Larry – Page 27 – Island Real Estate Blog

May 11, 2008January 22, 2021

Anna Maria Island Manatee Public Beach

Located in Holmes Beach, it allows for easy access since it is at the end of Manatee Avenue/SR64. This is one of three access points to the island.

The Public Beach boasts a very large FREE parking area that handles 120 parking spots however there are plenty of times that the parking is not adequate for the demand. Manatee Avenue does have additional street parking, however, be sure to mind no parking signs. There is a trolley stop at the public beach too!

Manatee Public Beach offers great amenities. Lifeguards, showers, volleyball courts, small slides, gift shop, bathrooms, concessions, and covered eating area with picnic tables make this a great beach spot. It’s a great place to spend an afternoon people watching, or just relaxing at the beach with family.

The public beach is officially 900 feet in width although it’s difficult for even locals to see where the park really ends since the entire island has public beaches. Within a walk to the beach is a popular restaurant called Skinny’s that serves alcoholic drinks and concessions. Bring plenty of water and some snacks for children as the heat can quickly take its toll on active children. For more information call Manatee County Parks and Recreation Department at (941) 742-5923.

Larry

Meet Larry Chatt. Larry is the Broker/Owner of Island Real Estate – and has owned Anna Maria Island investment property while residing in New England, Ohio, Colorado, Iowa and across Europe. He and his family have been on the island for decades and Larry has served his community in various roles with the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce

May 6, 2008December 5, 2020

Anna Maria Quick Telephone References for Property Owners

This is a list of quick references for Island Real Estate owners in Manatee county, Florida, which includes but is not limited to, Anna Maria Island, North Longboat Key, and Bradenton.

Who to call if you see…

illegal dumping… (941) 792-8811 #4969
blockages in County maintained ditches and streams … (941) 708-7522
debris in minor roadside ditches …(941) 708-7497
Water main break …(941) 792-8811 #5268 or # 5216
sewer drainage or back up problem (941) 795-3411
building without permit … (941) 749-3047 Continue reading “Anna Maria Quick Telephone References for Property Owners”

Larry

April 30, 2008January 22, 2021

Baseball Softball Field Anna Maria Island

Enjoy the baseball softball field Anna Maria Island style. Get a baseball game going at Birdie Tebbetts Field in Holmes Beach on beautiful Anna Maria Island!

Baseball Softball Field Anna Maria Island

The baseball diamond is open to the public so anyone can hit the ball around. It’s always a good idea to stay flexible. Have an alternative plan in the case that the field is already in use.

Just South of the diamond, there’s a large open space. Play baseball or softball here too. There is a trolley stop very close to the baseball diamond. It’s located in front of the skate park, so you don’t have to drive or worry about a place to park.

Anna Maria Island boasts several large open areas and the public space in Holmes Beach is no exception. Just east of Marina Drive between 59th Street and 62nd Street there is a very large open space. This is also very close to the Island Real Estate Marina Drive location. In this area you will find the only public baseball or softball diamond on Anna Maria Island.

In summary, enjoy a ball game in Holmes Beach at 5901 Marina Drive!

Larry

April 26, 2008January 22, 2021

Anna Maria Island Surfing

Anna Maria Island surfing and wake boarding are popular pass time for locals and visitors alike.

Anna Maria Island Surfing Spots

Locals know the best surfing is off of the White Avenue beach access in the city of Anna Maria. The floor of the Gulf of Mexico offers very favorable surfing conditions. The surf isn’t world class, but on rough days all levels of surfers can be found on the beach. White Avenue becomes a hub of activity for Anna Maria. White Avenue does have some public parking. Find spots about 4-6 minutes walking distance from the access.

Additionally you can find great surfing in Bradenton Beach. Head to the area known as three piers just north of Coquina beach. Here you’ll find a few surfing quality waves.

Additionally, If your timing is really good you may get lucky enough to take part in a children’s surfing class. I have attached pictures of a surfing class that took part on White Avenue’s beach after about 2 straight days of above average surf in late July. Of course wake boarding can be good fun for all ages regardless of how high the surf is.

If you are an experienced surfer this link should help a bit more….

Larry

April 15, 2008August 8, 2023

Oma’s Restaurant Bradenton Beach – Pizza and Italian Classics

Oma’s restaurant Bradenton Beach is run by the Mannino family, and has been on Anna Maria Island since 1982. The owners origin is from Sicily so you may find the tomato sauce a little sweet. They serve beer and wine as well as normal beverages. Their claim to fame is pizza so give it a try if you have the time. Patience is the key at Oma’s as the meals and service can take a bit longer than usual.

They serve the normal Italian meals; ziti, chicken parmesan, spaghetti, meatballs, salads, sandwiches, and desserts. In the past few years their prices have become average for the island. However a pizza can be very economical for a larger family. If you are in the mood for Italian this is one of the better choices on Anna Maria Island. See their web site below where they offer their menu without prices.

Additionally, Oma’s does deliver on the island. This is great for a lazy lunch or dinner in your beach rental.

If you decide to dine in, there is also a lovely patio area. You can almost make out a sunset from the patio, and definitely enjoy gulf breezes. Oma’s has many booth seats indoors for a comfortable and relaxing spot to eat.

Want another great choice for pizza? Try The Feast!

Oma Pizza and Italian Restaurant
201 Gulf Drive North
Bradenton Beach, FL, 34217
(941) 778-0771
(941) 778-0772

Larry

April 11, 2008December 5, 2020

Birds Nesting Anna Maria Island – Spring is Here!

The spring nesting season is upon us here on Anna Maria Island. At the north end of the island, near Bean Point, and also in mid-Anna Maria. Where the beach is extremely wide and covered with small dunes and patches of beach grass, the seabirds are nesting.

Nesting shorebirds

Terns, black skimmers and sanderlings are sitting on their nests. Little scrapes in the sand are shorebird nests. Additionally, nest scrapes are very difficult to see. Often the Audubon Society comes out and ‘ropes off’ the nesting areas with skinny stakes and string to keep curious beach goers out of the area.

It’s very easy to scare a bird off its nest without even noticing that there os a nest. So, if you’re out walking at the north end of Anna Maria Island, please be careful.

The Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird monitoring is an excellent Anna Maria Island shorebird resource. This non-profit organization is responsible for turtle monitoring. In addition to their turtle efforts, AMITW tracks shorebird development each spring.

Larry

March 30, 2008December 11, 2020

Anatomy of an Anna Maria Sunset

Uh oh! Looks like these events are just fun memories now.

But don’t worry! There are tons of exciting activities and events taking place on Anna Maria Island all year long, every year!

Take a look at some of my favorites below:
Cortez Fishing Festival Blog
Halloween Events Blog
Local Art Events
Local Festivals

Larry

March 26, 2008July 18, 2022

Bradenton, FL Easter Egg Dash

If you have never witnessed 100’s of children running over a 100 feet to 36,000 Easter Eggs, come to Anna Maria Island for the Easter Egg Dash! Make the 10 minute drive out to G.T. Bray Park, in Bradenton, at 9:30am on Easter Sunday.

The Easter Egg Dash!

At G.T. Bray Park, in past years they have laid out 36,000 plastic Easter Eggs over 4 baseball fields. They usually categorize children by ages to ensure the fairest of play. The year we attended they had 10 grand prizes. The grand prize…a period of time in the Money booth. Whatever you catch is yours and believe me there were not coins in the money booth.

Along with the Easter Egg dash they brought the Easter Bunny! The large pirate ship is sure to get everyone ready for the dash. We also enjoyed the blow up play areas and prizes given out.

My son received a prize for smiling and saying “please.” If you just cannot wait until next year take a look at the pictures below. It just might get you through the year but I dare you not to smile when staring at the pure elation on the children’s faces running towards the thousands of Easter Eggs.

Another great spot to search for Easter Eggs is right on the beaches of Anna Maria Island. The Sandbar for an eternity has laid out hundreds of eggs out on the beach. If staying on the island for your vacation is more your style then the Sandbar Easter Egg hunt is a great choice. For a Anna Maria City vacation rental just a walk away try Anna Maria Beach Cottage on Magnolia.

Link to Easter Egg Dash You Tube Video

Larry

March 10, 2008January 4, 2022

Anna Maria Airport Transportation

Flights To Anna Maria Island Florida

If you need to fly to the area the choices are Tampa Airport (featured in image at top of page) or Sarasota Bradenton International airport. The Tampa airport is about an hour and a half drive from Anna Maria Island. Sarasota Bradenton Airport is about 45 minutes away.

Some less used airports to fly into are the St Petersburg/Clearwater airport. This one is about the same distance as the Tampa Airport. For international flights another alternative is one of two Orlando airports. Orlando also offers some very competitive airfares. The one way car trip takes about 2 hours in light traffic. Many guests also enjoy visiting Orlando for the theme parks.

Click the link for more information on transport services to Anna Maria Island from the Tampa International Airport or Sarasota/Bradenton Airports.

Travel to an Anna Maria Island rental by car

Traveling to an Anna Maria Island rental by vehicle is also a choice. Many guests come from with in Florida. Anna Maria Island also has many guest from Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. Many of these guests also travel by car. See below for estimated mileage from a few major North American cities.

Montreal, Quebec – 1550 Miles : Toronto, Ontario – 1400 Miles
Milwaukee, WI – 1300 Miles       : Chicago, IL – 1220 Miles
Syracuse, NY – 1325 Miles          : New York, NY – 1175 Miles
Boston, MA – 1420 Miles             : Pittsburgh, PA – 1075 Miles
Orlando, FL – 122 Miles               : Atlanta, GA – 500 Miles

Nearly all Anna Maria Island beach rentals offer wireless internet. Find information on Wireless Internet Hot-Spots on Anna Maria Island

Larry