Anna Maria Island/Longboat Key

[TinkOhio]

We will be staying on Anna Maria Island for a few days over the Easter break and are looking for ideas of what to do, where to visit (within a one hour drive), and where to eat. If you have any ideas or favorites to share, we would be very grateful! Of course, we would especially like to hear about saving money while doing these things.

TIA for any help!

 

[Tiggerish]

Here is a link to the manatee viewing station a short drive from the island. It is open until April 15th.

http://tampaelectric.com/company/mvc/

There is also a free trolley that goes around the island.

http://www.annamariaislandchamber.org/VisitUs/SavetheTrolley.aspx

Also there are fishing piers which even if you are not fishing is neat to walk out on and watch the fishing.

There are three piers on Anna Maria Island that offer saltwater fishing. One is the Historic Anna Maria City Pier, the Historic Bridge Street Pier, and the Rod and Reel Pier. The City Pier and the Rod and Reel offer shopping and dining as well as fishing, and the Bridge Street Pier is a historical place to visit, showing the end of an old bridge that used to connect mainland Florida to the island.

 

[Tiggerish]

Do not know how I forgot this place in my other post, Mote Marine. It is very easy to get to from Anna Marie.

http://www.mote.org/index.php?submenu=Home&src=

 

[swilshire]

We visited the Big Red Barn in Bradenton twice to buy veggies and just browse around. It is huge.

We also spent an evening (arriving at 5 PM for discounted tickets) at the Ringling Museums. The Circus Museum is incredible.

We dined at the Sand Bar, as always. They have expanded and the sand has been restored so it is closer to the restaurant than it was in years past. Nice to walk on while you wait for a table.

We had a great week there. You won't have trouble staying busy.

Sheila

 

[TnTWalter]

All you can eat Pancake Breakfast @ Beach Cafe.

Skip dinner @ Sandbar; if you want to go there, just get drinks and apps. Or just hit the beach there. It's a great place to spend the afternoon and watch sunset.

Try all the different beaches.

Duffy's Burgers.

Two Scoops Icecream.

Oma's Pizza.

there's a new made to order donut shop on Pine Ave...anna maria donuts. sounds delish.

Head into Cortez Village, explore and grab fresh seafood dine in or take home and grill. Star Fish.

Check when the Turtle Watch is going out. They look in mornings for eggs and then set up flags, etc. to protect them. You learn about turtles, etc. It's a volunteer organizations. Free but they take donations.
http://islandturtlewatch.com/

Grab a meal at Rod n Reel and Fish from the pier there [they rent poles and have bait, etc.].

Ride the trolley.

Catch a sunset every night.

Enjoy.

 

[Keacc]

Take a segway tour. Lots of fun and easy to ride.
http://segsbythesea.com/tours.html

 

[v.t.]

The kids loved fishing off the Rod n Reel pier. It was pretty cheap and I think the youngest fished for free.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

Mote Marine is kinda pricey for what you get. If you have a membership at any other zoo/aquarium show them your membership for possible discounts. Our zoo membership gets us in for free.

So look around St Armands Circle, from AMI take Gulf Drive all the way down Longboat Key and you will end up at St Armands. The best place to eat is Columbia. get the half and half, half cuban, half 1095 salad.

You can walk around Marina Jacks and Ringling grounds too.

On AMI, there is the Beach House has a big outdoor patio. I like the Rod & Reel better at the north point of AMI.

Other than Anna Maria Beach, Coquina Beach, and Lido Beach. My fav is Siesta Key. The earlier you get there the better. You'll have more luck finding a parking spot next to the tennis court/pizza shack. The sand is like powdered sugar, but can get VERY hot on the pathways through the dunes.

Where are ya'll staying? Bradenton is my hometown, even though my parents live there, sometimes we stay out on AMI at Tortuga Inn.

 

[lillygator]

Because our weather has been so nice Siesta has been packed lately. If you have a car i would suggest going to Crescent beach - it's near the "wall" on Siesta the parking and beach access is across from Captain Curt's/Siesta Market.

My inlaws live on Anna Maria....I agree about food at the beach house....but they do have new outdoor tiki huts on the beach, fun to grab a drink.

Selby Gardens
Mote Marine
Ringling Museum
Trolley around AMI
St Armand's Circle

 

[TinkOhio]

Thanks so much for all the help! We're renting a cottage at Tradewinds. We're used to Disney and the east coast, so a small place on the Gulf sounds great!

 

[Pembo]

AMI is my favorite place!
Have breakfast at Ginny and Jane E's.

Eat at the City Pier. Enjoy long walks on the beach. You can fish with their equipment at the pier. Check out the AMI jail and historic things. There are lots of little shopping places.

We visited Cortez this year and it was very fun.

This year we stayed close to the island as we were there as TS Debbie was beginning to visit. AMI is beautiful. (See my avatar).

 

[donna111]

Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez - free, donations accepted
Manatee Village Historical Park in Bradenton - free, donations accepted
Fire & Stone Pizza in Cortez - $7.49 for an all you care to eat artisan pizza buffet, which includes a 20+ item salad bar and a soft drink and an ice cream sundae.
Many, many free beaches and parking for great swimming and shell collecting and stay for the sunset!
Have a wonderful time!

 

[wiigirl]

Take a segway tour. Lots of fun and easy to ride.
http://segsbythesea.com/tours.html

We did that once, didnt think I would like it, but I LOVED it.

 

[TinkOhio]

Thanks for all of the help! I'm bumping to see if there ar any more sggestions.

 

[bearzabout]

I second Star Fish on Cortez just off Anna Maria island. Go for an early lunch and be patient. One hour waits for food are typical. Their fried shrimp and fish sandwiches are fantastic, served right on the fish market's dock.

If you have never had Florida Sone Crab Claws, you must try them. Moores on the north end of Longboat specialize in them, but they are expensive.

The art museum at Ringling is free on Mondays. They always have a special exhibit that makes a visit worth while.

Go to St Armand's Circle on Lido Key at least once. The 1905 salad at the Columbia is legendary and that with a half Cuban sandwich is under $10 at lunch.

Sarasota has a red tide warning right now. Make sure to check the status of the outbreak before heading to the beach. The toxins can make breathing thE air uncomfortable and affect the seafood harvest.

Anna Maria Beach Bar at the beautiful Holmes Beach has a very popular all you can eat fish fry on Friday nights.

If you are into gardens, Selby in Sarasota is fabulous. At least stop into their gift shop for free to admire hundreds of blooming orchids.

 

[HeatherFeather]

Another shameless plug for the TECO Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach. I am a volunteer docent there and it is a wonderful place and 100% free. No charge for admission or parking. There are picnic tables there so you can bring your lunch to enjoy at the center. We also have a small education center/museum as well as a small snack bar and gift store. All profits from gift store and snack bar go back into improving the center.

Be sure to walk down the tidal walk as well as the viewing platform. We never know what we are going to see out there besides manatees. There are almost always some smaller sharks, tarpon, stingrays, and various gulf fish in the canal. Of course, wherever there are fish there will also be shore birds, pelicans, egrets, etc. You will probably see hoards of tiny fiddler crabs but I've also occasionally seen a horseshoe crab and blue crab.

We also have a very nice butterfly garden and butterfly exhibit with monarch caterpillars in various stages of chrysalis. I actually search the garden for the caterpillars, put them in the enclosure with milkweed, and once they hatch and the wings are dry release them back into the garden. If you are lucky, you may actually see a butterfly hatch.

One word of warning though, if it has been very very warm there may be very few manatees in the canal. They are only in there for heat when the bay is below about 68 degrees. Last Wednesday there were only two manatees that I saw in the canal.

 

[Jridou]

One of our favorite spring breaks ever! We rented a house on the Northern tip and spent most of the days either by our pool or on the beach. Don't miss the sunsets!

Our fave restaurant was Rod & Reel, we waited a few hours but were perfectly content sitting on the pier with a pitcher of beer from the bar downstairs watching the manatees and dolphins. We also liked Hurricane Hanks. We felt safe enough to let our 10,12 & 13 year olds take the trolley around the island by themselves (they only got off for ice cream)

We had one iffy day weather-wise, and we went to this orange grove which also had a wildlife sanctuary, I can't remember the name. It was fun, but if the weather had been better, we would have preferred the beach.

Have fun!

 

[Beauty & the Best]

I live in Sarasota, so we're right in your vacation area.

Check out the South Florida Museum in Bradenton - you can see Snooty the manatee (he turns 65 in June!) And definitely the Ringling.
For some time outside and seeing how this area was discovered by the Spanish, check out Desoto Monument. It is educational and free!

Robinson Preserve is a great place to rent kayaks or just have a walk around - waterfront and very nice way to see the vegetation and wildlife of the area.

I like the Beachhouse for waterfront dining. Also renting bikes is a good idea.

Hope you enjoy your time in Southwest FL!

 

[Braden's Momma]

I live in Sarasota, so we're right in your vacation area.

Check out the South Florida Museum in Bradenton - you can see Snooty the manatee (he turns 65 in June!) And definitely the Ringling.
For some time outside and seeing how this area was discovered by the Spanish, check out Desoto Monument. It is educational and free!

Robinson Preserve is a great place to rent kayaks or just have a walk around - waterfront and very nice way to see the vegetation and wildlife of the area.

I like the Beachhouse for waterfront dining. Also renting bikes is a good idea.

Hope you enjoy your time in Southwest FL!

Pretty sure snooty is who my dad used to take care of when he lived on the island! I did not know he was still around!

 

[TinkOhio]

We'll be there in a few days, so I'm bumping this thread up for any last suggestions. Just called the manatee viewing center and was told there are lots of manatees because of the chilly weather.