by mike on August 5, 2011
My vacation is almost here and we can’t wait to get down to our condo on Anna Maria. The end of August may not be the most ideal time to go, but it ends up working out for us anyway. The temps are pretty high, but the waters are warm and there’s almost no one around. So we’ll hit the pool, then the beach, then the pool and back to the beach, then get out of the heat by retreating into the AC. Evenings are cooler but still warm and comfortable. There are no lines at restaurants or stores and traffic is extra light.
We’ll definitely fish in the surf and also off the piers. Last time I caught a stingray on the pier. It took me 45 minutes to get him into the dock and we cut him loose. I had quite a crowd watching that battle. It was fun!
The kids got to ride the trolley which circles the island. They went to the pier, the store, wherever they wanted. There is no charge for this service and it stops right outside our condo. The Island always feels safe and this seemed like a good way to give the kids a little room to get away from us while still feeling pretty comfortable that they were in good hands. Lots of families ride the trolley.
I’m always surprized that more people don’t rent in September, October, November and December. Especially the fall months, as the temps are still warm and the place is lightly populated by visitors. It’s a great time to visit.
Everyone who is still on the Island come out before the sun sets. Drag their chairs onto the beach, let the kids run around the surf and just let the tension drain out of you as the sun slowly sinks below the horizon giving everyone a great show. The colors are amazing and no two sunsets are alike. So count on seeing us there for the sunsets most nights! Both beautiful and sad that another day in paradise has come and gone. But we’ll be back the next night to see the show again. Enjoy your summer!
by admin on June 11, 2011
I first discovered Anna Maria Island when my parents moved from the frigid north (Buffalo, NY) to Bradenton Florida. I was already in college and it was 1978. I remember the first time we went to the beach, taking Cortez Road west, over the Cortez bridge which connects the mainland to this beautiful barrier island, where the road comes to a ‘T’ and in front of you is the Gulf of Mexico.
Go right, go left, it doesn’t matter, there are beaches all around the island and they are all public. Even in front of the houses and condos there. Usually the Gulf waters are very calm, so if you are used to seeing the ocean, it’s very different, very peaceful. On very calm days it can be almost like a lake with no waves, just softly undulating currents. In the salt water, you can lie on your back, hold completely still and practically fall asleep. The sand is so sugar-like and soft and so white it’s probably unlike anything you may have seen before. The Gulf beaches get deeper only very gradually so you can walk out quite a distance if you wish.
While there are some wave runners and para-sailing boats and speedboats, generally it’s not that busy out there. The beaches are never that crowded and often are pretty sparsely populated. One of the things you notice after awhile is that there aren’t any tall buildings on the Island. You notice there aren’t any fast food chains there. There are no huge retail chains there. They just aren’t allowed to be there. There are no night clubs and discos. If you want that kind of vacation you will need to go elsewhere. You will find many small, quaint, family-owned businesses and very friendly people. You will find yourself mellow after the first few days and discover this is a wonderful little place that time forgot. You’ll probably even find yourself being friendlier and wonder how that happened! That’s the magic of Anna Maria Island.
I guarantee you will not want to leave no matter how long your stay is. And you start to wonder why you’re in the crazy life you have when there is a place like this you could live in every day. I look forward (almost every day) to the day I can retire to Anna Maria Island. With kids about to enter college it may be longer than I want it to be. But it’s my wife’s and my dream, to be there one day. In the meantime, we own this gorgeous condo right on the Gulf and we love it every time we come down. Looking out at the Gulf, there is a magical transformation that just pulls the tension right out of you and leaves you feeling so good. If I could put that feeling in a pill, I’d be RICH! So in the meantime, you’ll just have to come experience AMI yourself. And trust me; you’ll be back again and again. To learn more about AMI (Anna Maria Island) check out the AMI Chamber website at: www.amichamber.org and don’t forget to save my site as one of your ‘favorites’ and to sign up for my occasional emails that spell out special offers. Thanks!
