Anna Marie Island
 ANNA MARIA ISLAND FLORIDA

What was once a best-kept secret among Florida
day-trippers, Anna Maria Island, has always been known for its
sugar-white coastline, emerald Gulf waters and quaint
business districts, Today, it is now known as a vacation favorite among local, national and international travelers . Nestled to the west of Bradenton, Fl.
From honeymooners to Hollywood film crews, youngsters
to the young-at-heart, people from around the world
have discovered what´s awaiting you ? Your Piece of Paradise, "An Island In The Sun"3;Anna Maria Island, Florida.

Enjoy a sunrise overlooking Tampa Bay and a
picture-perfect Florida sunset to long remember on the Gulf of Mexico without ever having to leave the island. And,
unlike other popular Florida cities with their
theme parks and water slides, there are no lines on
Anna Maria Island, except for the ones you draw in the sand.

We're talking miles of pristine beaches along with award-winning restaurants and specialty shops.

Whether you're looking for a million-dollar villa, a
beautifully restored home or a rustic cottage to rent or to own, this vacation destination has it all. One visit to Anna Maria Island and you will be calling it," My island in the sun."

What makes Anna Maria Island so attractive to visitors and year-round residents is its private island feel and close to everything you ever need

GET SWEPT AWAY
Anna Maria Island is an ideal place to relax and
getaway from it all. Each of the island's three cities
provides access to spectacular beaches and outdoor
activities -- while at the same time offering an
enjoyable selection of shops, restaurants, performing
arts and other attractions.

 

Demographics

The Island of Anna Maria, Manatee County, Florida, is located 40 miles south of Tampa and seven miles west of Bradenton. It can be accessed by SR 64, over the Manatee Avenue Bridge; SR 684 over the Cortez Bridge or a third bridge offers access from Longboat Key to the Island.

Stretching seven and one-half miles from Tampa Bay south to Longboat Key. Anna Maria Island is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico on the west, Tampa Bay and Anna Maria Sound on the east and Sarasota  to the south.

Anna Maria Island's charm lies in its congenial air of unhurried tropical living. The three small cities on the Island have their own character -- from Anna Maria in the north, Holmes Beach in the center to Bradenton Beach in the south. All are populated with friendly, easy-going inhabitants. Narrow winding streets are framed with lush tropical growth. Anglers of all ages fish from rustic, yet sturdy piers. Magnificent white sand beaches overlook the enchanting Gulf of Mexico. Jet skis skim over the waves while sailboats drift along the coast. Families picnic in bay or Gulf-front parks. Sea oats sway gently in the soft Gulf breeze. Bicyclists pedal around the Island, passing a mixture of contemporary and historic buildings.

The Island has four distinctive seasons. In mid-October, the summer Caribbean trade winds are blocked by the first northern cold front. Temperatures drop to the 70's overnight, as does the humidity. Not far from the Dec. 22 winter solstice, strong cold fronts reach Southwest Florida. The days are mostly warm and sunny; nights call for sweaters and light jackets.

By spring, the dry, cloudless days reach temperatures in the 70's and 80's with cool, crisp evenings. Afternoons are punctuated by "sea breezes" from the Gulf which dwindle at sunset. The trade winds typically influence the climate by mid-May, daytime temperatures up around the 90 degree mark. Steady breezes and gentle rainstorms lend to comfortable and refreshing evenings. Another summer weather plus is watching an Anna Maria Island sunset with its colorful afterglow along the Gulf horizon. The annual average temperature is 74.8 degrees Fahrenheit. The annual average rainfall is 55.67 inches.

The thought of living on an Island is only a dream for many. The fear of paying premium prices for land near an ocean or Gulf scares people away, yet Anna Maria Island still has many modestly priced homes, condominiums and villas for sale.

All three cities (Anna Maria, Holmes Beach & Bradenton Beach) try to preserve the "Old Florida" flavor that has been a part of this Island's heritage since the first settlers moved here. Strict zoning laws address the size and type of buildings, and the use of the land. City governments protect the Island ambiance, high-rises are prohibited.