It’s a Family Affair
At Sand Cay Beach Resort, nestled on the Gulf of Mexico in Longboat Key, FL, the guests may come in as strangers, but leave as family. In fact, Sand Cay is proud to report a high percentage of returning generations of families visiting Longboat Key!
Not surprising, when you consider that Longboat Key, and its surrounding Sarasota areas, check the box when it comes to meeting family vacation criteria, including cost, travel convenience, vacation style and attractions, activities and sights.
Cost: Considering a trip to Longboat Key? With a 3-night minimum reservation, guests can reserve a 2BR, 2BTH, full kitchen, DR, LR condo at Sand Cay for as little as $205 a night for a Pool/Garden View condo, $225 a night for a Gulf View condo, and $258 a night for a Gulf Front condo. Pricing is seasonal.
Travel Convenience: Traveling to Longboat Key, and its surrounding Sarasota areas just became significantly easier, with SRQ Airport adding hundreds of non-stop direct flights to several cities throughout the United States. Sand Cay is just 30 minutes from the SRQ airport, 1.5 hours from Tampa International Airport (TIA) and 7.5 driving hours from Atlanta, GA.
Vacation Style, Attractions and Activities: Sand Cay, and Longboat Key, have a great ability to offer a variety of vacation options to suit your own and your family’s various needs and preferences. You could be a beach bum, or enjoy so many attractions, like the Mote Aquarium, Selby Gardens or go shopping in St. Armand’s Circle, all 10 minutes from Sand Cay Beach Resort. Through Sand Cay’s new “Sand Cay Concierge Services” guests receive special discounts to area attractions and restaurants. Did we mention that the restaurants are also spectacular?
The Gilberts
Hailing from Wentzville, MO, Dan Gilbert, who works in car manufacturing, and his wife Jennifer Gilbert who works for a health insurance company, took their first vacation together, to Longboat Key, as soon as their son Evan turned 1. They headed for Sand Cay Beach Resort with four of five of their children, Lexie(now 24), Dustin(now 21), Libby(now 18), Evan(now 5), and then later, Savannah(now 3). “We found Sand Cay after looking for hours for a place to stay, and we loved the views the condo provided as well as the beach access.”
The Gilbert’s came back to Sand Cay in July of 2019 with Dan’s parents. “We loved the memories we made there and the kindness of the staff. It was an easy walk to the beach for Dan’s parents and I loved getting to have a place that felt like home.”
Longboat Key provides a great environment for family bonding
“I loved Evan getting to work on trains with his grandpa and burying Dustin in the sand. Dan and I make the dinner cruise on Sarasota Bay a MUST date night. We also enjoy shopping in St. Armand’s Circle and a visit to the Mote Marine Aquarium. Dan has recently started building train sets with his dad and we brought this project on the trip up with us!” As far as restaurants are concerned, the Gilberts swear by the Old Salty Dog (as you head into St. Armand’s and Sarasota) home of the famous “Salty Dog Special”, The Wicked Cantina, and, of course, breakfast at the Blue Dolphin.
Becoming Sand Cay Family
“I loved that the owners of the condos provide so much to make your experience the best yet. We had umbrellas, hi-chairs, coolers, folding chairs and more. I felt like I was staying in a friend’s house, not a stranger’s house! Everyone was smiling everywhere I went. I felt safe and taken care of. “
A Word to the Newcomer
When asked if she has any words of wisdom to the Longboat Key vacation newbie, Jenny Gilbert replied, “I would say just soak in every minute together. Evan still talks about his “beach house” and the time we were all together on the beach. When I’m having a rough day, I close my eyes and imagine I’m at Sand Cay at sunset watching the waves come in.
See you Soon!
This latest trip included 3 generations of Gilberts! “Hopefully. we will try and come back in October and just spend some time together, before everyone goes in their separate directions. Making memories that are forever in your mind are worth every penny.”
The O’Conners
With four generations of family members staying on Longboat Key at the Sand Cay Beach Resort, the oldest born in 1924 and the youngest born in 2017, when he was just 3 weeks old, the O’Conner’s agree, “Longboat Key has the right mix of getting away from it all, yet provides the excitement of fun activities and events, if you prefer.”
Originally from Cincinnati, Adele O’Conner spent her adult life in Columbus. Ohio. She discovered Longboat Key in the early‘70’s, when she and her then boyfriend (who later became her husband) stayed at Lido Key, and based on a friend’s recommendation, they explored Longboat Key. “It was as beautiful then as it is now,” says Adele. What makes them keep coming back? “The beauty and tranquility of the Gulf waters and beach, together with outdoor activities that our entire family has enjoys.”
Adele found Sand Cay Resort during one of her many beach walks with her husband in the mid ‘80’s. They had 2 toddlers at the time. “Sand Cay has always exceeded our expectations, from the cleanliness and maintenance of the accommodations, pool, beach and grounds, to the friendly staff making sure your time here is memorable and relaxing.”
So Much to Do
“Our favorite restaurants include the Blue Dolphin, Oma’s, Columbia, and Drunken Poet Cafe. We also frequent the parks on a daily basis, both Bayfront Park and Joan M. Durante Community Park. We frequent St. Armand’s Circle for shopping and dining and Ed Smith Stadium for baseball. Spring training games are also family favorites. Over the years, we have chartered fishing boats, gone sailing, and jet skied!
Most Memorable Moment
When asked, what is her most memorable moment in Longboat Key, Adele replied, “My favorite memory is watching our kids play with the other kids they met at Sand Cay. They played on the beach, in the pool and in the Sand Cay courtyard. Kids of all ages (and in numbers ranging from 10-20) joined in the fun playing football and baseball. At night they played ‘Red Rover’ and ‘Capture the Flag’. This went on for many years since most of the kids had the same spring break year after year. Now I see our grandchildren meeting other kids at the beach to build sandcastles and play.”
Adele’s word to the Longboat Key newcomer, “The best times to visit Longboat Key are in the Spring and Fall. But book early at Sand Cay, we are already booked our reservations for 2022! You’re going to love the kitchens at Sand Cay which are well equipped to make your favorite recipes, if you prefer to eat in. Sand Cay also has barbeque grills and picnic tables with Gulf views to enjoy this type of outdoor dining experience.”
What’s most valuable to Adele when taking a vacation?
“With a limited number of vacation days due to school and/or work, the ease of getting to the destination is valuable. The Sarasota Airport has added new carriers in the past year, Allegiant and Southwest, and it is an easy airport to navigate.”
Also valuable, Adele states, is that “the long-awaited anticipation of our vacation should meet or exceed our expectations once we arrive at our vacation home. Sand Cay has always exceeded our expectations, from the cleanliness and maintenance of the accommodations, the pool, the beach and the grounds, to the friendly staff making sure your time here is memorable and relaxing.”
The Dammanns
Steve and Sue Dammann first met one night at a company meeting which was held on Longboat Key at the Colony. Sue worked for the company’s owner, in the Des Moines office, and Steve worked for the Chicago office. Little did they know that night that they would soon plant their toes on Longboat Key’s sandy beach on a more permanent basis.
They were drawn to Sand Cay Beach Resort through a fund raiser, they had attended. Someone had given a week’s stay at Sand Cay in a silent auction. “We stayed to the end to make sure we got it,” said Sue.” That was the second-floor unit. We loved it.”
Our first visit to Sand Cay was in the 80s. We came back in the 90s, stayed in second floor unit again and during that visit Steve asked me to marry him, out on the beach.” With two (now adult) sons, and several grandchildren, the rest is history!
The Start of a Tradition
“Our oldest son and his wife and daughter came to visit us during a stay during the 90s. Their daughter was barely walking and ventured onto the beach and stopped when the water tickled her toes. She loved it. She’s now 27 and has been back every year since.”
The Dammanns have two sons, one lives in the Houston area and the other son lives in Iowa. “All grandkids have come to Sand Cay in their first year of life and every year since, the youngest is now 16 and the oldest is 30.”
From Guest to Owner
Sue and Steve Dammann purchased a unit in the 90s and are the second owners. “We love the area. It’s classy, safe, clean, and friendly. We love going shopping in St. Armand’s and all of the diverse restaurants. Everything is close, but not too close! We have guests who rent our unit who come back year after year. We have made amazing friends here. “
