Anna Maria Island

Help Save Anna Maria Island

"Save Anna Maria" Has a New Look...

It's been reported in the Bradenton Times that the "Save Anna Maria" organization has a new look to an old mission!

The beauty of Anna Maria Island is undeniable, and probably the reason so many are
attracted to her shorelines and beaches. 

This is why our group called  "SAM , Loves Serving Anna Maria".

"Save Anna Maria" is a non-profit organization.

Our Mission  is to serve & preserve the unique Character of Anna Maria Island

That is the first thing you see when you visit the new Save Anna Maria website.

Just nominated as the president of Save Anna Maria Island (SAM), Katie Pierola is no stranger to Anna Maria Island. She has lived in Bradenton Beach for 30 years and served as Mayor for three terms.

Pierola said, "when the local Metropolitan Planning Organization started in 1972 the cities that were represented included Bradenton, Palmetto, Longboat Key, Sarasota, Venice, North Port and the counties of Sarasota and Manatee."

"The cities of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, and Holmes Beach did not have representation."

“There were really big problems with bad communication with the islands. We are trying to move forward and that’s why we’ve now got our Web site located at www.amisam.org.” 

The new web site for SAM was launched to improve communications with the community and to inform people about how this magnificent island, spanning seven miles long and two blocks wide, can be saved and served going into the future.

Visit "Save Anna Maria" at www.amisam.org to learn more.

Festival sARTée

About The 2010Festival sARTée...

The Festival sARTée expands the energy and excitement of the Ringling International Arts Festival (RIAF), planned for Sarasota-Manatee, on October 13-17, 2010.

For two weeks surrounding the RIAF, the Festival sARTée, Oct. 8-24, showcases the region's world-class arts and culture ranging from theater, dance, music, visual art, live music and more in a variety of venues throughout Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

Sport Fishing in the Gulf

What Kind of Fish are Caught in the Waters of Anna Maria...

Fishing is one of the all time favorite things to do when visiting Anna Maria Island.

There are a number of Anna Maria Island area charter businesses with years of local experience under their belts. This means any one of them can show a fishing time of your life.

Go to our Anna Maria Island Life Information and Business Directory and look under Fishing Charters. You'll find all the contact information you need to get you and your guests set up for a day of fishing you will not soon forget!

What kinds of fish can I expect to catch in the waters surrounding Anna Maria Island area you ask?

Well, the following is not an exhaustive list. However, it does provide a good representation of the many different kinds of fish we catch on our local charters.

A Trip Through Historic Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island Historical Society...

With the help of the Anna Maria Island Historical Society, you can take a trip back in history.

The Anna Maria Island Historical Society's [AMIHS] beautifully restored complex interprets the Island's history through its museum, City Jail, Belle Haven Cottage and the Mangrove Walk's indigenous garden.

The Anna Maria Island Historical Society was formed in 1990 by Anna Maria residents Pat Copeland and Carolyne Norwood, both reporters for the Islander newspaper.

Pat and Carolyne knew something must be done to preserve Island artifacts, which were being lost.

The non-profit, educational organization was incorporated in 1991.

Learn more about the Belle Haven Cottage Garden and the Anna Maria Island Historical Society and Museum Complex.

With all there is to see and do on beautiful Anna Maria Island, the Historical Society Museum is one you just don't want to miss!

Learn more about the Belle Haven Cottage Garden and the Anna Maria Island Historical Society and Museum Complex.

With all there is to see and do on beautiful Anna Maria Island, the Historical Society Museum is one you just don't want to miss!

Wedding Information

Getting Married Anna Maria Island Style...

Are you planning a Florida Wedding?

Would you and your lover like to be married on the beach, right on the Gulf of Mexico?

If so, may we suggest you get married on beautiful Anna Maria Island.

The following 'wedding information' and accompanying links was previously published back in October 2009. We are republishing it today due to the amount of wedding related traffic we've been receiving of late, and of course... in anticipation of the up coming Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival.

Read Getting Married on Anna Maria Island.

Get your questions answered with our Anna Maria Island Wedding FAQ.

If so, we have lots of wedding information to help you plan your wedding in paradise. First off, Florida requires a license to legalize a Marriage.

Go to Wedding Permits Required on Anna Maria Island.

What is the Best Time of Year to Get Married on Anna Maria Island?

As unique as the love you share, a beach wedding offers memories that last a lifetime, and there is no more ideal a destination to be married on the beach than Anna Maria Island.

Community Theater

Anna Maria's Island Players Celebrate 61st Anniversary Season...

It's true!

The Island Players are celebrating their 61st anniversary during the 2009-2010 season and are the oldest community theater in all Manatee County.

The Island Players Playhouse, a building of great historical significance to Anna Maria Island, was originally the home of the William H. Gillett family of Parrish and was floated down the Manatee River by barge in the early 1900's to be set up on Anna Maria Island.

The structure first served as the Anna Maria Tourist Center greeting day-trippers to Anna Maria Island. Most of these visitors came from Tampa and St. Petersburg on excursion steamboats and then heading west on Pine Avenue to the Gulf of Mexico waters.

In 1923, when the City of Anna Maria incorporated, it soon became a center of activity as all the cities business was conducted from there.

It also functioned as a community hall and was used for social gatherings, club meetings, church services, a schoolroom and eventually... an Island community theater.

Getting Married on Anna Maria Island

Best Time of Year
to Get Married on Anna Maria Island...

Congratulations, you're engaged.

Now you're planning a romantic beach wedding on beautiful Anna Maria Island.  It’s going to be PERFECT…right?

Well, it can be so long as you pay attention to detail when you make your plans.

For example the weather. You're planning a beach wedding, remember?

What is the best time of year to get married on the beaches of Anna Maria Island?

Well, the truth is...

Everything fluctuates on Anna Maria Island, including prices and the weather, depending on the time of year you decide to say your wedding vows.

However...
Any time of year is a great time to be married on Anna Maria Island.

The time of year you choose to get married is a personal preference. Just keep in mind the average high and low temperatures.

Municipal Beach Wedding Permits

Wedding Permits: Anna Maria Island Municipal Wedding Requirements...

What types of Permits are required for a Beach Wedding on Anna Maria Island?

If you are having a small, intimate wedding, permits are generally not required.

However, if you are booking bands and renting tents, you may have to apply for an Anna Maria Island municipal permit.

For information and to apply for a permit, contact the Local Police Department for the community you are planning to hold your wedding.

Business and Services

Anna Maria Island Businesses Treat You Right...

When compared to the big city resort areas of America, Anna Maria Island may seem small, but Anna Maria Island does mean Business.

It's true. Though small in perspective, Anna Maria Island, Florida has it all.

And, unlike the big city, Anna Maria Island offers service with a smile.

Check out the Anna Maria Island Business Directory.

Whether you're on Anna Maria Island for a weekend getaway or an extended family vacation, a wedding, business meeting or banquet. You can enjoy the relaxing Island feel while getting your work done, and you'll be able to get it done right.

Things To Do: Beaches, Adventures, Exploration, Shopping, Culture, Sports and Recreation

Things To Do While Vacationing on Anna Maria Island...

Outdoor Adventures, Exploring, Shopping, Sports and Recreation to Relaxing on the Beach in the Sun, There is Always Something To Do On Anna Maria Island.

From the moment you sink your toes into the sands of Anna Maria Island, you will know you have arrived at a vacation destination like no other.

On Anna Maria Island, there is no need to plan your day around the best times to avoid crowds and traffic jams, because once your feet hit the beaches, you chart your own course.

Be it lounging in the sun surfside, your favorite water sport, or enjoying a unique Anna Maria Island adventure... on Anna Maria Island, you are in control.

It's always up to you!