Miniature Golf Course “Fish Hole” on Historic Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach

A round of golf is $7.50 per person for both adults and kids, and there are $1 off coupons available.

They have clubs for all heights from children to tall adults, and if you need a break, you can rest in one of their colorful rocking chairs. They also have party packages that are great for birthday celebrations and family get togethers.
Try it out and (to use The Fish Hole slogan) “get hooked”!

For more ideas and other great activities on the Island visit our Anna Maria Island Blog.

The Fish Hole
115 Bridge Street
Bradenton Beach, Fl 34217
Phone (941) 778-3400
Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

All information as of January 2010. Please call to verify.

Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce – February Music Festival

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce is firing up their Friday Festivals right on schedule.  If you have never made it to a Friday “Fest” you are missing a real treat.  The first Anna Maria Friday Festival of 2010 is scheduled for Friday February 19, 2010.   The time starts at 3 PM and the Music and vendors stop at 10 PM.

The Festival is held up on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria City at the EAST end by the public pier.  Most folks park on Pine Avenue as they find a spot traveling EAST along Pine Avenue.  There is some serious parking at the church and the market across from the Roser church on Pine Avenue.

The Friday Festivals held by the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce are always a good time because there are lots of arts and crafts booths as well as food booths to wet your appetite with our local flavors of food.  The Chamber offers alcohol to patrons.  I have been told by many it’s the coldest beer you can find on a Friday night at just $3.00 for a good size beer.  There is also white and red wines available as well as in the past a mixed drink like a rum-runner.  While you are having some great eats you can listen to some great local bands with live music.  The best of all – the EVENT is FREE.  Yes, it is FREE.

So if you are an Anna Maria Island Visitor or live here year long it is a fabulous event for young and old.  Go check out some great live music outside with the Tampa Bay in the background at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Friday Festival.

Be careful, if you are a visitor you may never go back and don’t worry, if you have to miss the Friday festival in FEB there are plenty more throughout the entire year!

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce presents:
Island Music Festival    FRIDAY FEST
Date: Friday February 19, 2010        Time: 3pm to 10pm
Location: Pine Ave & Bay Blvd     Village of Anna Maria

Featuring: Koko Ray & The Soul Providers and Bootleg

Proceeds to benefit The AMI Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund; Participating Island Businesses and Local Not for Profit Agencies.  If you are interested in participating in future Friday Festivals as a music venue, craft booth, or eatery just email the Chamber of Commerce.

For a location of the event see the map below and it is on the NORTH WEST corner of Pine Avenue and Bay Blvd.

View Friday Festival in a larger map

Movies on the cheap, Desoto Dollar Movie Theater

Are you looking for a place to go that is air conditioned and has great entertainment on the cheap?  Desoto Dollar movie theater is the right place for you!  The Bradenton Dollar movie theater is just a short fifteen minute drive from Anna Maria island, Fl.  It makes for a great family outing on a day where you are looking for a break from the sun at the beach or if it is a rainy day.

The movies are not new releases but they do tend to have a great selection of kids movies as well as movies for the big kids.   Unfortunately, there is no website for the Desoto Movie theater so either call the number below or type Desoto Bradenton into Google.

TIP: They do not accept credit cards, so bring along some cash.

The movie theater is located inside the Desoto Square mall in Bradenton, Fl.  Head East from Anna Maria island.  For directions visit the link below.

Dollar Movies at Desoto Square
303 US 301 Blvd Suite 911
Bradenton, FL 34205
(941) 744-2950
View Map & Directions from Anna Maria Island

Sea World is great daytrip from Anna Maria Island

Sea World is a great full day activity for Anna Maria Island visitors.  In addition, United Kingdom visitors typically hit Orlando for about 3-5 days then come to Anna Maria Island for a week long REAL vacation.

Sea World is just a short drive from Anna Maria Island.  If you can get the family up and ready to leave by 8:00 AM you should reach Sea World

by 9:30 AM and walking through the front gates of Sea World, Orlando by 10 AM.  We like to leave a little earlier and stop at the Denny’s just across the street from Sea World for a strong breakfast to start our day.  It starts us off on the right foot after the quick 1.5 hour ride to Orlando and seems to help the kids calm down since they can see the entryway to Sea World just across the street.  Most parking in Orlando is NOT free and Sea World charges to park.

Sea World has a ton of stuff to do for all ages.  They have an amusement park outfitted with a roller coaster that any adult would love.  Tea Cups for those of you that have strong stomachs, swing rides, twirling rides, you name it.  Of course Sea World is not as large as a stand alone amusement park but it has plenty to get you past your roller coaster “fix.”   Sea World also has the classic water log ride and you can see a portion of the ride in the video shown below.

SeaWorld also has a pretty large children play area.  Huge climbing nets will keep your children playing for hours and nearby is a water play area if they get bored of nets or other play areas.

Of course we cannot forget the shows.  The biggest show of all, “Shamu” will not disappoint.  Plenty of jumps, dives, and splashes.  Another great show is a dolphin show where more than 5 dolphins jump in unison all throughout the water.  A high diving show lets your children watch as parrots buzz by just over your heads as well divers dressed in costumes dive into water from about 30-40 feet above.   One last show which is great for kids.  The Sea Otter show is filled with blunders, clean jokes, and a few animals that perform tricks that even the toughest critic will be impressed with.

There are lots of sea life to view at Sea World.  There is a great penguin exhibit where you see a great variety of penguins.  There is sea life tunnel where sharks and other sea life swim throughout the tunnel overhead.  The tunnel provides plenty of Oohs and aaahs.  After one of the shows there is a neat spot where the floor below is made of glass and right above is a glass ceiling both outfitted with plenty of sea life.  Children love to run around and chase the fish in the floor.

Be sure to bring your sun screen, some cash, and a little patience and Sea World will offer a life time of family memories.  For more great Orlando things to do be sure to visit our Orlando Activities pages.

SeaWorld Orlando
7007 SeaWorld Drive,
Orlando, FL, 32821
888 800-5447

Two Scoops, great ice cream in Anna Maria

Two Scoops is located in Anna Maria City on Anna Maria Island.  It is a great location next to Waterfront restaurant as well as the Anna Maria public pier.   They offer sundaes, ice cream cones, cookies and lots more treats.  It is a great spot to visit and grab an ice cream.  There is plenty of parking and there are gift shops in the plaza although most ask not to bring food into their stores.

Once you pick up an ice cream walk across the street to the public pier and meander down the public pier and feel the bay breeze in your face.  Watch folks fishing, watch the moon, or just listen to the surf.  It is a perfect end to a busy family day.

Two scoops also has sandwiches, hot dogs, and chips.  There are about 5 tables inside to sit at with a few benches in the East Bay plaza that you can sit at while grabing a bite or ice cream.  Two scoops does not have an outdoor seating area and parking is FREE.

Two Scoops
101 South Bay Blvd
Anna Maria City, Fl 34216
(941) 779-2422

For more information on things to do be sure to visit our top things to do pages.

Historical Society is a must visit while vacationing on Anna Maria Island, Fl

If you frequent Anna Maria Island or if it’s just your first visit, the history of Anna Maria Island is quite staggering.  The Anna Maria historical society is located on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria City, Fl.   It’s free and is a great spot to visit for half an hour to an hour to learn Anna Maria Island’s journey to the 21st century.  Most of the information that follows below is thanks of the Anna Maria Island Historical Society.  The Historical Society offers a phenomenal book named “The early Days” which offers more fascinating facts about the Anna Maria Journey from 1893-1940.  Thanks to the author Carolyne Norwood who wrote the book.

The first settler of Anna Maria Island was George Emerson Bean who built on the island in 1893.  George settled in Anna Maria City and his son and associates developed roads and a water system to support homes on Anna Maria, Fl.  One of the partners was Charles Roser.  Charles invested a great deal of money on Anna Maria earned by selling his invention of the Fig Newton to Nabisco.  The same business group built a pier at the end of Pine Avenue in 1911 to draw visitors from Tampa and St. Petersburgh.  The pier allowed for steamers to make daily stops to let visitors fish, bathe in the Gulf of Mexico, and enjoy the sunshine and sand.

How did Anna Maria Island get it’s name?  Well officially in 1943, Washington made the name official.  Unfortunately there are several stories that could explain the name.  One story is the name was taken from the mother of Christ, Mary and her mother, Ann.  Or…One of the early Spanish explorers of Anna Maria Island had a mother named Anna Maria.  We probably will never know for sure but there are more stories that could explain the Island’s name and of course plenty more can be learned by visiting the Anna Maria historical society.  

In the back yard of the historical society the “old jail” can be found.  Traditionally the jail offers a fabulous photo opportunity for visiting friends and family.  The jail was built in 1927 originally to handle late disturbances from a newly formed bar on the West end of Pine Avenue.  Anna Maria City needed a spot to hold tavern goers when they created disturbances and needed time to cool off.   The jail had a wooden roof with bars that left jail goers open to a night of mosquito swarms and plenty of bites.  The jail caught fire in a wind storm in the 1940’s and ever since has been used as a popular Anna Maria City photo opportunity.

The Roser church still stands on Pine Avenue where it was originally built in 1913 and saved in the early 1930’s from the jungle taking the church over.   The church still stands on Pine Avenue today and is still used to this day.  In fact my son sings with other children every few Sunday’s.

The first bridge to Anna Maria Island began construction in the mid-summer of 1921.  A significant storm wiped out half the bridge however the bridge prevailed against all odds and was finished in 1922.  The bridge spanned the bay to now Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach to the fishing village of Cortez.  Bridge Tenders pulled a series of cranks to lower vehicle gates and moved to a larger crank which created a gap in the bridge to allow boats to pass by.  Once the boat passed by the bridge tenders would reverse the order to close the gap and allow cars to pass again.  The wooden planks would sometimes slam up and down making very loud noises. 

With the help of a bridge more people visited the beach and several business men started the Bradenton Beach Pavilion in the Winter of 1922.  The pavilion had hundreds of lockers, a dance floor, eating facilities and owner luxury apartments on the second floor.  The beach pavilion burned down about a year after opening and the owners rebuilt.  It burned down a second time in 1929 after the Florida Boom and was never rebuilt.

Jack Holmes first arrived on Anna Maria Island in 1925 and it was love at first site.  He served on the city commission for several years.  Jack moved away from the island first to work on a project in New Jersey where he met his wife.  Returned to Anna Maria to leave again during World War II to assist in building camps for the US Army Corps.  Finally after the war Jack returned to Anna Maria Island to purchase 350 acres in the middle of the island and began the transformation of swamp land to bay homes.  A few years thereafter, citizens held a meeting and decided to incorporate the area and name it in his honor, Holmes Beach. 

Now skipping ahead 80 years, Anna Maria Island has become more popular, sees more visitors, but much of it’s simplistic nature has stayed in tact due to several zoning guidelines.  No drive thru’s allowed and no construction over 37 feet are a few of the guidelines that have helped keep Anna Maria Island special.  For more information visit Island Real Estate’s blog where there is a ton of information on Anna Maria Island.  If you have never visited, what are you waiting for?  Be careful, one visit can end up being a lifetime but then again, there are worse places to live than paradise.

Anna Maria Island and Bradenton, Florida area golf courses

Visiting Anna Maria Island provides for a great vacation.  We do see a few golf vacations however the Anna Maria Island area is still unfound territory in regards to golfing holidays.  Island Real Estate and vacation rentals can assist your group in finding the perfect large home holiday villa or several vacation rentals in the same village or condominium complex.  Island Real Estate has the most luxury vacation rentals on Anna Maria Island perfect for a corporate golfing event.

Buffalo Creek Golf Course
Open to the Public
8100 Erie Road
Palmetto, Florida, 34221
(941) 776-2611

IMG Academies Golf and Country Club
Private golf course
4350 El Conquistador Parkway
Bradenton, FL, 34221
(941) 758-1466

Imperial Lakewoods Golf Course
Semi-Private Golf
9680 Buffalo Road
Palmetto, Fl, 34221
(941) 747-9432

The links at Greenfield Plantation
Open to the Public
10325 Greenfield Plantation Blvd
Bradenton, Fl, 34202
(941) 747-9432

Manatee County Golf Course
Open to the Public
6415 53rd Avenue West
Bradenton, FL, 34210
(941) 792-3288

Pinebrook/Ironwood Golf Club
Executive Golf Course
4260 Ironwood Circle
Bradenton, Fl, 34209
(941) 792-3288

The River Club
Semi-Private Golf Course
6600 River Club Blvd
Bradenton, Fl, 34202
(941) 751-4211

River Run Golf Links
Open to the Public
1801 27th Street
East Bradenton, Fl, 34208
(941) 708-6331

River Strand Golf Club
Semi-Private Golf Course
7155 Grand Estuary Trail
Bradenton, Fl, 34212
(941) 708-3617

Stoneybrook at Heritage Harbour
Open to the Public
7900 Stone Harbour Loop
Bradenton, Fl, 34202
(941) 746-2696

Terra Ceia Bay Country Club
Executive Golf Course
2802 Terra Ceia Bay Blvd
Palmetto, Fl, 34221
(941) 729-7663

University Park Country Club
Semi-Private Golf Course
7671 The Park Blvd
University Park, Fl, 34201
(941) 359-9999

Waterlefe Golf and River Club
Semi-Private Golf Course
1022 Fish Hook Cove
Bradenton, FL, 34202
(941) 744-9771

Ho ~ Ho~ Ho~

Look who arrived early in the city of Anna Maria, FL. We were all just minding our own business when there arose such a clatter on Pine Avenue that we sprang from our desks to see what was the matter. When suddenly appeared Santa and his helper on a bucket-truck with not a single reindeer! Only on Anna Maria Island would you see such festive attire simply to hang our seasonal banners for our locals and visitors alike. Thanks to our Anna Maria city workers, Bobby Reynolds (Santa) and Gary Thorpe (Santa’s Helper), who made my day. It is always so exciting to see Santa all suited up and it seems to bring out the “kid” in everyone! The entire Island lights up at night with tiny white and colored lights with a typical Island flair! You can only smile and feel the excitement of the holidays. From Island Real Estate we wish you a wonderful holiday and may peace be the magical word for 2009.  

Written by Melinda Bordes ~ 914-705-0146~ Whether buying or selling on Anna Maria Island or surrounding areas  I can assist you with all of your real estate needs. A slice in paradise would make a wonderful gift for any age!! It is time you thought about being a part of this wonderful community!   

Anna Maria Island, Florida Fishing information

There are plenty of spots to fish on Anna Maria Island.  Many come to Anna Maria, Fl for the sun, the beach, and the fun.  Some come to Anna Maria for some serious fishing.  There are three primary areas one can fish while visiting Anna Maria Island.   Of course people fish on the island.  Off piers, off canals, and off bridges provide fair fishing.  Fishing in the Bay provides for more entertainment as well as more consistent results.  Finally, many go deep sea fishing into the Gulf of Mexico.

There are lots of spots to fish while staying on Anna Maria Island.  You can reserve a canal property and fish right off the canal although results are pretty inconsistent.  If you need some help finding a vacation rental be sure to visit Anna Maria Island’s leading vacation rental company for real time accurate on-line availability.  Many reserve canal front properties and bring down their boat and head out into the waters on their own.  Lastly you can pick up a canal vacation rental and RENT a boat for $800 – $1500 per week.  In fact, Island Real Estate of Anna Maria Island, Inc has a special offer that if you rent a canal property and a boat you will receive a 5% discount off the boat rental.

Fishing can also be had on the public pier in Anna Maria City or on the Rod and Reel pier.  The Rod and Reel pier charges a small fee to fish and will supply bait if needed.  Net fishing can be used up to a certain point on both piers and is clearly labeled.  There are fishing stations supplied with water if you need to cut up bait or big catch.  On my last visit to the public pier I saw a big one get away and one side was filled with young local boys fishing for shark.  I thought different about the boys fishing after I spoke to several other fishermen that were fishing for shark also.  One had caught a bull shark about an hour prior and threw him back because he was told it was not good eating.  Please note, both the Anna Maria City pier and the Rod and Reel pier are not young child friendly as there is no fence enclosing the pier.  Of course both piers in Anna Maria City can double for lunch or dinner also in the restaurants at the end of the pier.

Bradenton Beach has fishing on the pier also.  At the East end of Bridge street just past Rotten Ralph’s restaurant you will find plenty of people fishing.  I have personally witnessed fish being caught at the end of the pier however they were all thrown back due to their size.  At the base of the pier there is a new bait shop that should help with what the fish are biting on.  The Bradenton pier is perfect for the whole family with convenient fishing pole holes all along the fence line.  The pier is fully fenced in so it is more child friendly than the piers in Anna Maria City.  The Bridge street pier also has several swings that the family can sit on and watch the fun.

I also see several people fishing on any one of the draw bridges off the island as well as some of the smaller bridges along the causeway.  I have never spoken to anyone regarding their success rate however I have seen individuals on several occasions pulling nets with fish in them.  Most of the folks I see on the bridges are pretty serious as the traffic passing by is not usually a visitors idea of fun.

Bay fishing is also known as backwater fishing and is less expensive than deep sea fishing.  A good deal of the catch must be returned to the waters due to size however it is best to discuss specifics with guides you interview.  Most Bay guides have smaller boats and can accommodate about 3-5 passengers however once again check with the experts.  Backwater fishing guides do not have a crew and the cost is about $400 for 1/2 a day.

Gulf Fishing also known is as deep sea fishing and provides for more action and usually more time on the boat.  Obviously the longer the tour, the deeper the fishing.  Gulf Fishing requires a crew and the boats are larger and typically can accommodate 4-12 passengers.  In addition, you can expect larger tackle to support larger game that should be caught.  Most deep sea captains guarantee entertainment but not the amount of fish they will catch.  They all abide by bag limits and are concerned about keeping the sea healthy since is supports their livelihood.  The cost for deep sea fishing is $650 – $1000 and usually the more passengers the less cost per passenger.  A successful catch will include grouper, snapper, and bigger game.   

All captains suggest booking ahead of time and Christmas week normally books out one year in advance as well as other popular holiday weeks.  Make no mistakes, I am a beginner when it comes to fishing so I strongly suggest you call Anna Maria local captains for additional information.  If you have additional information please post comments below as our readership will appreciate any added information you can provide.

Personal fitness training on Anna Maria Island – relax and get fit all on Anna Maria

Relax, your on an Anna Maria Island Vacation.  Most relax on the beach but it is always a great time to get back in the “saddle” again to get your physical activity on the right track.  Walking or jogging the beach is a favorite past-time but another option that most don’t consider is a personal trainer. 

Jeff Levine will take you to one of several Anna Maria Island fitness centers and take you through a routine sure to get your heart pumping or assist your body-part that may need strengthening.  With over 30 years of personal and fitness training, Jeff will be sure to get you back on the right track or help you mix up your fitness training while staying on Anna Maria.  Jeff prides himself in offering fun highly productive fitness. 

Another great option is to work out on the beach.  It’s more common than you think but it offers great relaxation as well as productive fitness.  After all, what better way to break a sweat than having an expert in their field show you new and great ways to keep yourself healthy and happy, all while doing it on the beach!

Another great idea is to have Jeff train your family, multiple couples, or multiple groups.  Jeff can help with groups and the best thing of all is your price per person will reduce as the group becomes larger.  If your family is like most families everyone could use a little help burning calories from all the great restaurants on Anna Maria Island. 

Jeff Levine
(941) 744-6883

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