Get In On the Secret of Manasota Key

Manasota Key, a barrier island along Florida’s Gulf Coast located south of Venice and just off the Englewood area, is a beautiful beach and eco destination where you can explore beautiful and tucked away sections of turquoise waters without the hassles of a well-hyped beach. No overcrowding, difficulty parking, or any of the occasionally long waits typical of busier beaches’ diners/bars for your po’ boy sandwiches and margaritas. 

While booking your stay (I’m partial to the Manasota Beach Club or the Hampton Inn & Suites North Port), here’s some additional tips to get you ready to experience Manasota Key with all its slower-tempoed beauty, its share of native wildlife, and the overall vibe of a secret that an experienced traveler was kind enough to let you in on. 

Beaches on Manasota Key

As much as a paradox as it may seem, the Manasota Key area is best known for little-known beaches.  There are a number of these secluded beaches in the area including Manasota Beach, Blind Pass Beach, and perhaps the best known, Englewood Beach. 

Manasota Beach

Manasota Beach might be one of the least crowded beaches in Sarasota County, thus giving a visitor the chance to imagine that the whole gorgeous beach is merely their own private beach for a time.  The beach access parking is arguably more convenient than any of the neighboring beaches, and its other amenities -- picnic shelters, boat ramps, paved trails, and lifeguards -- make it an idyllic place for different levels of beach activity ambition.

Blind Pass Beach

Blind Pass Beach, also known as Middle Beach, has many of these same amenities and more, though it has no lifeguards on duty.  It’s nonetheless a great place for fishing and kayaking, or exploring the trails going in and out of the mangrove forest. 

Englewood Beach

As a slightly more popular beach destination, Englewood Beach will lack the deserted private beach vibe, but it is still a gorgeous beach with many of the usual surrounding beaches’ amenities, such as picnic tables, volleyball and basketball courts, playground, and that unbeatable Florida sunset. 

Outdoor Adventures and Eco Recreation

A bit further from the beach’s simpler relaxation routines, an authentic Floridian ecological intrigue awaits like a set of secrets within secrets.  For those visitors exploring the living landscape and waters within one of the best kept secret beach destinations in Florida, there are a few routes to put on your list – by land, air, or sea.  

Stump Pass Beach State Park at the southern end of Manasota Key is an idyllic place for hiking, picnicking, fishing, snorkeling, and wildlife-sighting explorations wherein you might catch a glimpse of a dolphin, West Indian Manatee, or a Loggerhead Sea Turtle.  Its remote location yields fewer visitors, so there’s more shark teeth and seashells for you.

Englewood Parasailing will allow you to get a glimpse of all these gorgeous mystery beaches from the viewpoint of the seabirds who fly above its shores. Watch for herons, egrets, ibis, and frigate birds and these birding hotspots.

Another excellent way to spend day in these Intercoastal and Gulf waterways is by renting a boat or jet ski whether through Allure Boat Rentals, or Beach Road Watersports. If you want some expert help in finding all the most fascinating hidden wildlife spots, hire SUP Englewood or Lemon Bay Tours to show you around; you can get guided paddleboard or kayak jaunts underway with help from these professional adventurers and see the sea floor up close. 

Where to Eat Near Manasota Key

When the afternoon transitions into evening (or even earlier for a few), it’s time to kick back, maybe even with a margarita or two. Manasota’s deserted beach vibe translates excellently into a laid-back beachside social vibe, with plenty of options blending that relaxed Tiki style and distinct Manasota Key flavors.

For the ultimate tropical concoction, indulge with a handmade cocktail enjoyed waterside at Farlow’s on the Water, where the South meets the Keys – think hush puppies and fried green tomatoes alongside hogfish and cobia. Life music Wednesday through Sunday evenings.

If you’re in the mood to toss the flip flops and baseball caps for a more upscale dining experience, Manasota’s got you covered. Stroll into Chophouse285 on Dearborn Street where every detail, from the historic architecture to the imported Senepol Beef, is curated to perfection. Live music nightly.

It’s not a piña colada, but the smoothies at Mango Bistro are paradise in a cup, perfect for any time of day. For something without a straw, they offer plant-based, gluten-free, and kid’s options to accommodate any appetite.

Whatever the particulars of your plan to enjoy the secrets within the secrets of Manasota Key, you’ll have to decide for yourself whether you plan on letting others in on the secret. Paying the favor forward may earn you some good Karma, if nothing else.