Anna Maria -- The Perfect Beach Getaway!

The best thing about Anna Maria Island is the atmosphere. It is a beach town. The Gulf of Mexico surrounds you. Where there isn't the gulf, there is the bay. There are no tall buildings or neon signs. There are no McDonald's or sprawling Hyatts. There is sun, sand, seafood, and relaxation.

Still, you'll find things to do beside the beach. Check out the Mote Aquarium, the Sarasota Jungle Gardens, the Ringling Museum, and if you really need some excitement, Tampa and Busch Gardens are a short drive away.

Quick Tips:

Take time to drive around the island. Stop in local stores and talk to the townspeople. You'll find they are happy to talk about their island of beauty.

The restaurants are wonderful. Most offer homemade meals with a friendly attitude and a beautiful view. So many of the places offer fresh seafood. The smaller cafés are just as good, if not better, than the larger eateries. You'll find all-you-can-eat pancake breakfasts, jumbo hand-pressed burgers by the bay, and fresh fish with a view of the gulf - and homemade ice cream in all kinds of flavors.

Best Way To Get Around:

The Manatee Trolley is free and worth taking. See my review for further information.

Otherwise, you'll need a car if you want to try the different restaurants and sights. The island is simple to drive. Stay with the gulf on your left (or right) and you'll circle it. At the tip is the Rod and Reel Pier Restaurant and small boutiques for shopping.

To get off of the island, you have three bridges, either through Sarasota, Bradenton, or over to Longboat Key (which provides access to St. Armand's Circle, Lido Beach, and Siesta Key).

Best Things Nearby:
Anna Maria is a wonderful beach destination. The beach is incredible and there are incredible places to dine on the sand and watch the gulf.

Best Things About the Resort:
The resort is situated in a convenient area on Anna Maria to shops and restaurants. The unit is large and clean. Staff members are friendly and offer daily activities. It feels more like a personally owned condo than a hotel unit.

Resort Experience:
This was one of my favorite trips! I was a bit skeptical when I arrived at the resort, as I hate staying "off" the beach. However, the unit, resort and surrounding area more than made up for the lack of proximity. The units are three stories with so much space and big windows throughout. There is a nice breeze at night and sunlight all day. They provide more than you can ever use by way of paper towels, soap, towels, etc. The only disadvantage to the unit is that you have to carry luggage up and down two flights of stairs.

The beach is across the road and a half block – it’s a very easy walk. It was not crowded and absolutely gorgeous (reminded me of the Caribbean). The public Manatee Beach is nearby with facilities.

Upon arrival, we were given a welcome packet with area menus, things to do, activities, directions, and maps. The staff seemed to genuinely want for me to have a nice stay and enjoy their island. Everyone on the island was friendly.

We participated in several activities with Kathy, the director: fishing at the sister resort (Smuggler's Cove) where poles and bait were provided, a one-hour trolley ride, and shell photo frame making. There were many other things that we skipped so that we could enjoy the beach as much as possible Kathy took pictures of everyone and gave them to the guests the following day. All activities were completely free of charge.

The pool was fairly empty for such a busy week and had plenty of lounge chairs scattered around. The water was very warm.

Restaurants on the island were amazing – all were reasonably priced and had spectacular views. If you like to eat on the water, I suggest: the Beach House, the Rod and Pier Restaurant, the Anna Maria Pier Restaurant, Cafe on the Beach, the Sea Shack, Sand Bar, and Rotten Ralph's. Stay away from Bongo's on the Manatee Bridge -- the older hostess was very nasty and the food was a la carte ($2 for mashed potatoes, $2.75 for veggies, etc.). The band was so loud that we couldn't talk. Everywhere else was wonderful.

I love this resort and island and would return without hesitation.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Best Things Nearby:
The resort is situated directly on the beach. It is within easy driving distance to many restaurants. Tampa/Busch Gardens is a 1-hour drive to the north.

Best Things About the Resort:
The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The resort and unit are clean. The gulf-front units are directly on the sand, with nothing between you and the beach. There is a gourmet restaurant on site (Beach Bistro) and ample parking.

Resort Experience:
Our unit was no. 111 on the first-floor and directly on the gulf. There are only two units on the first floor that are gulf-front and two or three on the upper floors (nos. 225 and 226). The rest are located on the side of the resort (perhaps with a partial gulf view). There is a large pool and hot tub within the confines of the resort (room-key entry). The resort has two floors but no elevators.

We could watch the surf from the living room window or from the screened-in patio (equipped with two chairs and a small table). It wasn't very large or luxurious, but it was sufficient and clean. If you want somewhere that is gulf-front, this is a pleasant choice. The bathroom is very small, as is the bedroom (located in the back off of the hallway). The kids can play in front of the door on the sand. The unit had a full kitchen with a dishwasher. There is a TV with a VCR in the living room and a TV in the bedroom (a 19-inch, I think). The living room also had a pullout sofa. I did not see the units that were not gulf-front, so I can not comment on them.

We did not try the restaurant, but it received rave reviews as a romantic splurge. Reservations were required.

The beach is perfect: soft sand, shells, and beautiful water in a wide area. The resort offers sand toys and a few lounges for free.

While I wouldn't suggest this exchange if you were looking for an upscale resort or a place with many activities or amenities, I can, without hesitation, say that it is a nice place with a perfect location on a great beach. I plan to return soon.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Good
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Very Good

Best Things Nearby:
Busch Gardens is an hour drive to the north. Orlando takes two hours. Local attractions include the Mote Aquarium and pelican sanctuary, Sarasota Jungle Gardens, and the Ringling Museum. The beaches are wonderful for shelling and walking (usually very calm waves and warm temperatures). The island offers a free trolley throughout the day.

Via Roma is situated within easy driving distance to several excellent restaurants: The Beach House (watch the sunset on the gulf while dining outside on the patio sipping a Passion Fruit Colada), the Rod and Reel Pier (Enjoy the grilled Amberjack from their birds-eye view of the gulf), the Chart House (in Long Boat- don’t miss the macadamia crusted mahi mahi), Columbias (in St. Armands--tableside sangria and 1905 salad), and Mama Lo’s for ice cream (Anna Maria). These are just a few of the best!

Best Things About the Resort:
I liked Via Roma’s open design, beautiful view, cleanliness, and bright rooms. I was also impressed by the friendly and helpful staff.

Resort Experience:
I bought a unit at Via Roma last year after visiting all of the timeshares in the Anna Maria Island area. It is one of only two that are located directly on the beach.

I recently visited the resort again for an afternoon while in the area. The units are arranged by number, 20 units on the beach side with eight more, larger one-bedroom garden view units across the street. All of the units on the beach side have a pool and gulf view, with eight of them (one-bedrooms) directly on the sand, gulf front. The units across the street on the second floor also have a gulf view (from further back). I looked at a two-bedroom unit (#16) on the beach side that was closest to the street and could still see a nice view of the gulf from the bedrooms. I would think that the worst "view" units would be the garden view units across the street on the first floor. There is no elevator on the premises.

The layout of the two bedroom units is open: you walk into a living room/dining area/kitchen. The two bedrooms are next to each other in the back, with windows in each. They are attractively furnished, very bright and airy. The gulf front one-bedrooms each have a balcony, with direct access from the first floor units to the beach. None of the units would be considered huge; this is a small resort and the units are average in size. There is a daily towel exchange, and laundry facilities on the premises.

The pool is set in an open garden area, with views of the beach and gulf. There is also a hot tub. There are pool/beach toys kept under one set of stairs for guest use (the other staircase is a holding area for guests’ beach and pool stuff). Even though the resort was sold out, we found the pool to be uncrowded and found lounge chairs available. Everything was very clean.

The staff at Via Roma are worth noting. They are friendly and seem to genuinely enjoy talking with guests. They make you feel comfortable and "at home".

I would highly recommend Via Roma for a relaxing, carefree, beach vacation.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Imagine this:
You've spent the day on a beautiful, white powder sand beach. Your children played in the calm blue water and hunted for seashells. You are a golden tan and relaxed from a day in the sun. You go back to your resort, take showers, and put on casual eveningwear. Now you're ready for dinner at the Beach House.

The Beach House Restaurant is the perfect place for a relaxing family dining experience, with room for the kids to play on the beach while you sip a mango colada on the terrace next to them. You can enjoy your meal inside the large dining room or on the beachfront covered deck (where I always sit). Sometimes they have a musician at sunset, too. The view is absolutely amazing.

I felt like I could sit there forever enjoying the breeze, waves, sunset, good food, and drink. I never miss the opportunity to have at least one meal at the Beach House when I'm on Anna Maria Island.

The food is delicious, from the Sunset Salad at lunch to fried calamari or coconut shrimp appetizers and Scampi Anna Maria or the New York Strip steak for dinner. They have a very good children's menu as well. Children are given a special treat for dessert (a sherbet pop).

If you have an entertainment card, you can get one dinner for free. Check the Sarasota book for details. This will save you up to $20; it’s almost worth buying the card for this deal alone!

Inside you'll find a small gift shop with reasonable prices. They have some nice cotton casual wear and sometimes offer really good sales. They also carry matted lithographs of Anna Maria. When I'm on vacation, I usually buy a print by a local artist of the area to hang in my bedroom to remind me of the beautiful vacations I've enjoyed.

For more info about the Beach House, check out their website here. You'll find that the same owners also have two other places on the island. I've eaten at them as well. The Beach House is my favorite.

Rotten Ralph's is a unique and enjoyable dining experience. You can either eat indoors with windows all around or on the covered deck in the marina (it feels like you're in your backyard. That's if you lived on a yacht marina).

From the hanging rolls of paper towels to the all-you-can-eat British style fish and chips for $7.99, it is memorable. The food is exceptional, as is the service and atmosphere. The extensive menu caters to all tastes. One day the special was lobster, with a whole lobster and all the accompaniments for less than $20! It was delicious! My husband tried the all-you-can-eat fish and chips and really enjoyed it. The helpings were very generous. My mother tried the fried shrimp. She sent it back because she likes the shrimp well done. They returned exactly how she likes them.

They are open for lunch and dinner and sometimes offer live entertainment at night. They also have a full bar and pitchers of draft beer.

My kids enjoyed watching the seagulls and the yachts coming in. We were also fortunate to see dolphins playing in the water one day.

For more information, check out their website here. They have great photos that show you exactly what the restaurant looks like and their exact menu with prices.

Taking the Manatee trolley is a nice way to get around Anna Maria Island, whether it's going for lunch at the City Pier restaurant or an afternoon ice cream. It's fun for kids and free!

Where to Board: There are benches set up around the island with small trolley marker signs. Be aware that the benches are out in the hot sun with no covering or shade. I've watched more than a few families sit there looking very uncomfortable in July. Dress lightly and bring an umbrella if you need shade.

The route covers the course of the former Route 5 northbound on Marina/Palm to Pine and the city pier at Anna Maria, and on the southbound trip will divert right off Palm to serve the lodgings along Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, returning to Marina (where it will connect with Route 3 to Manatee Ave. daily) then on to East Bay/Gulf to Coquina Beach Transfer Point, where it will meet the Route 6 connector to the mainland (Monday-Saturday).

Where to Hop Off: One of the stops is the Manatee Public Beach. This is a really nice beach there with public facilities and a good place to eat. For breakfast, they have an all-u-can-eat pancake special. This stop is about a block away from the Umbrella beach resort (RCI timeshare).

The trolley also stops a half block down from the Gulf Stream/Smuggler's Notch Resorts. Along this road is a homemade ice cream place and several other good lunch spots such as the Beach Bistro or Beach House Restaurant.

A good place to jump off is Coquina Beach. Coquina translates to mean "shell" and that's exactly what you'll find on this white powder sand beach. We brought buckets with us and found more shells than we could carry. We later glued the shells on frames to make decorative souvenirs with photos of us on the beach!

The trolley also goes to the other side of the island, to the Anna Maria City Pier. This is a great casual spot for lunch or dinner. You can also watch the anglers pull in their catches. There are several shops to walk around while you're here and another ice cream place!

Trolley fees: The Manatee Trolley is always FREE!!

Special Tip: Gulf Stream Resort offers a free narrated trolley tour each week. Kathy, the tour director, takes a group on board and tells a bit about the island and places to eat and shop. You can stay on for the round trip or get off where you like.

This is no ordinary museum -- this is an actual train! The volunteers at the Gulf Coast Museum are dedicated to preserving trains; it's obvious. They took the time to talk to my sons about trains and posed for photos with them. The conductor and brakeman walked through the cars talking to passengers and ensuring everyone was enjoying the ride. Their work is surely a labor of love for this non-profit organization.

You can first go into an old caboose and historic sleeper cars and read about the train's history. They also have a gift shop with train memorabilia. We purchased a railroad spike with a metal train glued on top that my sons have in their room as a nice souvenir.

For the train ride, I suggest sitting in the open car behind the engine. It is a little smoky and a little loud, but it's thrilling for the kids. After a while, we walked through the cars to the snack car and purchased sodas, cookies, and candy at reasonable prices. I found that I couldn't sit in that car for long, as I was getting a little motion sick.

At the halfway point of the ride, the train stops and the engine uncouples and moves to the other side. You can stand right next to it and watch how this works. It was really amazing to be that close.

We again enjoyed the open car on the return, but could have sat in any one of the coaches, as there were few people on the train.

The engine is diesel-powered and runs the 1.5-hour trip every weekend, year round at 11am and 2pm, rain or shine. No reservations are necessary. Trains depart from their station on 83rd Street East in Parrish, behind the Post Office. Fares are:
Adults: $10.00 (Ages 12 and up)
Children: $6.00 (Ages 3-11)
Infants: Free (Ages 2 and under)

Special weekend events are planned as well. You can get further information by calling them at 877/869-0800 or from their website.

Auntie M's provides an economical and efficient laundry service. I dropped my clothes off (three suitcases full) at the coin laundry location at 10am. By 2pm, she called my cell phone to let me know that it was done. She weighs the laundry after it is cleaned and charges by the pound. The fee includes the laundry soap, folding, everything. I paid $25 and enjoyed my time on the beach. The week prior, I had taken these same clothes elsewhere and laundered them myself. I spent $15 in quarters and $4 for detergent, and sweated in the heat and humidity for 2 hours. For $6, it was surely not worth it! Auntie M's is a service well worth the money! The owner is friendly and does an excellent job.

I’m always looking for a great beach vacation - somewhere with soft sand, clear water, good restaurants, some fun things to do, and nice, clean accommodations. Anna Maria is all that and more! The island is carefully zoned to keep out high rises and offers a tropical beach-town atmosphere. There aren’t many timeshares. Exchanging into them is difficult but not impossible.

I’ve stayed at one resort, Umbrella Beach Resort, and toured all of the others. I’ve spoken to the management, looked at rooms, and walked on their beaches. Here is an overall assessment from my perspective.

The only two timeshares that are located directly on the beach are Via Roma and Resort Sixty-Six. These are both Bluegreen Resorts. They are very similar in type and units. If you are looking for a beautiful beach and convenience and not interested in a lot of amenities or deluxe luxury, either of these would be suitable. Both have nice pools. The rooms are not five-star quality. They more resemble converted motel rooms. However, for that inconvenience, you get the most beautiful beach right outside your door. It seems that most people don't trade these weeks. Why would they?

Via Roma offers one- and two-bedroom units. The one bedrooms can be directly gulf-front or across the road. What a difference! If you can snag a beachfront, you’re lucky. Across the road isn’t as nice. Two-bedroom units have a distance gulf view beyond the pool. Another fortunate trade.

Smuggler's Cove, Gulf Stream, Penthouses at Gulfstream, and Umbrella Beach Resort are all affiliated with VacationProperty Management. Activities are held at one resort or the other for all guests.

Penthouse units are directly across a two-lane road from the beach, with nothing in front of the building. You can definitely see the beach from these units. You couldn't be closer unless you were on the beach.

Smuggler's Cove and Gulf Stream are adjacent but continue all the way to the bayside. A walk to the beach could be a few feet or a block depending on your unit. More of Smuggler’s Cove is bay-front and two-bedroom units. The pool is very small at these resorts. They do, however, have a fishing dock off the back. I wasn't as impressed with these units as, some seem to have a lousy parking-lot view, particularly at Gulf Stream. However, the resort is well maintained and goes out of their way to please.

Umbrella has the largest units of these, but it is a half block from the beach, with the public beach next door. If you want comfort and room to spread out, then this would be your ideal exchange. Each unit is a two-bedroom, two-bath condominium residence that comfortably sleeps six. There is a washer and dryer in each unit; other resorts don’t offer this convenience.

So, each resort has its own attributes depending on your preference.
Prefer direct beach access and gulf view? Via Roma and Resort Sixty-Six.
Prefer large two bedrooms, a garage, and a washer and dryer? Umbrella
Prefer two bedrooms with a gulf view? Penthouses
Prefer bay view and fishing? Smuggler’s Cove
Prefer a clean one-bedroom to use as a home base? Gulfstream

Oh, one last thing, you can rent loads of houses on the island, and there are a few bed-and-breakfast-type places and inns, too. I looked into these, too. One of the biggest realtors that specializes in vacation rentals is Mike Norman Realty. They aren't cheap! You can also get a small room at one of the inns on or somewhat off of the beach. There are no big, fancy hotels anywhere. In my opinion, the timeshares are some of the nicest accommodations.