Swimsuit [true to size] // Sunglasses // Hubby’s Trunks
Katy here, one of the content creators here at LIY! My husband (Zach), 3 month old (now 4 months, Denver), and I recently traveled to Longboat Key, FL for a little family vacay! ☀️ Longboat Key is a beautiful little spot, not too far from Erin’s house and fav spot, Anna Maria Island! While we were there the Red Tide was pretty strong, but the weather was amazing & we were NOT ready to leave 🤣 I wanted to share some tips and tricks that were helpful for me along the way traveling with a young baby. HOWEVER, if you’re just interested in things to do in Longboat Key, I have shared some fav places to eat and other fun at the bottom of this post as well!
(by no means am I am expert, just trying to help in any way I can!)
✈️ You can check or gate check your stroller & car seat for free! We ended up gate checking for easy wheeling around the airport + to have a place for Denver to hang during the layover. I do recommend covering them up either way to avoid damage when being tossed around on the planes! You can purchase actual covers on Amazon, bring large trash bags, or ask the airline counter if they have bags to tie around your car seat & stroller!
✈️ Nurse or have them suck on a paci during take off + landing to help with pressure changes! These are my favorite nursing bras. Also, this cover is one of my FAVORITE things. I use it as a nursing cover and car seat cover to keep sun/wind out of his eyes!
✈️Have a change of clothes in the diaper bag for baby + you just in case for the travel days. P.S. plane restrooms have a diaper changing pullout. I LOVE my diaper bag & it’s under $35!
✈️ If possible, stay somewhere where you can walk to the beach and go up and down from your room easily! With a young baby we couldn’t stay out in the sun for too long at a time, so it was super super helpful to be able to go back & forth from our room quickly & easily! We stayed at Four Winds Beach Resort. It’s not the fanciest place, but it’s clean, a great price, and right on the beach!
✈️ Bring a variety of layers and types of clothing! During the day he needed short sleeves and swim attire and in the evenings/to watch a sunset we would put him in a sweatshirt or something warmer.
Denver’s Outfit // Denver’s Hat // Dress [true to size] // Hat
✈️ Ask if the place you’re staying has a pack and play already to avoid having to bring one! This was the case with where we stayed and it was SO much easier this way!
✈️ I packed diapers & wipes in my suitcase, but you could also always buy them once you arrive! I also brought a portable changing pad and small sound machine (LOVE this one for travel).
✈️ Bring a baby wearing carrier for walks on the beach
✈️ Our resort provided tables, chairs, and small tables on the beach; so we just brought the car seat down and sat it on the small table under the umbrella between us for beach days! Since he’s not big enough to play at the beach and I wanted to avoid getting sand in his eyes, etc. – this was the easiest option for us! I also purchased this sand free beach blanket to bring, but we didn’t end up using it for his current age!
Where to eat in Longboat Key
(I recommend making reservations for anything!):
Shore (locations on Longboat Key and St. Armands Circle)
Dry Dock (my go-to order is the Lobster Roll combo – one lobster roll with lobster bisque mmmm)
Drift Kitchen & Bar (on the 8th floor of Lido Key Beach Resort)
Where to stay:
There are SO many places to stay along the beach but you could also check out Airbnb, VRBO, or local hotels! As I mentioned, we stayed at Four Winds Beach Resort. I thought it was a perfect location and great price point! I also loved that you can walk to Publix across the street to grab groceries. We ended up cooking or grilling almost every meal at our condo!
Where to fly in:
We flew into the Sarasota/Bradenton airport (which is about a 30 minute drive to Longboat). We did rent a car since we had to have a car seat for Denver, but otherwise I would have probably just taken an Uber from the airport to our resort! Since we could walk to the grocery store and the beach, we honestly didn’t get in our car for much besides the couple of times we went to dinner! The Tampa airport would be about a 1.5 hour drive away and the St. Petersburg airport is around a 1 hour drive!
I hope you have an amazing trip + memories to last a lifetime. CHEERS!
When Katy isn’t writing blog posts, offering up the latest style suggestions, leading our Ambassador program and sharing her most recent Amazon finds, you can find her doing what she does best – belting out her note-worthy vocals in her band, Maybe April. This Enneagram 3 can be found cheering on the Arkansas Razorbacks, venturing out on the latest & greatest outdoor adventure, spending time with her family and friends and crafting up her beloved homemade lattes most mornings. Katy and her hubby just welcomed baby Denver to the family!
