Anna Maria Island Trip Report 04/05/08 - 04/12/08

04/05/08 – 04/12/08 Trip Report

My family recently returned from our first trip to Anna Maria Island. We have three children; two boys ages 9 and 4 and one daughter age 8. We all loved the Island and hope to return in the future.

We reserved unit 233 at North Bay Village in Holmes Beach online through Gulf Bay Realty of Anna Maria. We arrived on the Island late the evening of April 5th and picked up our unit keys, etc. at Gulf Bay Realty’s drop box on Gulf Drive. Upon arrival, we were very pleased to find unit 233 as described and pictured online. The two bedrooms located on the second floor of the unit allowed the kids to sleep while my wife and I watched television, talked, etc. without having to worry about keeping the kids awake. The master bedroom on the first floor, which contains a king sized bed, master bathroom and walk-in closet, was very comfortable. The large dining table sat 8 comfortably. Most impressive, the unit’s garage was very well stocked with beach toys, beach chairs, beach umbrellas and a beach wagon, which we used on a daily basis to haul all of the equipment to the beach. The beach access is located between 64th and 65th avenues, and was only a three-minute walk with our 4 year old.

My family’s favorite activities included the following activities--

1) Multiple daily trips to the beach to swim, boogie board, make sand castles, bury one another in the warm sand, take walks, watch the evening sun sets and watch frolicking dolphins, which we regularly sited swimming adjacent to the beach, often swimming very close to the beach while riding across the breaking waves.

2) Watching the kids try to catch geckos (lizards) with their small nets just outside the condo.

3) Renting fishing equipment and trying to catch something at the Rod and Reel Pier, particularly the day the dolphins were chasing a school of Jack, which would occasionally swim under the fishing pier and create some real excitement for everyone fishing.

4) Walking out on the Rod and Reel Pier and City Pier to watch others fish and taking in the beautiful scenery.

5) Driving across the bridge that connects Anna Maria Island to Long Boat Key and looking out over both sides of the bridge at the beautiful blue-green shades of water and witnessing the boaters, swimmers and fisherman enjoying themselves.

6) Riding the Anna Maria Island Trolley round-trip while sitting in the back section in the seats with open windows.

7) Taking an eco-tour boat ride with Captain Kathe and having the opportunity to view the contents of a crab trap after Captain Kathe hauled up one of her friend’s traps; viewing crabs, sea urchins, conch and other interesting critters both underwater and above-water after Captain Kathe jumped overboard with her net and brought samples to the surface in water-filled containers, seeing nesting blue heron and learning about the grouper fishing industry at Cortez Village.

8) Visiting Myakka State Park and taking the Alligator Boat tour of the lake. We saw lots of alligators.

9) Visiting the Mote Aquarium and having the opportunity to see Manatees and Sharks up close. The shark experience movie was great. The docents, who appeared to consist primarily of local retirees, were extremely knowledgeable and passionate about approaching our kids to explain the particular exhibits they were viewing at the time.

10) Everyone in the family purchasing and wearing a souvenir fossilized shark’s tooth necklace during the trip.

Here is a list of the area restaurants that we sampled, along with some brief comments on each:

1) Café on the Beach: We loved this place. We had the all you can eat pancakes our first morning. The view, of both the beach and the other people enjoying the Café, was extraordinary and the food was good. We came back later in the week to try some of the menu items. Also good. Don’t miss the fresh squeezed orange juice.

2) Rod and Reel Pier: Good and reasonable grub with extraordinary views. This is where we had our first of many Grouper Rueben sandwiches. What a tasty concept.

3) Sandbar: What a view! We came for lunch on our last day just to take in the view one more time. The food was good and not overpriced. My wife and I tended to share a sandwich and salad, and the kids enjoyed sharing Calamari or Popeye shrimp. The kids menu was also very reasonable, $5.00 or under, considering the popularity of the restaurant. Make sure you arrive early, as table wait times can be long at predictable times of the day.

4) Beach House: We had a late night dinner outside, so we were not able to experience the full beach/ocean view. The food was good, but I preferred the menu at the Sandbar, which has the same ownership.

5) Star Fish Company in Cortez: Very good and reasonably priced seafood baskets. I had my favorite soft shell crab sandwich here.

6) Cortez Kitchen: Also good and accepts VISA. I preferred the ambiance at the Star Fish Company.

7) Banana Cabana: We ate here for dinner after trying to get a dinner table at the Sandbar, which was a two-hour wait at the time. Instead, we took in the sunset north of the Sandbar Restaurant and then headed to Banana Cabana. We were not impressed with this restaurant. The food was just okay and very overpriced compared to the other restaurants we visited, particularly the kid’s menu items, which averaged $10.00 per item versus the more typical $5.00 at other Island restaurants. The coconut shrimp tasted like it was previously frozen and from a box. The service was also very poor, with only one server working the night of our visit. I would recommend taking a pass on this restaurant, but that’s just my opinion based on a single visit.

8) Ginny’s %26amp; Jane E’s: We had breakfast here our last morning. What an eclectic place! They sell bakery and other items at the back counter of a furniture store. The restaurant seating area tables and chairs are all for sale. It’s a hoot and good food. Don’t miss the crème-brule french toast.

9) Joes Eats and Sweets: This was our favorite ice cream shop on the Island. It has the best flavors and best seating areas, both inside and outside on a raised deck. It was fun to come hear at night after dinner to watch the Island-roving young packs of kids out and about on their own without parents. Don’t miss the chocolate covered bananas. I have to learn to make those at home. I’m in withdrawal.

10) Duffy’s: Good burgers and cheap beer, but we still managed to spend close to $40.00 with young kids.

11) Shells: My wife and I ordered take out fish tacos here one night when the kids requested Subway sandwiches. The tacos were pretty good and reasonable.

In all, my family had a great time during our vacation on Anna Maria Island. We would all welcome the opportunity to return to the Island very soon.

Anna Maria Island Trip Report 04/05/08 - 04/12/08

WOW, now this is what I call a trip report! I loved reading this report, I didnt want it to end!

You and your family definately ';got'; the island and what it is all about. It seems like the things you liked the most about Anna Maria Island were the ';free'; things like watching your children bury one another in the sand, riding across the waves and watching the dolphins frolicking. You guys did so much, what an experience, well done!

I%26#39;m really glad you took the ride across the bridge to Cortez, a lot of people do not do this and I think it ties the island history together when you see the old fishing village and how people are still making a living in that area.

I love all the places you commented on and wish I were there right now enjoying a beer and a burger at Duffy%26#39;s, werent they tasty?

I%26#39;m sorry about Banana Cabana, I want to like this eatery but I never recommend it because I have given it a couple of chances and it just didnt work out for me. Next time, and I am sure there will be one, visit the SunHouse and Bridgetender, I think you will like both of these places.

Thanks again for such a positive and uplifting review.

Anna Maria Island Trip Report 04/05/08 - 04/12/08

Great trip report. Thanks for sharing.

For a first timer, you sure did your research. Sounds like you navigated the island like a local. Fortunately you have many more things to do and see on the island for future trips.

RustyKat,

Thank you for your reply. Thanks also for your regular experience-based contributions to this forum.

When I started researching things to do during our trip to AMI, I found that AMI references were very scarce in Florida vacation guide books. As a result, I turned to the Internet to find travel writers%26#39; stories on AMI and Tripadvisor AMI forum postings. I downloaded and printed 36 pages of the best AMI stories and Tripadvisor forum postings to take along on our vacation for reference purposes. RustyKat Tripadvisor forum contributions were by far the most numerous postings contained in my ';guidebook.'; Thanks in particular for your Cortez Fishing Village and Captain Kathe recommendations.

It%26#39;s people like you, who take the time to share their passion for AMI, who help both ';first-timers'; like my family and repeat visitors get the most out of their vacation to AMI.

Thanks again.

Kasitsna

Kasitsna - Thank you so much for those words, it means a lot to me to know that my efforts are appreciated. I really enjoy helping people and sharing the island with families like yours. AMI has been a big part of my life for many years. As a child my family would spend every summer on the island and it continued to be my favorite place as I grew older. We are very fotunate that we live so close and can make many weekend trips through the year.

Come back as soon as you can, there is more to see.