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Anna Maria Island
Anna Maria Island. Where toddlers spend hours at the beach digging for tiny sea clams and teens snorkel until they have practically become one with the creatures of the sea.
A place that has perfected the fine art of doing, well…..nothing but soaking in the
relaxing, slightly intoxicating aura the island exudes.
An 8-mile barrier island, on the Gulf of Mexico, Anna Maria Island actually is three
towns: the municipality of Anna Maria in the north, Bradenton Beach in the south,
and Holmes Beach sandwiched in-between. It sits about an hour from St. Petersburg
and 40 minutes from Sarasota. The City of Anna Maria, perhaps the most laid back
of the three municipalities on Anna Maria Island, has been popular as a vacation
retreat since the early 1900’s when it was first developed by Charles Roser, the inventor
of the Fig Newton, who made his fortune when he sold his recipe to Nabisco. However,
the entire island is a bit of Old Florida surrounded on three sides by water. It is
characterized by broad sweeping expanses of sugary-white sand beaches overlooking
the Gulf of Mexico to the west and quaint fishing piers overlooking Tampa Bay to
the east. Towering condos and fast-food chains are noticeably absent from the island
and dinners are often fried grouper sandwiches served in a café at the beach. Afterwards,
the crowds gather for sunset-watching from the rickety piers, a defining island ritual.
And, if you’re lucky, spotting a dolphin or two.
On weekend nights, couples in shorts and t-shirts sit at the bar at the Rod & Reel Pier,
eating fresh fish specials and drinking beers with the salty fishermen. Other weekenders
head to Decoy Ducks’ to listen to the resident band. On mornings, people browse the
antiques at Ginny’s Garden Party and stream into Jane E’s for coffee, scones, and wireless internet connections. Many residents are families with young children, so
weekend soccer teams, surfing tournaments, and art & craft fairs are well attended.
Annual rituals are also honored. Each summer, there’s a big turnout for the July 4th
Parade through the island streets and the Fall Festival, which is a fundraiser for the
Island’s award winning elementary school.
Although truly a laid-back, family friendly place, the island has, in the past few years,
clearly been discovered by an affluent set more typically associated with the well-heeled
crowd on Longboat key, it’s island neighbor to the south. Homes here now exude a
unique blending of elegance and eclectric “Old Florida” charm. Even small cottages sell
for about a half-million dollars these days.
ese days.
Anna Maria City
Anna Maria Island is the northernmost in a thin ribbon of barrier beach islands that lines
the Gulf Coast. Located 35 miles south of Tampa Bay and 12 miles north of Sarasota Florida,
Anna Maria Island comprises three very unique villages, Anna Maria on the northern tip,
Holmes Beach in the middle and Bradenton Beach on the southern tip.
Pass the days watching the dolphins play while pelicans bob in the water like little brown
sailboats. Join the island natives for a nightly ritual of walking the beach as the sun sets.
With a seven mile coastline, a temperature averaging 84 degrees and 361 days of sunshine per
year, Anna Maria Island is Florida's best kept secret.
For vacationers, Sato Real Estate provides access to many diverse Anna Maria properties.
Whether you're looking for the ultimate couple's paradise on the beach or a family-friendly
home close to shopping, bike rentals and waterfront restaurants, you can find it here.
New properties are added daily, so visit us or our website often to find your own perfect
beach house vacation!
Allow us to help you plan your ideal beach vacation.
Holmes Beach
Bradenton Beach
Bradenton
Palmetto
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