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.
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