Annamania

Anna Maria - special travel report

2010-07-05T06:07:00.000-07:00

Check out this latest travel feature on Anna Maria Island, by one of television's newest stars. And don't worry if you don't speak Manatee, there are subtitles.

If you're missing the place, why not book your next vacation now? Visit http://www.annamaria.com for the best in luxury vacation rentals on this paradise island.

And don't forget to tell them Marvin sent you...

Marvin the Manatee's Gulf Coast oil report

2010-06-21T09:21:00.000-07:00

Warming story on a cold day

2010-01-13T03:02:00.000-08:00

Brrrr. It's been chilly in Anna Maria recently, but at least we humans can wrap up warm against the cold. Spare a thought for the poor animals who also call this wonderful place home.
Some of them are just not prepared for it, and sadly for them WalMart just doesn't make provision for animal-sized clothing.
As the Bradenton Herald reports, some of them even required rescuing. Among them were two small, juvenile green sea turtles which were brought to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium unable to move their flippers due to the cold.
One of them, who More staff have called Brady, was found by a fisherman on Bradenton Beach, and the other, called Squeaky, was found on Longboat Key.
If you happen to find a sea turtle on a local beach, either alive or dead, you really must call Turtle Watch at 232-1405.
The outlook for Squeaky and Brady looks good, but there have been an estimated 1,500 more “cold-stunned” turtles of all kinds which have been gathered over the past week who aren't so lucky.
The Herald also reports that state officials are also beginning to worry about manatees, which can suffer from cold stress syndrome when the water dips below 68 degrees.
So keep your eyes peeled. We all share this beautiful part of the world, if we can help our flippered friends in a time of need it goes without saying that it's our duty to help.

Come to Anna Maria Island, and stay with us at www.annamaria.com for the vacation of a lifetime

Pier review suits the car-crew

2009-12-18T04:20:00.000-08:00

The Bradenton Herald reports that Anna Maria's City Pier may be getting 'a companion boardwalk made of heavy timbers in time for the pier’s 100-year birthday in 2011'. Sounds interesting.

It continues. 'The proposed $877,000 boardwalk, or nature walk, which would run perpendicular to the pier, was part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s tentative five-year work program outlined Monday ... About 360 feet long and running on either side of the 740-foot pier, the walk will allow tourists to sit on benches and gaze out at the bay rather than have to sit in their cars'.

So we're building a great big boardwalk to try to coax out into the open those people choose to sit in their cars when outside the sun is shining and all the attractions of this part of the island are just the other side of the windshield?

Don't quite understand that. Why not just make access to the quiet part of the island around the northern tip a bit better? You can only park in a couple of places, there is only a few walkways between the houses and yet it's one of the nicest bits of beach.

Actually, on second thoughts. Let the car-crew stay over on the bay side, and we'll enjoy the peace and quiet to be found on Anna Maria for those willing to use their legs once in a while...

What's all that racket?

2009-11-27T01:40:00.000-08:00

You might want to head over to the IMG Academy in Bradenton this week if you want to catch the next Roger Federer, Kim Clijsters, Andy Roddick or Ana Ivanovic. They all played in the Eddie Herr International Junior Championships in Bradenton - and look what happened to them.

All next week the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy at the IMG facility will be buzzing as the top juniors from around the world slug it out.

This year more players from more places around the world sent in entry forms to have the opportunity to play in a tournament with age groups ranging from 18-under to 12-under. The numbers include almost 2,000 players from 200 countries.

There will be more than 30 of the top 100 ITF players in the world competing in the boys 18s division. Among the top Americans are Denis Vladimir Kudla, Mitchell H. Frank, Raymond Sarmiento, Harry Fowler, Junior Alexander Ore and Sekou Bangoura Jr., a Bradenton resident who will be playing tennis at the University of Florida.

Brit Heather Watson heads up the girls draw, having lost in the final in the girls 18s last year but won the 2009 Junior U.S. Open Championship in September. She is currently in the running to be named the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in Great Britain.

The top American in the girls 18s is Beatrice Capra, who is ranked No. 29 by the ITF and has a WTA ranking of 705. Also in the field is Madison Keys, who won the Eddie Herr 14s division two years ago. That same year Melanie Oudin won the 18s title.

The tournament is open to the public at no charge. Call IMG Academies at 755-1000 for more information. For more details see the Bradenton Herald story here

And while you're there, why not stay in the best vacation rental accommodation available, with properties to suit everyone at www.annamaria.com

Beat the crowds, book smart

2009-11-20T03:47:00.001-08:00

Here's an interesting piece from the Smarter Travel website: www.smartertravel.com

November, December, and January tend to be hectic months, with several major holidays crammed into a short period. There are family celebrations to plan, gifts to purchase, and feasts to coordinate. Certainly, there's no time to take a vacation, right?
Wrong! If you have any flexibility in your schedule, you'll want to consider planning a trip immediately after the holidays to take advantage of low travel periods and great bargains. Known in the industry as travel "dead weeks," the weeks following Thanksgiving and New Year's (first week of December, first week of January) show a major drop in travel and tend to be a great time to snag a bargain.

This year, it seems you can find great deals through mid-December and throughout much of January, offering even greater flexibility. If you can extend your vacation time this year, or backload your vacation days following either holiday, you'll be able to find a deal on nearly any type of trip, from sunny getaways to ski outings and city escapes to secluded resorts.

It's a very valid point, and if you fancy taking advantage of some truly fantastic special offers check out www.annamaria.com for online discounts that will take your breath away. But never fear, there's no better place to regain your composure than Anna Maria Island, a jewel of a place on Florida's Gulf Coast.

See you there soon...

Eat, drink and be merry

2009-10-09T05:56:00.000-07:00

The good old Bradenton Herald has come up trumps again with a calendar of culinary events going on near us on Anna Maria this coming next few weeks.

Here it is in full, but feel free to follow this link to the Herald site.

Prix fixe: Harry’s Continental Kitchens on Longboat Key, is reopening from summer vacation on Oct. 9, and to celebrate will debut a Fall-inspired Prix Fixe menu. The four-course dinner offers a choice of vichyssoise or gazpacho, then a roasted Golden Beet salad with Chevre cheese, an ahi tuna carpaccio topped with a three-olive tapenade or steamed Prince Edward Island mussels in a poblano pepper-coconut milk. The third course is Salmon a la Orange on a bed of toasted orzo or a grilled filet mignon topped with smoky corn and tomato salsa that is served alongside a crispy butternut squash and Yukon Gold potato croquette, third choice is baked jumbo shrimp De Jong with mozzarella, croutons and a lemon garlic butter sauce. Last is Harry’s dessert of the day. The prix fixe menu is offered5-9 p.m. and is $29 per person or $43 per person with chosen premium wine pairings. Reservations are strongly recommended. Information: 383-0777 or www.harryskitchen.com.

Casa Italia cooking classes/events: Casa Italia, 2080 Constitution Blvd, Sarasota, will hold the following cooking classes:
1. Spanish Cooking Class and Lunch with Fatima Soriano, 11 a.m. Oct. 9. Menu includes gaspacho Andaluz, garlic shrimp, green beans and peas with serrano ham and Canary Islands roasted bananas. Cost: $40. A copy of the recipes will be provided.

2. Indian Cooking Class and Dinner with Nita & Raj Mathur featuring vegetarian Indian dishes, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 11. Cost: $75. A copy of the recipes will be provided.
Reservations can be made by calling (941) 924-1179. Gift certificates are available.

3. Giuliano Hazan has a new cook book out, his fourth, titled “Thirty Minute Pasta,” containing 100 recipes that can be prepared in half an hour or less. Hazan will be signing copies of the book at Casa Italia from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 17.

Wine events
Weekly wine tasting: Harry’s Continental Kitchens, 525 St. Jude’s Drive, Longboat Key, will hold wine tasting events 5-7 p.m. Thursdays, beginning Oct. 15. Cost: $10 , proceeds to benefit the Longboat Key/Lido Key/St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce. The wine tasting is located at Harry’s Gourmet Deli and Take-Out. There will be small appetizers offered along with a large wine selection to taste. Information: 383-0777 or www.harryskitchen.com.

Free tasting: WineStyles Lakewood Ranch, 8225 Nature’s Way, San Marco Plaza, is offering a free wine tasting presented by Rhianna Brandt of Winebow Brands International, 5-7 p.m. Oct. 9. Call 306-5804 or visit www.winestyles.net/lakewoodranch.

Mattison’s Riverside: 1200 First Ave. W., Bradenton, hosts Tuesday Tasting 5-7 p.m., offering the opportunity to sample a variety of wines from a featured vineyard, varietals or regional. This is a free event with light appetizers offered. For reservations, call 748-8087 or visit www.mattisons.com.

Wine tastings: The Waterfront Restaurant, 111 S. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria. holds wine tastings from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays. Cost: $10. Information: 778-1515.

Boxing clever on the island trolley

2009-09-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

Fans of the fare-free Island trolley can now donate to keep the trolley chugging along from one end of Anna Maria to the other. Donation boxes in the place of fare collection boxes were installed last week on all six Island trolleys as part of an effort to raise money to keep the trolley a free service to the public.
The small boxes are not to be confused with fare boxes, which the county also installed on the trolleys. If the donation boxes work, along with plans by various heads of commerce on the island to raise funds, the fare boxes won’t be necessary.
They are led by David Teitelbaum, a developer, resort owner and member of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council, who came up with a plan to raise the money through the private sector and donations from riders and citizens to pay for the trolleys after it was announced a couple of months ago that county funds would no longer stretch far enough to keep them free.
According to the Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper, 'The next step [is] to sell advertising inside and outside the trolleys. Teitelbaum also wants to sell the rights to name the trolleys to private and commercial entities. Finally, he wants to raise money through a Real Florida Festival similar to the way the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival raises money for the Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage.'
Good luck to him, we say. And we should all do everything we can to help keep this vital tourist transport system free for all.

Hire authority

2009-08-20T08:06:00.000-07:00

Anna Maria Island is so popular among visitors from around the world because it is a small, friendly place. And thanks to the free island trolley, nowhere takes very long to get to.
But if you want to get there under your own steam, why not hire your own transport?
You can explore the island with a bike or kayak from Beach Bums rentals With a large, meticulously maintained, rental fleet of bikes, kayaks, surreys, sunfish sailboats, golf carts, baby equipment and beach supplies, they even have a marine biologist on staff to conduct kayak eco-tours.
Visit www.beachbumsami.com for more information.

There really is only one company to trust with your Anna Maria Island vacation, and only one website you need to visit. Click on www.amisland.com for the very best in vacation rentals on the island. From two-bed cottages, to huge homes for the whole family, waterside, gulf front, secluded, we have it all.

What to do, where to do it

2009-08-07T06:06:00.000-07:00

Here's another of those wonderful guides to everything in August and September from the folks at the Orlando Sentinel. We do love these, make sure you visit their website for more details.

Aug. 29-Sept. 7: 53rd Annual Jaycees Pioneer Days, Englewood. Taste of Englewood and entertainment will take place daily during the weekend at Pioneer Park. Carnival, arts and crafts, vendors and more. 800-603-7198. www.englewoodchamber.com

Sept. 1-30: Orlando Magical Dining Month, Orlando. Thrill-seeking travelers from around the globe know Orlando for its world-class attractions and sunny resorts, but local foodies experience a different kind of thrill when they indulge their senses at Orlando's extensive dining facilities. This September, visitors can have a rare opportunity to indulge in some of the area's fine dining restaurants. Participating restaurants will offer three-course prix fixe dinner menus for $20 or $30, with $1 from each meal donated to a local charity. 407-363-5872. orlandomagicaldining.com

Select Nights Sept. 4-Nov. 1: Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Lake Buena Vista. Each fall, guests are invited to dress in costumes and trick-or-treat throughout the Magic Kingdom from 7 p.m. to midnight (after regular park closing). The boo-free bash includes a parade and bewitching fireworks spectacular. Admission: Tickets start at $53 for adults, $46 for children 3 to 9. 407-824-4321. www.Disneyworld.com

Sept. 5: Labor Day Block Party, Daytona Beach. Main Street closes to traffic for this holiday block party with music, games, entertainment, vendors and lots of fun. Free admission. 386-255-9300. www.daytonabeach.com/calendar.cfm

Sept. 5: First Saturday Jam, Barberville. On the first Saturday each month visit the Pioneer Settlement for entertainment and fun for the entire family. 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Includes informal music jams, free workshops, food, and a barn-style dance at 3 p.m. 386-749-2959. www.pioneersettlement.org

Sept. 5: Suncoast Corvette Show, St. Petersburg. Classic Corvettes surround The Pier 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. 727-821-6443. www.stpete.org/events/september.asp

Sept. 5-7: Sponge Docks Art and Craft Festival, Tarpon Springs. Fine art, fine craft, food, music. At The Sponge Docks. Free. 352-344-0657. www.tnteventsinc.com

Sept. 6-7: Pioneer Days Festival, Dade City. Annual festival on Labor Day weekend, with early Florida history recreated through Civil War reenactments, children's activities and authentic craft demonstrations. At Pioneer Florida Museum. Free admission, free parking. 352-567-0262. www.dadecitychamber.org

Sept. 7: Salsa En St. Pete for Labor Day, St. Petersburg. Labor Day at The Pier brings us Salsa Dancing in the Courtyard with Greg Richardson, from B.A.I.L.E., from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. At Pier's Waterside Courtyard. Free. 727-821-6164. www.stpetepier.com

Sept. 11-12: 27th Annual Night of Joy, Lake Buena Vista. Night of Joy, which takes place at Disney's Hollywood Studios, includes a star-studded collection of some of today's most powerful voices in contemporary Christian music. Tickets start at $49.95. 407-824-4321. www.disneyworld.com

Sept. 11-12: Rock the Universe at Universal Studios, Orlando. Chart-topping Christian music stars from across the nation perform at the annual two-day concert event at Universal Studios. The event is designed to highlight the diversity within today's exploding Christian music scene. Admission: One night $49.99 plus tax, two nights $75.99 plus tax. 407-363-8000. www.rocktheuniverse.com

Sept. 12: 26th Annual Raft Race and Family Fun Day, Homosassa. In what may be the craziest competition in Florida, dozens of hand-made, improvised "rafts" will race down the Homosassa River in two separate races, one with rafts propelled only by human effort, the other allowing mechanical propulsion. Roads will be lined with vendors of all types, contributing to the fun atmosphere. There will be a kid zone with rides and attractions as well as face painting. Live music will follow the race before the winners are announced and trophies awarded. At Homosassa Riverside Resort and The Shed at Macrae's on Homosassa River. 352-628-4444. www.visitcitrus.com

Sept. 12: Opening Gala Concert, Merritt Island. Celebrate the inaugural concert of the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra with four electrifying and monumental works. 6 p.m. At First Baptist Church of Merritt Island. Admission $10 per person. 321-536-8580. www.spacecoastsymphony.org

Sept. 13: 26th Annual Homosassa River Raft Race, Homosassa. A local tradition for a quarter century, this event features two races -- one for man-powered vessels, the other for mechanically propelled vessels. The roads will be lined with vendors contributing to the fun atmosphere and a kid's zone offers rides, attractions and face painting. Live music will follow the race before the winners are announced and trophies awarded. At Homosassa Riverside Resort and The Shed at MacRae's on the Homosassa River. Admission $5 adults, $1 children 6-17. 352-628-4444. www.visitcitrus.com/calendar

Sept. 14: Birthday Carillon Concert at Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales. This concert will honor the Singing Tower's first carillonneur on his birthday with some of his favorite tunes. Anton Brees,1897-1967, was appointed carillonneur by Edward Bok in 1928 and served in that position for nearly 39 years. Free with general Gardens admission and for members. 863-676-1408. www.boktowergardens.org/calendar

Sept. 16-20: Orlando Hispanic Film Festival, Orlando. This competitive film festival, which takes place at Orlando Fashion Square mall, recognizes independent filmmakers from around the world who integrate the Hispanic culture in their work and expose the talent of Hispanic actors, directors, producers, screenwriters and cinematographers. Admission (specific fee not determined at press time). 321-274-1570. www.ohfilmfestival.com

Sept. 18-19: Doctors, Lawyers and Weekend Warriors Surf Benefit, Sebastian Inlet. Surfing event to benefit local charities. Limited to 75 contestants; $125 entry fee. At Sebastian Inlet State Park. Regular park entrance fees apply. 321-727-8100. www.floridastateparks.org/sebastianinlet/Events.cfm

Sept. 18-20: Orlando Home Show, Orlando. Central Florida's leading and largest consumer showcase of new products and services for home remodeling and interior décor. The show features local, regional and national experts in remodeling, building, decorating and landscaping; instructional how-to seminars; giveaways; contests; and more than 600 exhibits with the industry's latest products. Admission $9 adults, $5 children 6-12, free 5 and under. 407-685-9800. www.orlandohomeshow.com

Sept. 19: Classic Auto, Bike and Truck Show, St. Petersburg. Quarterly auto, bike and truck show coordinated by Richard Gormont. At The Pier Side Courtyard, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 727-331-9684. www.stpetepier.com

Sept. 22-27: Global Peace Film Festival, Orlando. Guests can celebrate the art of film and its power to promote new understanding. Held in conjunction with the UN's International Day of Peace, the festival promotes the art of motion picture to further the goal of peace on earth, beyond anti-war, ideology and activism. Events will take place at Gallery at Avalon Island, Rollins College, Winter Park Public Library and the Orlando Science Center and will include film programs, panels, parties and a special concert. Admission $8 per film. 407-224-6625. www.peacefilmfest.org

Sept. 24-27: New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival, New Smyrna Beach. Music fills the air as bands play at several locations throughout the Flagler Avenue shopping district. 386-423-9760. www.marcmontesonpromotions.com

Sept. 25-26, Oct. 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-31: Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens, Tampa. This fall, guests should be watching their backs as Howl-O-Scream celebrates a decade of diabolical scares with its 10th year of terror at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. For 17 select nights in September and October, the Gulf coast's premiere adventure park transforms into a park-wide nightmare of inescapable fear with seductive surprises around every turn. Devious creatures infest Busch Gardens' 335 acres with dark, sinister, adult-targeted fun, including more all-new haunted houses than ever before, spine-tingling scare zones and thrilling live stage shows. Even the streets themselves aren't safe from the wandering hoards and other terrors of the night, and bone-chilling roller coasters keep the screams coming all night long. Howl-O-Scream 2009 will leave you begging for mercy and screaming for more. 813-987-5280. www.buschgardens.com

Sept. 25-26, Oct. 1-4, 8-11, 15-18, 21-25, 28-31: Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, Orlando. In its 19th year, the event is considered one of the world's largest, most elaborate Halloween celebrations. Guests will experience live mega-horror movies with this year's theme of "Ripped from the Silver Screen" which includes first-hand takes on not yet released films such as "The Wolfman" and "SAW VI." Universal enlists a "scream team" of designers to research the human psyche and its deepest fears so guests can confront all the physical and psychological horrors of the movies. Admission $69.99. 407-363-8000. www.halloweenhorrornights.com

Sept. 25-Nov. 8: Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, Lake Buena Vista. From the seasoned connoisseur to the knowledge-seeking amateur, this popular event attracts a diverse audience to sip, sample and savor treasures from some of the world's most famous wineries and celebrated chefs. Guests can boost their wine IQ at any of the hundreds of wine and beer seminars and polish their culinary skills at the numerous demonstrations and tastings. Admission included in regular park admission -- adults $75, children 3-9 $63, 2 and under free. 407-824-4321. www.disneyworld.com

Sept. 26: Folkfest St. Pete, St. Petersburg. Musical celebration and art show featuring folk, outsider and intuitive artists. At Central Avenue between 11th and 13th Street North. 727-825-0515. www.creativeclay.org

Sept. 26: St. Johns River Paddle Battle, Orange City. Canoe and kayak races to celebrate National Public Lands Day. There will be a ten-mile race and a four-mile novice race. At Blue Spring State Park. 386-775-3663. www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/Events.cfm

Sept. 26-27: Fiesta del Coqui, Orlando. The annual "Fiesta del Coquí" lets guests party with the coquí and enjoy live music, crafts and activities, demonstrations and much more celebrating the Hispanic culture. Visitors can enjoy fabulous regional cuisines, dance to the sounds of local bands, and be entertained by local dance groups, all celebrating Puerto Rico. At Central Florida Zoo. 507-323-4450. www.centralfloridazoo.org

We want cafe to stay on the beach

2009-07-28T05:24:00.000-07:00

It's an Anna Maria Island institution, but the powers that be have decided that the Cafe on the Beach will not get a new tender automatically when its lease runs out. But, according to the AMI Sun newspaper, the locals have been showing their support to the popular restaurant.
It reports that more than a thousand patrons have added their names to a petition asking county commissioners to renew the lease with the current concessionaires at Manatee County Public Beach. All but Commissioner Carol Whitmore voted to put out a request for proposals rather than sign off on a five-year extension to the lease with the current concessionaires.
Gene Shaefer and Dee Percifield-Shaefer have held the beach concession since 1992 under the name of P.S. Beach Associates.
Commissioner John Chappie, who voted in favor soliciting new bids on the concession, said at an Island Kiwanis Club meeting July 25 that he will ask the county to reconsider the vote on July 28.

We hope they do, who else is going to serve us unlimited pancakes and sausage while we sink our feet into the sand?

Don't just visit Anna Maria Island, stay here. For the very best in vacation rental properties visit www.amisland.com and spend your vacation in a real home from home.

All's well that ends well

2009-07-21T05:14:00.000-07:00

We love a happy turtle story on Anna Maria Island, and so the events of Monday morning came as a nice surprise.
According to a report in the Port Charlotte Sun, two loggerhead sea turtles were put back into Sarasota Bay and reported to be swimming with renewed vigor after Mote Marine Laboratory's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital nursed them back to health.
Mote staff and volunteers released the adult female that was stranded on March 29 near Siesta Beach, and a subadult female that was stranded May 15 between Egmont Key and Anna Maria.
Both turtles dug their flippers into the sand and rushed seaward, the agency reports.
Padme and Ahsoka were suffering from lethargic loggerhead syndrome, an illness of uncertain origin that can immobilize loggerhead sea turtles, a threatened species protected by federal law. Thankfully they set off okay and were fitted with chips so Mote staff can locate them in the future.

Don't just visit Anna Maria Island, stay here. For the very best in vacation rental properties visit www.amisland.com and spend your vacation in a real home from home.

Take care in the gulf

2009-07-14T04:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry to say, here's another tale of the danger associated with beaches from this week's Herald Tribune. This time it concerns riptides, those unseen currents which can sweep bathers and swimmers off their feet.

It says: Lifeguards have shut down sections of some beaches so they can keep a closer eye on swimmers who brave the rough waters. Red warning flags, indicating unsafe conditions, are being flown on most public beaches.
Even with those precautions, more than a dozen swimmers have required rescue on Coquina Beach in the past two weeks. Almost 50 rip-current rescues have taken place on Sarasota beaches in the last month.
Rip currents are formed when water builds up between a sandbar and the shore. The pressure builds until the water breaks through the sandbar, causing a powerful current - similar to a fast-moving river - that can pull swimmers out into the Gulf.
In May of last year, rip currents dragged three swimmers to their deaths on unguarded beaches on Longboat Key.
Read the full article here

So again the message is take care. We want you to keep coming back to Anna Maria Island!

There really is only one company to trust with your Anna Maria Island vacation, and only one website you need to visit. Click on www.annamariavacations.com for the very best in vacation rentals on the island. From two-bed cottages, to huge homes for the whole family, waterside, gulf front, secluded, we have it all.

Fun in the sun

2009-07-10T05:30:00.000-07:00

Sunrise and Sunset Cottage are two of our newer properties, but we have already had some glowing reports back from happy guests.

Here is one from the Bui family, who stayed in Sunrise Cottage - take a look at Sunrise here or its next-door-neighbor Sunset Cottage here

Hello,
We recently rented the sunrise cottage and wanted to provide some feedback on our experience but I didn’t see an option for this on your website. I have to admit, initially we were not certain that the pictures on the site would be an accurate depiction of the house. We’ve ran across other rentals that were too good to be true but this cottage was even better in person. We’ve used numerous websites and found that comments from previous renters have been very helpful in our decision making. Anyhow, getting back to what I was e-mailing you about.

We had a wonderful time!!! We also had the opportunity to meet Lauren (the property owner). She was very gracious and helpful…even went out of her way to e-mail us some dining options. The house was such a welcoming site after the long car trip. The kids loved the pool and we all enjoyed using it every chance we got. We can see that she’s put a lot of effort into creating a warm and inviting place and she definitely accomplished that goal. The location was very convenient to the beach which was also a plus. Overall, we were able to relax and enjoy our vacation so it made the drive well worth it. We look forward to renting again for future trips.

Thanks,
Bui family

Tragic death highlights dangers

2009-07-07T02:24:00.000-07:00

We get used to living in paradise on Anna Maria Island, but it is always worth remembering the dangers which surround us, especially those posed by the sea.
It looks beautiful and serene most of the time, but as this tragic story reported in the Tampa Tribune highlights, you can never let your guard drop in the ocean.

The report says: 'State wildlife officer Terry Noll regularly patrols Longboat Pass, a channel he says is one of the most dangerous parts of Sarasota Bay.
Last year, Noll was declared a hero when he rescued four people who left their boat and were caught in the strong currents that flow from Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico between Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island.
But on Friday, he was unable to save a Central Florida man who was swept under a barge and drowned after he and some friends lost control of an overturned jet ski.
“It was just the wrong spot at the wrong time for the jet ski to roll over,” Noll said.
On Monday, the local medical examiner’s office confirmed that Jose H. Medina, 30, of Deltona died of drowning.
The incident began when Medina, his wife, and a group of friends were picnicking at the southern end of Anna Maria Island, and just after 2 p.m. Medina’s jet ski overturned. It was quickly pulled by the current toward a moored tug boat and barge.
Friends in another jet ski joined Medina in trying to stop the jet ski from being sucked underneath the barge.
Eventually they were able to turn it upright. Only then did his friends notice that Medina was missing.
Lifeguards from Coquina Beach using masks and snorkels tried to search under the barge but could not hold their position in the strong current. Medina had been in the water for almost 40 minutes when a dive team brought him to the surface.
No swimming signs are posted at Long Boat Pass, Noll said. Still, some people try to swim across the pass.'

Read the full article here

So remember, please take care out there. Tragedies such as this are thankfully rare, but one such death on our island is still too many.

There really is only one company to trust with your Anna Maria Island vacation, and only one website you need to visit. Click on www.annamariavacations.com for the very best in vacation rentals on the island. From two-bed cottages, to huge homes for the whole family, waterside, gulf front, secluded, we have it all.

Keep the trolley free campaign

2009-06-29T02:26:00.000-07:00

Fingers crossed on this one. According to the Anna Maria Sun newspaper, the proposal floated by the business community in Anna Maria may yet see the light of day.
The Sun reports: The Anna Maria Island business community may get one year to prove that it can raise enough money to keep the free trolley from becoming the $1-a-day trolley, and community leaders are confident they can do it.
County Administrator Ed Hunzeker recommended Thursday night that Manatee County commissioners consider the Save Our Trolley plan as an alternative to his original county budget-cutting proposal, a $1-a-day trolley fee.
Save Our Trolley, a cooperative effort among businesses, residents, tourists and governments, would raise funds with a two-day festival patterned after the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival, said David Teitelbaum, Island hotelier, vice chairman of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) and an Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce director.

All power to your elbows guys, we have to do whatever it takes to keep the trolley running free.

There really is only one company to trust with your Anna Maria Island vacation, and only one website you need to visit. Click on www.annamaria.com for the very best in vacation rentals on the island. From two-bed cottages, to huge homes for the whole family, waterside, gulf front, secluded, we have it all.

Sand of time finally runs out

2009-06-26T02:13:00.000-07:00

The best things come to those who wait. And for the residents of the bay side of North Shore Drive the wait has been longer than most.
Eight years after North Shore resident Joan Dickinson first lobbied for beach renourishment in 2001 after a storm took what little beach was left at her residence and flooded her yard and house, Catherine Florko of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection informed Mayor Fran Barford that the shoreline between Bean Point and the Rod & Reel Pier is now considered “critical shoreline,” rather than “critical inlet shoreline” as the DEP had previously designated the area.
The new designation means that area is now considered a “critically eroded beach” and eligible for state and federal funding in the next beach renourishment cycle. Under the previous designation, residents in the affected zone could only expect city or county aid for renourishment, or pay for such an effort out of their own pockets.
It came as welcome news to one North Shore Drive resident in particular. “It’s been a long time coming. After all these years. I really have to thank Mayor Barford for her help. She tried everything to get us some relief and this avenue worked,” Dickinson said.

July 4 will go with a bang

2009-06-22T04:42:00.000-07:00

Anna Maria Island residents will once again be able to fill their boots with July 4 firework displays, with not one, not two, but three shows being given the green light by city officials.
Last year celebrations were scaled back to one show from two to help law enforcement personnel bring illegal fireworks use under control. But the Chiles Restaurant Group has been allowed to stage displays at all three of its outlets on the island. We are lucky!
The first display is on July 3 with an Independence Eve celebration at the BeachHouse Restaurant, 200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach.
The fireworks will begin just after 9pm and will be fired from a barge in the Gulf of Mexico in full view of the crowds on the beach. Should be a spectacular way to cap off another sunset.
The other two displays will take place on July 4, one at the Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria and the other at the MarVista Restaurant, 760 Broadway St., Longboat Key.
The Sandbar display will again begin just after 9pm with the fireworks sent up from the beach, while the MarVista display also will take place shortly after dark. The fireworks there will be fired from a barge so you might be able to catch both if you stand in the right place.
The local July 4 holiday celebration also will feature the traditional Anna Maria Island Privateers parade, which will run the length of the island, from Coquina Beach in the south to the Anna Maria City Pier, starting at 10am. Get out on the street, throw them some money and you might just get something in return (as well as that warm, fuzzy feeling you get after donating to a good cause).

Don't just visit Anna Maria Island, stay here. For the very best in vacation rental properties visit www.annamaria.com and spend your vacation in a real home from home.

Book, walk and talk

2009-06-12T03:33:00.000-07:00

If you're staying on the island this week why not pop along to the Potluck and Nature Book Discussion being held at Leffis Key.
The Manatee-Sarasota Sierra Club invites the public to a discussion of the book 'Paving Paradise' by Craig Pittman at 4pm on June 14, followed by a potluck dinner and nature walk around Leffis Key.
Bring a potluck dish to serve eight people, your table setting, plus water and bug repellent to the covered picnic table next to the children’s playground on the east side of the road just north of the Anna Maria-Longboat Key bridge.
Reservations are required by June 12, which is tomorrow, so you better get going. For more information call Mary on 752-3200.

Grand old lady of the sea

2009-06-02T04:16:00.000-07:00

Dolphins and Anna Maria Island go together like beer and football. They are always to be seen frolicking around in the waters surrounding our beautiful island.
Scientists are also very interested in them and a number have been tagged over the years to track their movements and try to learn a little bit more about them.
And according to a recent story in Naples News, one of them provided almost 40 years of help with their research before it washed up on a shore near to Anna Maria Island.
It says: 'A female wild dolphin monitored for 38 years by the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program based at Mote Marine Laboratory died May 22, leaving behind two documented generations of offspring to continue her legacy.
Waterfront residents found the 46-year-old dolphin — known as "FB5" by program scientists — on a sandbar near Longboat Key. Mote staff recovered the dolphin, which had succumbed to illnesses and injuries that plagued her for months.
A necropsy, or animal autopsy, showed that FB5 had lost more than 100 pounds since her health was last assessed in 2001. She had developed non-healing skin lesions and suffered from organ failure, shark bites and a stingray barb in her lung. Examining her made for a bittersweet evening.
"We will all miss this old girl," said Dr. Randall Wells, Senior Scientist and manager of the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, a partnership between the Chicago Zoological Society and Mote and the world's longest-running study of a wild dolphin population.
In March 1971, Wells and his colleagues tagged FB5 — in fact, she was one of the first dolphins tagged for identification by the group, which began monitoring Sarasota Bay's dolphins in 1970. Data gathered by Program researchers serves to inform marine mammal policy, research, conservation and education. By studying five generations of Sarasota Bay's 160 or so year-round resident dolphins — including FB5's calves and grandcalves — Program scientists continue nearly four decades of learning about these amazing marine mammals.'
You can learn more about the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program at www.mote.org
Read the whole article here

Eat and be merry

2009-05-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

Eating is important in Florida - which is hardly surprising given the amount of restaurants and the abundance of wonderful raw ingredients.
There is an amazing variety of restaurants on the island representing every type of food. If you like moderate priced seafood and want to sit on the beach at sunset, then the Sandbar or the Beach House are recommended. The Sun House Restaurant and Bar is just across the street from the Gulf and features “Floribbean Cuisine” which is the fusion of American cooking traditions with Caribbean and Latin American ingredients.
If you want to sit on the bay front, the Waterfront Restaurant at the Bay View Plaza is for you. For wonderful funky fun, take a chance and go to Mr. Bone's in Holmes Beach where you choose your beer from a coffin in the reception area. If it's just a sandwich you crave, then Rudy's in Anna Maria might be perfect (better yet, take it 'to go' and have a picnic on the beach just 1 block away).
Anna Maria has it all, from the famous Duffy's burgers to the ultra elegant meals served at the award winning Beach Bistro, and even Rotten Ralph's at the historic pier in Bradenton Beach, where you can pull up to the dock in your boat and place your order.

Whatever you want, Anna Maria Island has it all. For the best in vacation rentals visit www.annamaria.com to see how affordable real luxury can be.

We're resting easy again

2009-05-22T06:01:00.000-07:00

Anna Maria residents are resting easier tonight after Manatee County Sheriff's Office investigators arrested two suspected burglars.
Officers hope the arrests will put an end to a recent rash of break-ins in Anna Maria that has city officials and residents worried. Manatee sheriff's spokesman Dave Bristow said detectives believe two 18-year-old men arrested in the process of breaking into a well-known Anna Maria restaurant Tuesday may have been hitting homes and businesses across all of Anna Maria Island.
Authorities arrested John O'Keefe and Patrick Banker after a short chase when the men fled from the restaurant in the 100 block of South Bay Boulevard.
The Bradenton Herald reports that Bristow said the teens are suspects in at least six other other burglaries in Anna Maria and elsewhere in Manatee County. Bristow said Banker has been cooperative with detectives and has agreed to take deputies on a tour of places the pair has hit.
Bristow said city police departments on Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key are also looking into whether the pair committed burglaries.
Well done officers, we thank you for making our homes and businesses safe once again.

Read all about it...

2009-05-19T03:32:00.000-07:00

Have you caught the latest edition of the Anna Maria Islander? The island newspaper comes out every Wednesday and is completely free. You can pick it up from most of the retail outlets on the island, as well as in the free distribution boxes at such places as the Cafe on the Beach in Holmes Beach.
The latest edition includes a story about the fundraising efforts of walkers in the Anna Maria Island Relay for Life.
The Island Relay for Life took place on Coquina Beach May 16-17 and, with 20 relay teams participating, was expected to generate about $38,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Relay for Life is the organization’s signature activity — hundreds of relays take place across the country with teams gathering for overnight relays on beaches and in parks, stadiums and fields.
Well done to our Anna Maria Island fundraisers, you are the reason why our little island is so special.

If you are coming to Anna Maria Island, you really should stay in the best vacation rental properties the place has to offer. Visit www.annamaria.com for luxury accommodation at a price you can afford.

Bridge too far?

2009-05-10T16:52:00.000-07:00

Opinion is divided on Anna Maria Island, if a recent report on Bradenton.com is anything to go by.
The Florida Department of Transportation has just recommended replacing the drawbridge connecting the island to the mainland with a 65ft vertical clearance bridge that would be built south of the existing structure. The estimated cost is $102.5 million.
It says: 'Island activist groups such as Save Anna Maria have already said they will fight against the proposal tooth and nail, but feelings on the bridge by residents and business owners runs the gamut.
The idea doesn’t sit well with Allyson Gillies, who lives off Marina Drive in Holmes Beach.
“I want it to stay the way it is,” she said. “We have voted to pass all these ordinances to keep the small town feel here, and this bridge idea would defeat the purpose of all of that. So you have to sit in traffic some. It is small price to pay for what we have here.”
FDOT explored replacing the bridge with another drawbridge, as well as a 45 foot vertical clearance, but said building a fixed bridge would cost $20 to $30 million less than building a drawbridge. FDOT officials said it also costs $9 million-a-year to operate and maintain a drawbridge.
Officials with FDOT also said surveys conducted of island residents showed 83 percent favored replacing the bridge, and 77 percent favored the fixed bridge recommended by FDOT.
Holmes Beach resident Philip Gale said he is all for FDOT’s proposal, saying pulling in tourism dollars is the name of the game for the island.
“Why frustrate everybody that comes here with this traffic. The money is in the tourism so we should do everything we can to make it easy on them,” said Gale. “This place is growing and you can’t stop it.”

Read the whole article here

No need to panic just yet

2009-05-01T01:24:00.000-07:00

Clearly the global swine flu outbreak is causing a great deal of concern. So far there have been no confirmed cases in Florida, but news yesterday from the Miami Herald suggests we may not be removed from the spread for long.

The Florida Department of Health has sent samples from three flu cases to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further analysis to see if they are swine flu. It means testing of the samples by state laboratories could not rule out that possibility.
The samples were from Broward, Orange and Lee counties, with none from Miami-Dade, according to Susan Smith, spokeswoman for the state health department.
State labs have received at least 70 possible swine flu samples from several Florida counties, including 20 from Miami-Dade and ''several'' from Broward. It wasn't clear whether the fact that only three cases were sent on to the CDC means the rest have been ruled out as swine flu. Miami-Dade health officials said Thursday they haven't been told whether the 20 Dade cases have been analyzed yet, or when they might get results.
Broward County Health Department spokeswoman Candy Sims said samples from ''several'' possible flu cases had been sent to the Florida Department of Health labs for analysis.
She didn't know when she might get results from the case forwarded to the CDC. And she said she had no further information about the possible Broward case.
At a late-morning briefing Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said swine flu cases in the United States have reached 109, with 10 new cases in South Carolina, bringing the number of affected states to 11. No swine flu cases have been reported in Florida.

Read the whole article here

Time to look out for turtles

2009-04-28T07:02:00.000-07:00

Turtle season is almost upon us and last week the merry band of volunteers registered for the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch.
In about six to eight weeks, the volunteers will be out on the beaches looking for signs that hatchling sea turtles have crawled across the sand to take their first swim in the sea.
On April 23, AMITW volunteers gathered at Holmes Beach City Hall for an annual orientation meeting and to sign up to walk a section of beach. The volunteers often work in pairs, generally assigned to walk about a mile of beach once a week looking for tracks and other signs of nesting activity.
AMITW has collected data on nesting sea turtles since 1982, providing information used to track the status of the endangered animals, as well as chart the impact of changes on the coast. Additional groups around the state provide data to create a composite picture of activity on the coasts — information used by local and county governments, the FWC and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, as well as federal agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Last year, AMITW reported that 10,074 hatchlings emerged from nests on the island.
If you see one, or notice anyone interfering with turtles in any way, you should contact the authorities immediately.

Start your weekend in style

2009-04-24T03:45:00.000-07:00

What are you doing today? What about getting yourself down to the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Island Music Festival.

Running from 3 – 10 p.m. in the field at Pine Avenue and North Bay Boulevard across from the Anna Maria City Pier, there will be four bands playing live music, 10 food outlets providing tastes of the island, refreshments for sale and more than 15 vendors offering deals on sculpture, jewelry, water color, silk and fiber art, T-shirts, resort clothing, plant rooters, hand-painted tiles, yard signs, cookbooks, sunglasses, hats and more.
The Anna Maria Island Sun is the event sponsor, LaPensee Plumbing is the music sponsor and Miller Electric will keep things running.
On stage, Chris Grumley will present FireDoor from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., The Human Condition from 4:45 to 6 p.m., KoKo Ray and the Soul Providers from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. and Bootleg from 8 to 10 p.m. Sam Francis, of Clear Audio, will provide the amplification and other sound equipment.
Bring an appetite because local food vendors will be out in force. The Waterfront will be selling grouper tacos; Stonewood Grille & Tavern will offer chicken wings, chicken tenders smoked salmon and burgers with fries; Crabber Tom will have fresh shrimp or scallop kebab with a variety of his homemade sauces; Butch’s BBQ will feature pulled pork sandwiches with baked beans; A D Good Eats will have gyros and hot dogs; Pete Baretta will offer Cuban black beans and rise, quesadillas And shrimp fajita nachos; T&I Soul Food will be selling chicken and yellow rice, garlic chicken wings, coleslaw, macaroni and corn bread; Matt and Dom’s Pastry Café will feature homemade desserts; and Miller Snack Foods will offer beef jerky and kettle corn. Bring a chair and your dancing shoes and enjoy a great start on your weekend at the Friday Festival in Anna Maria.

So, what are you waiting for?

What to do Sunday

2009-04-21T07:17:00.000-07:00

If experiencing a local church is part of your vacation schedule, you are well served on Anna Maria Island and should be able to find a congregation and service most closely matched what you are used to. There are five churches on the island itself, all offering a warm welcome to visiting worshipers and locals alike.

Here is a brief guide to the churches on Anna Maria and hours of worship, for more detailed information of services and directions please follow the links to their own sites.

Church of the Annunciation

Situated in Holmes Beach, the Church of the Annunciation has come a long way since its first service was held on the island on May 4, 1952. A congregation of just 12 attended those first evening prayers, which has grown somewhat in the years since.
Sunday services begin at 7:30am after which there is a Rector's Class at 8.45am. The 10:00am Eucharist also includes a children's Sunday School. Also there is a Holy Eucharist with Healing Service on Thursdays at 9.30am.
There are many active groups and societies within the church, including a vestry group, choir, Episcopal Church Women group, Moses Basket Ministry, Shawl Ministry and involvement in other special interest groups. The church also places great value on parish dinners, coffee hours, holiday bazaars, card parties and other events sure to attract members new and old.
http://www.annunciationami.org/

CrossPointe Fellowship

Formerly known as the Island Baptist Church, Crosspointe Fellowship was renamed in 2007 to reflect the church's efforts in forming a second campus on the mainland, in Parrish, and the possibility of others in the future.
Again situated in Holmes Beach, the Island Campus Worship Service is held every Sunday from 9am, and, despite the name change, theologically the church still adheres to the Baptist faith. The Fellowship is a church without committees, instead encouraging its members to get involved in ministry teams. The church's motto is 'Maturing, Multiplying and Magnifying' and visitors are sure of a warm welcome.
http://www.crosspointefellowship.com/

Gloria Dei Lutherian

A member congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Florida-Bahamas Synod, worship at Gloria Dei Lutherian is led in Holmes Beach by Pastor Rosemary Backer. The weekend kicks off with Saturday contemporary worship at 5pm, with summer Sunday worship starting at 9.30am, and fellowship following the service. During the season the doors open at 8am and 10.30am each Sunday morning.
Children of all ages are always most welcome at worship, with activity bags provided and children's sermons delivered at the Sunday morning service. Nursery care is also available on Sunday. Various special services and gatherings are held throughout the year, for the seasons of Advent and Lent, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
In 2008 Gloria Dei celebrated 50 years of ministry on Anna Maria Island, although it formally became a congregation of the Florida Synod on February 1, 1959.
http://gloriadeilutheran.com/

Roser Memorial Community Church

The first house of worship on the island, Roser Memorial Community Church was built by George Roser in memory of his mother. Roser created the Fig Newton in 1891, which he eventually sold to Nabisco, but Roser Memorial Community Church still stands on the same site in Anna Maria.
Pastor Gary Batey leads Sunday's worship service at 10am, which incorporates a children's church school and youth church school. The chapel is also open for prayer during the week from 8am to 2pm and on Sundays from 9am to noon.
The church also runs an All Island Youth group, a weekly fellowship group for those in grades seven to 12, which meets Wednesdays 6-8pm.
Adult bible study takes place on Tuesday evenings at 7pm and Wednesday mornings at 10am (November to March) in Fellowship Hall.
There is also a Joyful Noise Choir, for second, third, fourth and fifth-graders, which practises every Wednesday from 3-4pm, with an adult choirmeeting every Thursday at 7pm in the Roser Church Colman Building.
http://roserchurch.com/

St Bernard Catholic

Saint Bernard Catholic Church is in the Diocese of Venice in Florida, and is located in Holmes Beach. Mass is held Monday to Saturday at 8.30am, and at 8am and 10am every Sunday. Saturday confessions run from 3-3.45pm, with Saturday Vigil at 4pm. Family Mass is held on the fourth Sunday (occasionally the fifth) at 10.30am with a liturgy especially geared to children and enjoyed by all ages.
Masses are led by Rev. Robert J Mongiello, Pastor, and Rev. Jean Ronald Joseph.
Saint Bernard Church also has a Parish School of Religion, studying curriculum grades K through 5, Faith First texts from Resources for Christian Living (RCL) which meets on Tuesdays from 4-5.30pm. The church's youth group for grades 6, 7, and 8 meets on Wednesdays from 7-8.30pm.
http://st-bernard-church.com/

You'll never be bored on Anna Maria

2009-04-17T02:21:00.000-07:00

You should never be stuck for things to do on Anna Maria Island. And if you like the arts you could be truly spoilt if you time your visit right.
Just about every weekend one of the cities will have something going on – either an arts festival or flea market, or the Privateers will be smoking mullet in a parking lot. It's best to consult the island newspapers to see what is going on. You can pick up a copy of The Islander and AMI Sun at various points around the island, along with various other free newspapers and shoppers. The Island even carries a useful map of Anna Maria Island in the center spread during the season.
The Island Community Center has different events throughout the year, along with many of the clubs and organizations that sponsor various fundraisers. Address: 407 Magnolia Avenue, Anna Maria Island. Call 941 778 1908
Many of the area restaurants and bars offer live evening entertainment where you can enjoy a meal and some fine music. Check out Rotten Ralph's on Bradenton Beach Historic Pier, Decoy Ducks in Holmes Beach, The Beach House restaurant, Sharky’s (2519 Gulf Drive North) or pop over to Cortez to see what’s going on at Pelican Pete’s (12012 Cortez Road).
If opera or concerts are more to your liking, check the schedules for Anna Maria Island Community Chorus and Orchestra, which boasts an orchestra and chorus, made up mostly of volunteers, unique in the area in that they rehearse and perform together. The group presents four concerts from November through March, and uses the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church for rehearsals and Crosspointe Fellowship church for performances. Visit www.amicco.org for details
You could also check for the schedules for the Sarasota Opera, the Aslo Theater or the Van Wezel in Sarasota, which all have regular performances.
The Island Players schedule is posted at the theater on Gulf Drive in Anna Maria, which also shows movies, but there are several larger Bradenton or Sarasota theaters only a short drive away. You also might want to keep an eye on the Bradenton newspapers for the schedule for the Manatee Players at the Riverfront Theater.

Watch the pros in action

2009-04-14T05:35:00.000-07:00

If you like spectator sports, you will love Anna Maria Island. Whenever you visit there should be one of our top professional teams in action. Here is a brief guide to football, baseball and hockey in and around Anna Maria Island.

Baseball - Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays play at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg and were American League Champions in 2008. Since their inception in 1998, the Rays have finished out of last place only twice: once in 2004, when they finished fourth in their division, and again in 2008, when they won their first division title, entered the playoffs for the first time in team history, and qualified for the World Series.
The regular season runs from April to October and for a playing schedule and ticket information go to www.tampabay.rays.mlb.com or call 727 825 3137

Football – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs play in the Southern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC). Home games take place at Raymond James Stadium, one of Tampa’s most recognizable landmarks, which affords fans the most exciting game atmosphere in the National Football League. The stadium holds 65,000 and played host to Super Bowl XXXV in 2001 and XLIII in 2009. The regular NFL season runs from September to late December or early January.
For ticket information call the Buccaneers Ticket Office on 813 879 BUCS (2827), or 800 282 0683 or visit www.buccaneers.com

Ice Hockey – Tampa Bay Lightning
Commonly referred to as the Bolts, Tampa have played in the NHL since 1992, winning the Stanley Cup in 2004. Their fortunes tend to veer from one extreme to the other, but you can generally get tickets to games at the St Pete Times Forum. Visit www.lightning.nhl.com or call 813 301 6500

Don't be an art-ful dodger

2009-04-10T08:28:00.000-07:00

It should come as no surprise, but Anna Maria Island has long since enjoyed a reputation as a haven for artists. Why not take a look at some of their work while you are visiting, or even take some of it home with you. What a perfect reminder of your stay in paradise.

Anna Maria Island Art League
The Art League was founded in 1989 by a small group of artists and art lovers with a desire to bring art to the island community. In June 1993 the Art League opened the island’s first art center in Holmes Beach, Florida. The Art Center facility includes a large exhibit/classroom, membership gallery/conference room, photo lab, art library and picnic grounds where the League offers a broad range of classes, including a scholarship program for children and adults. Annually the League sponsors Winterfest and Springfest, two juried fine arts and fine crafts festivals that provide funds for the art center and its scholarship fund.
www.islandartleague.org

Artists Guild Gallery
The Artists' Guild of Anna Maria Island, a non profit organization, was formed in 1989. The goal was to promote and support creative processes by bringing together all artists - visual and performing and writers – to share experiences, expertise and work together to develop and promote the artistic community on the island. They held the first weekend art festival on Anna Maria Island that fall. In February 1990 The Artists' Guild Gallery was opened in Holmes Beach to display the work of member artists. Today members continue to volunteer to work at the gallery. In the winter season, demonstrations are presented and member artists are featured monthly in an art opening reception. The public is invited to attend all functions, which are free.
http://www.amiartistsguildgallery.com

2009-04-07T05:41:00.000-07:00

Anna Maria Island might be small but it's big enough to have two newspapers. Eat your heart out New York and LA. Both are weekly and if you're coming to stay on vacation both are vital to enjoying your stay to the maximum. With listings, a map (in The Islander) and valuable news and information. And all for competitive price of, er, nothing.
Pick one up at restaurants, shops and other outlets across the island.

The Islander
Launched in 1992 as The Islander Bystander, it carried just 12 pages for the first two weeks of production, before its popularity and the sheer volume of advertising pushed it up to 40 in its first season. The Islander staff now boasts many contributors from an assortment of former Island papers and has since dropped the 'Bystander' part of its name.
The newspaper has earned numerous Florida Press Association awards for writing, photography, special sections, editorials and editorial cartoons and a coveted First Amendment Defense award. It has also earned more than 50 advertising awards from FPA. The paper is distributed free locally, but for those who want to stay in touch while away The Islander is mailed weekly more than 1,400 paid subscribers. The Islander also has an excellent website, where you can keep up to date with all the goings-on on the island.
http://www.islander.org/

Anna Maria Island Sun
First published in September 2000, the Island Sun is published each Wednesday, featuring news, business, entertainment, real estate and sports from the community with an average distribution of 16,000 copies. As well as bringing Anna Maria residents all the news, the Island Sun also reflects the importance of fishing to this community, with regular captains reports and features and advice for the pleasure angler.
The Island Sun's website also has a section for reader comments, where residents can discuss the issues affecting them. There is also a service to receive the paper by mail.
http://www.amisun.com

Shop til you drop

2009-04-03T02:23:00.000-07:00

Get your credit cards out, here is our guide to the best shopping to be found near to Anna Maria Island. All three options are within a short drive, so program the sat-nav, put on some comfortable shoes, and get shopping!

DeSoto Mall
With more than 100 stores under one roof, DeSoto Square has all you could possibly need. Favorite department stores include Macy's, Dillard's, JCPenney, and Sears and many others from women's and men's fashion, health and beauty, electrical goods and with many restaurants in a large food hall.
DeSoto Square is easy to find. The mall is located at the intersection of US 301 Blvd West and US 41 in Bradenton, off the Cortez Road. The mall is open Mon to Sat 10am-9pm, and Sun 12pm-6pm. Call 941 747 5868 for more information.

Ellenton Factory Shops outlet mall - 5461 Factory Shops Blvd, Ellenton, FL 34222. Phone 941 723 1150.
This luxury outlet shopping destination has over 130 brand stores and attracts both tourists and local residents alike with over 4.4 million annual customers. Stores include designer apparel and sportswear, shoes, children's clothing and goods, luggage and leather, home fashions, jewelry and accessories and a large food hall with restaurants.
The mall is open Monday - Saturday, 10am-9pm, and Sunday 10am-7pm. It is closed Easter, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

St Armand’s Circle
Drive south on Gulf Drive South, all the way through Longboat Key and over the bridge on to Lido Key. Follow signs for St Armand’s Circle. A classy shopping experience with exclusive stores, galleries, exotic boutiques, sophisticated restaurants and nightlife. While you’re there, remember to visit the center of St. Armand's Circle to see The Circus Ring of Fame, a 'sidewalk of circus stars'. You can also walk down to Lido Beach which reaches to South Lido Park, a fun-sun spot to explore nature trails, canoe, kayak, and picnic, with great views of the water. Highlights include Kilwin’s, a fabulous candy store with chocolate to die for, and some great shoe stores.

Come for the beach, stay for the tennis

2009-03-31T02:14:00.000-07:00

Florida is rightly famous for its tennis facilities, and next door to Anna Maria Island we have one of the premier tennis resorts in the whole country, Longboat Key. So why not combine a stay in one of the beautiful villas of Anna Maria Vacations with some hard graft on the courts.

But you don't have to travel south to Longboat, you can just as easily play on the island. Alternatively, you could always head over to the Bollettieri Academy for some truly world-class coaching.

The Anna Maria Island Community Center's Hagen Tennis Courts offer three all-weather tennis courts, available for use by membership or with the purchase of a day pass. Everyone is invited to participate in an adult round-robin from 7.30am to 11.30am Monday through Saturday. Day passes are available for $5 per person.

Everyone who wants to play tennis must go to the office to get a membership or a day pass. The court door will only be opened by a bar-coded card. Tennis lessons are not permitted without written prior approval from the center's director. The centre is at 407 Magnolia Avenue, Anna Maria. Phone 941 778 1908

Alternatively there are a number of tennis clubs and facilities nearby, the most famous of which is the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton - 808 75 St NW, Bradenton, Florida 34209. Phone: 941 755 1000
With 21 courts to play on, the academy features programs for all ages and ability levels in an ideal training environment, following 30 years of experience in developing the coaching techniques that have produced many of the world's top players. You can join them for a weekly, summer or full-time programs.

The Resort At Longboat Key Club (941 383 3761) also has 38 courts and plays host to the Kriek/Eagleton Tennis Academy, offering clinics directly from internationally renowned player, Johan Kriek. For more information visit www.kriekeagleton.com or call 941 914 6054

Go golfing, come to Anna Maria

2009-03-26T00:49:00.000-07:00

Florida truly is a golfer’s paradise and this part of it is no exception. You could stay a month and still not even play all the courses in our area. Here are our pick of the best public courses within an hour or so of Anna Maria Island. For more information on Florida’s courses check out the websites www.fgolf.com and www.floridagolferguide.com

Public courses
Legacy Golf Club - 8255 Legacy Blvd Bradenton Florida, 34202. Phone 941 907 7067
An Arnold Palmer-designed course and a delight to play. Open Year Round, with an open guest policy, driving range and nice restaurant. Probably the best pay-and-play course in the area.

Stoneybrook Golf Club of Bradenton - 7515 Grand Harbour Pkwy, Bradenton, FL 34212. Phone 941 746 2696.
The 18-hole, par-72 course plays through a landscape highlighted by mature woods, wetland preserves, ponds, and lakes creating a wonderful blend of strategic risk/reward holes. On

Greenfield Plantation - 10325 Greenfield Blvd Bradenton Florida, 34202. Phone 941-747-9432
The Links at Greenfield Plantation combines a rare mix of affordability with championship golf, outstanding course conditions and natural beauty. Generous landing areas off of the tee are coupled with well bunkered undulating greens as the course weaves its way through wildlife rich wetlands and lakes.

Manatee County Golf Course - 6415 53rd Ave W Bradenton Florida, 34210. Phone 941-794-2835
Open guest policy and with a driving range.

River Run Golf Links - 1801 27th St E Bradenton Florida, 34208. Phone 941-708-6331
A popular municipal course, originally designed by Ward Northrup and opened for play in 1987, River Run was redesigned by Azinger - Lewis in. The enhanced 18 hole par 70 layout offers a wide variety of challenges for players of all ages and experience levels.

On the theme scene

2009-03-17T03:35:00.000-07:00

If you really have to have your fix of theme parks, Anna Maria Island is perfectly placed for a day trip and back again. We think you'll be glad to return to the tranquility and calm of Anna Maria, but understand if you have little ones who want to see Mickey, ride a rollercoaster or just fill up on sugar and run around like mad things all day.
So, here are your best two options for major attraction-based fun: Busch Gardens and Orlando.

Busch Gardens
If you really want a whole day of lively entertainment then gather up the family and head on up over the spectacular Sunshine Skyway Bridge to visit the world famous Busch Gardens theme park for a day out to remember. Their Adventure Island water park is also terrific fun with plenty of thrills for all ages. Alternatively the spectacular six million dollar Aquarium is teeming with undersea life.

Orlando
Home to Disneyworld, Epcot and MGM Studios, Sea World and Universal Studios. Drive up early in the morning and if you stay to take in one of the amazing evening firework displays, then just sleep overnight in one of the many hundreds of hotels, motels or bed and breakfast accommodations in Orlando. It’s fun, but we’re sure you’ll be glad to return to the peace and tranquility of Anna Maria Island.

So near, so go

2009-03-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

So, we've looked a bit at the island of Anna Maria, let's have a little glance at what there is to do around about the place. First up, a couple of nearby attractions you might want to visit. Take the family, head over on your own, either way you are sure of a grand day out.

South Florida Museum, Bishop Planetarium and Parker Manatee Aquarium

Three great attractions under one roof. South Florida Museum is the largest natural and cultural history museum on Florida’s Gulf Coast, while the Bishop Planetarium features one of the most advanced all-digital projection systems in the world, and presents astronomy programs the whole family will enjoy.
The Parker Manatee Aquarium, part of Florida’s manatee rehabilitation network, is home to the oldest known living manatee, Snooty. The attraction is located at 201 10th Street West, Bradenton FL34205. Call 941 746 4131 for more information.

De Soto National Park and Memorial Mansion

With nature trails, a living history camp, secluded beaches, fishing, boating, camping and bird watching, the De Soto park and memorial is another great day spent outdoors.
The memorial has special living history presentations at specific times of the year. The Spanish encampment features daily presentations (weather permitting) from mid-December to the last weekend in April.
The Last day of the living history encampment also includes a special reenactment of Hernando de Soto's landing in 1539. De Soto National Memorial is located at the northern terminus of 75th Street North West in Bradenton, Florida.
Visitors can reach the park from I-75 or I-275. Call 941 792 0458.

You've got a ticket to ride

2009-03-10T02:14:00.000-07:00

If you want to get around, get a bus.
Anna Maria Island benefits from a free shuttle service, known locally as the trolley, which does a continual loop of the island.
A daily service runs from 6am to 10.30m every 20 minutes from the Anna Maria City Pier in the north to Coquina Beach in the south. Trolleys offer both air conditioned and open-air seating. Trolley Stops are two to four blocks apart along the route. Look for the green sign with the picture of a trolley on it.
Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) fixed routes connect with the free trolley at Holmes Beach and Coquina Beach. From Holmes Beach you can catch the No3 bus Monday thru Saturday along Manatee Avenue, passing through Bradenton and past the Manatee Memorial Hospital, health department and a Wal-Mart store.
The No6 Cortez Road service starts at Coquina Beach and passes over the Cortez Bridge in Bradenton Beach before taking a route past some of the main shops along Cortez Road, and finishing near the De Soto Mall.
Just don't forget to pack the credit card...

One island, three cities

2009-03-03T09:40:00.000-08:00

Anna Maria Island, you will notice, is divided in three, which is quite an achievement for somewhere so small. What is also slightly surprising is how different they all are.
Here's our simple guide to each of them.

Bradenton Beach

Bradenton Beach, on the southern end of the island, has Coquina beach, a long stretch of white sugar sand and plenty of parking. This community has just restored their City Pier and welcomes anyone wanting to fish for their dinner along with those who just want to sit down at the pier restaurant for a grouper sandwich and watch the fisherman on the pier. Bradenton Beach has quite a few resorts and a revitalized Bridge Street shopping area. Along the gulf side you'll find a variety of restaurants where you can view the beautiful sunsets.

Holmes Beach

Holmes Beach has the Manatee County Beach with a restaurant on the beach and plenty of parking and picnic areas. There are several shopping plazas in Holmes Beach for groceries, pharmaceutical needs, hardware, etc. along with some laid back beach stores that rent kayaks, bicycles, and furniture for renters. The commercial center of Holmes Beach has several banks and other shops.

Anna Maria City

Anna Maria City is the northern-most part of the island and is mostly residential. However, there are a couple of small shopping plazas and some wonderful restaurants to enjoy. The beach front restaurants are a favorite spot for weddings. The historic Anna Maria Pier goes out into Tampa Bay and is the gathering place for many of the island locals for fishing or just island talk, as is the Rod and Reel Pier, just to the north. The beaches of Anna Maria are beautiful, but there is limited parking.

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Gone fishin'

2009-02-27T02:51:00.000-08:00

Anna Maria Island is a mecca for sun lovers, lovers, and happy families. And it's also a real draw for those who like spending time dangling a shrimp in the hope of hooking into the big one.
Well, what could be more relaxing than spending a day attempting to catch dinner? With the sun shining, a cold drink in your hand, and some good company, you probably won’t care whether the big one gets away, so long as you’re taking it easy.
A lot of folks head for the three bay-side piers for the simple fact that you don’t need a licence and there is a ready supply of bait on hand (although it tends to be on the pricey side). Alternatively you could grab some shrimp from any of the bait shops on the island and head over to the pier on Manatee County public beach, where people fish out of holiday season with some success.
You can also fish from the beaches, but remember to check for regulations as they tend to change quite often. For the most up-to-date advice go to www.MyFlorida.com/fwc or call 1(888) Fish-Florida.
One of the best ways to be sure of taking home some fish is to employ the services of one of the many charter captains setting sail from or nearby Anna Maria Island. Taking a charter trip means you don’t have to worry about getting your bait, tackle, license or a lack of local knowledge – that’s where these guys come in. From heading out into the bright blue yonder in search of the gulf’s deep water species, to stalking the flats and backwaters in search of some hard-fighting prey, Anna Maria Island has a fishing experience for everyone – all you have to do is haul ’em in.

Walk on the water on AMI

2009-02-24T02:06:00.000-08:00

No vacation to Anna Maria Island is complete without a wander along one or all of the four piers jutting out into the pure blue waters surrounding the island. However, only one dips its foundations into the Gulf’s waters which is what makes the one at Manatee County public beach so unique. It might be a little basic, but it’s a brilliant spot to watch the sun go down on another day in paradise.
Of the other, bay-side piers, the Rod n Reel is a great spot to enjoy a cold beer and enjoy some simple but delicious food as you watch the pier rats try to haul in the catch of the day. Anna Maria City Pier is much bigger and can get a little crowded (could be something to do with the fact that it’s free to fish) but the restaurant is popular with locals and again it has nice views of the Skyway.
Bradenton Beach City Pier is bigger still, with plenty of room to wander out and watch the boats sail by and under the Manatee Bridge as you relax on one of the swing chairs. Rotten Ralphs restaurant is open all day for filling food if you get hungry doing all that.

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Free and easy on Anna Maria

2009-02-20T02:01:00.000-08:00

The best things about Anna Maria Island are free, which is why so many people come here. The sunsets are free, the sunshine is free, and the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico are free.
You won’t feel like doing much once you get that pure white sand between your toes, but that isn’t to say you shouldn’t make the most of your stay. So here is our guide to the best sandy spots, shady trees and cool water. – plus some unforgettable experiences that won’t cost a dime.
With Anna Maria Island being one long beach on the Gulf side, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to places to enjoy the surf to yourself. Hardly surprisingly, the quietest spots tend to be those out-of-the-way places where parking is awkward.
Bean Point at the northern tip of the island is a fantastic spot to enjoy an evening stroll among the dunes and gently swaying sea oats. You will need to park in one of the residential roads up around North Bay Blvd or North Shore Drive and walk through the paths to the beach, but it’s well worth the effort.
Coquina Park is another great spot, away from the crowds, right at the other end of the island. There is parking just off Gulf Drive South, before you hit the bridge over Longboat Pass, and it is a perfect place to relax and enjoy the quiet. It’s also a great area for birdwatching and keeping an eye out for pods of dolphins as they make their way from the bay to the sea.
For a slightly different view of things, try Bayfront Park in the north-east of the island, between the Rod n Reel and City piers. It’s a lovely wide open space, with room enough for the kids to run around, some picnic tables and benches and is an ideal place to watch the boats travel to and fro in Anna Maria Sound under some shady trees.
But, if it’s sand and sun you’ve come for, the whole seven miles of sand are yours to enjoy. Or, if you want to take home a memento of your visit in the form of a shell, some of the best spots to adopt the ‘Anna Maria Stoop’ are found at either extreme of the island, again away from the main parking areas.

Let's go ride a bike...

2009-02-17T04:00:00.000-08:00

Let's take a look at some of the activities you can get up to on Anna Maria Island, starting with cycling and walking.
Anna Maria Island is small enough to explore by foot or by bike, and both offer visitors some of the best ways to truly enjoy all it has to offer.
You can rent a bike from a number of companies on the island, some will even deliver to your door. Then you are free to explore. The main cycle path on Anna Maria Island starts at Coquina Beach and goes almost the entire length of the island and is marked on the main road. If you want to go your own way there are many side roads where there is less traffic and if you follow the signs to Key Royale, almost an island in itself in Holmes Beach, there are plenty of interesting roads to ride down. The beauty of getting there on a bike is that you can park them much closer to some of the out-of-the-way spots, like Coquina Beach, Bean Point and the Anna Maria State Park.
You can also ride south off the island and on to Longboat Key, which has cycle paths on shoulders on the main road, Gulf of Mexico Drive.
Walkers tend to concentrate on the seven miles of beach for which Anna Maria is famous. But, utilising the trolley service to the fullest is perhaps the best way to enjoy a tour on foot. Some of the safest and most relaxing walking routes are in Anna Maria City, around the quieter northern tip of the island. Just pick up a map from the Chamber of Commerce and go explore!

Guide to Bradenton Beach

2009-02-13T08:59:00.000-08:00

Now we've looked at some of the history of the island, let's take a look at the three city communities which make up Anna Maria.
Starting in the south, Bradenton Beach has a very distinct atmosphere, where you're never far from a beach or a good restaurant. It's also home to the historic Bridge Street arcade of shops, which finish with the sandy beaches of the gulf coast at one end, and the restored city pier at the other.
Bradenton Beach also has Coquina beach, a long stretch of white sugar sand with plenty of parking where you can watch birds and dolphins from the shore. It's a quiet and peaceful spot, characterized by its lack of building and shade from the trees.
This community has just restored their City Pier and welcomes anyone wanting to fish for their dinner along with those who just want to sit down at the pier restaurant for a grouper sandwich and watch the fisherman on the pier. Bradenton Beach has quite a few resorts, although none is too big to spoil the ambiance.
Along the gulf side you'll also find a variety of restaurants where you can view the beautiful sunsets.
Next we'll take a look at Holmes Beach in the center of the island.

Where it all began

2009-02-10T12:57:00.000-08:00

We've looked at where Anna Maria Island is, but who discovered it, and when did it turn into today's vacation paradise?
Well, the area was first inhabited by the Timucan and Caloosan American Indian tribes, but the recorded history of the Island is said to have begun around1530 when Spanish explorers such as Hernando DeSoto claimed the entire area for the Spanish Crown. However, in 1892 George Emerson Bean (after whom Bean Point was named) became the first permanent resident on the Island and homesteaded much of what is now the city of Anna Maria.
In the early 1900s, Bean began to develop the Island with the Anna Maria Beach Company which laid out streets, built sidewalks and houses and installed a water system. During this time the pretty Roser Memorial Community Church, was built by George Roser in memory of his mother. He was the creator of the Fig Newton that he eventually sold to Nabisco Brands. This church still stands and is used by some Islanders.
For years the Island was only accessible by boat. It was not until 1921 that a wooden bridge was constructed connecting Anna Maria Island to the mainland. The bridge extended westward from the historic fishing village of Cortez over to the island. Bradenton Beach fishing pier at the end of Bridge Street is the western end of that original bridge.
Today the island remains a mixture of residential homes, vacation properties and businesses existing in harmony with the landscape and enhancing its small-town heritage. The year-round and seasonal residents who enrich the local population come from throughout the Americas as well as Europe and the Far East.
Take the time to visit the Anna Maria Island Historical Society office in Anna Maria City which houses many old photographs which will give you a fuller understanding the island way of life during the last century.

Welcome to Anna Maria Network

2009-02-06T01:52:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to a brand new blog about Anna Maria Island, a jewel of a place on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
I hope to be bringing you regular news of the island, as well as advice on where to eat, drink, shop, relax and what to do for fun in this great place. I guess I should start with a bit of a brief guide to the island, which has grown from being largely uninhabited at the start of last century to how it is today, connected to the mainland by two bridges and recognised the world over as one of the most relaxing and unspoilt vacation destinations in the States.

Anna Maria Island may only be just over seven miles long but it hosts three separate cities – Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach – each with its own administration and city hall. Each of these three tiny cities has its own individual village character but all are populated with friendly, easy-going inhabitants. The longer you stay, the more you will come to recognise and appreciate the differences.
The cornerstone of the philosophy of the island’s governments has been preservation of the ‘Old Florida’ heritage. Throughout the decades, local city governments have worked diligently to adhere to this aim and today Anna Maria Island has just two structures that are higher than three stories.
All three cities have wonderful restaurants, shopping, and both gulf and bay front beaches. The whole island has a congenial air of relaxed charm, no one is in any particular hurry, but nothing seems like too much trouble.
Anna Maria Island’s weather has distinct seasons. The annual average temperature is 74.8 degrees Fahrenheit. In mid-October, the summer Caribbean trade winds that bring the sun and warm breezes to our island are blocked by cooler weather from the north and the temperatures drop to the 70s overnight, but the days are mostly warm and sunny. By spring, the cloudless, dry days generally reach temperatures in the 70s and 80s, with cooler evenings.
Afternoons are punctuated by ‘sea breezes’ from the gulf which drop at sunset. The trade winds typically influence the climate by mid-May with daytime temperatures up to around the 90 degree mark. At this time of year a favorite occupation is strolling down to the beach in the evenings to watch the spectacular sunsets lighting up the whole sky.

Check back for more about Anna Maria Island every day, and if you have any memories, top tips or just observations then please let us know by commenting on this blog.