Joan M Durante Community Park — Attraction in Longboat Key

This is a nice quiet park and it's dog friendly. There are doggie water drinking fountains alongside the human water drinking fountains. You can walk short trails or longer trails. The are a couple of outlooks that are nice to sit and enjoy the view of the water. Sometimes, when the tide comes in, part of the trail has a bit of water but you can just turn around or walk through it if you don't mind getting your shoes and feet a little wet . Part of the trail goes through the mangroves which can sometimes be stinky during low tide but it is still worth strolling through it. There are picnic tables and also a nice playground for kids. The toliets are by the playground. Along the trail, there are benches and little gazebos to sit, take a rest or just relax. There is also a garden in the front which is nice to...

A mix of crushed-shell pathways and elevated walkways wind through the most beautiful mangrove thicket. There are scenic lookouts over Sarasota bay and benches scattered along the trail, along with a wide variety of subtropical flora. If you are not traveling with noisy kids you will see lots of the critters that reside in the thicket. If you are traveling with noisy kids you will still see quite a few. The ibis in particular seemed unfazed by the shouts of excitement from my 6 year old. The park also has a nice playground with a well-kept restroom nearby and a small pond at the entrance with a fountain and a few ducks. There is also a large pavilion in the center, providing shelter and shade with a...

These kids truly enjoyed walking through the mangroves and reading the park provided map, which in truth is the best map we have gotten in any of our travels to any parks. (We have visited many, many of them in many states) This park can be described as magical and kept very nicely as it is clean and terribly charming. If you are looking for beautiful views of the bay and a quiet place to get away from the busy beaches...this is it! Dogs are welcome if leashed and you clean up after them. There are even bathrooms and small pavilions to rest. We highly recommend a stop to walk or...