"Fast food not included" Top 5 Page for this destination Anna Maria Island by hundertmorgen

Anna Maria Island Travel Guide: 27 reviews and 59 photos

This 12 km long island is located along the gulf of Mexico north of Sarasota. The three small towns Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach with their snow-white sand beaches invites you to recover with the aquatic sport, tennis, fish and cycling. Narrow streets wriggle through a tropical green scenery. It’s very pleasant that on the whole island you won’t find a fast food restaurant, but great other locations. People on Anna Maria esteem calmness and sereneness.

The town Anna Maria is located in the north of the island and exists above all of single-family houses with a few business. Holmes Beach has the most inhabitants and could beware a provincial town character in spite of vast residential areas, shopping centers, small enterprises and motels. A provincial town with space for peacocks.
In Bradenton Beach you find more hotels than dwelling houses, because the island is very narrow at this point and the beach is used by two sides (gulf of Mexico and bay of Sarasota).

HISTORY: Anna Maria Island was discovered - like so many other places - in the gulf of Mexico around 1530 by spanish sailors, who hit on Timucuan Indian. The only thing people know about these early inhabitants is that they were very big and persevering combatants. At the beginning of 20th century George Emerson Bean and the Anna Maria Beach Company pursued the economic development of the island. Before 1921 Anna Maria Island could be visited only by boat, because the Cortez bridge wasn’t constructed yet. Thus the boats landed on the Anna Maria City Pier, which was built in the 1910 and lies at the end of the Pine Avenue to the Tampa Bay. In the 50s the Manatee avenue bridge came as the second connecting bridge. In last decades the island has attracted visitors, businessmen and new citizens from all over the world.

Last visit to Anna Maria Island: Sep 2003
Intro Updated Nov 26, 2003
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Reviews (9)

Manatee at Mote Aquarium - Anna Maria Island

Mote Aquarium Things to Do (5)

Get up close and personal with local sea creatures in Mote Aquarium's "Contact Cove". Meet Molly Mollusk, a 25-foot... more travel advice

Daytrip - St. Petersburg / Habour - Anna Maria Island

Daytrip - St. Petersburg / Habour Things to Do (5)

Although St. Petersburg was founded on the edge of Tampa Bay, the city struggled for decades to make its waterfront... more travel advice

Daytrip - St. Petersburg / Salvador Dalí Museum - Anna Maria Island

Daytrip - St. Petersburg / Salvador Dalí... Things to Do (5)

This is absolutly the best exhibition of Dalí I have seen yet! YOU MUST SEE IT!!! "I believe that I am the savior of... more travel advice

view from "The Pier" - Anna Maria Island

Daytrip - St. Petersburg / The Pier Shopping (1)

Feast on everything from local seafood to international fare in settings rich with elegance or rustic charm. The Pier on... more travel advice

Hotels (1)
50's motel with "Old Island Flair"
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Comments (10)

holly39 Feb 24, 2006 at 4:49 PM Report Abuse

hey i lived in bradenton for 6 years before moving back to ohio, love the island. my brother, sister, and mom still live there so i do visit alot.
jolou Jan 24, 2005 at 1:45 PM Report Abuse

Nice photos :o)
Constanza Feb 25, 2004 at 11:59 AM Report Abuse

Amazing Page, Sandra! I´ll start planing my trip to this Island.
PA2AKgirl Feb 25, 2004 at 10:58 AM Report Abuse

Another very nice page! Love the manatee picture as well as the body painting seminar pic:)
850prc Feb 19, 2004 at 5:11 AM Report Abuse

Sandra, I'm glad you had a great time in my home state of Florida. Very nice page. Also, happy birthday. Greetings from Tallahassee, Florida!
pepples46 Jan 15, 2004 at 5:56 PM Report Abuse

fast food would dampen my enjoyment at a place like this I like Islands
doreenellen Dec 1, 2003 at 12:43 PM Report Abuse

Loved this little island, (only had flying visit) so quiet, calm and delightful. You have some wonderful photos on this page
salinhopt Dec 1, 2003 at 12:33 PM Report Abuse

Anna Maria Island looks great Sandra! Loved your pictures. I'm an island fan! :))) Keep the good work!
Todd64 Nov 30, 2003 at 8:55 AM Report Abuse

Great updates,...looks like a fun vacation. Sun, sand, a #2 brush and a marvelous Mollusk; what more could someone need? Haley's is still the coolest! :)
Waalewiener Sep 15, 2003 at 9:45 PM Report Abuse

Great looking Motel and great looking Art Sandra small but good page ,see you soon