Longboat Key / Mote Marine

[Cheshire_cat]

Does anyone have any experience traveling in this area? We will be at DW in a week and want to take the kids to see the ocean on one of our days. DS7 is a sea turtle fanatic so we'd like to go to Mote Marine. Any info on the beaches around there - places to clean up after going to the beach, etc....

Thanks so much!!!

 

[flatline]

MOTE's a very cool and unique facility. the 14 1/2 foot hammerhead just caught is going to be on display there. beachwise, travel a little south to Siesta Key.

 

[Mom2T&G]

I agree about Siesta Key! It is a beautiful beach. Have fun!!

 

[NotUrsula]

Are you staying overnight? The Sarasota area is at least a 3 hour drive from WDW; kind of far for a day trip.

If you decide to opt for closer to WDW, try the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. We've been to both facilities several times; unless you are really want to see manatees, the public displays are fairly comparable. (DS adores the giant squid that is displayed at Clearwater. Not live, of course; this one is preserved in a LONG wall of lucite.) Clearwater also has turtles. http://www.cmaquarium.org/

 

[smellyann]

Hey, I used to be a fisheries biologist on staff at Mote (hence the fishy for me in my sig)! How fun for me to see this post! It's been a while since I lived there, but PM me if you want help & I'll try to remember!

 

[Cheshire_cat]

Thanks for the link to the Clearwater Aquarium! I had no idea! We weren't planning to stay overnight so we will definitely look into that!

See, this is why you ask questions on this board - you just always get alot of good ideas

 

[gizmos]

Longboat Key (LBK) is actually only about 1hr 40 from WDW - I did this three weeks ago and thats all it takes, its a fairly easy trip as well, I4 to I75 and then along Fruitville Road. Stayed on LBK for a week.

There were two turtles in that you could see when we were there and they were going to release them into the wild. It is also sea turtle nesting season at the moment so you may be able to see the nests that have been roped off on the beach.

Longboat Key has lots of beac and Anne Marie Island (the next island up) has a fantastic park like area near the beach. We were accosted by squirrels when we got out - there is a also a very clean toilet block there where you can clean up - plus cola machine etc for some refreshments. The carpark is also underneath trees and therefore shades the car from the heat.

Hope this helps - as I say just returned from there and it was fantastic - going back next year to spend a fortngiht on the island. It's so peaceful and relaxing.

 

[NotUrsula]

To get to Lido Key in 1 hr and 40 minutes you would have to be going at a pretty good clip.

I just checked Google maps, and they clock it from the Downtown Disney ramp at 122 miles, for an estimated time of 2 hrs. and 17 minutes. Personally, I think that's being highly optimistic, because doing it in the morning (except on the weekend) you are likely to hit traffic near downtown Tampa, and again when you drive onto Lido and go through the St. Armand's circle area. We've never made that trip in under 2.5 hours, and it is usually closer to 3 by the time we actually touch beach. On summer weekends, especially, traffic between Longboat, Lido, and Siesta on 789 can move at a snail's pace.

 

[Gillian]

I remember hearing that there is a nice public beach on Lido key, which is closer to Mote than Siesta. But you will have to go through St armands circle traffic to get to the aquarium from DW.

My brother in law said something about a beach with a pool on Lido, will have to ask him for details. He works in that area and they live in Sarasota.