February 2019 – AMI Locals Blog | Anna Maria Island Vacation Rentals

February 23, 2019February 23, 2019

What to Pack for Your Vacation to Anna Maria Island

You have just booked your next family vacation to Anna Maria Island and you have asked off work to be able to go and relax on vacation. But we know that for many families packing can be a daunting task, especially when you are vacationing with little ones. Having a plan or even a list can help you pack for the whole family so that you can relax and enjoy your beach vacation. We at AMI Locals have come up with a list to get you started on packing for your upcoming vacation.

Before you Start Packing

Going on vacation can be fun, exciting and relaxing but knowing a few things before you start to pack can help you in the long run. Always check the local forecast before you leave on vacation and yes, even before you pack. You know that you will need your swimsuits and shorts for your vacation, you may also need to bring a rain jacket or even a lightweight sweater as well depending on the time of year you visit.
Make a list of activities that you’d like to do with the family including day trips, outings or eating out. Be sure to make a list for the whole family of what you will need. We suggest doing this a few weeks before your trip just in case you need to add a few things at the last minute.
Organize a wardrobe for each day especially for the little ones including underwear and sleepwear too. To help keep you organized when packing the little ones, grab a box of gallon sized Ziploc bags and put two outfits in each one for each day. This can not only help you stay organized but can also help keep up with what they will wear each day too.

Clothing

Beach Clothing | This should consist of swimsuits (we suggest at least 2 for each family member), hats, flip-flops and cover ups (a lightweight dress will do too).
Everyday Clothing | Each member of the family should have at least 1 outfit for each day of vacation plus a couple extra ones for emergencies. For the younger children, we suggest at least 2 outfits a day and that includes underwear and socks.
Footwear | We understand that some shoes are bulky, and you don’t want to bring them, so we suggest bringing 3 pairs for each family member. A pair of comfortable tennis shoes for walking any distance, a pair of flip-flops and a nicer pair in case you want a date night or two.
Nighttime Clothing | Don’t forget about packing your pajamas and plenty of underwear and socks.

Toiletries

Haircare Products | Shampoo, Conditioner, Hair Ties, Hair Gel, Shower Cap, Hair Dryer, Flat Iron, Brushes, etc.
Mouth Care | Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss
Eye-care | Contacts & Case, Contact Solution, Glasses, Sunglasses
Everything Else | Safety Pins, Feminine Products, Razors, Body Wash, Soap, Cotton Swabs, Air Freshener, etc.

Medicine Bag

Prescription Medication | Bring all medications in their original bottles in case you need to go see a doctor while on vacation you know what you are on. (Also have a list on your phone in case of an emergency.
Over the Counter Medications | Benadryl, Motrin, Tylenol, Vitamins
First Aid Kit | Band-Aids, Neosporin, Sunscreen, Aloe, etc.

Miscellaneous

These are the other items that you will need to bring with you on vacation such as things for the beach including a beach bag, chairs, towels, sand toys, beach umbrella and more. Also, if you’d like to bring your bikes you can especially for the younger kids so they can have fun at your AMI Locals vacation rental. Books and things that the kids can color with can help keep them busy on a rainy day too.

There are so many other things that you can pack for your family vacation, but we felt this list should do the trick. If you still haven’t booked your next family vacation to Anna Maria Island, we suggest you check out our availability. We can’t wait to see you and your family on your next adventure to our beautiful island!

February 18, 2019February 18, 2019

Mini Golf at the Fish Hole with AMI Locals

There’s a great mini golf course located right on Historic Bridge Street, called the Fish Hole! It is fun for all ages. And several of our AMI Locals’ properties are within walking distance of all the shops and restaurants on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach. Gulf View Beach House, Bayfront Retreat, and Coastal Cove, for instance. Come visit us on Anna Maria Island, grab your friends and follow our lead for a round of mini golf!

Time to Take a Swing at Mini Golf!

First, choose the color of your golf ball. This is a very important decision and can set you up for a very successful round. Next, choose your putter. Now, choose who gets to keep score – remember that the competition can get very heated in golf, mini or just the regular type. So choose the scorekeeper wisely. Fore!

Also, all of the holes at the Fish Hole course are named after different kinds of fish! For example, Swordfish, Grouper, and Hogfish. And you can learn more fun facts about these fish on each sign, along with what number Par is for that particular hole. Then as you move through the course, there is all kinds of fishy décor, a Koi pond, live turtles, and a waterfall. Not to mention, it really is a great place to cool off after a long day at the beach.

A round of Mini Golf at the Fish Hole AMI
Anyone up for a round of Mini Golf at the Fish Hole? So much fun! Check it out on our latest blog:https://www.amilocals.com/blog/2019/02/18/mini-golf-fish-hole-ami/
Posted by AMI Locals on Monday, February 18, 2019

Mini Golf on Anna Maria Island - Koi fish

To be sure, family vacations are a great way to get to know Anna Maria Island. You will make memories to last a lifetime, and the vibe of the Island is very laid-back and relaxed. Book your getaway with AMI Locals and we will be sure to show you how to #vacationlikealocal!

If you go: The Fish Hole is located in Bradenton Beach on Bridge Street. And it’s open from 9 am – 10 pm every day. Check out their facebook page for more info! https://www.facebook.com/thefishholeami/

February 8, 2019February 8, 2019

AMI Beach Vacation & A Day at Disney World

Are you vacationing to Anna Maria Island this year for a beach trip but feel like you need to do something a little different? Then we have the perfect solution that you and your family can enjoy on your next trip. Why not plan a day to head over to Lake Buena Vista for the day and enjoy Walt Disney World! Just a hop, skip and a jump, you and your family are only 2 hours from having a magical day at Disney. And with so many new things that have opened up in the past few years and a few new attractions that are opening up this year, you can’t go wrong with a short visit to the world.

Did you know that Walt Disney World has 4 Parks for you and your family to visit? There is Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. They also have on property two water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Each park there are several different attractions that you and your family can take advantage of. Let’s look at each park and what you and your family can enjoy on your adventure to the parks.

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom was the first park to open in 1971 and has been known to many as the best park out there for its many reasons. If you have small children, this park offers you a variety of rides that are fit just for them. Some of the attractions that your younger kids will enjoy are Dumbo, Casey Jr. Splash ’N’ Soak Station, It’s a Small World and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. For the older kids and parents who love rides then these few attractions will be perfect for you like Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain and Seven Dwarves Mine Train. And don’t forget about the many different characters you can meet within the park and parades and fireworks. The food selection at Magic Kingdom is pretty amazing too from dining with the princesses at Cinderella’s Royal Table to having dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern, there is something for everyone.

Epcot

Epcot – Spaceship Earth
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Epcot is another wonderful park that has much to do during your visit. This park has several seasonal festivals that thy like to host for their guests to enjoy. The festivals that you may experience on your visits can be the International Festival of the Arts (happening now), International Flower & Garden Festival (Spring), and International Food & Wine Festival (Fall). All of these events have their own unique things that you and your family can experience on each trip. The attractions that the younger kids can enjoy would be Frozen Ever After, Spaceship Earth, Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure and Journey into Imagination with Figment. The older kids and adults may love Living with the Land, Soarin’, and Test Track. You also have many different selections of food to choose from throughout the park and from around the world!

Hollywood Studios

The Twilight Tower of Terror
Slinky Dog Dash

Hollywood Studios is another fantastic park to head to on your next vacation. The latest addition to the park is Toy Story Land where you and your family get to transform into being a toy size and explore Andy’s Backyard. With the new roller coaster addition to the area, Slinky Dog will not disappoint any family member and is fun to ride in Slinky Dog. There is Alien Swirling Saucers and Toy Story Mania for the family to ride as well. Some of the other attractions throughout the park that you can enjoy would be Rockin’ Roller Coaster (for older kids and parents), Star Tours, The Twilight Tower of Terror and more. You can also meet some of the Star Wars Characters and dine with Disney Jr. Characters at Hollywood & Vine. Opening later in 2019 will be the long awaited “Star Wars Land: Galaxy’s Edge” as well so be on the lookout then.

Animal Kingdom

Pandora – The World of Avatar
Kilimanjaro Safari

Animal Kingdom is like no other park that we have visited and just celebrated its 20th year anniversary in 2018. Many guests love to visit Animal Kingdom to experience viewing many animals and rides fun for the whole family. For those guests who love animals, the we do suggest you take advantage of riding Kilimanjaro Safaris where you can see many animals on this ride and it’s good for the whole family. There is Expedition Everest Roller Coaster for the older kids and The Boneyard for the younger kids. The food here is amazing and you will have plenty of selection to choose from. An amazing area in Animal Kingdom is Pandora – The World of Avatar where you can ride Flights of Passage and Na’vi River Journey to experience the world of Pandora.

On the day that you are going to visit Walt Disney World, we suggest that you and your family leave your Anna Maria Island vacation rental around 6:00 am, so that you are able to enjoy the park more. Depending on if you’d like to visit all 4 parks in a day or choose one park to visit you can. Relax for the remainder of your beach vacation by sitting by the water soaking up the amazing experience you had for the day to the parks. We can’t wait to see you and your family on your next beach vacation to Anna Maria Island this year!