There is a place in Florida that does not have the very best in beaches, the most Caribbean-like climate, the best recreational opportunities or the hottest resorts or nightlife in the State. So, why is an island peninsula community of 15,000 residents on the Gulf Coast considered by many to be a “best kept secret”? For those in the know, it is an affordable subtropical nirvana. Its name is Anna Maria Island.
Just south of Tampa Bay, west of Bradenton and north of Sarasota the town of Anna Maria holds this honor. The most remote and outlying town on the island of the same name, it combines with two other municipal communities to the south, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, for the total Anna Maria Island experience.
The secret is that the town of Anna Maria does not have any fast food or convenience franchises, chain stores, high rises or a stoplight and the community intends to keep it that way. Prominent destinations such as the Tampa, Clearwater or Sarasota areas are only 45 to 90 minutes away.
I have yet to have anything but superior seafood, especially the grilled fish and stone crab claws, which I recommend most. Blackened grouper, roughy and snapper are my favorite fish entrees and conch stew or soup is my favorite appetizer. But be warned – as much as they try, even the best restaurants fail to replicate blue crab cakes indigenous to the Chesapeake Bay region. You will see these on almost every menu but order the regional equivalent, conch fritters, and you will not be disappointed.
What Anna Maria does have is a Florida Keys charm of 30 years ago, spectacular ocean sunsets, solitude without remoteness, secluded beaches with sea turtle egg nests, wildlife, easy bike riding, friendly people, exemplary dining opportunities and a free local trolley.
The late winter and spring throngs do affect the area somewhat and you might be surprised to hear a multitude of German-speaking visitors who seem share my family’s tastes. While not as crowded as other popular Florida destinations, mainland traffic access along the single causeway to and from the nearest city, Bradenton, can occasionally gridlock, and waiting for restaurant seating can be excruciating.
For these reasons, northerners may best appreciate this eclectic community in August, when the coastal climate is cooler (high 80’s) and the sparse attendance is just right. This allows you to experience the otherwise camouflaged and friendly local beach populace of year-round residents – best described as a blend of small family businesses, artists, commuters, retirees and escapees from big cities with a slow-paced Mayberry quality and a smattering of international flavor.
Sustainable Activities for The Active and Less So
Bring paperbacks, sandals, shorts, swim wear and plenty of sunscreen but leave most of your clothes at home. A typical summer day starts out sunny and clear with an afternoon or evening thunderstorm like clockwork so schedule your outdoor time in the mornings and midday. The most challenging part of your stay might be deciding whether to go anywhere else.
Popular choices include Siesta Beach, rated one of the world’s best beaches; Mote Marine Aquarium; Myakka River State Park – great for viewing alligators in the wild; the Ringling Museum and Selby BotanicalGardens in Sarasota; St. Armands Circle shopping district in Siesta Key and the Leffis Key Baywalk nature preserve near Coquina Beach.
Anna Maria Island also has a unique and under-appreciated artistic community worthy of investigation. Here’s my pick of some of the most active groups; try to catch a show during your visit. The Island Players; Anna Maria Island Art League; Artists Guild of Anna Maria Island; Anna Maria Island Historical Society; Anna Maria Community Center are excellent local resources.
Other locations of interest in or near the Town of Anna Maria include the Island Community Center where you check out local activities and events. At the Island Library in Holmes Beach, (941/778-6341), your family can surf the net, check your email and get some books for the kids and yourself. If you’re traveling with little ones, the Anna Maria Elementary School at 4700 Gulf Dr. N., Holmes Beach provides a delightfully secluded park and playground area with a memorable water view – and a screeching population of feral parrots and other non-indigenous tropical birds that were once pets.
Where To Stay with Family
There are plenty of customary accommodation options, especially in the contiguous communities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach to the south, but I recommend that for your first visit you make the total commitment of residing in the Town of Anna Maria itself.
If beachfront accommodations are not a requirement, cut your costs without cutting comfort and amenities by staying at the Sunrise Garden Resort (941/778-2000). Created and designed by an enterprising couple – she from rural Thailand, this exotic lodging oasis of southeast Asian themes and foliage will envelope you in a bubble of slightly surreal seclusion in a quiet residential neighborhood of occasional pastel pink and purple homes.
Room selections range from smaller studios to efficiencies and a honeymoon suite all surrounding a placid swimming pool sprinkled with Thai sculptures, antiques and flora. The compact and efficiently designed resort is strategically located within walking distance of both sides of the island shoreline, the community’s best restaurants, a small museum, a video rental, dry cleaner and a small general store. The owners thoughtfully leave laminated guides and maps to local attractions and a vendor list in each room.
Lodgings, including house and condo rentals, are usually available by the week. If being at the seashore is your goal and you deserve more pampering, stay farther south in the Bradenton Beach area – a little more bustle but still an enriching experience. An especially cutting edge resort is the BridgeWalk, (941/779-2545) a good value since you are right at the Gulf beach. Rooms vary in style and capacity from studios to townhome-like suites. The BridgeWalk includes a restaurant with the best view in the area, shops and a spa.
In most areas, the Gulf of Mexico will be to the west and Tampa Bay to the east. The best way to explore Anna Maria is by foot and bicycle – rent some at a shop near the general store and enjoy the flat and scenic terrain. If you feel adventurous, do it with roller blades. Some local and low maintenance activities within walking distance can begin with going right to the beach to soak in the warm and gentle blue waters. Read a book and beach comb. Try to find prize seashells and discover how this total focus makes the real world fade. Be careful with the deceptive water currents at the northern tip of the island, particularly with little ones. Beware too the midday sun – it may feel the same as up north but rays are near equatorial intensity.
Try your hand at fishing on the Bay’s Anna Maria City Pier and eat at the pier’s over-water restaurant. On your stroll back, stop at Mama Lo’s, considered the best ice cream parlor in the area. Have a family cookout at the Anna Maria beach front park and play area on the Bay. Lounge by the pool but don’t forget to watch the Gulf sunsets each evening with everyone else. If you observe it from the area’s most popular beach front restaurant and bar, the Sandbar, guessing the sunset time may net you complimentary drinks.
A word of caution – if you find yourself excessively scheduling and planning, you don’t belong here!
Andrew’s Pick of the Island’s Bests
Best Overall Activity
Favorites among most visitors are the numerous boat charters (both sightseeing and fishing), ultralight air tours, kayak, jet ski and boat rentals and parasailing. The visitor literature in your hotel list numerous vendor sources.
Best Restaurant
Sign of the Mermaid
(941/778-9399), reservations recommended.
Sparsely advertised and modest in appearance, this secret and restored historic 1913 cottage serves the best food on the island and probably the region. The menu boasts an extensive and unusual variety of Florida and European selections as well as wines and beers – not inexpensive but well worth it. In case you are curious, the varied menu selections are based entirely on what customers request the most and the name of the establishment came to the owners in a dream.
Best Beachfront Restaurant and Bar
The Sandbar
(941/778-0444)
Probably, the most popular restaurant on the island due to excellent dining as well as an outdoor beach-front bar with music. Also a popular spot to buy souvenir T-shirts. If dining by sunset is your goal, inside or out, this is the place to be. Long lines and large crowds in peak seasons can sometimes make this experience a formidable challenge.
Best Slightly Extravagant Daytrip
Egmont Key State Park
For those of you comfortable operating a motor boat, consider renting a 17′ five-person outboard for the day. Motor out to Egmont Key, an uninhabited island in the Gulf at the opening of Tampa Bay. This “Gilligan’s Island” has uncompleted relic walk-ways and building foundations left over from turn-of-the-century Spanish American War fortifications and is presently overrun with large tortoises and lizards. Home of an old, still-operational lighthouse, it is also a wildlife refuge. The bay side of the island has the best snorkeling in the region. Budding young marine biologists will appreciate the easy shallow calm water over vast expanses of turtle grass beds. Just float and look down to catch glimpses of fish and bottom dwellers such as mollusks and rays. Make sure to bring plenty of drinking water, a picnic lunch and sunscreen.
Best Frugal Daytrip
Myakka River State Park
One of Florida’s largest and most diverse natural areas, this is 45-square-miles of wetlands, prairies, hammocks and pinelands. The river and its two shallow lakes attract a myriad of wetland creatures such as alligators, turtles, and an amazing number of different types of birds, and a boardwalk out on the Upper Lake enhances wildlife viewing opportunities making birding, canoeing, fishing and wildlife observation popular activities. A seven-mile scenic drive winds through shady oak-palm hammocks and along the shore of the Upper Myakka Lake. Over 39 miles of hiking trails and many miles of dirt roads provide access to the remote interior.
Best Adrenaline Rush
Parasailing – I must confess I passed on this so far, but my son’s cajoling will make the inevitable happen with a future visit. You can arrange one at the rental facility near the general store or numerous other places around the island.
Best Rainy Day Activity
Mote Marine Aquarium
(941/388-4441)
Actually part of Sarasota’s Mote Marine Laboratory, it was founded by Dr. Eugenie Clark, world famous marine biologist and shark researcher. Naturalists, budding marine biologists is and those interested in fish, reefs, sea turtles, marine mammals and science will love it. Children will also like the hands on touch tank.
2nd Best Rainy Day Activity
The South Florida Museum
(941/746-4131)
Home of Snooty, the Manatee, born in 1947 and a de facto mascot for the region, this Bradentown educational complex includes a natural history museum, aquarium and planetarium. You can discover Florida’s story from the prehistoric to the present including fossil exhibits, Florida’s First Peoples and local maritime history. Don’t miss the planetariums laser shows created around musical themes such as the “Rock Hall of Fame.”
Best Public Beach
Siesta Beach
Siesta Key, Sarasota
Actually considered one of the best and beautiful beaches in the world on many Best Of lists, the beach’s sand is 99% quartz – so even on the hottest days, the sand is so reflective that it feels cool underfoot. Estimated to be millions of years old from Appalachian sediment deposition, Siesta Beach has a vast near-shore shallow water depth with year round lifeguard protection, playgrounds, bath houses, beach volleyball, fitness trails, athletic fields and parking (but get there early).
Best Nearby Beach
Anna Maria Beach
If staying at Siam Garden, stroll west along Spring Avenue past the Sandbar eatery to experience the serenity of what Florida was like many years ago. While not crowded, parking can be difficult, but the sunsets can be spectacular.
Best Shopping
St. Armands Circle
Lido Key, Sarasota
If you simply must activate your suburban yearnings, there is only one place to do it. Created from a group of islands in the 1920s, by John Ringling of circus fame, world-class destination of St. Armands Circle on Lido Key provides contemporary architecture, superb shops, galleries, exotic boutiques, gourmet restaurants and nightlife. Sometimes described as a more affordable and less pretentious “Beverly Hills of Southwest Florida”, this continental market place of over 130 stores can reduce your charge card to crumbling debris.
Best Fishing Without a Boat
Almost anywhere along the seashore.
The easiest is definitely from either the Manatee public pier on the Gulf or the Anna Maria city pier on the Bay
Best Outdoor Attraction
Coquina BayWalk at Leffis Key
Three miles south of Holmes Beach, opposite the shaded pine barrens of Coquina Beach, lies an under utilized nature preserve of wetland boardwalks and observable wildlife. It makes an excellent family walk.
Best Historic Park
De Soto National Memorial
Bradenton
The region’s only U.S. Park is less of a recreation area and more of historical display of artifacts and reenactments with period costumes describing the life of expeditions of Hernando De Soto.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
People who choose to book trips for summer or further out should do so with caution; the coronavirus pandemic is unpredictable. And many reservations may claim flexibility. Amid so much unknown, there will be one certainty: the headaches of rescheduling and canceling.
With a rugged interior featuring 286 peaks topping 3,000 meters Taiwan’s railway system is shoehorned onto the coastal margins where most of Taiwan’s cultural life is concentrated. Whether you ride the high-speed service from Taipei City to the second city of Kaohsiung or spend a week slowly circumnavigating the island by local train, all journeys are within eyeshot of either the cobalt-blue Pacific Ocean, flatlands of verdant rice-paddies, or towering mountainsides
When I originally commented I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on every time a comment is added I receive 4 emails with the same comment. Perhaps there is an easy method you are able to remove me from that service? Thanks a lot!
Amazing Post! about Amsterdam
There’s one street in Baltimore that’s more festive than the rest. Every holiday season, the neighborhood of Maryland’s miracle on h Street is decked out in Christmas lights and festive displays. From a tree made of hubcaps to classic candy cane fixtures, each house is uniquely decorated.
Considering Northeast Ohio has plenty of breweries, as well, Thomann was asked if it’s more likely we’ll find the members of Dorfrocker touring different venues tasting beers or visiting the Rock Roll Hall of Fame?
Covid-19 certainly affects travels plan…Not long ago my friends were among passengers of the British cruise ship Braemar. And how could the US refuse to help the ship and close the borders?? Unlike the US, Cuba showed its humanity and friendship! Thank you Cuba
Would you like to stay in the gorgeous area around Keukenhof? You can! We have a broad range of great hotels and bed and breakfasts for you. Accommodations in Haarlem, Leiden or Amsterdam are also good options.
I will reach Amsterdam only on 19 May morning, the last day of the flower exhibit. Is it still worthwhile to go Keukenhof Gardens? Will there still be many flowers to be seen?
Tulips and other flowers mainly bloom during spring. March through May is therefore the best time to visit the Netherlands if you want to watch them in bloom. The world’s most beautiful spring park, the Keukenhof, is open during this time.
If a court order states that one parent can travel abroad with the child without the consent of the other parent, what documentation is required? We recommend carrying a copy of the court order stating that the other parent’s consent is not needed to travel abroad with the child. Any questions about the wording of the court order should be directed to a family lawyer.
If transporting your pet by air is the only option, find out whether they can travel in the cabin with you. Most airlines will allow you to take a cat or small dog in the cabin for an additional fee. But you must call the airline well in advance; there are limits to the number of animals allowed in the cabin. If you are transporting your dog, make sure they meet the size requirements. If you get overwhelmed by all the regulations, there are companies that can help you navigate through the process of flying with a pet.
Is a consent letter mandatory? There is no Canadian legal requirement for children to carry a consent letter. However, a consent letter may be requested by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a foreign country, airline agents or Canadian officials when re-entering Canada. Failure to produce a letter upon request may result in delays or refusal to enter or exit a country.
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2 adults available to drive your car from New Orleans to north suburb of Chicago mid October. Need 3 or four nights. Split the gas,
Dogs and cats should always be kept safely inside the car. Pets who are allowed to stick their heads out the window can be injured by particles of debris or made sick by having cold air forced into their lungs. Never transport a pet in the back of an open pickup truck.
Ever dreamed of driving along the cliffs that overlook the Pacific with the windows down? Or wanted to travel the historic Oregon Trail in a car instead of on a computer? Explore these eleven incredible cross-country road trip routes across the U.S.
Rhonda, from a railman who started his train travel when he was 16, I would strongly suggest a Canadian Train Ride! Via Rail Canada offers four significant rides through wilderness and coastal areas with deluxe, overnight trains from Toronto to Vancouver ( 4 nights), and Montreal to Halifax, Nova Scotia (one night). Both offer a chance to have decent meals enroute, and sleeping car accommodations. Train crews tend to be a bit friendlier than south of the border, Canada, largely uninhabited, offers many scenic vistas with little hamlets few and far between, certainly a wonderful way for both of you to enjoy these new experiences.
Via Rail Canada also offers Railpasses, which enable you to travel on other routes as well for a bit of a price reduction. It’s all up to you!
Their website is http://www.viarail.ca for further information.
My son is a rail fan and we have traveled only in the US but I would love to surprise him with an excursion where he could talk to the train staff and railroad personnel. I would also like to include beautiful scenery as well for Both of us. My son is 16 and I am 59. We love to explore and don’t mind walking and roughing it!! any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Get your pet geared up for a long trip by taking him on a series of short drives first, gradually lengthening time spent in the car. And please be sure to always secure the crate so it won??™t slide or shift in the event of a quick stop.
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This driving route of the Appalachian Trail parallels the epic hike. From the top of New England to the heart of Dixie, it takes you through continuous natural beauty—without the sweat, bugs, or blisters.
7 memorable Tips for Traveling to Mexico
Don stress if you don Mexico is agreeable to English speaking travelers, And there a ton of tips to get to know the country landscapes, terms, And younger culture.
yet still, If you new to traveling or have never been out of the us, A trip to Mexico may be somewhat frightening.
If you interested in learning some tips for traveling to Mexico, Take a look at our 7 easy to remember tips for your journey. We outlined some of the basics that you’d like to learn for your own aventura!
1. Choose the Right Transportation If you traveling to Mexico, You need to decide you might arrive by car, aeroplane, Or liner. It important to know how you want to arrive because it will searching,an extravagance,good to have city you arrive in, How much luggage you results, and so forth.
an individual can find international flights if you prefer to travel by air. instead, There are plenty of cruises to Mexico that you can enjoy if you like the amenities and beautiful views that are included in ship travel!
If you live nearby the border, Or just need to take a bit of a road trip, going down the road by car is always an option as well.
2. Use Pesos When You Can It best if you use the local currency pesos when you can. while touristy areas accept USD, They choose the rate at that they accept it, So it is possible to get a better deal if you just use pesos.
Consider exchanging USD for pesos somewhere in the usa before your trip and dividing up your cash between USD and pesos during your trip.
3. Know bathing room Etiquette In Mexico, The sewage pipes just aren built to handle a lot. this means that people rarely flush their toilet paper. rather than, There will often be a trash bin near the toilet for you to put your used toilet paper in.
further, Men may make of entering a bathroom labeled with an M, let’s assume that it stands for However, The M actually can stand for mujeres, Which is the word for in Spanish. Men needs to look for doors labeled H, Which stands for the Spanish word for men, Hombres.
4. Practice Some Spanish One of the most basic tips for traveling to Mexico is to learn a few Spanish phrases before your trip.
once you know basic things, Like how to ask where the bathroom is or how to order food, Will make your trip to Mexico a lot smoother. sometimes, The locals will appreciate the effort, Even if they undoubtedly speak English as well!
5. Adjust to the Time Whether you are changing time zones while having trip or staying in the same one, You find that Mexico runs on a lot more fluid schedule. Punctuality is less of a concern, So you take pleasure in it a lot more if you can relax and don push a strict schedule.
furthermore, Meals are spaced out a bit distinct in Mexico. You will usually have a large breakfast, associated with the main meal of the day between 2:00 together with 4:00 pm hours. then finally, You will enjoy a smaller meal at dusk.
6. Drink Bottled Water Bottled water can be found on just about any street corner for purchase. Why exactly do you wish to buy bottled water?
let me tell you, Most of Mexico plain faucet water is unpurified. Some hotels may have filtered water, But be sure to go shopping for a sign above your sinks before you test it out!
If you be residing in Mexico for a lengthier trip, Consider buying or bring a water filter with you to purify the tap water and avoid buying so much bottled water. You be decreasing costs and plastic consumption!
7. Stray off the Beaten Path While sightseeing attractions and famous beaches are always fun to see, Traveling to lesser known places will offer you a more authentic taste of Mexico.
of which this isn an excuse to be reckless or oblivious to your surroundings. Be mindful of the areas you visiting and research where you will make sure it a safe area.
Now You Armed with all very reputable Tips for Traveling to Mexico Mexico is a diverse country with so much to see and offer.
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As North America’s fastest multi-launch coaster, it’s expected to draw in adrenaline enthusiasts, including those from the group Busch Gardens Williamsburg Fans, which has been updating their Twitter and website with information on the ride.
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The blog shared is interesting to read. Got some useful information of Chicago which will be really helpful before planning a trip to this place. Thanks for sharing this!
Many parents of individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder dread traveling or often avoid it altogether. Most people with ASD do better with routine and structure and a break from that (vacation) can often lead to stress and even meltdowns. Additionally, traveling by air can include having to navigate a multitude of unpleasant experiences from airport security procedures, moving sidewalks, and boarding tunnels to cramped seats, unfamiliar noises, and lots of strangers. Experts indicate that preparation and practice is the key to a successful flight and travel. Before your trip, talk with your child about what to expect. Go over the details of the travel: how you’ll get to the airport, wait in line, go through security, find your departure gate, get on the plane, buckle seatbelts, and spend time onboard. Flying to See Janet: A Fun Guide to the Airport Experience is a book you can use to prepare children for the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the airport experience. You can also write your own social story.
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Emily, my coming of age years were the late 1970s, early 1980s at the YMCA. I agree with you about the open showers versus the individual shower stalls. From a guys perspective, I spent many nights and weekends swimming or playing basketball at my local YMCA. Showering with not only my friends, but over the years, dads, neighbors and guys from church. It really makes one comfortable, not in a sexual way, with one self and others. Never had the nude swimming, I think that ended in the 1960s as women/girls joined the YMCA, forcing may YWCAs to close their doors.
Amelie, here in the US a number of Korean Spas have opened. As with Japanese, Korean families bath together (grandmother, daughter, grand-daughter), (dad, son) separated by gender. They are starting to attract a diverse clientele (age, race, etc). So who knows, maybe the nude swimming will return to the Y someday.
The Ski and Snow Vacations for Families article is one of the best I have ever read!
You are doing a great job with https://myfamilytravels.com site.
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Note that Global Affairs Canada cannot provide you with advice about the Consent Letter for Children Travelling Abroad beyond what is offered on this website.
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Chicago is a famous place that has many impressive landscapes.
Most visitors like traveling there.
I am always looking online for tips that can facilitate me. Thx!
helo, do you happent allow drive passengers to another state?
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I’m so happy that you enjoyed your experience at the Onsen!
I’ve never been to an Onsen, but I would love to get to visit one some day.
Back in the 1980s and 1990s my mom was the head supervisor at a YWCA in Ohio. I practically lived in the YWCA (not literally, of course) for the 19 years that my mom worked there. I had a part time job at the YWCA for a few years in the 1990s.
One of the great things about spending so much time at the YWCA was that I grew up using the locker room all of the way from a young child to a young woman and being 100% comfortable with both my own nudity and the nudity of all other females.
I feel that it was so much better back then when the Y had one big room full of shower heads on the walls than it is with stalls these days. The group shower setting was great from a bonding experience. I feel that it’s much healthier psychologically speaking that females are exposed to other women’s and girl’s bodies, as opposed to feeling that we need to hide from each other and change clothes in toilet stalls or under towels.
One of the benefits of having a mom who was a supervisor of the Y was that after hours my mom and my sisters and myself could just skinny dip in the pool, and my sisters and I were allowed to have our female friends with us for a skinny dipping session on Friday and Saturday nights.
Also, my aunt and a few of my female cousins would skinny dip with my mom, my sisters and I every once in a while.
My mom said that she had heard that the YWCA used to have one night a week that was for nude swimming back in the 1960s and most of the 1970s. Obviously it was a female only facility at the time.
Dubbed the Great Northern in memory of the pioneer railroad that parallels the western half of the route, US-2 is truly the most stunning and unforgettable, not to mention longest, of all the great transcontinental road trips.
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Oh man. I’m so sorry this happened to you. I certainly appreciate your take on this though, a little humor goes a long way. I’m headed to Barcelona in a few days, so I’ll be sure to keep my valuables close. Thanks for sharing.