Anna Maria Island

About Siesta Key, Florida

Visit Siesta Key and Enjoy the World's Finest, Whitest Sand Beaches...

Siesta Key, located just offshore of Sarasota, is a beautiful eight mile long barrier island on the Gulf coast of Florida.

Siesta Key is situated between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. A portion of it lies within the city boundary of Sarasota, but the majority of the key is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sarasota County.

Zarazote - Sarasota Key - Siesta Key

After the probable Amerindian name of Zarazote for the area and the bay, the key was originally named Sarasota Key by European cartographers during exploration beginning in 1513. That name can be seen on maps from the early 1700s as well as on all local maps drawn before the name change to Siesta Key in the 1920s.

The population was 7,150 at the 2000 census.

Tropical Siesta Key Paradise!

Alive with tropical atmosphere, Siesta Key is blessed with the world's finest, whitest beaches. It is a true tropical paradise, filled with mystery and charm. Relax in the soothing, warm breeze and let the cool water and soft sand transport you to your own personal paradise!   

True to its tropical nature, Siesta Key boasts many species of tropical trees and flowering shrubs, as well as exotic parrots and numerous varieties of native birds. Along the beaches and bays you will see gulls, terns, plovers, pelicans, egrets, herons, ibis, spoonbills, storks and cranes.

Just offshore, it is common to see dolphins and manatees playing in the sun.

If you are planning a trip to the Siesta Key area, go to Siesta Key Beach, Bike and Baby Vacation Equipment Rentals to learn more about Fun and More Rentals and how they can help you enjoy your Siesta Key vacation to the fullest!

About Longboat Key

Longboat Key, the Ultimate Florida Vacation...

Longboat Key lies south of Anna Maria Island, between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

Longboat Key is a barrier island community, and the coextensive town of the same name. It's located on the central west coast of Florida. 

The Town of Longboat Key lies within two counties.  The northern portion of Longboat Key is in Manatee County and the southern portion is in Sarasota County.  The Town of Longboat Key was incorporated in 1955 as a municipality.

The island is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico on the west and Sarasota Bay on the east. The area is popular among retirees and is also a popular resort and second home community.  Longboat Key has a population of approximately 8,000 permanent residents and grows to approximately 20,000 during peak tourist season.

If you are planning a trip to beautiful Longboat Key, go to Beach, Bike and Baby Vacation Rentals on Longboat Key to learn about Fun and More Rentals and how they can ensure your stay on Longboat Key is safe, comfortable and memorable for you and your entire family.

Bike Rentals

Anna Maria Island's Fun and More Bicycle Rentals...

Last Updated: December 21st, 2008 - This post has been updated and the original moved to Vacation Bike Rentals on Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key.

Bike Rentals the Green Transportation Alternative

We have been updating the Fun and More Vacation Equipment Rentals website again and would like to bring your attention to a new Anna Maria Island Bike Rentals page just published to our article archive.

Men's, Women's and Children's Bicycle Rentals on
Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key

Stroll the beaches and communities of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, or rent a bike from Fun and More Bike Rentals and take advantage of the many bike paths, parks and trails to be found in this Gulf Coast paradise.

Biking is quickly becoming the exploration transportation of choice in these new found environmentally friendly times we live, and what better place to experience on wheels than Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key.

Visit our Anna Maria Island Bike Rentals page to read the full article, or go to the new Fun and More Bike Rentals Blog.

Baby and Children Holiday Rentals

Anna Maria Island's Vacation Rentals for Children...

Last Updated: December 21st, 2007 - This post has been updated and the original moved to Vacationing with Baby or Young Children.

We have been updating the Fun and More Rentals website again with a addition baby products to rent when on vacation, as well as updated and brand new content and articles that may be of interest to anyone traveling or vacationing with a baby, infant or young child.

We would like to bring your attention to a new Anna Maria Island Rentals for Vacationing Babies and Children page just published to our article archive.

Traveling Anna Maria Island and 
Florida Gulf Coast with Young Children or Baby 

Whether you have a toddler, young child or infant; traveling with children can be a real challenge.

Most visitors to Anna Maria Island travel from other areas of North America or the UK, and many of them share the same problem.

Just how does one pack all the items required to keep your child safe, happy and healthy, when traveling to a place like Anna Maria Island or Longboat Key, Florida?

Well, the answer is simple.

We have a fantastic local Anna Maria Island company called Fun and More Rentals that specializes in providing Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key area visitors anything and everything they could possibly need in order to enjoy a carefree vacation in paradise... and yes, this includes vacation equipment rentals for your children, regardless of their age.

Visit our Traveling Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key with Children page to read the full article.

Save Anna Maria Island's Wildlife and Ecology

Contribute Content to 'Anna Maria Island Life' and Help Save Anna Maria Wildlife and Ecology...

Support Anna Maria Island Wildlife and Ecology Get Published While You Do...

The 'Anna Maria Island Life' family of web properties was created for both visitors to and residence of Anna Maria Island, and we encourage it's use in whatever way you (our readers) see fit.

What is 'Anna Maria Island Life'?

The www.AnnaMariaIslandLife.com website is an Information and Business Directory for Anna Maria Island.

We also have a blog and the forums you are reading right now. You can leave a comment after any blog post in the comment area provided, and of course you can reply to any of our forum posts or start a thread of your own on any topic you are interested in.

If you have a topic of particular interest to yourself and our readers, you can contact us about becoming an Anna Maria Island Life guest blogger.

You can even write and submit Anna Maria Island related articles and content for publication on our website and/or blog and forum.

What better to offer the World Wide Web than information about local Anna Maria Island wildlife and the environment. Especially in the age of increasing interest in saving the environment in which we live.

Perhaps you would like to contribute your ideas about how to live more "green" a lifestyle. Or perhaps you have information and insight into some aspect of Florida ecology you would like to share.

We all like to feel as though we are contributing something positive to the world, and now you have a chance. Take advantage of Anna Maria Island Life to spread the word about Anna Maria Island, or any topic of interest to those that live and vacation in this Gulf Island Paradise!

Historical Complex

Vintage Swim and Antique Bathing Costumes on Display at the Anna Maria Island Historical Complex...

Anna Maria Island Historical Complex: 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria

A summer exhibit of vintage swim and antique bathing costumes from 1920 to 1960 is on display at the Anna Maria Island Historical Complex.

Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Admission is free. Information: 778-0492 or visit www.amihs.org.

Anna Maria Island Bridge

Anna Maria Island Residents Question Bridge's Future...

Last Updated August 27, 2008 - Rehabilitation of the Anna Maria Island Bridge is four months away. In the mean time, local Anna Maria Island residents want to know what the island's next bridge is going be.

Anna Maria Island residents told the Florida Department of Transportation they hope Anna Maria Island's next bridge won't be a high-level, fixed span bridge.

Vacation Equipment Rentals

Florida Gulf Coast
Vacationers Need to Know About Fun and More Rentals...

Last Updated: December 16th, 2008 - This post has been updated and the original moved to Planning a Florida Gulf Coast Vacation.

It's been said before
and it's worth saying again...

If you are planning a trip or vacation to Anna Maria Island, Longboat or Siesta Key... you need to know about Fun and More Baby, Bike and Beach Rentals.

Planning a Vacation to Anna Maria Island

We all know what its like planning a holiday vacation, and planning a Florida Gulf coast vacation is no different. There are a lot details to attend to.

So why burden yourself with a long list of things you have to take with you when you can simply go online to www.FunAndMoreRentals.com and pre-arrange to have everything you need delivered right to your destination... and it's FREE!

Whether its a baby booster seat, beach cooler or boogie board... this Anna Maria Vacation Equipment Rental Service is there to help you with all your vacation needs!

Visit www.FunAndMoreRentals.com today!

Art League

Anna Maria Island Art League Features Young Manatee Artists...

Friday's opening of the new art show at the Anna Maria Island Art League had all of the usual ingredients, except that all of the artists are students at Manatee High School.

It's the 14th year these young local Anna Maria Area teenagers have wrapped up a busy school year with an art show featuring some of their best work.

Bradenton Beach, Anna Maria Island, Florida

About Bradenton Beach...

Back in late January, 07, we published a short, About Anna Maria Island and Introduction to Anna Maria City. We promised follow up introductory posts to Anna Maria's sister cites of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach.

Well, we recently updated the About Anna Maria Island and Introduction to Anna Maria City posts, published the About Holmes Beach post, and today we publish our introductory post to Anna Maria's sister city of Bradenton Beach.

Anna Maria Island, Home to Bradenton Beach

Located on the west coast of Florida, Anna Maria Island is the barrier between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay with white sand beaches stretching for 7 miles along the Gulf coastline.

There is a canal network throughout the island that allows an interesting selection of water-front lifestyles, plus an island trolley system for transportation throughout the three individually unique island cities.

Bradenton Beach caters to and is dependent upon the tourists and their activities.