Anna Maria Island

No Highrises and Lots of Beach

Anna Maria Island is Quiet with Uncrowded Beaches and Amazing Sunsets...

Anna Maria Island is a quiet little island without the highrises.

We love the uncrowded beach, Duffys, watching the sunsets at the Sandbar with a glass of wine and so much more. Great food at the Sign of the Mermaid and love Ginny's and Jane E's for a quick bite in the morning.

We always stay in an Anna Maria beach cottage because we like the "old Florida" atmosphere, the proximity to the beach, having a late afternoon dip in the pool and a full kitchen.

With all the attention Anna Maria Island has been getting on the Web, we need to work extra hard to keep AMI our own little secret.

Submitted by Unkown Fan of Anna Maria Island.

Pine Avenue Phase One Development Properties and Funding Now in Place

Pine Avenue Restoration Moves One Step Closer To Becoming a Reality...

It was December 19th, 2007, that the Pine Avenue restoration proposal moved significantly closer to fruition.

Critical Pine Avenue Property Zoning

It was reported that day, that developer Michael Coleman had closed the first targeted property needed for phase one of the Pine Avenue development. It was also reported that the city commission’s office decided to zone six lots on North Bay Boulevard ROR instead of commercial.

The zoning of those six properties represents a huge step forward for the Pine Avenue Restoration Project.

Support Builds for Pine Avenue Development Project

Pine Avenue Supporters Put Up The Bucks...

"Supporters of the Pine Avenue restoration project are putting their money where their mouths are."

That was the lead-in to the Anna Maria local news headlines on August 8th, 2007, when already, support for the newly proposed Pine Avenue restoration development was building.

"We’ve had wonderful response with our fund raising," said Michael Coleman. Coleman said about half of the $10 million needed had been raised from a disparate group of investors, but then declined to name them.

Coleman previously had in place, contracts on 21 lots on Pine Avenue, where he envisioned a series of buildings that would be used for offices or retail shops on the ground level with one living floor above — a use that was envisioned by Anna Maria City when the district was set aside for residential/office/retail (ROR) use in the 1992 comprehensive plan.

Where To Eat: Restaurants, Cafes and Grills

Anna Maria Island Restaurant Guide...

One of the most memorable things about visiting Anna Maria Island is the food.

There are so many great restaurants to eat at, and it's been far too long since we last dedicated a post to the gastronomical pleasures available to those visiting this Gulf Island Paradise called Anna Maria Island.

I'm sure you'll agree that, no matter where you spend your vacation, discovering great places to eat lunch and dinner can be exciting, healthy and memorable.

Sure your Anna Maria vacation rental may have come with a fully equipped kitchen, but why waste your vacation time cooking and doing dishes when there are so many Anna Maria Island restaurants that offer amazing food and a fantastic atmosphere.

The Pine Avenue Restoration Story

Pine Avenue and a Man with a Vision...

Last Updated January 12, 2009: Everyone on Anna Maria Island should know what the Pine Avenue restoration project is. It has been in the news now for some time, and construction is already well underway.

Because it is such an important project for the city of Anna Maria, and Anna Maria Island as a whole, we've decided to follow the Pine Avenue restoration story in a series of posts.

A Man With a Vision - We begin our story back in mid 2007, when a man with a vision took that vision to Anna Maria city commissioners and began winning support for what now is known as the Pine Avenue Restoration Project.

This artist’s rendering is of a sample business/residential structure proposed in a renovation project for Pine Avenue in Anna Maria. The drawing was done by local architect Gene Aubry and would be built at the corner of Crescent and Pine.

Best Beaches on the Florida Gulf Coast

Anna Maria Island's Beaches and Sunsets Keep You Coming Back For More...

If you ask your typical Florida vacationer what it is that attracts them to the Gulf coast, most will tell you its the beaches.

Lets face it, when people visit the Gulf Coast of Florida, they are most likely headed to the beach... lol.

Florida Gulf Coast Beach Communities

If its a Florida Gulf coast beach you're after, you've got several prime locations from which to choose. The islands just off the coast of Sarasota and Bradenton have beaches that are hard to beat.

• Siesta Key has been rated as one of the top ten beaches in the nation.

• Longboat Key and Lido Key are also well known and very popular as beach vacation destinations.

• Then there is the all time favorite of course, Anna Maria Island. But my favorite is Anna Maria Island.

Vacationing With The Family

My Family Vacation To Florida's Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key and Sarasota...

If you and your family love beach vacations, you're going to want to visit Anna Maria Island after reading about my recent family vacation experience to Anna Maria Island and Sarasota, on the west coast of Florida... right on the Gulf of Mexico ;-)

We all like to travel, in fact I live for it. The whole family is always looking forward to that next vacation experience.

We've just returned from a short trip to the beach. Beaches that is, on Anna Maria Island. A good  friend of the family loaned us their Anna Maria Island vacation rental... a condo on the beach.

Vacation Destination and a Real Florida Island Community

Anna Maria Island: A Great Place To Visit and a Great Place to Live!

People that have never been to Anna Maria Island sometimes say, "Sure, Anna Maria Island might be a great place to spend a vacation, but would you really want to live there?" 

Well, the answer is an affirmative Yes. Anna Maria Island is more than just one more Florida vacation destination with nice beaches and lots to do and see. Anna Maria is a genuine, quality, Old Florida community... and an awesome place to live.

This Gulf coast Florida community, Anna Maria Island, is surrounded by some of the most beautiful beaches and boating in the world today... a true "tropical island paradise" where many visit to escape the cold up north... while other live year round.

About Lido Key, Florida

Lido Key Best Know For It's Florida Gulf Beaches...

 

Lido Key

 is a barrier island off the coast of Sarasota, Florida.

The island is know for it's sandy beaches seasonal nightclub scene. Lido Key is also home to South Lido Park, which has a beach and a woodland trail.

Lido Key is connected to the mainland by the John Ringling Causeway.

Storm Watch

Rod and Reel Pier and Restaurant Under Stormy Skies...

This cool anna maria island storm pic isn't one of ours, but it is awesome. It came up in an Anna Maria Island related Google search and was just too good to pass up. 

The caption read, "Rod and Reel Pier and Restaurant under the dark skies and above the rough waters."

It is a great photo of the Rod & Reel Pier and an equally great photo of Anna Maria Island.

Although the photographer remained unknown, it said the photo was taken with a a 1/2 second shutter and aperture of f/2.8 on an inexpensive Kodak P850... and no post processing was done.

If you've been there on a stormy day, that looks about right ;-)