Travel + Leisure recently ranked Longboat Key as the No. 5 best island in the U.S. in its 2021 "World's Best" awards. The annual reader-sourced list invites Travel + Leisure's audience to vote on the best destinations and experiences worldwide. The awards honor the top travel destinations, hotels, companies, and, for the first time this year, national parks. Normally released in August, Travel + Leisure moved the issue to October to allow for more time given the restrictions brought on by the pandemic.

Longboat Key, which straddles both Sarasota and Manatee counties, features 12 miles of beaches, waterfront golf courses and a number of fine-dining restaurants and luxury hotels, including the new St. Regis Resort and Spa, which will also feature multimillion dollar residential condos.

Other Florida islands that made the list: Amelia Island (No. 3), the Florida Keys (No. 10), Captiva Island (No. 11), and Sanibel Island (No. 13).