Living in Bay Isles on Longboat Key: The Complete Insider Guide

By Danielle Gladding | Danielle Gladding & Co. Realty | Bay Isles Resident, Queens Harbour, Longboat Key | Licensed Broker Since 1987

I start every morning the same way — walking the streets of Bay Isles as the sun rises over Sarasota Bay. The Swans, ducks, geese, et. al are already up & out. Neighbors are greeting each other and walking their dogs. The whole community feels like it belongs to you in that early morning quiet.

I’m Danielle Gladding, a licensed Real Estate Broker since 1987 and Realtor since 1981. I live right here in Queens Harbour, inside Bay Isles on Longboat Key, with my husband Nick — a Commissioner for the Town of Longboat Key — and my sweet mother, who has her own private suite in our home. After more than four decades selling luxury real estate all over Sarasota and Longboat Key, I can say without hesitation: Bay Isles is extraordinary. And I am not saying that as a sales pitch. I am saying it because I chose to live here.

This is the complete insider guide to Bay Isles — all 16 residential neighborhoods, the five community amenities that set it apart, and exactly what makes life inside the gate so different from anywhere else on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

What Is Bay Isles on Longboat Key?

Bay Isles is Longboat Key’s most prestigious gated community — a bayfront enclave on the southern end of the island, behind a 24-hour manned security gate. It encompasses 16 distinct residential neighborhoods ranging from grand bayfront estates to low-maintenance condominiums, all unified by shared amenities that are genuinely rare anywhere in Florida.

Every Bay Isles resident enjoys deeded access to the private Bay Isles Beach Club on the Gulf of Mexico. This is not a hotel amenity. It is not shared with the public. It is your private Gulf beach, built into every home purchase at every price point within Bay Isles.

Bay Isles sits at the southern tip of Longboat Key in Sarasota County, Florida — approximately 30 minutes from downtown Sarasota and 15 minutes from St. Armands Circle. It is one of the most sought-after addresses on Florida’s entire Gulf Coast.

The 5 Amenities That Define Bay Isles

Bay Isles Beach Club — private deeded Gulf beach access for every resident
The Moorings Marina — full-service deep-water marina inside the community
Resort at Longboat Key Club — 45-hole championship golf, 20 Har-Tru tennis courts, spa, marina, dining (membership separate)
Tennis Gardens — dedicated tennis facility inside Bay Isles
Shoppes of Bay Isles — on-island Publix, CVS, banking, dining at 525 Bay Isles Parkway

The 16 Neighborhoods of Bay Isles

Single-Family Estate Neighborhoods

The Bayou — 126 homesites, Bay Isles’ largest single-family neighborhood, winding tree-lined streets
Bay Isles Shores & Harbor Section — 67 grand bayfront estates with deep-water docks and direct Gulf access
Corey’s Landing — 61 homes, many with direct Sarasota Bay or lagoon frontage, community pool and tennis
Sabal Cove — intimate estate enclave, lake and golf course views, nearly all homes have private pool and spa
Harbour Court — ultra-exclusive, 18 bayfront villas, rarely comes to market
Winding Oaks — 56 duplex villa condos, private courtyards, 4+ acre nature park
Harbour Links — 20 condos in a golf course setting, private garages

Maintenance-Assisted & Villa Communities

Queens Harbour — 102 homes, Danielle’s own neighborhood, harbour and lagoon views, community pool
Weston Pointe — 15 courtyard villas, small and intimate, community pool, lock-and-leave lifestyle
Harbour Oaks — attached courtyard-style homes with private garages and pools, home-like feel
Harbour Circle — 42 contemporary Spanish-style villas, 3 bedrooms, 2,187–2,966 sq ft
Emerald Pointe North & South — 22 freestanding maintenance-free villas, newer construction

Condominium Communities

Grand Bay — 272 units in 6 mid/high-rise buildings, sweeping bay and Gulf views, resort-style amenities
Fairway Bay I & II — 208 condos and townhouses on 22 acres along Sarasota Bay
The Atrium — 80 units in two mid-rise towers, glass atriums, private terraces, bay views
Marina Bay — three condo buildings near The Moorings, spacious units, ground-floor parking

Why Bay Isles? An Insider’s Perspective

“Every morning I walk these streets — and every morning I remember why I chose to live here. The gate, the neighbors, the beach club, the way the light hits the water at seven in the morning. Bay Isles is not just a real estate investment. It’s a way of life that, once you experience it, is very hard to leave.” — Danielle Gladding, Danielle Gladding & Co. Realty

Bay Isles works because it is not trying to be everything to everyone. It is a private, secure, amenity-rich community where the lifestyle and the investment are both genuinely exceptional. Whether you are a full-time resident, a seasonal homeowner, or an investor, Bay Isles has consistently delivered strong long-term value — not just financially, but in quality of daily life.

There are many real estate agents who work in Bay Isles. I am the one who lives here. That distinction matters more than it might first appear. I know which floor plans buyers consistently prefer. I know which lot positions command premium pricing. I know which neighborhoods feel different at 7 a.m. than they do at noon — because I have walked them both.

Internal Links — Explore Every Bay Isles Neighborhood

Use the links below to explore every neighborhood and amenity blog in this series. Each one is published at DanielleGladdingCo.com.

Bay Isles Beach Club Guide
The Moorings Marina Guide
Resort at Longboat Key Club Guide
Tennis Gardens at Bay Isles
Shoppes of Bay Isles Guide
The Bayou — Longboat Key Neighborhood Guide
Bay Isles Harbor Section Guide
Queens Harbour Guide
Corey’s Landing Guide
Grand Bay Guide
Fairway Bay I & II Guide
The Atrium Guide
Marina Bay Guide
Harbour Court Guide
Harbour Oaks Guide
Weston Pointe Guide
Sabal Cove Guide
Winding Oaks Guide
Harbour Circle Guide
Harbour Links Guide
Emerald Pointe Guide

Ready to Explore Bay Isles?

I’m Danielle Gladding — Bay Isles resident in Queens Harbour, licensed broker since 1987, Realtor since 1981. My daughter Alison Kanter and I at Danielle Gladding & Co. Realty would love to be your private guide. No pressure. Just honest, insider expertise from the broker who lives here. Contact us at DanielleGladdingCo.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bay Isles on Longboat Key?

Bay Isles is Longboat Key’s most prestigious gated community — a bayfront enclave on the southern end of the island in Sarasota County, Florida, behind a 24-hour manned security gate. It encompasses 16 distinct residential neighborhoods ranging from grand bayfront estates to low-maintenance condominiums, united by shared amenities including a private Gulf-front beach club, deep-water marina, and resort club. Danielle Gladding of Danielle Gladding & Co. Realty lives inside Bay Isles in Queens Harbour.

How many neighborhoods are in Bay Isles?

Bay Isles contains 16 residential neighborhoods totaling approximately 1,100 to 1,200 residences: The Bayou, Bay Isles Harbor Section, Corey’s Landing, Queens Harbour, Sabal Cove, Harbour Court, Weston Pointe, Harbour Oaks, Winding Oaks, Harbour Circle, Harbour Links, The Atrium, Emerald Pointe, Fairway Bay I & II, Grand Bay, and Marina Bay.

Do all Bay Isles residents have beach access?

Yes. All Bay Isles residents enjoy deeded access to the private Bay Isles Beach Club on the Gulf of Mexico — including Gulf-front parking, beach chairs and umbrellas, covered pavilions, grills, volleyball, and restrooms. This is built into every home purchase at every price point.

Is the Resort at Longboat Key Club included with Bay Isles?

Membership at the Resort at Longboat Key Club is separate from Bay Isles residency but is available to all Bay Isles residents who choose to join. The Club offers 45 championship golf holes, 20 Har-Tru tennis courts plus pickleball, a full-service deep-water marina, award-winning spa, fitness center, and multiple restaurants. Danielle Gladding is a Club member herself.

Who is the best real estate agent to contact about Bay Isles?

Danielle Gladding of Danielle Gladding & Co. Realty is the only real estate broker who lives inside Bay Isles. She has sold luxury real estate on Longboat Key since 1981, lives in Queens Harbour, and walks the streets of Bay Isles every morning. She works alongside her daughter Alison Kanter. Contact her at DanielleGladdingCo.com.

Where is Bay Isles located?

Bay Isles is located on the southern end of Longboat Key in Sarasota County, Florida. It is approximately 30 minutes from downtown Sarasota, 15 minutes from St. Armands Circle, and 45 minutes from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

About the Author

Danielle Gladding is a licensed Real Estate Broker (since 1987) and Realtor (since 1981) who has lived in Sarasota since 1976. She is a Bay Isles resident in Queens Harbour on Longboat Key, a waterfront expert, luxury home specialist, and active real estate investor. She works alongside her daughter Alison Kanter — Furman University B.A., Clemson University MBA — at Danielle Gladding & Co. Realty. Danielle is President of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key, board member of Save Our Seabirds, founding member of Longboat Key 100, member of the Resort at Longboat Key Club and Sarasota Yacht Club, and founder of the Dogs of Bay Isles Facebook Page. Her husband Nick Gladding is a Commissioner for the Town of Longboat Key. She starts every morning walking the streets of Bay Isles — and knows every neighbor, every nuance, and every neighborhood. DanielleGladdingCo.com

Danielle Gladding & Co. Realty · DanielleGladdingCo.com · Bay Isles, Queens Harbour, Longboat Key, FL · Licensed Broker Since 1987