Anna Maria Island

What's Your Anna Maria Island Experience?

Life On Anna Maria Island...

Do you love Anna Maria Island as much as we do?

Yes, then take advantage of this opportunity to tell the world why. Write us an article and we will publish it, right here on the Anna Maria Island blog.

Got a hobby or serious interest that somehow involves Anna Maria Island? Are you a landscaper, gardener, fisherman, business person or authority on something you do on Anna Maria Island?

Maybe you just would like to write an article about your Anna Maria Island vacation experience, or what its like growing up or living on the Florida Gulf coast... on beautiful Anna Maria Island.

Its entirely up to you. If you think you would like to write about something that would be of interest to readers of the Anna Maria Island Life blog, then by all means... write it and we'll publish it.

It just has to be appropriate and something our readers would find interesting.

Welcome to Anna Maria Island Life, a website and online portal to all the good things that are Anna Maria Island.

Information About Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island Demographics and Population, Access and Trasportation, Seasonal Weather and Contact Information...

Location and Access to Anna Maria Island

The Gulf Island of Anna Maria is located in Manatee County, Florida.

• Located 40 miles south of Tampa and seven miles west of Bradenton.
• Accessible by SR 64, over the Manatee Avenue Bridge and SR 684 over the Cortez Bridge or a third bridge offers access from Longboat Key to the Island.
• Anna Maria Island stretches seven and one-half miles from Tampa Bay south to Longboat Key Pass.
• Anna Maria Island is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico on the west, Tampa Bay and Anna Maria Sound on the east and Sarasota Bay to the south.

Transportation Projects - New Sidewalks, Resurfaced Roads and Landscaping

Anna Maria Island In-line for Stimulus Money...

It was in the news recently that Anna Maria Island was getting some stimulus money as part of the economic recovery program. The article I read was in the Herald and was writen by LEE LOGAN - Special to the Herald.

In the article it said, "Stimulus funding totaling more than $2 million will pay for multiple new transportation projects on Anna Maria Island in the coming months, including new sidewalks, resurfaced roads and new landscaping. Some of the more high-profile projects include funding for part of the Gulf Drive Improvement plan in Bradenton Beach and resurfacing all of Pine Avenue in the city of Anna Maria. There will also be 3.8 new miles of sidewalks along the island and a $500,000 beautification project along Gulf of Mexico Drive in Longboat Key."

Wow, that is very cool for the community of Anna Maria Island.

Fixed Span Bridge Option Still Possible

Bridge Building on Anna Maria Island...

We've been keeping our readers fairly well abreast of the controversy surrounding the proposed Anna Maria Island fixed span bridge debate.

What follows is just the latest in the ongoing saga of the fixed span bridge proposal.

New attitudes of Florida DOT and the public improve chances for Anna Maria high span bridge option.

Published: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.

It's no surprise that the Florida Department of Transportation recently proposed replacing one of the two drawbridges linking Anna Maria Island and the mainland with a fixed-span structure.

Riptide Dangers

Swim the Waters of Anna Maria Safely...

It seems ya can't simply enjoy life to the fullest without there being some kind of concern that results in restrictions to your right to risk.

By right to risk, I simply mean our right as human beings to make our own decisions to undertake activities that include a certain level of risk. When you think about it, just getting out of bed in the morning comes with some level of risk, but we are talking degrees of risk beyond what you would encounter during normal daily living.

Things like downhill skiing for example brings with it risks beyond normal daily activity, as does motorcycle racing, ski diving, parasailing and a whole host of other perfectly acceptable activities.

But of course there are limits. We are not permitted to barrel down the highway at warp speed because to do so puts others at risk. Well, apparently beach access on Anna Maria Island has succumbed to similar thinking.

Keep The Trolley Free

Save Our Trolley Campaign...

Whether you are a local resident of Anna Maria Island or simply planning a vacation stay, the 'Free Anna Maria Island Trolley' is one of the best ways to get around.

Did I say "FREE"?

Yes I did, but it might not be FREE for long unless the proposed 'Save Our Trolley Campaign' is successful.

Property Values

Are Anna Maria Island Home Prices On The Rise...

Do recent rises in neighboring area real estate values signal a turn around? Don't be so sure, say some.

Tell us what you think... are home prices on Anna Maria Island on the rise?

It was reported just yesterday in the Herald Tribune that, "Home prices in Sarasota-Bradenton rebounded 9.5 percent from March to April, pushing the market's median sales price up about $20,000 from a possible bottom earlier this year."

All this has little to do with places like Anna Maria Island or Longboat Key, or does it?

It's a pretty bold statement considering what is being reported about the housing market throughout the rest of the United States.

None the less, HT staff writer, Tom Bayles, published an article entitled, "Area Home Prices Buck U.S. Trend - Do recent rises in local real estate values signal a turn around? ", and as you might expect... it's created a bit of an uproar amongst it's readers.

A Native Florida Landscape

Using Native Landscaping to Enhance the Local Environement...

Using native landscaping in historic setting to help demonstrate how to incorporate native plants into a residential environment.

The Anna Maria Island Historical Society is attempting to set an axample for the residence of Anna Maria Island when it comes to incorporating the use of native plants when landscaping residential lots in the citiy.

According to Historical Society members, There is a lack of awareness and aesthetic appreciation for native plants relative to their water conservation, wildlife food source benefits, habitat creation, and replacement value for lawns that consume water, are treated with chemicals that run into the surrounding water, and create grass clippings that add negative nutrients to these waters.

At the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Complex, property owned by Anna Maria City, there is currently a public works buildings with a maintenance yard and the Historical Society Museum. Also on the site is the recently moved and restored historic Belle Haven Cottage.

Bridge Information

Information on the Anna Maria Island Bridge...

There has been a lot of information, news and otherwise, published on this Anna Maria Island blog, and this post will help you locate it.

What follows is a list of links, a directory if you will, that will take you to most (if not all) of the posts and news we've published to do with the Anna Maria Island Bridge.

Grass Roots Group Opposes Mega Bridge

What Style Bridge Is Right For Anna Maria Island?

It's being report in news media that both supporters and opponents for the proposed "65 ft high fixed span bridge", as a replacement for the existing Anna Maria Bridge, are bracing for what could be yet another long drawn out debate before a final decision is made.

Supporters of a new fixed span bridge argue it will be safer and faster for travelers and better for island evacuations during hurricane season.

Meanwhile, a local resident group insists they want Anna Maria Island joined to the mainland by a drawbridge. The reason they say, "because it is more attractive and charming".

Some residence say its nice to do what can be done to maintain that old Florida charm that Anna Maria Island is so famous for, but not at the cost of safety.

Falling In Love With The Old Florida Charm Of Anna Maria Island.

Experience That Old Florida Feeling.