The following is one person’s opinion of the best things when visiting Anna Maria Island –
Amusement Park: The Best Amusement Park to visit in the Summer – Busch Gardens. Sorry this is about 1.25 hours away but they have fabulous shade everywhere as well as misters. It takes the Florida Summer heat down a notch! Continue reading The A, B, C’s of Anna Maria Island – The Best of Anna Maria Island
This is our list of the top 6 Anna Maria Island Salons! There are several in each of our three cities, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach. We suggest you consider location, advertised prices, and size of the salon to choose the
spa/salon that best suits your expectations. Most Anna Maria Island salon’s can accommodate the normal requirements of weddings or special events too. What more would you expect from the wedding capital of Florida?
Anna Maria Island Salons
The perfect way to get pampered in paradise!
Salon Salon was voted “Reader’s Choice” for 2011! This salon offers makeup, hair, wedding up do’s, facials, massages and couple’s massages, and even hair extensions and eye lash extensions!
3612 East Bay Drive
Holmes Beach, FL 34217
941-778-0400
This is one of the most popular salons on Anna Maria Island, and they
offer a lot! They are a salon, spa and a store! They offer services for weddings, special events, hair design, skin care, nails, massage and body treatments, and they even have a men’s spa!
5311 Gulf Drive
Holmes Beach, FL 34217
941-778-5400
Anna Maria Island’s largest day spa! They offer massages, manicure and pedicures, signature island facials, hair cutting and styling (even bridal parties!), and they even offer daily yoga classes and acupuncture!
9805 Gulf Drive
Anna Maria, FL 34216
941-650-5441
This great salon offers hair services including styling, facials, manicures
and pedicures, makeup application, hair extensions, massages and wedding services!
5376 Gulf Drive
Holmes Beach, FL 34217
941¬778-2586
This salon is very unique with their tiki-tastic massages! You can enjoy a massage experience in your own private cabana hut right on the beach! They also offer indoor single and couples massages, pedicures and full body wraps!
112 Bridge Street
Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
941-779-6836
Aluna Offers four treatment rooms, a meditation room and a lovely zen garden and outdoor shower. This is all nestled just across the street from the Gulf of Mexico. Aluna Wellness Center and Spa is an eco-friendly holistic center specializing in acupuncture, massage, wellness treatment and organic skin care. Enjoy Saturday morning beach yoga, reservations needed.
2219 Gulf Drive North
Bradenton Beach, Fl 34217
941-778-8400
Happy Pampering!
1. The Fish Hole Miniature Golf-An 18 hole golf course located on Historic Bridge Street. They have a koi pond that the kids will love to feed! Open 7 days!
115 Bridge Street
Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
(941) 778-3388
2. Anna Maria Bay Front Park– This is a great family friendly park which offers a playground, grills, picnic tables. There is a bay beach as well with views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and Egmont Key. There are public restrooms and showers to wash off the sand!
316 North Bay Blvd
Anna Maria City, FL 34212
3. Two Scoops Ice Cream Parlor– They offer sundaes, ice cream cones, cookies & candy or you can grab lunch, sandwiches, hotdogs & chips!
101 South Bay Blvd
Anna Maria City, FL 34216
(941) 779-2422
4. Anna Maria Island Community Center-The Center has so many programs and activities for kids, teens and adults too!
407 Magnolia Ave
Anna Maria City, FL 34216
(941) 778-1908
5. South Florida Museum-This great museum located in Downtown Bradenton has Bishop Planetarium and Parker Manatee Aquarium all under one roof! You must see Snooty; he is the oldest known manatee!
201 10th St. West
Bradenton, FL 34205
(941) 746-4131
6. Eternal Summer Surf Camp-This is fantastic, free program offered in the summer. Every Sunday beginning July 4th, there is a 2 hour instructional class for children 14 and under. Did I mention it’s free?
Located at the beach on White Avenue
7. Mote Marine Laboratory-You can explore the sea through the touch pools, viewable-working labs and interactive exhibits. See sharks, dolphins, manatees and sea turtles, along with more than 100 other species of marine life.
1600Ken Thompson Parkway
Sarasota, FL 34236
(941) 388-4441
8. Clearwater Marine Aquarium– This is a great family day trip to Clearwater. The aquarium is the official home of the Dolphin Winter, star of the new blockbuster movie, Dolphin Tale!
249 Windward Passage
Clearwater, FL 33767
(727) 441-1790
9. De Soto National Park-This national park teaches the local history through a hands-on exhibit and re-enactments for the young and old. Pack a picnic and you can explore the nature trail!
8300 De Soto Memorial Hwy
Bradenton, FL 34209
(941) 792-0458 ext. 105
10. GO TO THE BEACH!
Top Ten Things To Do!
1) Go for a bike ride along Coquina Beach.
2) Spend the day at Myakka River State Park walk the trails and watch the aligators. Continue reading Top Ten Things To Do During Your Visit To Anna Maria Island
From beach café’s to fine dining Anna Maria Island has it all! I took the Free Anna Maria Island Trolley around the island in search of my top ten favorite restaurants. I found that I like almost every restaurant on Anna Maria Island, and here are my top ten…
Continue reading Jason’s Top Ten Restaurants On Anna Maria Island…
1) Have lunch at Tortilla Bay after….
2) Shopping at Irene’s – the only island Brighton retailer!
3) Watch the sunset at Café on the Beach on a Friday night
4) Take a photo of friends inside the Anna Maria City Jail
5) Split a banana split at Joe’s Eats and Sweets
6) Visit one of America top beaches and spend the day on Siesta Key beach.
7) See a movie at Burns Court – independently owned theater in Sarasota that shows independent and interesting films
8) Trivia night on Tuesdays at Lakewood Ranch Beef O Bradys!
9) Sarasota Main Street Friday nights Art Walk – galleries open late and all local artists showing their work
10) St. Armand’s Circle Walk – start at the South end for dinner at Tommy Bahamas and end of the 360 gets you at Kilwins for ice cream!
Anna Maria Island – Amy is an Island resident and vacation specialist at Island Real Estate. Here is her list of things to do when visiting Anna Maria Island. From the beach to the attractions, there is always something fun and new to experience across Anna Maria Island’s three cities! Try out some of Amy’s suggestions, and enjoy your time spent on Anna Maria Island.
10) Go to miniature golf on Bridge Street
9 ) While on Bridge Street go to Bridge Tender for lunch
8) Walk out on the Bridge Street pier
7) Ice cream at Joe’s Eat’s and Sweet’s
6) Walk to the beach for a sunset with your ice cream
5) Kayak in Robinson’s Preserve
4) Eat or visit the Rod n’ Reel restaurant
3) Visit or have a picnic at Bay Front Park
2) Dine at the Star Fish Restaurant
1) Rent or take a boat out in the Gulf of Mexico or Tampa Bay
1. Lay out in the sun is the top thing I’d do!!!
2. Karaoke out on Siesta Key Captain Curts
3. Dinner at Waterfront Restaurant
4. Site seeing on Mystic Dolphin
5. Deep sea fishing – Used to use Flying Fish Fleet before they moved to Marina Jack’s in Sarasota
6. Mote Marine
7. Shopping at St. Armand’s Circle
8. Dinner at the Columbia House Restaurant on St. Armand’s
9. Ride the Trolley with no set destination
10. Breakfast and coffee at Ginny and Jane E’s
I found this very difficult because there are so many beautiful sunsets on Anna Maria Island and I was there with my camera snapping away.
These are like my children and it is not easy to kick any out. They all are such creations and for that I do not take the credit. I do love sharing them with you and especially to the visitors who are here maybe only a few weeks out of the year. This allows you to catch the sunset on Anna Maria on a weekly basis. It is my hope that you will get busy on your keyboard and click on each picture to enlarge them. That way you get details to help you make your selection. I want you to comment on your favorite and I will then try to narrow it down to the top ten. I would prefer for my viewers to select your favorite sunset. I can view sunsets every night but I post them for your enjoyment and pleasure. Please select and then enjoy the sunset!!
Written by Melinda Bordes ~ 941-705-0146 ~ Whether buying or selling real estate on Anna Maria Island or surrounding areas I can assist you with all of your real estate needs. Wouldn’t a condo for Christmas be a great gift under the tree? Please enjoy the photos below and let me know your favorites!
Photo Gallery
Paradise needs to have a rainy day or two. If you are unfortunate enough to catch a rainy day while on Anna Maria Island there is still plenty to do. Most things to do on a rainy day are off the island in Bradenton, FL however it is just a short drive away. Most area attractions off Anna Maria Island can be found on Manatee Avenue or Cortez road. Below is our top six things to do while enduring a rainy day on Anna Maria.
Just off Anna Maria Island in Bradenton you can find Bowling. Only 15 minutes from Anna Maria, FL you will find open bowling just of Cortez. Visit our Florida Bowling Blog for more information.
Go take in the latest big screen movie. The Oakmont Theater is a newly renovated theater just of Cortez only 15 minutes from Anna Maria Island. There you will find all the normal requirements necessary to enjoy the latest blockbuster of a movie. Popcorn, reclining seats, hot dogs, candy, soda, everything you need to gain those extra 5 lbs needed to ensure you were on a true vacation.
Go work out at one of many local fitness centers. At the time of this blog there are two fitness centers on Anna Maria Island. One is located in Anna Maria City and Holmes Beach, Fl. Both have plenty of equipment to ensure you have plenty to do to keep the calories burning. The Anna Maria City fitness center is about half the size while the Holmes Beach fitness center has more room as well as double the cardio equipment.
Go out to anyone of our fabulous restaurants on Anna Maria island. Obviously outdoor seating will not work well under rainy circumstances but there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. Whether it be a breakfast or lunch just to catch up or a 5 course meal your are sure to find plenty of choices on or off Anna Maria Island.
Go relax and read a good book or catch up on the latest magazine gossip or news at the Holmes Beach City Library. For a small amount you can become a member of the library. Of course you only need a library card if you plan to take books, CD’s, or DVD’s home for review there. It’s absolutely free to use the 8 computers they have on site with Internet as well as use their Internet hub for your laptop. They have an amazing collection of DVD’s, VHS movies, as well as some recent publications for self help or the latest novel you have been looking to read. The children’s area has plenty of books, games, a computer for their use as well as soft plush toys to play with.
Pamper yourself with a spa day. Anna Maria Island enjoys many “full meal deal” spas that can accommodate your every whim. Massage, pedicure, hair, sea wraps, you name it. Anna Maria City, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach boasts several spa choices to choose from. In addition there are several individuals that will come to your vacation rental and give you a massage in your accommodations. Perhaps on a covered beach front patio? It’s a bit tough to schedule a rainy day in paradise but you should be able to plan your spa day last minute as there are plenty of choices on Anna Maria Island.
The benefit of a beach rental is the feeling of being in a home, and not just a hotel room. Many of the Island Real Estate beach rentals offer great amenities and activities. During your visit you may find DVD players, board games, books and wireless internet to keep you entertained. Some beach rentals also come equipped with ping pong, billiards or Foosball!
Rainy days make you want to curl up on the couch and nap. What better place to do that than in a luxury beach rental?
