What AMI Locals Do When Everyone Else Has Snow

While most of the Northern States are dealing with the pending snow storms this weekend, we will be enjoying our time soaking up the sun and going on a fun adventure. Biking on Anna Maria Island is one of the best ways to see the island and to enjoy being on island time. If you have ever come to Anna Maria Island, you may have realized that we would rather be riding a bike, than driving our car and getting a fun workout in as well. Let’s take a look at some of the other reasons that riding a bike on the island is fun for the whole family.

Biking Options on Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island has wonderful inner workings of using different biking options for you and your family to enjoy. One of our favorite places to go to would have to be Bean Point on the north end of the island. This is like a secluded beach that you can relax at while you are on your biking journey. And while visit Bean Point head over to the Rod N Reel Pier for a quick bite to eat and a gorgeous view of Tampa Bay.

Another few local favorite places that we love to visit would be Bay Front Park, Gulf Front Park and City Pier Park along with the Anna Maria City Pier.

Where to Rent a Bike

We at AMI Locals has a few places that we like to recommend to our guests to rent from. One would be RobinHood Rentals and the other one would be Beach Bums. RobinHood Rentals offers our guests staying with us 10-20% off all their Rental equipment where you can get bikes for the whole family including the kids.

Beach Bums offers guest up to 10% off their rental equipment and has different bike options for your family needs from a Beach cruiser, tandem bikes and even gear for your little ones. Both of these companies have reasonably priced rentals and we highly recommend them both to our guests.

Be Adventurous

Whenever we want to be a little adventurous, then we like to enjoy the scenery a little more. But with this little adventure, it means that we will be going on a lengthy trip that will include plenty of water views including riding along the coast all the way to Lido Key. This trip is a total of 16 miles one way so be sure to take lots of breaks, bring plenty of water, walk on the beach and possibly grab a bite to eat too. This is a serious bike ride, so be prepared for it to take at least 4 hours to get there and if you can’t finish, take advantage of the free island trolley. You will be able to ride the trolley and if it is two of you being adventurous, then you will be able to mount your bikes on the trolley. What a fun adventure this can be, so be sure to plan the day out before you decide to do it, especially if you don’t ride a lot at home.

Rules to Remember

One of the things that we at AMI Locals wants is for you and your family to stay safe on your next biking vacation. Though the roads are bike friendly in Anna Maria, we want to point out a few safety precautions that should be considered.

As a bicyclist, it’s important to always obey traffic signs and laws.
Use proper hand signals for your safety and those who share the road with you. Drivers may not see you due to low visibility with the sunlight and possible blind spots.
Ride with the flow of traffic on the right side of the road.
Bicyclists must yield right of way to pedestrians when you are riding on crosswalks and sidewalks.
Bicycles should be equipped with brakes that allows you to stop within 25 feet when going 10 mph on clean dry pavement.
You may want to consider wearing safety gear such as sunglasses and helmets (always make a child 16 years or younger wear a helmet.)
Don’t use headphones when you are riding your bike.
You must ride with a regular fixed seat.
It is best to ride with the amount of people the bike is intended to.
Its required by law to provide your bicycle with the right safety equipment such as a lamp on the front and a red reflector.

AMI Locals has several affordable vacation rentals in bike friendly areas of Anna Maria Island for you and your family to enjoy. If you are still looking for a reason to escape the cold, winter weather and head elsewhere for the winter, come to Anna Maria Island. You will never want to leave to go back home and will want to stay on island time forever!

December 23, 2018August 10, 2022

Explore Sarasota on your Next Vacation to Anna Maria Island

When you go on vacation to Anna Maria Island you will probably want to explore many different things on the island or surrounding towns. From the white sands of Anna Maria Island, art events, local restaurants to finding a new family friendly activity to do. There is so much to do on Anna Maria Island while you are staying in one of our Water Access vacation rentals but there is so much more to do. Why not have a day exploring Sarasota on your next vacation to Anna Maria Island? You won’t be disappointed in what you find there.

It’s a Circus

The first stop that you and your family must go to in Sarasota would have to be to explore the Ringling Grounds. Here you can explore the three amazing museums that are on the grounds which happen to be the Ringling Circus Museum, Museum of Art with a Sculpture Park. If you venture to the end of the grounds you will find a breathtaking museum on the water that is known as the iconic Ca d’Zan Mansion. When you come visit the museums it’s a celebration of the Ringling Circus decades of influential history which you don’t want to miss.

Big Cat Habitat

If your family loves animals, then we suggest heading over to the Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary. Located on Palmer Blvd in Sarasota you and your family can visit the safe haven for big cats and other animals. This sanctuary features 3 large habitats that are complete with swimming pools and plants to help create a more natural environment. What a wonderful way to learn and see demonstrations on how to understand conservation preservation.

Save Our Seabirds

With so many different wildlife that you may see while you are on the gulf coast, you will want to go see the Save Our Seabirds Conservation Center. Located on the Ken Thompson Parkway adjacent from the Mote Marine Aquarium, you and your family can see the center that rescues and cares for sick wild birds. They will release them back into their natural habitats once they have had time to healed and if there is a bird that isn’t able to return to the wild, then they will be a part of their Wild Bird Learning Center. Save Our Seabirds sits on about 3 acres of land and houses over 150 birds. As an outdoor museum that is used for educational purposes, this can be a great field trip while you vacation on Anna Maria Island.

Bayfront Park

Do you and your family love the outdoors and want to see more of Sarasota? Then head over the Bayfront Park where you can enjoy one of Sarasota’s best outdoor recreation spots. Here you can hike, ride a bike or jog as there are plenty of paths for you to enjoy. There are also full amenities here that your family can take advantage of such as playgrounds, picnic tables, restrooms and wildlife viewing area. Don’t forget your camera or phone so you can take beautiful pictures of the bay and city. The park is open from 6 am to 11 pm every day.

While there are plenty of things for you to do in the Sarasota area on your next vacation, don’t forget about some of the amazing things you can do here as well. Anna Maria Island is a vacation destination that you must visit every year with your family! Staying in one of our beautiful Water Access vacation rentals will keep you where you want to be. We want your next vacation to be as magical as the first one here on Anna Maria Island!

December 3, 2018August 10, 2022

Take A Visit To Orlando

There are so many things to do and see while you stay with us on Anna Maria Island but one attraction captivates the attention of most visitors. A trip to Orlando is fun for the entire family and isn’t far at all from our little island! Orlando is the perfect distance for a day trip and is a great way to take a break from the beach for a couple hours. Recently one of our AMI Locals visited Epcot, one of Disneys theme parks, and captured some video to show the food and wine festival and some of the other attractions you can visit within Epcot. Check out the videos below:

November 22, 2018August 10, 2022

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Come down to Anna Maria Island where we have tons of stuff for kids and adults. The island is an amazing place for kids and adults. We have playgrounds for the kids, tons of stores for shopping, Ice Cream shops and bars for you to enjoy. And don’t forget about the beautiful sunsets on the beaches of Anna Maria Island. So, come on down and stay in one of our wonderful houses with AMI Locals. We can’t wait to see you when you come.

-Savanna Coba 8 years old

Photo credits go to:

https://www.facebook.com/SmallTownCreamery/

https://www.facebook.com/westcoastsurfshop1964/

http://sunandsurfami.com

https://www.facebook.com/Two-Scoops-Ice-Cream-194072183988685/

https://www.theislandplayers.org/

October 18, 2018August 10, 2022

Food For Foodies On Anna Maria Island

If you’re a foodie then you definitely want to check out the places on this list! Anna Maria Island is known for some amazing eats and fun dining. Half the fun during a vacation should be the food which is why we wanted to put together a list of AMI Locals approved food for you foodies out there.

Wicked Cantina

If you are looking for good food and some AMAZING margaritas, then check out the Wicked Cantina. Located just off 7th St., this little restaurant is known for their burgers, tacos and seafood. And while you’re there be sure to try one of their famous margaritas.

Slim’s Place

Fresh seafood, cheesesteaks and good beer is what you will find at Slim’s Place! Slim’s is located right on Gulf Dr. and is a great place to stop if you are looking for some real Philly Steaks and real good beer. This dive is definitely a place to check out when you are in the area and need a drink.

Duffy’s

Last but certainly not least is Duffy’s Tavern! If you are looking for a good burger, then Duffy’s is the place for you. This dive has a “lay back and relax” sort of atmosphere that really helps you realize that you are now on beach time at Anna Maria Island.

Person holding a burger at Duffy's

And if you are still wondering where to go for some good food or drinks, just give one of our AMI Locals a call. We know Anna Maria Island and the surrounding areas backwards and forward. Don’t miss out on some of these amazing local eats!

October 5, 2018August 10, 2022

A Walk At City Park On Anna Maria Island

Looking for a quiet park to have a picnic or maybe take the family for a stroll? Head over to the city park on Anna Maria Island and enjoy the peaceful, water front views. This park also has picnic tables and paved walkways so everyone can come along and have a blast. Located at the end of 69th street and Holmes, it’s an easy spot to get to no matter where you are on the island.

Looking for Directions to the park? Click Here

There are also tons of other place to check out on the island. If you aren’t familiar with everything to do on Anna Maria Island then you should check out our Things To do page and find out just how much this area has to offer.

September 28, 2018August 10, 2022

Rock Climbing In St. Petersburg Florida

What do some of our AMI Locals do on their day off?

Well rock climbing of course, at Vertical Ventures in St. Petersburg! With St. Petersburg being such a short drive away from Anna Maria Island, it makes it so easy to go check out this awesome Rock Climbing Gym on your vacation to Anna Maria Island. Escape the rain or the sun, and find a fun and safe place to have some fun with the whole family. Sarah, one of our AMI Locals, and her husband decided to take the day and do some rock climbing and get some great video along the way.

Picture of rock climbing gym

As you can see here, there is plenty of space to climb! This gym has everything you need to get on the wall, from rock climbing shoes to chalk. One of the other great things about this rock climbing gym is that it is an attraction for the entire family, so no one will feel left out of this excursion. Check out this video of Sarah’s first attempt on the wall:

Overall, this place is awesome and a great way to spend some time if you are trying to escape the beach for a little while or just wanting a fun and different adventure. So what should you expect when you go to rock climb?

Here is a list of things to keep in mind when you go:

Don’t worry, they have ropes! It’s an extremely safe way to have a lot of fun.
They have everything you need as far as gear. You won’t need to bring anything except maybe your friends or family!
They will show you everything you need to know about the gear and rock wall.
And if you do want to bring something, snacks and water should be top of the list.
Remember to have fun! This isn’t the movie Cliffhanger and you’re not Sylvester Stallone 😉

To show you what a good time you’ll have, here is a picture of our AMI Local Sarah and her husband after a great time at the rock climbing gym.

Sarah and her husband at a rock gym

September 19, 2018August 10, 2022

Take A Fun Day In Downtown Sarasota Florida!

Looking to take a break from the Anna Maria beaches? Take a trip over to Sarasota and take in the beautiful views that this area has to offer. There are tons of things to see and do in Sarasota from the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens to the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art or if you have kids maybe you can spend some time at the fountains at the Bayfront Park. Sarasota is definitely a place to spend some time if you are vacationing to Anna Maria.

Check out this video of our very own Lisa and her daughter Savanna at the fountains at Bayfront Park:

The Bayfront Park in Sarasota is more than a splash pad. The views are beautiful and it’s a great way to take a walk and escape the beach for an hour or two. Here is another video of just one of the views at the Bayfront Park in Downtown Sarasota:

If you are looking for another place to take in scenery, you can always head over to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in downtown Sarasota. With over 15 acres of housing, 12 buildings (including 7 greenhouses) you will have plenty to look at and explore!

Here’s Our List

Also check out our list of things to do in the area here. You can also ask your AMI Local expert if you are planning a stay with us on Anna Maria Island, what they would suggest. There are so many things to see and explore around Anna Maria Island that you will want to keep coming back just to see it all.

September 16, 2018August 10, 2022

What to Do When It Rains on Anna Maria Island

Going on vacation is always fun especially when you go to the beach. But what if you have a day or two of rain when visiting Anna Maria Island? Don’t worry because there are plenty of things that you can do when it rains on Anna Maria Island. Let’s look below at a few activities that there are to do while you vacation in paradise.

Mote Marine Museum

What to Do When It Rains on Anna Maria Island

The Mote Marine Museum is a non-profit museum where you and your family can go and enjoy the day. The museum has many different exhibits that everyone in the family will want to enjoy. From their Shark Zone to the reef animals exhibits, you will be sure to learn about animals. The aquarium does offer a blend of entertainment and education with a working marine laboratory. You can visit this in Sarasota, Florida from 10 am to 5 pm seven days a week including holidays.

Anna Maria Island Jail & Historical Society

Visiting one of our historical museums can be so much fun for the whole family. You will not be disappointed if you come and visit the Old City Jail, the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum and more. The historical society museum was constructed in a 1920 icehouse and then became a auto garage, sea turtle hatchery and an admin building. The exhibits you will see will help tell the stories of the first settlers of the island and what they left behind. This is open on weekdays from 10 am to 1 pm. What a fun day to spent with the family!

South Florida Museum

What to Do When It Rains on Anna Maria Island

South Florida Museum is another great option to take the kids out while it rains. Here you will be able to explore the largest natural and cultural history museum on the Florida’s Gulf Coast. Not only do you get to visit all the exhibits at the South Florida Museum, but you will also be able to visit the Parker Manatee Aquarium and the Bishop Planetarium as well. Admission to get in is $19 for each adult, $17 for Seniors 65+, $12 for each child from 4-12. Children under 4 do get in for free with each paying adult. Don’t let this visit slip by when you visit Anna Maria Island!

There are many other things that you can do while it rains on your vacation, but these are just a few we thought you’d enjoy. And if you don’t feel like going out for the day in the rain, then spend your time at your gulf view vacation rental. Bring board games or play a game of cards with the family. Watch movies or just enjoy a nice afternoon nap. No matter when you come to visit paradise and a rainy day happens, there is always something for you to do!

September 13, 2018August 10, 2022

Daily Beach Conditions September 12th, 2018

This post is the first of many showing off our live videos of our beautiful Anna Maria Island! We want everyone to stay updated on the conditions of our wonderful little island and we also like to show it off… because let’s face it, who doesn’t love Anna Maria Island? This most recent LIVE video was taken at the public beach at the end of Manatee Ave.

On this day we caught some people enjoying the clear beaches and even had some snorkelers out in the water. Most people don’t know that right now is one of the best times to visit Anna Maria Island because there aren’t many crowds and you can find some AMAZING deals when it comes to vacation rentals. Much like Montego Bay which is 40% right now as an “end of summer” deal!

Check out this video and you will see exactly what we mean and you may even want to experience it for yourself?