Sarasota’s Barrier Islands Escape to Paradise

Several barrier islands separate Sarasota’s mainland from the Gulf of Mexico. These islands are known as the “keys” and include the islands of Longboat Key, Lido Key, Bird Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, and Manasota Key.

Longboat Key and Lido Key are the northernmost barrier islands in Sarasota County. They are known for their pristine, private access beaches and world-class shopping and dining at St. Armand’s Circle which lies midway between the two keys.
Bird Key lies just east of Lido Key and is home to one of the most exclusive residential communities in the country.

Siesta Key is the most well-known of the Sarasota barrier islands. This 8-mile island is known worldwide for its white sandy beach-made of 99% pure quartz, it is always cool and soft to the touch. Siesta Key Beach has made the top ten of Dr. Beach’s “Best Beaches in America” list for three straight years, coming in second place in 2009. Siesta Key Village offers shopping and dining in a laid-back atmosphere.

Casey Key lies just south of Siesta, but has a very different feel. Casey Key is “Old Florida” at its best. A canopy of tropical trees and Australian pines cover the winding road that leads you to luxurious homes, quaint inns, and beautiful beaches.

Manasota Key is the southernmost barrier island and lies off the coast of Englewood. It is home to four wonderful beaches each offering much to do. Two thirds of Manasota Key is in Sarasota County and the South third is in Charlotte County. Manasota Beach boasts 14-acres of sandy dunes along the Gulf of Mexico and offers sheltered tables, barbecue pits, boardwalks, and bathhouse facilities. Blind Pass Beach has over 60 acres of nature trails and is great for fishing and swimming. Englewood Beach has a concession stand, picnic tables, and recreation areas and is located close to local restaurants and shops. Stump Pass Beach is a narrow strip of beach, great for anglers and water sports enthusiasts. The north end of Manasota Key offers private homes on one-acre lots.

Nick Herron & Kathleen Herron of the Herron Group would be glad to show you any of the properties listed on Sarasota’s Barrier Island of Longboat Key, Lido Key, Bird Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, and Manasota Key Call 941.350.5035.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine…Live the Dream

Explore the Secret of the Seas at Mote Aquarium

For anyone visiting the Sarasota area, Mote Aquarium is a must-see. A local favorite, the Aquarium is on City Island located between the barrier island of Longboat Key on the North and Lido Key’s St. Armands Circle on the South.

This unique attraction is first and foremost, a research facility. Eugenia Clark founded the facility in 1955 primarily for shark research. It is now a world-renowned marine laboratory in the areas of aquaculture, coastal ecology, and marine mammal rehabilitation – to name a few.
Mote opened its aquarium in 1980, displaying Florida’s marine life for all to see. Mote allows you to explore the secrets of the sea with touch pools, shark, dolphin, manatee and sea turtle exhibits and over 100 other species of marine life.

Mote visitors can learn about the ocean’s top predators and shark research at the Shark Habitat, a 135,000-gallon tank with nurse sharks, bull sharks, blacktips, and sandbar sharks – among others. At Shark Tracker, visitors take on the role of Mote scientists and learn how sharks are tracked in the wild or find out what it’s like to be a shark in the exciting 12-minute movie at Shark Attack Theater.

A favorite for children, the Aquarium has two touch pools: at Contact Cove, get close to horseshoe crabs, sea stars, and sea urchins and at the Ray Touch Pool you can touch sting rays with no worries – their barbed tails have been removed.

Now the main attraction: The Ann and Alfred Goldstein Marine Mammal Research and Rehabilitation Center where visitors can see resident manatees Hugh and Buffett, loggerhead and green sea turtles, and resident dolphins, Harley and Moonshine.

When your visit to Mote Aquarium has ended, take a ride over to St. Armand’s Circle for some fine shopping and dining.

According to My Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service here are the figures for Longboat & Lido Keys:

Longboat Key Single Family Homes for Sale there are 164 Active Listings priced from $179,900 to $9,995,000. There are 15 Sale Pending and there have been 35 Single Family Homes Sold this year.

Longboat Key Condos for Sale there are 414 Active Listings priced from $48,995 to $5,000,000. There are 55 Sale Pending and there have been 101 Condos Sold this year.

Lido Key Single Family Homes for Sale there are 47 Active Listings priced from $475,000 to $9,800,000. There are 5 Sale Pending and there have been 16 Single Family Homes Sold this year.

Lido Key Condos for sale there are 102 Active Listings priced from $159,900 to $3,999,000. There are 4 Sale Pending and there have been 22 Condos Sold this year.

Nick Herron & Kathleen Herron of the Herron Group, RE/MAX Alliance Group would be glad to show you any of the properties listed on Sarasota’s Barrier Island of Lido Key, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Manasota Key, and Island of Venice. Call 941.350.5035.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine…Live the Dream

Curry Creek Café A little known gem with an eclectic flair

“Eclectic” is defined as selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles and the Curry Creek Café does just that. They take the best in various types of cooking styles and serve them up with a hometown feel.

Housed in a diner-style building on Tamiami Trail South in Nokomis, a short distance from Casey Key this little-known gem is anything but “diner style”. Once you get past the building and its dirt parking lot you will find some of the most outstanding food in Sarasota County.

The dining area is small but its charm is immediately felt with the vintage photos and memorabilia from the area. The food is nothing short than amazing. Chef/owner David Arbuckle is a Nokomis native who left the area to become an award-winning chef. His wife, Rofie, is from Indonesia, and though fairly new to the restaurant business, adds her signature to the menu with her wonderful egg rolls, coconut milk shrimp curry, jasmine rice, and traditional rendang (a beef stew).

Between Rofie’s Indonesian dishes and Chef David’s creativeness with the more traditional favorites such as meatloaf, lamb chops, and crab cakes, this is a restaurant not be missed.

West of Curry Creek Café are several bay front homes on Sunrise, Sunset, and at the end of Sunrise in the Anchorage a gated enclave of homes. There are currently seven homes listed for sale priced from $795,000 to $3,475,000. So far this year two homes have sold in the Anchorage.

Nick Herron & Kathleen Herron , the Herron Group, RE/MAX Alliance Group would be glad to show you any of the properties listed in the Nokomis area or on any of Sarasota Barrier Island’s of Island of Venice, Manasota Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Lido and Longboat Key. Call 941.350.5035 or 800.789.6580.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine…Live the Dream

With the Charm of Old Florida Expect a Laid Back Experience at Nokomis Beach

Heading west on Albee Road from Tamiami Trail you will run straight into Nokomis Beach upon traveling over the Intracoastal Waterway. Situated on the Barrier Island of Casey Key, you will experience all that living along the Gulf of Mexico has to offer at Nokomis Beach and the Jetties.

Nokomis beach encompasses 22 acres with 1,700 feet on the Gulf and 3,200 feet on the Intracoastal with a laid back feel offering amenities such as:

• New Pavilion hosting restrooms and a snack bar serving sandwiches and cold drinks.
• Deck and boardwalk leading to beach and picnic shelters.
• Playground
• Boat ramp

For a fun free event on Wednesday and Saturday evenings you will find many locals and visitors gathering approximately an hour before sunset for the Drum Circle. A collection of dancers and drummers will entertain you and encourage you to feel the rhythm and participate in the fun!

Towards the southern tip of Casey Key you will find the North Jetty Park which is family oriented with something for everyone to enjoy. From fishing on the jetty to walking along the beautiful coastline searching for shells, you will experience relaxation with breathtaking views of the turquoise Gulf and Intracoastal Waterway.

No worries if you run out of bait, the “Fish Camp”, conveniently located along the jetty rocks offers live bait as well as cold beverages and snacks. Many boaters often stop here as they veer through the channel on their way out into the Gulf of Mexico. “Beggar” the dolphin is frequently spotted within this area, bopping from boat to boat looking as cute as can be in search of handouts. But please don’t feed or touch him, it’s against the law!

At certain times of the year, especially during hurricane season, the North Jetty is known as a popular surfing spot. Surfers come as far as across state to ride the swells created from distant storms.

Being one of the less crowed beaches within Sarasota County, Nokomis beach is a true retreat to experience Old Florida’s true beauty!

Nick Herron & Kathleen Herron of the Herron Group would be glad to show you any of the properties listed on Sarasota’s Barrier Island of Casey Key. Call 941.350.5035.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine…Live the Dream

2821 Casey Key Road Nokomis, Florida The Herron Group / RE/MAX Alliance Group

Wonderful Beach House with protected step revetment. The panoramic Gulf views are fantastic. Whether you prefer watching the dolphins play in your own yard or walking the beach looking for shark teeth,this is real beach living. Three bedrooms, two Baths, great Florida room. Enjoy now and build your dream home later. Floor Elevation is 14.3 Feet above sea level. Priced at $2,800,000. Nick Herron 941-350-5035
Beach, Bay or Back Nine...Live the Dream

Loggerhead Sea Turtles Nesting on Casey Key, Florida

Here on the pristine beaches of Casey Key, Florida, it’s turtle nesting season and we’re anxiously watching the sands for signs of our familiar loggerhead sea turtles who come back to build their nests and deposit their eggs. Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program staff and volunteers continue to tag and monitor these wonderful creatures, and it’s interesting to watch the satellite tracking of named turtles such as Bitsy, Chemen, Chompy, Ruth, Wham, and more. Visit Casey Key Loggerheads to see the satellite tracking of our “seasonal” aquatic residents on Casey Key.

We have to remember that people and lights from homes can disorient female turtles; so we do our best to keep things quiet and serene if we spot a loggerhead. Once they arrive, the little hatchlings eventually move to sea at night as protection against predators, and they instinctively move toward the lightest sky. Before development, the lightest sky was over the ocean, with moonlight reflecting on the water. We’re doing our best to help the little loggerheads survive by keeping things dark around here at night.

So where do these hatchlings end up? We wondered, too, so we did a little homework. Here’s what we found out:

“During the first year after hatching, many species of sea turtles are rarely seen. This first year is known as the "lost year." Researchers generally agree that most hatchlings spend their first few years living an oceanic existence before appearing in coastal areas. Although the migratory patterns of the young turtles during the first year has long been a puzzle, most researchers believe that they ride prevailing surface currents, situating themselves in floating seaweed where they are can find food.” (From Busch Gardens fun facts.)

Our sea turtle nesting season adds a spectacular natural dimension to living on Casey Key, Florida, where we enjoy the wildness of the Gulf of Mexico, the beauty of the beach and bay, native plants, palm trees, sea breezes, and ever so glorious sunsets.
To make your nest on Casey Key, or simply to buy or sell your Sarasota real estate, call 800-789-6580 or email Nick Herron or Kathleen Herron with The Herron Group, RE/MAX Alliance Group. We have many lovely, luxury properties including several with the famed beach-to-bay access on Casey Key. We can show you anything from Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Lido Key, and any of the lovely golf course homes in Sarasota, Osprey, Nokomis, Venice, and more.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine…Live the Dream

Casey Key Real Estate - January 2009 MLS Update

Real Estate Update for Casey Key FL
(data from the Sarasota MLS, part of the Mid-FL Regional MLS)

Casey Key is a lush tropical island located south of Sarasota and north of Venice. One of Sarasota's most private barrier islands, visitors and residents access the Key from the mainland by two bridges, one at the north end on Blackburn Point Road and one at the south end. Many celebrities including Stephen King have homes on the island. Our November Casey Key real estate report listed 41 single family homes for sale. As of February 1, 2009 there are now 44 homes listed in the Sarasota MLS.

January 2009 Real Estate Data for Casey Key

Active Listings:

44 Single Family Homes for sale priced from $1,000,000 to $18,500,000

Pending Listings:

There is no Casey Key real estate under contract according to the Sarasota MLS database.

December & January Sales:

Closed Transactions:

$730,000
$3,400,000

Stop by Nick and Kathleen Herron’s site http://www.caseykey-real-estate.com/ for more information. If you would like to see any of these properties please call or email the Herron Group, RE/MAX Alliance group, Nick Herron or Kathleen Herron 941-350-5035 to make an appointment to view Casey Key homes.