Cold Stone Creamery – gourmet ice cream just of Anna Maria Island

Looking for gourmet ice cream?  Try Cold Stone Creameryjust off Anna Maria Island.  It is on the corner of Cortez

and 75th Street West in Bradenton, Florida.  It shares the same building as Starbuck’s.  Cold Stone’s claim to fame is there great creamy ice cream as well as creating special mixes within their ice cream.  They use an ice cold slab to mix up ice cream with your favorite mixings.  Berries, peanut butter cups, cookie pieces, M & M’s, you name it.  The staff takes their great ice cream and with two scoops manually mixes in the extra’s.  Our family loves the Birthday cake mix special which you guessed it, tastes just like birthday cake.  It is fantastic.

So if you are looking for a special treat and can wait a few minutes for the staff to delicately prepare your custom order of ice cream with mixins, try a quick drive off Anna Maria Island to Cold Stone.  Cold Stone sells ice cream cakes pre-made as well as a few other ice cream treats including ice cream cookies and drinks.   Of course you can purchase larger servings of your custom order ice cream.

Cold Stone Creamery
7476 Cortez Road West
Bradenton, Fl, 34210
(941) 761-3252

Olive Garden is a great Bradenton restaurant

Olive Garden is a great economical place to eat if staying on Anna Maria Island or in Bradenton, Florida.  The Bradenton

Olive Garden Restaurant has outdoor seating for the great balmy nights of the West coast of Florida.  The restaurant has a bar for waiting or just to eat or have a quick cocktail or bit to eat.  Typically the Olive Garden is a great place to eat for busy nights on Anna Maria Island.  The restaurant is about a 20 minute drive from Anna Maria Island.

The Olive Garden is primarily Italian although they do have a few traditional dishes.  Beef, Pork and Fish dishes.  The restaurant often offers all you can eat bread as well as soup or salad.

The Olive Garden has great spaghetti, chicken Parmesan, heck anything Italian is good.

Olive Garden Restaurant
4420 West 14th Street
Bradenton, Fl, 34207

G. T. Bray Park is a large park in Bradenton, Fl

G.T. Bray Park located in Bradenton, Fl has something for everyone.  You can walk tree rimmed paths, swing on the swing in one of the three playgrounds, swim and play in the water fountains or take your dog to the very safe enclosed dog park.

If you are looking to have a larger event while visiting Bradenton or Anna Maria Island then G.T. Bray Park could be your perfect ticket.  The Bradenton park has seven pavilions (Picnic Shelters.)  Of course sizes vary.  If you refer to the map below the numbers here correlate to those on the GT Bray park map.  (1)Cedar Hammock (2) Oak Knoll (3) Hickory Hollow (4) Meadow View (5) Woodland Grove (6) Whispering Pine (7) Bright Outlook – located adjacent to the Activity Center.  For information on availability of the picnic pavilions call (941) 742-5974.

The dog park is called happy tails and is a perfect treat for pet visitors to Anna Maria Island.  Happy Tails Canine Park is a fenced in, 3-acre off leash dog park located at the North East corner of G.T. Bray Bradenton park.  Happy Tails is just off 51st Street West. Amenities at the dog park includes one drinking fountain and free waste bags and a enclosed separate area exclusively for small, fragile, or elderly dogs.

This Bradenton park is a great place to relax or play soccer, softball or football in one of their many open fields.  Tennis and racquetball  courts are available year round.  There is a weight room available for a fee.  Skate and hockey court is also just one of the great amenities the Bradenton park has to offer.  The skate park is located at G.T. Bray Park, 5502 33rd Avenue Drive West, Bradenton, Fl, 34209.

Depending on the time of year you are visiting the beaches of Anna Maria Island, you can find many family friendly events for children all  year long.  The Christmas party is a must see, Santa Claus flies in on a helicopter with Batman to give the children their opportunity to tell him what they want for Christmas and have their photos taken.  The holiday celebration is perfect for families of all ages, face painting, bounce houses, games, crafts, etc.  Easter is when they have the largest Easter egg hunt I have ever seen!  The G.T. Park staff fill and lay out thousands of eggs.  Imagine three baseball outfields covered in plastic Easter

eggs!  These are just a few holiday events that the G.T. Bray park has to offer.

G.T. Bray Park
5502 33rd Avenue Drive West
Bradenton, Florida
(941) 742-5923

Atlanta Bread Company

Atlanta Bread Company is a good place to go if you are looking for breakfast, lunch or just a little something sweet and a coffee.  The menu is set to wet the appetite of almost anyone in your party.   The breakfast is a selection of egg sandwiches and a variety of delicious pastries.   The bread is made fresh daily and the selection of soups changes from day to day.   The best thing of all?  Atlanta Bread Company is just a 15 minute drive into Bradenton, Florida from Anna Maria Island.

The bread company also offer a good selection of fresh made salads that you can do a half and half order with either a half sandwich or soup.  The desserts are encased in a bakery window for you to gaze and drool over.  The restaurant offers a wide arrangement of baked goods from  muffins to cookies to fresh made coffee cake and key lime cheese cake.  All are sure to cure your sweet tooth.

The restaurant prices are reasonable, $3 and up to $8.  They accept credit card or cash and also offer free wireless internet.

Planning a party at your vacation home?  The Atlanta Bread Company offers fantastic catering.

Atlanta Bread Company
6401 Manatee Ave
Bradenton, Fl 34209
Mon-Sat 7AM-9PM
Sun 8AM-8PM

Telephone-941-792-1380
Fax–941-792-1390

For more information on Restaurants in the Bradenton, Fl area or the Anna Maria Island Area visit our Restaurant informational page.

Great Italian – Marina’s Restaurant – Bradenton, Florida

Marina’s restaurant is just a short 10 minute ride from Anna Maria Island, Fl.  It is just past the causeway from Holmes

Beach off Manatee Avenue.  Marina’s has a small outside seating area in the plaza.  The outdoor seating while nice, would not be my reason for visiting Marina’s.  The reason for visiting Marina’s is for their fantastic Italian dining.  Marina’s is a small intimate family run Italian restaurant.  They have a bar area to seat about 5 people as well as inside seating for about 25 with a large table that can accommodate 10 or so.

Marina’s has lots of Italian dishes to choose from.  Their appetizer choices are fairly diverse.  Baked Rosemary potato with cheese, Anchovies wit lemon, Bruschetta, Fried eggplant, Mussels and Calamari fradiavolo, and many more.  While Marina’s does not have a children’s menu they will accommodate children with smaller dishes like spaghetti and meatballs.  My son believe it or not loves the lasagna.  The Italian restaurant offers large 14 inch pizzas with lots of toppings.  Marina’s offers a few Italian sandwiches as well as plenty of traditional Italian Specialties that are served with salad and bread.  Chicken Parmesan, Veal Milanese, Veal Marsala, Eggplant Parmesan, Carbonara, Ziti, Tortellini primavera alfredo, cheese or meat ravioli and about 7 other entrees.  Most of which are UNDER $10.00.  That’s right I said salad, bread, and a phenomenal traditional Italian meal for less than $10.

If you need some help with a larger group then be sure to call for a family size meal for take out.  They have Spaghetti, Cheese Ravioli, Baked ziti, plus if you ask nicely they usually will make something special for you if you catch them with

plenty of time.  Marina’s menu says the family size serves eight but I think they figured eight Italian men that are hungry!  The family size I saw was more like 10-12.  The family meals are still homemade and fantastic plus the prices will blow you away.  At the time of this writing the MOST expensive family size portion cost $26.00.  I did not write this post in 1985, it is late 2009.  Wow, what a bargain!  Awesome.

In addition to the family size the entire menu allows for take out as well.  So, if you are coming in from a long day of traveling to Anna Maria Island for your vacation rental give Marina’s a call the day before.  Get an order of take out and on your way on to Anna Maria Island, swing over to “Marina’s just off State Route 64 and pick up your to go.  Grab your vacation rental keys from Island Real Estate and as soon as you get into your vacation rental get out the plates and make the family happy and have a great Italian meal on the cheap.

Marina’s is just a short trip off Anna Maria Island.  Head East on State Route 64/Manatee Avenue.  Just past 75th pull in to the Albertson’s plaza on the South side of the street and look for Marina’s at the East end of the plaza.  It is tough to miss and if you love Italian then I strongly suggest you venture off Anna Maria Island to try out Marina’s.  I don’t think  you will be sorry.

View Map
Marina’s Restaurant
Albertson’s Plaza
7467 Manatee Avenue W.
Bradenton, FL
(941) 792-4152
(941) 792-1235 Fax

Oops, forgot to mention the owner has accomplished a few things in the past.  He created a world record pizza.  The guiness book of world records says the pizza was 80 feet in diameter and 18,664 lbs.

Ace’s is perfect Anna Maria Live Music Hangout

Ace’s Lounge is Bradenton’s Live Music Venue and only minutes away from Anna Maria Island, Fl! Experience Live Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz and Reggae at this Ace’s bar filled with plenty of character and charm. It is a very casual environment and the interior of the Bradenton hotspot resembles a rustic barn. Ace’s Lounge sponsor’s CornHole, Flip-Cup and Beer-Pong Tournaments making it a very fun and exciting place to be!  There are drink specials almost every night and bands weekly. As of this post, Wednesday nights Ace’s bar and lounge has 40 cent wings and $5 pitchers.  That is not a typo!  Ladies drink free on Tuesdays and there are lots more specials.

Ace’s Lounge is a great place to meet the friendliest people in Bradenton, Fl.  Alcohol at great prices never hurts to create friendly patrons.  Ace’s bar is a perfect hot spot for Anna Maria Island visitors to try out.  Just a short drive away and Ace’s has the rustic, small town bar feeling, a perfect combination if you are visiting Anna Maria Island, Florida.

On top of great live music, Ace’s has a great bar menu.  Ace’s has all your favorites: Hamburger/Cheeseburger, Chicken Fingers, Shrimp Jammers. Chicken Wings, Cheese Sticks, Onion Rings, Fries, Jalepeno Poppers, Philly Cheesesteak, Cuban Sandwich, and Chili. Prices are very reasonable if you are looking for a quick bite to eat with great music to listen to.

Ace’s Bar Specials:
Tuesday – Ladies Night 10PM
Wednesday- Blues Jam 8PM
Thursday- College Night 10PM
Friday- Happy Hour 5-7PM Free Pizza!

Ace’s Bar and Lounge

4343 Palma Sola Blvd
Bradenton, FL 343210
(941)795-3886

Click here for more information on things to do in Bradenton, Florida or Anna Maria Island, Florida.

Robinson Preserve Information

If your family is looking for something adventurous and would enjoy a bike-ride on newly-paved trails, a walk along the nature paths, kayaking through the paddle trails, a climb up an Observation Tower or would just prefer to enjoy the wildlife, then Robinson Preserve is the perfect way to entertain the whole family!

The Robinson Preserve is located in Northwest Bradenton, about a 10-15 min drive off Anna Maria Island. Open year-round, Hours: Sunrise to Sunset.  Free Admission and parking.  Tours only by request and usually last about 2 hours.  Make an appointment by calling ahead of time.

Bring your bathing suit if you would like to go for a swim.  The Preserve also has plenty of picnic tables across from the Visitor Center to have a meal or a little snack. Make sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen as it can be very hot, especially during summer!!

Are you bringing your dog on vacation? Bring them to Robinson Preserve! Just make sure that you bring a leash and plenty of water!

1690 99th St NW

Bradenton,FL 34209
(941)748-4501

Robinson Preserve Downloadable Trail Map, Bradenton Florida

Sweet Berries Frozen Custard & Eatery

Sweet Berries is known for the best homemade frozen custard in the area.  Sweet Berries has been voted “best in the area” every year since it has been opened! Sweet Berries boasts a family-friendly, small town atmosphere which is a very inviting and a pleasant experience.  Their food menu consists of Soups, Salads and Sandwiches which are all made daily. Prices range from $6-$10.

If you are in the mood for ice cream and have tried a few shops on Anna Maria Island then make the 10 minute ride down Manatee Avenue, State Route 64.  You won’t be sorry.  Sweet Berries Ice Cream is fantastic and worth the ride from Anna Maria.   Their specialty is a “Concretes”. Concretes are hard-packed frozen custard and absolutely delicious.  They are very similar to a blizzard and Sweet Berries claim to fame is they will hold your Concrete upside down as they hand it to you to show it is packed nice and tight.  Don’t worry, if you are looking for a simple, creamy delicious, ice cream cone Sweet Berries will fill the need.  If you are looking for a great family environment, fresh menu or/and great ice cream then SweetBerries is for you!  They do have an outdoor seating area as well as an outdoor ice cream order center.  Sweet Berries is open until 10PM and some nights until 11 PM.

Please go to the Sweet Berries website to find out more information and take a look at the menu.

Sweet Berries Frozen Custard and Eatery
4500 Manatee Ave West
Bradenton,FL 34209
(941)750-6771

If you are looking for more things to do on Anna Maria Island be sure to visit our top ten things to do lists.

Bradenton Mexican-Cuban Restaurant

The Cancun Mexican-Cuban Grill is a great restaurant just a short 15 minute drive East of Anna Maria Island.  The Cuban restaurant in Bradenton is good affordable food.  The restaurant is very popular with the Bradenton, FL lunch crowd because they have big lunches on the cheap.  The Bradenton restaurant has about 10 lunch specials that are served with the soup of the day.  Still not impressed?  How about half of a roasted chicken served with soup, rice, beans, and plantains all for $6.95?  That is just one of several fantastic lunch specials.

Need more?  How about Tuesday and Thursday’s all day $0.99 Margarita specials.  This is not some little dixie cup Margarita either.  It is a standard pretty large margarita glass with prices in the 60’s.  We have had a few of their margarita’s and umm, umm good.  Act now before they take away their margarita special.

Lots of dinner choices too.  Prices range from $8.00 – $14.95 for their specialty Cancun Mariscada Seafood stew.  The description…”If you’re feeling down, this is the choice that is sure to get you up.  It’s a combination of seafood all in one soup.  It includes shrimp, scallops, blue crab, green shell mussels, lobster base, fish, squid and octopus.  Served with white rice and tortillas.”

Sorry the dining is mostly inside although there are a few small tables outside on busy Manatee Avenue.  They serve wine, beer, a few cocktails and imported beers like Tecate, Heineken, Negra Modelo, Pacifico, and XX.  For the kids they have Taco’s, grilled cheese, cheeseburgers, Quesadilla and chicken fingers.  For adults they have salads, fish, and traditional Cuban and Mexican meals.  Make sure you try their guacamole.  Good stuff.

Please note, check their schedule.  Currently they are closed Monday’s only.

Cancun Mexican-Cuban Grill

5120 A Manatee Ave. West
Bradenton, FL 34209
(941) 747-2552
(941) 746-1862

As always, please leave comments if you have tried Cancun Mexican Cuban and please visit Island Real Estate’s Real Estate or Vacation Rental website for more on Anna Maria Island properties for sale or rent.

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

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