Florida’s Manasota Key Resort Is a Family-Friendly Retreat That Even Solo Travelers Will Love

The building where I stayed was the last in the row, conveniently butted up against the entrance to Stump Pass State Park. The five-acre resort occupies a distinct setting, directly between the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Lemon Bay. A less-than-one-minute walk separates the contrasting scenes, offering resort guests the best of both beach worlds.

Photo: Manasota Key Resort

Manasota Key Resort recently underwent extensive renovations and rebranding. The project was born out of necessity. Like many local businesses, the resort experienced considerable damage from Hurricane Ian in 2022. The surrounding area is still recovering, and resort staff were still wrapping up some additions to the property throughout the week of my stay.

Manasota Key Resort, however, is more than ready for guests. The resort operates 83 units scattered across numerous buildings along both sides of the main road. Options include cottages, private bungalows, and a range of suites, from studios to three-bedroom units. The array of accommodation types makes it a popular spot for wedding parties, family reunions, and snowbirds, which were represented well during my visit.

Photo: Kevin Payne

I traveled solo for this trip but ended up in a two-bedroom suite situated on the top half of the last condo along Lemon Bay. With my family of six, I’m used to booking larger vacation rentals, but the extra space was much appreciated. Upon walking into the unit, I could tell it had been recently renovated. Everything looked bright and new. Both bedrooms featured plush king-size beds, a dresser, a big-screen TV, and large closets stocked with beach towels and other amenities.

I didn’t plan on cooking for myself, but the unit came with a fully stocked kitchen, including a brand-new Keurig machine (which I used frequently) and a small dining table with four chairs. One noticeable absence was a dishwasher, but there were supplies for handwashing dishes. The living room area featured another big-screen TV and a sleeper sofa. The suite was spacious and could technically fit our family of six if we used the sofa, but I would probably opt for a three-bedroom unit for a family trip because it includes another bathroom.

Photo: Kevin Payne

The unit featured a small but gorgeous full bathroom with a glass walk-in shower. It usually doesn’t take me long to get ready, but my tech-nerd side appreciated the LED vanity mirror with multiple color temperatures and anti-fog technology.

My favorite feature was the balcony, which faced tranquil Lemon Bay. It overlooked one of the resort’s private fishing docks, which has a cleaning station and lounge chairs. Every morning, I would brew a cup of coffee and head downstairs to enjoy the peaceful waters, occasionally waving at passing boats. I kept an eye on the waters, hoping to spot dolphins, which is a frequent occurrence along Lemon Bay although I didn’t see any.

Photo: Manasota Key Resort

The bulk of the resort’s accommodations sit on the Gulfside. Several ground-floor units offered private seating outdoors. Every unit enjoyed convenient access to the beach, its seating areas, and a row of cabanas, which are available to all resort guests at no additional cost.

Photo: Kevin Payne

As a dad to four teens, I’ve learned that resort amenities and activities are often just as important as spacious accommodations. The reimagined Manasota Key Resort understands this, too. What distinguishes Manasota Key Resort from other beach destinations I’ve encountered is its family-friendly atmosphere, skillfully balancing hospitality for families with children without being excessively intrusive or overwhelming.

When you’re a guest at Manasota Key Resort, you receive access to all of the resort’s amenities at no additional cost. Manasota Key Resort has two heated swimming pools, a brand-new fitness studio, and a small laundry facility. The resort has a private beach on the Gulfside. According to the staff, the ocean waters were rougher than usual during my visit. I spent most of my time at the beach collecting shells. I’ve never seen a beach covered with so many seashells. I even found two shark teeth during my morning explorations.

Photo: Kevin Payne

The welcome center is centrally located on the property and is the hub for the majority of the resort’s complimentary amenities. You’ll find a mini putting green, yard games like ping pong and corn hole, and sports courts for pickleball, basketball, and shuffleboard, complete with all of the necessary equipment. The resort offers dozens of cruiser bicycles, with helmets and baskets available upon request inside the welcome center. The local roads have bike lanes, making it easy to ride off-property to restaurants, shops, and public beach areas in town.

If you enjoy water sports, the resort has kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and boogie boards. The weather wasn’t quite warm enough to brave a paddleboard adventure, knowing I’d probably fall off, so I opted for a leisurely trip along the mangrove-lined shoreway in a single kayak.

For families sticking to a travel budget, it’s refreshing not to have to pull out your wallet every time you want to experience fun together on your vacation. It’s rare to find resorts with watersports or bicycles available without paying an hourly or weekly fee. The policy not only saves money for guests, but there’s also freedom in not having to pack your vehicle or suitcases with beach toys and other gear to stay entertained.

Photo: Kevin Payne

As mentioned, I didn’t use the kitchen in my unit. Instead, I enjoyed several meals at Lemon Bay Market, the resort’s lone restaurant and marketplace. The casual dining spot sits by the bay near the welcome center. It features a marketplace with snacks, beverages, and essentials, as well as a small kitchen. There are no servers. Instead, you can walk up and order from a limited menu. You can also place orders online.

Lemon Bay Market is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For early birds, I recommend the avocado toast and berry parfait. The Baja fish tacos and coconut shrimp were my go-tos for lunch. For adult beverages, Lemon Bay Market serves a small assortment of draught and canned beers, wine, and select seltzers. Manasota Key Resort is currently building an outdoor beach bar in the adjacent building. It’s also in the process of applying for a full liquor license.

On the other side of the welcome center is a large outdoor kitchen and seating area available for guests to use. The centerpiece of the outdoor kitchen is an enticing pizza oven, but there are also gas grills available.

Photo: Manasota Key Resort

There are also several restaurants within a mile of the resort that offer waterfront dining. You’ll find fresh seafood and other local cuisine at most restaurants and bars around Manasota Key. Some of my favorites include the Sandbar Tiki and Grille, which specializes in authentic barbeque that’s smoked for hours; Beachcomber Trading Post for satisfying bites such as the beach burger and beachcomber fish sandwich; and The Waverly Restaurant and Bar for upscale cuisine. The Waverly’s menu includes an extensive sushi menu, but my favorites were the butter and bread board and the shrimp and grits featuring jumbo tiger prawns.

If my family were with me, we probably would have taken advantage of the kitchen I had in my unit at Manasota Key Resort to cook many of our meals, but I’d still make it a point to venture off of the property to experience local cuisine.

Photo: Jim Schwabel/Shutterstock

Manasota Key and Englewood offer additional entertainment and activities near the resort. Stump Pass Beach State Park is located next to Manasota Key Resort. It’s a popular spot among locals and visitors alike, as evidenced by the stream of cars outside of my suite waiting for entry due to limited parking. Luckily, resort guests can walk into the park. There’s a collection box with envelopes to pay a small entry fee. The state park features a beautiful beach for swimming and sunbathing. There’s also a kayak launch and several hiking trails featuring information on local wildlife.

Several boat tours and dolphin cruises are available in the area. I headed out on the water one night for a sunset dolphin cruise with Lemon Bay Dolphin Tours. Unfortunately, we only spotted one dolphin during the trip. The captain was entertaining, sharing interesting facts about the area, including which celebrities own homes along the bay.

Photo: Kevin Payne

The Englewood Farmers Market is a popular spot, filled with dozens of local vendors. It’s open on Thursdays from 9 AM to 1 PM. For another beach option, Englewood Beach has an extended public breach, a large playground for kids, beach volleyball, and a basketball court.

Manasota Key Resort is one of the designated stops for golf cart transportation around town provided by Stumpy’s. The service is free, but tips are appreciated. I spotted Stumpy’s carts around town throughout my stay.

Photo: Kevin Payne

For guests traveling by plane, the region has two primary airports. Both are at least an hour’s drive from the resort. Sarasota Bradenton International Airport is located roughly 42 miles north of the resort while Southwest Florida International Airport, located in Fort Myers, is approximately 69 miles southeast of Manasota Key Resort. The resort is accessible by car, with complimentary parking available around the property. The resort staff mentioned that it sometimes takes a while to secure a ride through rideshare services, but I waited less than five minutes for my ride back to the airport.

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