at the 222-room Lido Beach Resort and had lunch at the pool- and beachside Tiki Bar. The resort, which has a contemporary beach feel, was recently renovated and the South Tower upgrades were complete in November 2015. There is 6,000 square feet of meeting space, including its private beach.
After lunch we were off to do some beer tasting and brewery tours—a newer trend in a city known mostly for golf, tennis and its beaches. Touted as Sarasota’s first craft brewery, our first stop was Big Top Brewing and we then tasted our way to JDub’s Brewery where a new batch of beer is brewed each week. Having worked up an appetite, we were treated to dinner at Made Restaurant on Main Street, which takes a modern and upscale approach to American comfort food. Chef Mark Woodruff puts a spin on classics such as the decadent “Four” Meatloaf with bacon, roasted brisket, duck confit and ground beef, and the Boarderline Mac-n-Cheese with locally made chorizo, jalapenos, pepper jack cheese and chipotle peppers. As the name suggests, the restaurant makes as much as it can in-house, like its homemade ketchup.
My last day on the Gulf Coast began with a visit and tour of the Ringling Museum. The Ringling family and estate is an important part of Sarasota’s history, and as such, circus themes can be seen across the city. John Ringling built Ca’ d’Zan, his waterfront estate and now a museum, in the 1920s based on the Venetian Gothic style of the palazzi in Venice. Today, the property is over 150,000 square feet and features the estate, the Museum of Art, the Circus Museum, the Asolo Theater, and an education center and beautiful gardens. Group tours are available and events can be held in the Museum of Art’s courtyard, the Ca’ d’Zan terrace and in the Circus Museum.
After the morning at the museum, we headed to the historic St. Armands Circle for lunch at Surf Shack Coastal Kitchen. Known for its tacos, the restaurant and its rooftop venue, The Rooftop at Surf Shack, are right in the middle of the action of St. Armands. After some leisure time to check out a few of the 150 stores, restaurants and famous homemade chocolate, fudge and ice cream shops around the circle, we made our way to Drum Circle Distilling. Here, we met with its founder, CEO and head distiller, Troy Roberts, who gave us a tour, explained the distilling process and tasted us through the lineup of his award-winning Siesta Key rums. Roberts’ passion is evident and you can easily tell he loves what he does.
My Florida adventure ended that evening with dinner back at The Resort at Longboat Key Club. We dined at the Northern Italian restaurant Portofino, is located in the Marina Village overlooking the Longboat Moorings marina. On Friday and Saturday evenings there is live music in the lounge and the restaurant offers private dining options for up to 60.
As I headed back to California, it was clear to me why Sarasota is a special and unique place. Maybe it’s the Southern charm and hospitality, the resorts with amenities, restaurants and spaces that stand out, the Gulf Coast beaches, or the array of activates available to groups and travelers. I think it’s a combination of it all.
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The Resort at Longboat Key Club
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