Lido Key is on the southwest coast of Florida, west of Sarasota and south of Tampa by 35 miles. It is one in the group of barrier islands on the lower west coast protecting the coastline. Bordered by the Gulf of Mexico on the west and Sarasota Bay on the east, the bridge access is from downtown Sarasota across John Ringling Causeway and north from another barrier island, Longboat Key.

This small island could have easily established itself as a vacation paradise, relying alone on its beautiful beaches and bay areas. However, the development of St. Armands Circle and relocation of Mote Marine Laboratory to the area has made it a world-class tourist destination. Its proximity to Sarasota, the cultural center of the area, has also made it a great location from which to tour Southwest Florida.

Strolling through St. Armands Circle provides for a charming ambiance. Here one is served by the best of the best. Rich and powerful people from around the world have sat in the sidewalk cafes, sauntered past its classy shops and purchased its one-of-a-kind artwork. On the walkways, palm trees, tropical plantings and flowering bushes softly undulate when brushed by the warm winds from the Gulf. Hours and hours can be spent shopping, looking, browsing and sampling the special foods and drinks.

When it's time for the beach, there are some great choices. Lido Key Beach is central to the key and the best of the group. It has lifeguards, watercraft and umbrella rentals, a freshwater swimming pool, showers, restrooms and food facilities. The beach is deep and wide and from here one can walk a mile or so along the shoreline to North Lido Beach, a windswept, natural area of sand, water and trees. South Lido Key Beach is a natural setting of Australian Pines and picnic tables bordered by the sandy beaches of Sarasota Bay, the inlet at Big Sarasota Pass and the Gulf of Mexico.

Close by is South Lido Park Nature Center where you can follow canoe trails through the Sarasota Bay mangroves.

Of special interest is the Mote Marine Laboratory. Here kids and adults can thrill to the sights of many marine species in small and large aquarium tanks. Hulking Manatees, weighing in at an incredible 1200-1500 pounds, lively porpoises in the pool or the shark tank with its menagerie of ocean fish can capture anyone's attention. It's not all marine circus here, though. These folks carry on some serious marine research in the scientific community and are world renowned in oceanographic circles.

Visitors to Lido Key, Florida can tour many South Florida cities by car. Directly across the John Ringling causeway is Sarasota, a mere 5 minutes away and hop over to Siesta Keyin another 10 minutes and Venicein 25. Traveling north takes one to Longboat Keyjust across the bridge at New Pass and 15 minutes later, after crossing Longboat Pass, you'll be on Anna Maria Island, ready to tour the little cities of Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach and the city of Anna Maria. Seventy-five to ninety minutes south will find one at the gateway to another tropical destination in Sanibeland Captiva, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beachand Pine island including Matlacha, Bokeelia and St. James City. The Lido Key area can be accessed best by air from the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (15 minutes) or The Southwest Florida International Airport just southwest of Fort Myers (90 minutes) and even the Tampa International Airport (60 minutes).

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