Manasota Key's largest asset is 'old style Florida; no high rise condominiums, no traffic lights, no tourist trap shopping, no crowds, just long white sand beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. The Key is located in southwest Florida between Fort Myers and Venice, with two bridges connecting it to the mainland. There are four gulf-side public beach parks. Winter is the 'high season', especially for snowbirds and refugees from northern colder climates. The average daily winter temperature is 67 degrees and usually sunny. The average summer temperature is 90 degrees, perfect for water sports.
The main activities on Manasota Key are: walking along the beach, viewing and photographing nature's wildlife, shelling, fishing, boating, or just relaxing and watching magnificent sunsets. Shelling is very popular for the same sea shells found on big cousin Sanibel Island are also here. Affordability and being less crowded is Manasota's advantage. Sanibel Island charges $5 just to cross a short toll bridge and parking is $2 per hour. Manasota's lodging rentals are on the average less expensive and many offer beach front or ocean view accommodations.
The Gulf of Mexico's temperate and shallow waters near land is ideal for sea shell habitats. Shells are washed up onto the beach by wave and tidal action, usually in parallel lines. The best times to search for shells are just after a storm and at low tide, especially a minus tide. Minus tides are usually around full moon periods and provide better access to shells normally under water. At Manasota Key, even at higher tides, shell hunting is good for shells deposited by earlier tides. Hardcore collectors use flash lights to scour in the dark during night time low tides.
Within the United States, I have never found such an abundance and diversity of sea shells than along Florida's southwest coast. 275 shell species have been found here, and examples are: augers, rough scallops, olives, moons, whelks, coquina, conches, cockles, cones, pens, turkey wings, sand dollars, etc. Rarer shells envied by collectors are spiny jewel box, greater tellin and the grand prize, the junonia. Collectors also hunt for fossilized shark teeth. A deep trench several miles off shore is where many shark go to die. Then later their hardened teeth are brought to shore by storms. Some of the shark teeth are up to a million years old.
Manasota Key's accessibility and charm is enhanced by four public beach parks with parking and restrooms:
Manasota Beach
Located at the Key's north end where a mainland bridge crosses Lemon Bay, 8570 Key Road. This beach park has 14 acres of beachfront with year-round lifeguards, picnic tables, bathhouses, boardwalk, fire pits and free parking. A bonus for those with disabilities are reclining and floating wheelchairs available from the lifeguards, for moving in the sand and shallow water. Across the street is more parking and a boat ramp for launching into Lemon Bay and exploring the Intercoastal Waterway. For avid explorers, it is possible to hike north to Caspian Beach in Venice.
Blind Pass Beach
Located at 6725 Manasota Key Road just south of Manasota Beach Park. Blind Pass has 2,900 feet of beach frontage on 60 acres. This park is popular with nature lovers and those seeking privacy. No lifeguards, but free parking, wheel chair access, picnic tables and showers. Across the street is access for small boats, kayaks and canoes for exploring Lemon Bay or fishing.
Englewood Beach
Located where a short bridge crosses Lemon Bay on Beach Road. Englewood Beach is the most visited beach on Manasota Key, especially by families for its playground, basketball hoops, horseshoe pits, volleyball, and picnic spots. Parking is a paltry 25 cents per hour.
Stump Pass Beach
The furthest beach park to the south is Stump Pass at 900 Gulf Boulevard. This large coastal beach park has one mile of gulf beach frontage. It is one of the best beaches for shell hunting. There is limited free parking, so get here early. There are a few covered picnic tables, and boardwalks crossing the sand dunes to the beach. There are also access points for kayakers. Stump Pass is a fine place for viewing wild life - manatees, dolphins, pelicans, snowy egrets, great blue herons, least terns, frigate birds and gopher tortoises.
Whether visiting for a day, a week, a month or longer, Manasota Key is a tranquil refuge for city weary citizens and reminiscent of Florida before urbanization. Snowbirds in the know, come back here every winter. It is advisable to make accommodation reservations as soon as possible. A good source of information on attractions, lodging and restaurants is the Englewood Visitors Center on the mainland at 1160 South McCall Road.
Ray Anderson - For many, many moons I served the public as a civil servant for the California Department of Transportation. My experiences with projects ...
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