Guide For
Guests
LINGER-LONGER DUPLEX
104 Oak Avenue, Anna Maria
Guide For
Guests  |
Welcome to Linger-Longer, and to
Anna Maria Island. I grew up in Tampa and first came to Anna Maria when I was a
child. I fell in love with it and promised myself to someday buy a home on this
wonderful place. I share this great island and my home with you so that you too
may enjoy the beautiful beach, wonderful fishing, great eating, and the
carefree lifestyle of island living. Mi Casa es su casa. Enjoy!
Loida
Wilson
PS Please see driving directions from the airports at the end of this information.
All you really need is your tooth brush and your swim suit. I provide the rest. Each apartment is fully equipped with bed linens, bath and beach towels, and a washer/dryer. There is a shower outside as well, to wash off the beach sand. The kitchen is also fully equipped with full size refrigerator, oven and stove top, microwave, coffee pot and toaster. If you like to cook, all necessary pots and pans as well as dishes, cups, glasses, and utensils are there for your use. If you think of anything that is lacking, please call Sato Real Estate at 778-7220.
There is a TV and VCR in each apartment as well. Videos may be rented at several local video shops. Barb's video at 3230 E. Bay Dr. in Holmes Beach 778-3325 has a nice selection. The air conditioning and heating units are in good working order.
Each apartment comes with a vacuum cleaner and other cleaning materials for your comfort. If you prefer to pay for professional cleaning services during your stay, please call Sato Real Estate and they can recommend someone.
If you are visiting in June through September, please don't leave outside lights on after dark. Anna Maria is a major nesting area for sea turtles. Sea turtle hatchlings seek to find the sea by going towards the light…moon and stars. However, now if they see a brighter light caused by a light bulb, they head in that direction which is not to sea! If the hatchlings head toward this light, they will never reach the sea and die trying. So please lower the blinds and turn off all outside lights.
Anna Maria Island is 7.6 miles (12.5km) long and about 1 mile wide. It is a key, which is a low island or reef. It has three incorporated municipalities:
1. Bradenton Beach, which occupies the southernmost 2.75 miles (4.5km) of the island and has about 1,700 permanent residents. It attracts a younger and more transient population than the other two towns. Bradenton Beach has a lot of motels and condominiums. Major attractions include Coquina Beach and the fishing pier on the bay side of the historic Bridge Street area.
2. Holmes Beach occupies the middle 3.25 miles (5.3km) of the island and has about 5,000 permanent residents. It includes most of the shopping areas on the island. Most of the area is largely single family residential homes. Major attractions include Manatee County Public Beach and many restaurants and shops.
3. Anna Maria is the northernmost 1.6 miles (2.6km) of the island and has about 1800 permanent residents. Anna Maria is the quietest of the three towns and the most isolated. It is virtually all single-family homes apart from two small single-story motels. Major attractions include three fishing piers, (the Rod and Reel Pier on the Gulf side doubles as an excellent place for breakfast and lunch) and the abounding wild life-birds, porpoises and the sea turtles of course! Bird watchers can have a wonderful time walking the beaches. Because the town is so small, the beaches are never crowded, never! Very limited parking for day visitors keeps it very private on the beach.
Most people come to Anna Maria to enjoy the beach, sun, wild life, and privacy. Your beach is a two minute walk from the house. Between the house and the beach is a natural wild life preserve that protects the beach. I have traveled to see many beaches and I have to admit, the beaches on Anna Maria are the most beautiful of any place I've traveled. Sugar white sand and clear blue/green water make this area a sight to behold.
The only beaches which have life guards on the island are at the public parks: Manatee County Public Beach in Holmes Beach and Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach.
Please be aware that the sun is very hot and strong most of the year and we recommend sunscreen as a MUST all year around. Generally the water is pretty safe. The Gulf is seldom rough enough to cause any problems. But as always in any body of water, use caution. In the summer, when walking in the water, watch out for young sting rays. They congregate in shallow water in the summer and can inflict a painful sting if stepped on. They'll get out of your way if they feel you coming so just shuffle your feet as you walk in the water and they will not bother you.
Among the great features of the beach in front of Linger-Longer are the spectacular sunsets. Lots of people migrate toward the Gulf Beaches on a clear evening just to see them. But you won't have to migrate, just walk down to the beach with you cocktail (in a plastic glass of course) in hand and enjoy the sunset. Even the weather cooperates. It's always beach weather on Anna Maria! Here are the average monthly temperatures for Anna Maria:
|
High |
Low |
Gulf |
|
|
January |
71 |
56 |
61 |
|
February |
76 |
59 |
63 |
|
March |
81 |
63 |
70 |
|
April |
86 |
68 |
73 |
|
May |
90 |
72 |
80 |
|
June |
91 |
76 |
85 |
|
July |
93 |
78 |
86 |
|
August |
93 |
78 |
87 |
|
September |
91 |
72 |
81 |
|
October |
85 |
72 |
81 |
|
November |
77 |
63 |
72 |
|
December |
71 |
58 |
64 |
The great thing about the weather is that it's almost always sunny. The actual number of "rain days" in the northern sense are few and far between. When rain does come, it's usually in the form of a thunder shower that comes and goes in a matter of a few minutes. The downside of the weather here is the hurricane season. The Gulf coast is not in the direct line of most hurricanes, but take them seriously if a hurricane threatens southern or Gulf Coast Florida, follow its progress carefully and get out if necessary. The peak season is September through October each year.
If you like to go places on bicycles, they are available at Island Rental Service 3214 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach, 778-1472. They also rent many other items like cribs, etc. There is also Native Rentals, 5302 Marina Dr, Holmes Beach, 778-7757.
To help you get around, there are maps of the island at many shops and at all real estate offices and the Chamber of Commerce has a ton of information. The Chamber is located just as you come onto the island at Holmes Beach before the light on Marina Drive.
There is bus service around the island and to and from Bradenton. This is called the "Manatee CAT" for Manatee County Area Transit. Route 5 covers the island from Pine Avenue to Longboat Key, on Longboat Key to the Holiday Inn, and into Bradenton as far as 59th Street West and Blake Hospital. From there, other routes connect to the rest of Bradenton, Palmetto and the Sarasota/ Bradenton Airport. For schedule and fare information, call 749-7116.
| Anna Maria Island Historical
Museum - 402 Pine Avenue in Ann Maria. 10 minutes by foot; 2 minutes by
car. A preservation of the island’s rich history through photographs,
documents, etc. 778-0492.
Boating - Excursion boats are available with:
The Anna Maria Boat Club has boat and jet ski rentals. Boat Ramps - Nearby ramps include:
Busch Gardens - Amusement/Theme Park and Open Air Zoo, located about 90 minutes north at 3000 East Busch Blvd., Tampa. 813-987-5082. Cypress Gardens - Beautiful gardens and water show park. Located near Winter Haven about 100 minutes northeast. 800-282-2123. DeSoto National Memorial - Commemorates visit of Hernando DeSoto, first European explorer of this region. Located about 20 minutes away, at Shaw’s Point on the mouth of the Manatee River. 792-0458. Disney World - Located about 120 minutes northeast near Orlando. You’ve heard about this one. 407-824-4321. Disney’s Animal Kingdom - New feature at the Disney complex. The official description reads, "Animal Kingdom combines close encounters with 1,000 real-life wild animals of 200 species, plus dinosaurs, legendary creatures and animated Disney stars. At 500 acres, it is Disney’s largest park. On safaris, visitors ride through a re-creation of Africa’s savannas and forests." 7am-10pm weekdays; 7am-8pm weekends. 407-824-4321. Fishing - Licenses are not required for pier salt water fishing. One popular stop is the Anna Maria City Pier at the east end of Pine Street. Also, there’s the Rod & Reel Pier, at 875 North Shore Drive. Bait is available at both piers. Licenses are required for surf fishing by non-resident adults over the age of 16. Charter services include:
For fresh water fishing, licenses are required. Call 748-8000 for information. Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum - Tour a rustic section of rural Manatee County, pulled by an old diesel locomotive. Located about 35 minutes away on highway 301 in Parrish (east of Ellenton). 722-4272. Gamble Plantation - Only surviving ante bellum plantation house in South Florida. Located about 25 minutes away at 3708 Patten Avenue in Ellenton. 723-4536. Kite-Flying - Kites are a favorite beach past-time. Kites and supplies are sold at Flash Flights Kite Shop, 5348C Gulf Drive, S&S Plaza, Holmes Beach. 778-7600. Mote Marine Aquarium - Non-profit lab and aquarium. About 35 minutes south on Lido Key (one island south of Longboat). Small aquarium, but high quality. Emphasis on education. Has please-touch tanks. You can seee two manatees here, Buffett and Hugh. They're at the marine mammal facility across the street from the main aquarium. Great for kids. Excellent gift shop; snack bar. Open 10-5 daily. Adults $8; kids $6; under 4 free. 388-2451. Myakka River State Park - 28,875 acre state park located west of Sarasota on Route 72. About 70 minutes away. Airboat rides. Driving tour. Outstanding area to view alligators; also diverse bird life. Camping, boating, fishing, bike rentals, gift shop & snack bar. 361-6511. Professional Sports - The Pittsburgh Pirates play their pre-season games in March at McKechnie Field, 1701 27th Street E, Bradenton. 20 minute drive. 748-4610. The Tampa/St. Pete area features teams in the NFL (Tampa Bay Buccaneers-800-282-0683), the NHL (Tampa Bay Lightning-813-229-2658), and a Major League baseball team, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. For the NBA, you’ll need to go to Orlando (135 minutes away-407-649-2222). All of these teams’ facilities are 50-75 minutes away. South Florida Museum - Museum of natural history and local historic exhibits. Also includes the Bishop Planetarium and the Parker Manatee Aquarium (two live manatees, Snooty and Newton, are in residence - Snooty celebrated his 50th birthday in 1999, and is the oldest Manatee in captivity). Located at 201 10th Street West in Bradenton, about 20 minutes away. 746-4131. Theatres - There is a theatre company on the island, the Island Players, based at the Island Playhouse at the corner of Pine Avenue and Gulf Drive in Anna Maria. This building also happens to be one of the oldest still standing on the island. Call 778-6878 for information. There are no movie theatres on the island, but there are several in Bradenton, including the Oakmont 8 at 4801 Cortez Road in Bradenton (south side of the road in a shopping center) that has multiple screens. My experience is that this theatre is seldom crowded. 20 minute drive. Also, there's the Bradenton 8 at Cortez & 71st Street, and Desoto Square 6 at the Desoto Square Mall . Contact all theatres at 379-6684. |
||
| If you play golf, you of course are
aware that it is the most frustrating, exhilarating game on earth. At least in
Florida, you can usually count on decent weather.
There are lots of golf courses nearby (27 in Manatee County; many more in Sarasota County - (this link takes you to a partial list), but only one 9-hole private course on the island. That’s OK by me, cause my golf balls find sand easily enough without being on a barrier island to boot. I’ve played these courses and have enjoyed them all. There are many others too, so explore.
All of the above courses are moderately priced; call for specifics; all (last time I checked anyway) offered special prices for late day tee times. |
There are many, many restaurants, on and off the island, where you can find whatever cuisine pleases you best, at whatever price point you'd prefer. There are about 50 restaurants, bars, and take out establishments on the island. Off the island in the Sarasota-Bradenton area there are hundreds of restaurants. I have too many favorites to name them all but I prefer to stay on the island or go into Long Boat Key to eat.
There are three banks located on the
island:
All these banks have ATM's. There are also a variety of other banks on Manatee Avenue in Bradenton. All these banks have ATM’s and lots of the larger stores do too now, so you're never far from an ATM.
Here is a list of churches on the island. Although I’ve included information on times, you really should call first for the latest information because service times generally change with the season.
There are a couple of small grocery stores in Anna Maria, the 307 Pine General Store (778-4656) and the Island Kitchen and Market (really a convenience store) at 416 Pine Avenue.
An excellent grocery sore, Publix, is located in Holmes Beach.
Walgreen's Drugstore, 3248 E. Bay Dr., Holmes Beach (941) 778-0461
For medical emergencies, call 911
The Poison Information Center is at 1-800-282-3171.
There is a medical clinic on the island at 503 Manatee Avenue in Holmes Beach. 778-0711.
There are two hospitals in Bradenton:
There are newspaper racks (the kind you feed change) located in Anna Maria (1) on North Shore Drive, north of the house, at about 823, (2) outside the 307 Pine General Store on Pine Avenue, and (3) near the city buildings at the corner of Pine Avenue and Gulf Drive. There is also a convenience store located at 5353 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach; they have a pretty good selection of newspapers. The island newspaper, The Islander Bystander, is available free by the check-out counter of many businesses throughout the island. You should pick up a copy; it contains lots of useful information on restaurants, real estate and other available services.
There is aWalgreensdrugstore on Gulf Drive.
There’s also a large Eckerd’s drugstore (778-1411) in Holmes Beach next to the First Union National Bank at 5313 Gulf Drive.
The closest Post Office is at 9908 Gulf Drive in Anna Maria. Call 788-3450. If you need to receive mail while here, you can rent a PO box, or have mail addresseed to General Delivery, care of Anna Maria Post Office, Anna Maria, FL 34216.
Garbage collection occurs in the morning on Mondays and Thursdays. There should be two good-sized plastic cans available for your use in the garage.
Recyclables (glass containers, plastic containers, aluminum and tin cans, and newspapers) are collected on Mondays only. There is a large blue container in which you may collect your containers. Newspapers, if you have any, may be collected in paper grocery bags, and placed with the containers. Recyclables must be taken to the side streets for pickup -- Oak or Mangrove.
Although we don’t expect you to do any yard work for us, FYI, yard waste is collected on Wednesdays.
Take 275 South and head towards St. Petersburg. When you get near the Tropicana Stadium, about 20 min. in St. Pete you'll see a sign that says BRADENTON take that lane towards Bradenton.
You are now headed to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. You'll pay a 1 dollar toll and go over the Bridge. This is about ½ way approx. 30 minutes.
Take the next right after the toll...at this point you'll not be on 275 S. I believe the sign says Bradenton. There will be a restaurant called the Crab Shack on your right a bit down the road.
Next will be a fork in the road. Go left towards Bradenton. This is a small hill and on the left about 1/2 mile will be a Raceway Gas Station. (Cheapest gas in the area) Take the signs to Bradenton. You have to go through Bradenton to get to the Beaches.
When you see the Manatee Civic Center on your left, take the next right exit towards downtown Bradenton......at this point you will not be on 275. You will go over another bridge and see Manatee Memorial Hospital on your left.
At that light you'll see signs for Anna Maria/ Beaches. Take a right towards the beaches. You are now about 20 minutes away. You'll be on Manatee Ave. You will go through downtown Bradenton. Lots of strip malls after the downtown area. Continue straight......through the causeway with water on both sides.......go straight......
Go straight to the end, about 10 min. You 'll see an Eckerd's on your left at a light; you are close.... Go through the light till you come to another light and you'll see the Public Beach in front of you and there is a light right there.
If you go straight, you go into the public beach.....turn right at the light. Follow the road for about 1 mile and there will be another light, in front will be a gas station.
Take a right onto Marina Dr., about 5 min. Go straight pass the library, fire station etc. There will be two churches that you pass on the right. At the second church (a Baptist church), slow down, the speed limit is 25 and they ticket like mad. You will see Oak Ave about three or four blocks past the second church.
IF you need to pick up keys at the realtor follow this section, if not proceed to the next paragraph. Continue going straight until you get to Pine Ave. There will be a restaurant on the far right corner at this intersection and on the near right corner is the Anna Maria Play house. Turn right on Pine Ave. and head down until you see a purple building on the right just before the city pier. Their address is 519 Pine Ave. They will leave the keys in the mail box on the door for you to pick up. If they are open just go in and let them know who you are and they'll give you the keys. They have your name already.
Their number is 941-778-7200. Then just back track your steps to Oak Ave below but remember that now you'll have to turn right onto Oak.
When you see OAK Ave. Turn left and go one block to Kaye Lane, (there is a large yellow house on the corner)....it is a small alley and turn right onto Kaye and we are the 3rd house on the left. It is a two story house with a carport on back....you'll come in from the back. The phone is 941-779-1022 upstairs unit. Downstairs phone 941-779-2044.
When you exit the airport, follow signs to I-275. You will proceed from Route 686 (Roosevelt Blvd.) to Route 688 (Ulmerton Road) and back onto Roosevelt Boulevard before entering I-275, a total distance of about 4 miles. Take I-275 South, and proceed through St. Petersburg. After about 13 miles on I-275, US 19 merges with I-275, and you cross the Sunshine Skyway (toll).
Proceed with third paragraphs under "A" above from there on.
When you exit the airport, go north on US 41. After about 3 miles (just past 63rd Avenue West), take a left onto Bayshore Gardens Parkway. Go west about 1 mile, and take a right onto 26th Street West. Proceed north about 1.4 miles, and take a left onto 53rd Avenue West. Proceed west about 3 miles, and this will curve to the right, and head north, becoming 75th Street West. After another mile, you will cross Cortez Road. You can get to the island by going left here, but it is quicker to cross Cortez, and proceed another 3 miles north on 75th Street. You will then reach Route 64, Manatee Avenue. Turn Left and continue straight through the causeway.
Proceed with 7th paragraph under "A" above from there on, except that you will travel only about 4 miles on Manatee Avenue before reaching Route 789.
Jason D. Sato
P.A.
Sato Real Estate Inc.
519 Pine Ave. P.O. Box 928 Anna Maria, Fl
34216
941-778-7200 Office 941-778-7220 Fax
sales@satorealestate.com