LONGBOAT KEY , Florida ( CNN ) -- Like any sun-drenched beach paradise , Longboat Key offers water sports , biking and tennis , but the best way to enjoy the island may be by doing nothing at all . Low season on Longboat Key , Florida , generally starts in May and runs until late fall . This thin sliver of land off Sarasota on Florida 's west coast is home to 8,000 people year-round , but come winter , the population swells dramatically . Thousands of visitors from colder climates flock to LBK -- its shorthand moniker -- from January to April to enjoy its balmy temperatures and the sparkling turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico . Off season , however , the only crowds are the sea gulls grooming their feathers on the warm white sand , and Longboat Key feels like the closest thing to having a private beach . On a recent late-September visit , the temperatures hovered in the mid-80s , palm trees swayed gently in the wind , hibiscus flowers bloomed and the sun 's rays were on par with their intensity in July . The only signs of fall were the pumpkins on display at the local grocery store , along with regular fare , like mango Key lime pie . See photos of Longboat Key 's beaches , birds and sunsets » . Tell people you are heading to Longboat Key , and many will think it 's part of the Florida Keys off the southern tip of the state , but LBK is about 200 miles to the north-northwest of -- and in some ways worlds away from -- Key West and its neighbors . Nightlife on the island is likely to mean a moonlit walk on the beach rather than a drink at the bar , and the odds are good the locals will sport gray hair . Elegant setting . Buffered by Sarasota Bay on one side and facing the Gulf of Mexico on the other , the Key is sheltered from the tourist hustle and bustle of mainland Florida . At less than 11 miles in length and no more than a mile across in its widest places , LBK also feels like a secluded community with an elegant flavor of its own . The surroundings are lush , upscale and serene . A trip down Gulf of Mexico Drive , the island 's main artery , reveals golf courses , condominiums and homes ranging from newly constructed mansions to older , one-story houses . The traffic is light , life moves at a slower pace and the mood is relaxed . `` You wo n't find mini-malls , towering billboards , or glaring neon signs , '' the local Chamber of Commerce promises . Nonhuman island visitors also contribute to the mellow atmosphere . Dolphins regularly swim just offshore . Great egrets and great blue herons fish along the beach , while pelicans dive into the water in search of a meal . Birds of all sizes regularly patrol the palm-lined parking lot of the local supermarket looking for scraps of food from the lunch crowd . Wingless creatures also pop up in unexpected places . Visitors walking into one establishment are greeted by a stern voice exclaiming , `` Bear , no ! '' Bear , it turns out , is a curious 5-month old Chesapeake Bay retriever who insists on checking out all the customers entering the store despite his owner 's orders to stay put . Lodging and shopping . There are few hotels on Longboat Key , but rental homes and condos abound , so it 's best to make lodging arrangements in advance , especially for visitors who plan to stay a while . Low season generally starts in May and runs until November . Tourists yearning to make the island a permanent home should bring along a big wallet . The average sale price for a condominium was more than $ 1 million last year , and it topped $ 1.5 million for a single-family home , according to the local Chamber of Commerce . Spenders on a smaller scale can get their fix in neighboring St. Armands Key and its unique shopping circle lined with boutiques and restaurants . ( The official motto urges visitors to `` get out of the box , get into the circle . '' ) Shoppers can find anything from jewelry to knock-out shoes to sea shells of all shapes and sizes . Depending on your budget and appetite , a lunch break can range from a latte to a smoked salmon and brie grilled cheese . St. Armands Circle is a great place to people watch , but it 's good to know the tranquil beach back on Longboat Key is just a short drive away . Shopping can be exhausting when sunny , lazy days in a blissful place are filled with doing nothing at all .
Thousands of visitors from colder climates flock to Longboat Key in winter . Off season , the island feels like the closest thing to having a private beach . Longboat Key is less than 11 miles in length and no more than a mile wide . It has two main beaches - one for swimming and another that can be used by boats or jet skis.