Anna Maria Island

Definately the Old Florida Charm

What Is It That Keeps You Coming Back to Anna Maria Island...

Our entire family has been visiting Anna Maria Island for decades now and you guys have hit the nail on the head! It definitely IS the "Old Florida" charm!

Check out ANNA MARIA BEACH COTTAGES for a place to stay while visiting Anna Maria Island. There are also plenty of fine beach resorts, hotels and vacation rentals.

Visit Anna Maria Island and you will love the atmosphere so much you want to return year after year.

This tropic island paradise has that affect on visitors. If you are looking to feel the past spirit of the "old island" days then Anna Maria is a real charmer.

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.

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.

BeachHouse Restaurant

Great Food and Great Fun: What The BeachHouse Restaurant Is All About...

It was back in 1993 that Ed Chiles found the old Harbor House. He bought it, remodeled it and changed the name to the BeachHouse... and the BeachHouse Restaurant it still is today!

Located in Bradenton Beach at the west end of Cortez Road, the Harbor House had 650 feet of beach in front of it and was a perfect setting for the huge covered deck that now stretches to reach each end of the now BeachHouse Restaurant.

The spectacular Gulf Coast view was just the beginning!

The BeachHouse Restaurant is the perfect setting for family dining. There is plenty of room for all the kids to play on the beach while you enjoy a tropical drink and great food. You can enjoy your meal inside the dining room or on the waterfront deck, your choice.

Melinda's Cafe and Catering

Catering Private Parties, Weddings, Family Gatherings and More...

Melinda's Cafe & Catering offers local Anna Maria Island catering to serve your party, wedding reception, family gathering, corporate or other special event.

Melinda's Cafe and Catering will customize your private party, gathering or event, to meet both your budget and your tastes.

Melinda's offers a wide variety of finger foods, sandwich plates, hot and cold side dishes, deserts, full service meals and buffets... plus so much more!

If you are planning a catered event in the Anna Maria Island area, give Melinda a call. She will sit down with you, one on one, and customize a spread that meets your needs.

Melinda's Cafe & Catering also offers a full crew for weddings, rehearsal dinners, barbecues, and beach weddings... everything you'll ever need in the way of a special events catering service.

Cortez Market

Everything You Need For Your Trip To Anna Maria Island...

Cold drinks, delicious subs, and everything else you might want for a day on the sunny beaches of Anna Maria Island.

Cortez Market is your last stop before heading across the bridge to the beaches of Anna Maria Island. It has been an area landmark for decades. During this time, Cortez Market has had its fair share of owners, but none like the two who have owned it since 1979.

Click on the map to the right for a larger view of just were to find Cortez Market.

Lou and Nancy Nassar have owned and operated the Cortez Market for nearly 30 years now. Since that very first month, February of 1979, Lou has lost more hair and the store has gained more square footage, but through these changes, one thing remains constant...

You will always be greeted at Cortez Market with a smile!

Sun House Restaurant

Incredible Food and Sweeping View of the Gulf of Mexico While You Dine...

Just like it says on their website, "Upon entering The Sun House Restaurant your breath will be taken away by a sweeping view of the Gulf of Mexico."

Sunset is a special time, and at The Sun House Restaurant 'sunset' takes on a meaning of its own. 

"In order to pay our respects to the sun (hence our name) we acknowledge the end of the day with a ceremony... Ring the gong and sing a song!" If you do, You'll be given a complimentary 'green flash shooter'? 

The Sun House Restaurant's great food, stellar service and unique atmosphere will create an island dining experience that will have you returning again, again and again.

Wedding Venues and Wedding Reception Sites

Wedding Venues, Restaurants and Reception Sites on Anna Maria Island...

The new Anna Maria Island Wedding Venue Directory is completed and ready for anyone considering getting married on Anna Maria Island. All the upgrades are done to this section of the site, and we have the most comprehensive lists of local Anna Maria Island reception sites available.

Choosing your wedding venue can be one of the most difficult decisions when planning any wedding, and an Anna Maria Island wedding is no different. Some people plan their whole day around their dream wedding location, while others start with a totally open mind.

Remember that the location will set the mood for the entire day. Anna Maria Island offers hundreds of amazing wedding venues including churches, beautiful sugar sand beaches, hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars and pubs, cafes and bistros, as well as live entertainment venues.

Just for the record, according to local Anna Maria Island wedding merchants, the first ever Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival was a great success. If your wedding plans are for next season, you may want to consider attending the 2009 Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival.

Helpful Anna Maria Island Links

Anna Maria Island

Places to See, Shop, Visit and Eat
Weddings, Boat Charters, Vacation Rentals and More...

This is a page for anyone visiting the Anna Maria Island area. There truly is so much to see and do in this tropical island paradise that for some it hards to know where to start.

Anna Maria Island is an island located on the northern most point of Florida's Sarasota area. True to its 'Old Florida' setting, it has a quaint village atmosphere that's both welcoming and relaxing like no where you've vacationed before.

There are several shopping centres on Anna Maria Island with supermarkets and a wide choice of restaurants, many specialising in fish and Florida seafood dishes. This Florida Gulf coast island has a full compliment of amenities for the visiting tourist.

From vacation supply rentals to vacation accommodations, Anna Maria Island is a vacationers fantasy land in the sun!

Here we have provided links, and in some cases contact information, for selected information websites of interest to anyone new to Anna Maria Island, as well as places to see, visit, shop and eat, things to do like sailing, boat charters and turtle watching, local services such as car and vacation equipment rentals, and we've even included a section for those of you planning on getting married on Anna Maria Island.

There truly is no finer destination wedding location than Anna Maria Island.

Fine Florida Dinning on Anna Maria Island

Sandbar Restaurant...

The Sandbar Restaurant, located on the north end of Anna Maria Island, has for decades been a favorite for locals and a great place to impress your out of town guests. You can enjoy inside dining or relax before a sunset on the Gulf front deck.

What better way to Feed Your Spirit than to experience fine Florida dining paired with some of the best entertainment Anna Maria Island has to offer. With exceptional local artists performing on almost a nightly basis, you can be assured that the food won't be the only thing you'll be talking about when you leave.

The Sandbar Restaurant is also considered the perfect beach location for your wedding, reception, next corporate luncheon, business meeting, after hours function or family get together.  Audio/Visual capabilities available. Large or small groups easily accommodated.

The Sandbar Restaurant was recognized by some 25,000 newlyweds as the "Best Reception Site" in Florida. Featuring waterfront views and beautiful scenery, the Sandbar is the most popular favorite spot for weddings and receptions, hosting more than 150 happy couples every year!