I love a good Inn. When I'm off taking a break, I really don't want to see staff coming and going, I just want a place to relax and get a good night's sleep. And not a kid in sight.
At the Sandpiper Inn, I did just that. The Gulf was a stroll away--I could hear it from my bedroom window--and it was a quiet and peaceful place to relax and write. There was a tiny pool, but the temps while I visited didn't merit a cool-off swim; The landscaping was beautiful and several places beckoned me to sit and take it all in. I'd have loved to take advantage of the grills provided, but my guide had other ideas, which was fine with me. A lovely fountain soothed a tired soul, and a large covered patio made a great place for meetings.
The beach was all but deserted in January, and I was told that even in the busiest months it's not a busy beach. The sand was lovely and a great place to search for shells at the high-tide line.
Maybe in season the Sandpiper is a kid-friendly Inn, but I just got the feeling that it was better suited for couples longing for peace and quiet. The pool was too small to be a great pool for playing kids, and there was no playground or kid-type of things around. It's nice to know that you can go here alone or with company and have a pretty good chance of not being awakened from your nap by kids. To that ideal, each room has a small patio with table and two chairs and two chaise lounges. I was in suite 6, which offered a nice little kitchen, bathroom, sitting area, large closet and a king-sized bed in the bedroom.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Sandpiper Inn and Longboat Key and I can easily imagine going back to both again. I've been to Captiva and Sanibel numerous times and stayed in several different Inns; I can honestly say I truly enjoyed Longboat Key more. Traffic is non-existent and it's a lot less expensive to stay and play. I can say with surety that my next visit will be longer than this 3-day whirlwind tour!
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