Anna Maria Travel and Vacation Rental Overview
As per latest estimates, there are around 100 vacation rental properties available in Anna Maria. Most of them are vacation rental houses, condos, cottages. You will find very few vacation villas and apartments too for vacationers. Most of the vacation rental properties are 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom that can easily accommodate 1 to 8 people. So for vacationers in small groups have a good choice. Most of the vacation rental properties come alongwith golfing facilities. Good news for the pet owners planning to travel with their pets and handicapped as a good number of the vacation rental properties have facilities for them.
Anna Maria is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. Anna Maria is part of the Bradenton–Sarasota–Venice Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city occupies the northern part of Anna Maria Island and is one of three municipalities on the island. The others are Holmes Beach in the center and Bradenton Beach on the south.
At the north end of Anna Maria Island is the City of Anna Maria, a quiet residential community with an abundance of rental homes and cottages. Beach access can be obtained by traveling some of the side streets along the gulf. Most residents of Anna Maria prefer to ride their bikes, as the "city" is truly a quaint little village. Pine Street serves as the main thoroughfare, leading from bay to beach. Charming family stores and breakfast cafes are housed in quaint Florida cottages as well as "one" unobtrusive shopping center. Inspired by natural beauty, many artists reside in the area where the fruits of their efforts can be found in nearby galleries on Anna Maria Island. |
Anna Maria Attractions and Activities
Anna Maria Attractions
The Anna Maria Island Historical Society & Museum: Collects, Researches, Preserves and Displays artifacts pertaining to earlier times on Anna Maria Island.
The Island Players: This is a small company that has loyal patrons and volunteers. Evening preformance.
Turtle Watch Environmental Education Center: Turtle Watch Environmental Education Center aims to inform visitors of sea turtles and their nesting habits on Anna Maria Island. Through July and August, the Education Center conducts turtle tours and talks.
Bishiop Planetarium: Located on the Manatee River waterfront and taking up an entire city block, the South Florida Museum, Bishop Planetarium, and Parker Manatee Aquarium is a unique educational resource.
Art: Island Gallery West Island Gallery West is a cooperative gallery that displays the work of local artists.
Desoto Museum: De Soto National Memorial North end of 75th Street; Programs at the park explain the prevailing 16th century Spanish cultural values and the inevitable clash with the native cultures the expedition encountered.
Florida Aquarium: Discover the great outdoors inside The Florida Aquarium. You'll come face to face with more than 6,000 aquatic plants and animals native to Florida. Explore Florida's water story from underground source to open sea. See thousands of native plants and animals including fish, rays, sharks, birds, otter, alligators - in air-conditioned comfort. Outdoor "Explore a Shore" exhibit offers fun for kids of all ages including hands-on live pool teeming with sea creatures.
Lowry Park Zoo: Animals from four continents Animals in natural habitat settings, exotic birds and a petting zoo. See more than 14 species of primates, the rare Indian rhino, Sumatran tiger, bald eagles, black bear, bison, manatees and more. Birds of Prey show daily and Jungle Carousel Ride.
Anna Maria Activities
Fishing: Fish from shore and off-shore - Fishing is great! You can chose from four public fishing piers - one just three blocks from Anna Maria Beach Place. You could fish the surf or you could go on a charter fishing trip off-shore with one of the many Charter captains or better yet take your own boat, that you keep docked in your yard.
Sunset Dining: Visit one of the island's excellent (and romantic) gulf restaurants to observe the sun slip behind the horizon. Pack a picnic dinner (carry out works too), toss a blanket upon the sand, sip a soda while the kids run and the day fades to night.
Boat: Boating is fabulous. There are so many choices of where to go. If it's blowing, you can stay in the safety of the inter-coastal waterway and go as far as you want. On beautiful calm days, the Gulf and Tampa bay are great to explore.
Shopping: There are many interesting little shops on the island that you will enjoy. For more up-scale shopping, try St Armand's Circle on Longboat Key a few miles to the south. There, you will find fine clothing shops, galleries and great restaurants.
Wildlife Watching- Dolphins are plentiful and can be seen around the piers and bays. Sea turtles and manatee also live in our waters and can be seen during some seasons. Thousands of types of birds are everywhere.
Golfing: Some of the finest golf courses in southern Florida are within easy driving distance.
Bicycling: The island is a good place to bicycle. We ride the sidewalks all over the island.
Tennis: There are two public courts on the island.
Parasailing: Several Parasail boats operate from the Cortez Village just across the bridge. If you are adventurous, you can go single or tandem parasailing.
Jet ski or Kayaking: Jet skis or kayaks can be rented at several local marinas and outfitters.
Anna Maria Festivals and Events
Anna Maria Island Art League’s 22nd Annual Fine Arts and Fine Crafts Festivals
Winterfest (December 12 & 13, 2009).
Springfest (March 13 & 14, 2010).
Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival (February 28).
The 3rd Annual Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival (January 31, 2010). |
| |
Few spoil Anna Maria for many, agents sayThe Anna Maria IslanderTaking a cue from Holmes Beach, where the issue arose about six months ago, Anna Maria Commissioner SueLynn and vacation rental agents Larry Chatt and Mike Brinson have been drawing up a code of best practices for rental agents and property managers. |
| 
New York Post |
The best place in Florida you're not goingNew York PostEven though it's just 33 miles across the water from the skyscrapers of Tampa, Anna Maria Island is on a slender spur of land at the southernmost lip of the Tampa Bay, so driving there (no ferry required) requires 90 circuitous minutes. |
|
|
