The Longboat Key lifestyle needs to be experienced rather than observed. It’s easy for house hunters to fall in love with the island after just one visit, but to really find out what it’s like to live in one of Florida’s most coveted real estate markets, home shoppers should spend a few days exploring Longboat Key and the environs. The Inn on the Beach in Longboat Key allows potential residents to do just that.

The Inn on the Beach is a tower condominium located on the southernmost tip of the island; it is a beachfront property that has the most sweeping vistas in Longboat Key. The dazzling white sands of the beach are just steps away from the towers, and most units look out to the Gulf of Mexico and the nearby Lido Key. The Inn on the Beach is unique in the sense that it is both a residential and resort property, meaning that home shoppers can actually rent one of the units for a short time and evaluate the lifestyle.

There are 220 units and a variety of floor plans at the Inn on the Beach; they range from the cozy and affordable one bedroom units priced at $200K to the luxurious two-bedroom and two-bathroom penthouses built on 1,700 square feet listed at $1.5 million. Residents of all four towers enjoy amenities such as 24-hour security and concierge service, fitness center, restaurants, swimming pool, marina, and even a kids’ club with supervision. The Inn on the Beach is very close to the Longboat Key Club, which makes it perfect for golf and tennis lovers.

Part-time residents are welcome at the Inn on the Beach; in fact, they can profit from their properties by allowing the resort managers to offer rental periods in which homeowners will get 50 percent of the income realized. The Inn on the Beach is very attractive to visitors due to its proximity to the Sarasota and to the exclusive St. Armands Circle shopping and entertainment district.