|
|
 Florida is paradise for water sports, with more than 1,000 miles of beaches and more than 8,400 miles of shoreline. Before you venture out into “Water Sport-land”, there are a few points to ponder: know your limitations and swim near a lifeguard stand; you can swim in 6 feet of water just as well as 25 feet of water, so don’t go too far out. Learn the “Sting Ray Shuffle”.
This is not really a dance, although it might look like one from the distance. It is a way to hopefully avoid being stung by a stingray. When stingrays are spotted, make sure you shuffle your feet when you wade into the water. The shuffling motion will scare them hopefully away. You can get stung when the fish whips its barbed tail around to protect itself. The released toxin can be extremely painful. Don’t try that out. How do you know if stingrays are a round? An easy way is to pay attention to the beach flags flown at the lifeguard stands on county beaches. Green always means that conditions are OK. A yellow flag flies when caution is urged. A red flag flying means no swimming allowed, with dangerous conditions such as lightning making it prudent to stay out of the water. A blue flag means dangerous marine life, such as stingrays, sharks or jellyfish. |
|
 Everybody likes a nice suntan, but let’s be careful out there. Always put on plenty of good sunscreen, ware good sunglasses to cut out glare, make sure to bring clothes that will cover you up and try to avoid the time slot when sun’s ultraviolet rays are at their strongest (11 AM to 2 PM). And don’t forget to drink plenty of fluids (preferably water). In the summertime lifeguards see at least two cases of heatstroke per day. One can of a soft drink is simply not enough while baking in the sun for hours. |
|
The first settlers drawn to enjoy this natural wonderland were the Timucuan Indians who inhabited the area as early as 1000 A.D. Legend has it that these settlers named the Manatee River for the gentle sea cows which can be found slowly swimming in area inlets. In 1530, Spanish explorers (including the infamous Hernando DeSoto) laid claim to the area, proclaiming it to be ruled under the Spanish Crown. After unsuccessful attempts at colonization, the Spaniards eventually abandoned the area and the Florida Gulf Coast was quiet once again and for several hundred years to follow.
In 1892, George Emerson Bean became the first permanent resident, annexing an area which today comprises most of the city of Anna Maria. Curiously enough, one of the founding citizens was George Roser, inventor of the Fig Newton. The memorial chapel he built in honor of his mother in the early 1900s still stands and is an active church for locals.
At the turn of the century, the atmosphere was uniquely scenic and very remote as the only way to reach the island was by boat. It wasn’t until 1922 that Anna Maria was connected to the mainland. A wooden bridge extending from the fishing village of Cortez was constructed, the remnants of which can still be spotted today if you drop by to check out the sights in Cortez. |
|
|
|
Information about the Area
|
|
 Now it is time to embark on a little journey in order to get more aquainted with this beautiful place on earth.
We will start as far north as Anna Maria Island, and we will follow the Barrier Islands south until we reach Gasparilla Island. From there our trip will bring us further inlands. Eventually the circle will be closed again once we have reached Manatee County. Anna Maria Island Let us start with the crown jewels of Sarasota neighborhoods: Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, Lido and Bird Key, Siesta, Manatee und Casey Key, Don Pedro and Gasparilla Islands. |
Anna Maria Island (movie) is the northernmost of a string of barrier islands that extend in a southerly direction. Located on the West Coast of Florida, about 35 Miles south of Tampa, Anna Maria Island is the barrier between the turquoise Waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. Almost 8 miles of white sand beaches are stretching along the gulf coastline southwards to Longboat Key Pass. The beautiful homes on the key are surrounded by lush sub-tropical vegetation; and when you hear  the island birds you feel the peace and security of times gone by. Yes, Anna Maria has actually resisted changing over the years. On this laid back island you will still experience the “old Florida”. Learn to spend your days with the simple things in life again: fishing, shelling, or swimming. Reading a good book in the shade of a palm tree while the fronds are swaying in the balmy air can be soooooo relaxing. There is an extensive canal network throughout the island – many homes have their own deep water dockage and many homes offer spectacular bay views Maria Island is easily accessible by automobile over 2 bridges (Manatee and Cortez Bridge) from the mainland, and 2 major Airports, Sarasota International and Tampa International, are only “a stone’s throw” away. Neighborhoods: Anna Maria City, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach |
|
Longboat Key Although it is known as a private island, Longboat Key's 12 mile sun-drenched miles are a popular destination for visitors from all around the world. Longboat Key's span crosses through both Sarasota and Manatee Counties. If you are the athletic type,activities on Longboat Key are endless. Fishing, shelling, biking, rollerblading, watersports ....you name it.....you can do it on Longboat Key. Tennis and Golf enthusiasts are welcome to take advantage of the first-class Longboat Key Country Clubs.  After a round of golf or game of tennis enjoy cocktails by sunset, dinner by candlelight or a performance in the city. Elegant, perfectly manicured, Longboat Key is Sarasota’s center for glamour. The island is only one bridge away from Sarasota, and the city offers many cultural activities from the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center, Ringling Museum, Asolo Theater, Ringling, Sarasota Ballet to the Sarasota Opera House.It was circus magnate John Ringling, a name you will hear and see everywhere in Sarasota (History), who in 1925 envisioned a beautifully landscaped boulevard running the full length of the barrier island. Today’s “Gulf of Mexico Drive” is the magnificently landscaped thoroughfare that John Ringling had imagined. His dream actually came true. It winds past hidden driveways and side streets, lush greenways and parks, magnificent homes and condominiums. (Movie: Longboat Key to Bradenton.) Neighborhoods: Bay Isles, Longboat Village, Conrad Beach, Country Club Shore. |
|
Bird Key Bird Key is located just across the new majestic Ringling Bridge from downtown Sarasota to your left and just before famous St. Armands Circle. Bird Key is called a boater’s paradise and that is even an understatement. The Key, with its own private yacht club, has many homes with their own deep water dockage or at least a spectacular bay view. The owners of those spectacular homes Enjoy blazing sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico. At night, the expansive Sarasota Skyline glistens to life across a shimmering expanse of Sarasota Bay. There are no condos on Bird Key, only single family homes. Architectural styles on Bird Key Florida are eclectic, ranging from "old" Florida to Spanish Mediterranean to contemporary. You will find impressive new homes mixed with spectacular renovations of Bird Key’s original homes. There are only 510 luxury homes on the island composed of 303 waterfront properties and 207 interior homes. Bird Key residents include a mix of doctors, attorneys, professionals, retirees and even a few celebrities. John Ringling purchased the island in the early 1920’s as a part of his ambitious plans to develop a magnificent resort on the three barrier islands (Longboat, Lido and Bird Key). He built the first bridge for easy access to and from the mainland. Neighborhoods: Lido Key Lido Key Lido Key is connected to Sarasota mainland by St Armands Key with a bridge and to Longboat Key on the north with another bridge. St. Armands Circle is a key by itself and is often thought of as a part of Lido Key. Strangely enough, it is actually its own key. With the world- famous shopping at St. Armands Circle, the fascinating Mote Marine Aquarium and some of the finest restaurants in the area, Lido Key is one pearl in the string of the Barrier Islands. It is embedded in lush sub-tropical scenery only steps away from the azure shores of Lido beach. Visionary John Ringling saw the island high potential and bought St. Armands Key in 1917 and planned a development that was laid out in a circle. Today the rotary and Italian-Style garden is an enchanting shopping, restaurant and nightlife district renowned for its continental flavor and graceful synthesis of past and present. Antique statuary and contemporary architecture contribute to an international atmosphere. Neighborhoods: St Armands Circle |
|
The Gulf and the great Outdoors The serene gulf waters of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key are known for washing away the frenetic demands of the outside world. Time and again even the most beleaguered fast-trackers find themselves slowing down, breathing deeply, and soaking in the calm, beautiful, natural world of Florida’s Gulf Islands. Beaches, parks, restaurants, resorts – they all make the most of the lush native landscape, warm sunshine, and shimmering green Gulf of Mexico, capturing and showcasing the area’s natural wonders in an uninterrupted stream of Florida magic.
The main road into the islands, Gulf Drive, is one of America’s most scenic byways, stretching from northern Anna Maria Island down to the southern tip of Longboat Key. A leisurely drive along this picturesque thoroughfare reveals some of the best views of the Gulf of Mexico, Intracoastal Waterway, and Coquina Beach. With windows down and salty breeze blowing, visitors enjoy a rolling preview of colorful vegetation, local wildlife, quaint towns, and heavenly views of the gulf’s great outdoors. | 
| Turtle walk No doubt about it, the life of a loggerhead turtle is fraught with danger. Between the imminent danger of the all too eager bird’s beak, the jaws of a hungry fish, and the rough and tumble welcome of the gulf surf, baby sea turtles have the odds stacked against them. So the non-profit Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch figures the least they can do is see that the turtle nests are undisturbed. In 2007, there were more than 100 turtle nests on Anna Maria Island, each under the watchful protection of a dedicated team of volunteers.
The Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch also hosts turtle walks, guided night tours, and educational classes for kids. A trained team of volunteers also serves as a highly specialized rescue team that can be called upon should anyone encounter an injured turtle or exposed nest. Night tours offer the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to possibly witness the miracle of baby turtle hatchlings heading for the surf. |
|
| Anna Maria Island - what a different world Is there any place that isn't filled with high-rise condos or gated golf communities, a spot where you can walk uncrowded beaches in the late afternoon or ride a bike fearlessly? Where restaurants totter at the end of fish piers and serve fresh grouper? Where you find luscious key lime pie with a meringue topping in an old cottage painted aqua and pink?
Well, you can, here on this 7-mile-long barrier island west of Bradenton and directly north of Longboat Key.
Longboat is high-rise, upscale and gated. Anna Maria Island is low-key, low-rise and open. You are looking for a million-dollar villa, a beautifully restored home or a rustic cottage? Have you ever considered living on a beautiful subtropical island? Close to everything but with a private island feel? Maybe Anna Maria Island would be the spot for you. | Bird Key, as mentioned before, is an upscale neighborhood with 510 home sites and an active Homeowner's Association. Many of the original homes that were built during the 1950's have been replaced with elegant estate homes. Currently, homes on Lido Key range from $995,000 for a 2600 square foot pool home built in 1957 on Morningside Drive with deeded beach access to $3,850,000 for an elegant, dramatic European estate with a dock, full bay view and nanny's quarters on Washington Drive. Condos start at $149,000 for a one bedroom 300 square foot on Roosevelt Drive to a new luxury 6,000 square foot Orchid Bay penthouse with valet parking, concierge desk, fireplace, caterer's kitchen and the best marble and granite for $4,675,000. |
|
|
|
|
Step 1 - Enter Search Details
|
|
|
|
Price:
|
to
USD
|
|
Bedrooms:
|
|
|
Bathrooms:
|
|
|
|
|
Types:
|
Please pick at least one Type.
|
|
|
|
*
Minimum of 1 Type is required
|
|
Locations:
|
|
To narrow search results, click the "Specify Locations" radio button above.
|
|
Please pick at least one Location.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Stone Crab Season Oct. 15 – May 15
The lobster is to Maine as the stone crab is to the Sunshine State. Florida’s favorite crustacean is actually a tasty cousin of the Maine lobster and the Maryland blue crab. Regardless of its family tree, the stone crab is a delectable delight whether served cold or steamed. Lucky for island visitors, stone crab makes an appearance on the menus of local beachside shacks as well as swanky restaurants in the area. The tasty white meat isn’t as rich as lobster and has more flavor than Maryland blue crab, making it a fan of many. About three million pounds of stone crabs are harvested a year to keep up with the popular demand. Vacationers who get hooked on the taste will find prices a bit hefty if they want the claws shipped on ice to them. Maybe it would be easier just to plan another visit!
| 
The Secret Lives of Dolphins |
|
|
|