Tag: family fun

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The Things that Locals Know!

Pirate Adventures of Cortez – Kid Friendly Fun

Ahoy Mateys! If you’re looking for a super fun activity for the kiddos to take part in, then I highly suggest checking out Pirate Adventures of Cortez. This kid-oriented pirate excursion is super unique, and you definitely won’t find anything else like it in the area.

Pirate Adventures of Cortez

Pirate Adventures of Cortez operates year-round. Which means no one gets to miss out on this awesome experience, no matter what time of the year you’re here. Once your child steps foot on the Sea Gypsy, they will be thrown into a whole new world. Here, they will become a brave pirate or a beautiful mermaid before they embark on their adventure. Once aboard the “Pirate Ship”, the Sea Gypsy crew will explain the rules of the sea before following a treasure map to the sunken treasure. The kids even get to use water cannons on the ship to fight off the smelliest pirate there ever was. Pirate Pete.

The whole experience is really exciting for everyone involved. I wish they had this kind of stuff when I was a kid!


Hours of Operation:
Tuesday – Sunday, 9am – 6pm
Sailing four times daily at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm

For more activities to keep the kids entertained, check out our blog on Fun Children Attractions near Anna Maria Island.

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Anna Maria Family Fun Kids Corner

Anna Maria Island Creamery and Bakery

Baked goods and sugary goodness is what you’re in store for at Anna Maria Island Creamery and Bakery. Located toward the North end of the Island, this shop is  just two blocks before Pine Ave. Here you will find Handmade Italian gelato, premium soft serve, and sorbettes. Among classic bakery items like croissants and danishes, this bakery also sells William Dean truffles (known from the Hunger Games).

Anna Maria Island Creamery and Bakery

This family owned business uses fresh fruit and local dairy. They even produce their gelato on site! If you’re a chocolate lover, you’ll appreciate the fact that they have 8 different chocolate based flavors. Or you could go for their delicious dairy-free sorbetto. The kiddos will really enjoy the customized sundaes they do. Now lets talk about the bakery aspect of the Anna Maria Island Creamery and Bakery.

The bakery offers danishes, croissants, and more! Though, this bakery also carries a very unique product, William Dean truffles. These truffles are known for their flavor combos, like peanut butter & jelly, port & fig, etc. In fact, you can choose from 36 flavors of the William Dean truffles.


9801 Gulf Dr, Anna Maria, FL 34216
(941) 896-5308
Open from 10am – 10pm everyday

 

 

If you liked this blog (and ice cream), then you’ll definitley apprecaite our “Ice Cream Options on Anna Maria Island” blog.

 

 

Categories
Activities Events Family Fun Shopping

Celebrate the Holidays on Anna Maria Island in Style!

Holidays on Anna Maria Island
Celebrating the Holidays on Anna Maria Island with Santa Claus

Are you planning to celebrate the holidays on Anna Maria Island? The businesses and merchants of Anna Maria are open throughout the holiday season.  There is Great Shopping to be from the North End all the way down to Longboat Key.

The free Anna Maria Island Trolley is a fun way to get around!  With convenient stops up and down the island, you can take the kids to the shops and the beaches!

Lights, Camera, Santa Claus! Come Enjoy the Holidays on Anna Maria Island

Enjoy music, special performances, small bites and refreshments at the shops during your visit. At night, take in the holiday lights and décor and dine at some the island’s best restaurants.  Day or Night, come stroll along Gulf Drive, Pine Avenue and North Bay Boulevard and relax during the Holidays.

Bingo games for prizes are sometimes played. The angelic Roser Children’s Choir, “Joyful Noise” usually perform in the Historical Park at 402 Pine Avenue.

Santa Claus comes to the beach too!!!  Just because there isn’t snow doesn’t mean that Santa Claus can’t land his sleigh!  Let the kids know that Anna Maria is his favorite place to be.

Visiting Anna Maria during the holidays is a fun filled time.  Don’t forget to take your beach photos with family and friends!!!

 

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Activities Events Family Fun Shopping

Summerfest and Winterfest on Anna Maria Island With Island Art League

Each year the Anna Maria Island Art League sponsors Winterfest and Springfest festivals on Anna Maria Island.

They are an event for fine artists to come together and celebrate the season and share their work. It is a great opportunity to find the perfect gift for that hard to shop friend or family member!  You can find some pretty amazing stuff for your home too!

Beautiful Art on Anna Maria Island For Every Season

To qualify for an award, the artist must be present and it must also be the artist’s original design as well.  There are three awards given out each year, but everyone’s work is truly appreciated.  The awards, judged by category are, Best in Show, Award of Distinction and Award of Merit.

The Winterfest and Springfest events are held at City Hall Field in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island.

This is a family fun event offers us free parking and admission also! Aside from the juried art exhibits, there will be live music, community booths, and a special “Young at Art” childrens’ exhibit and activity area.

For any questions or more information, please visit www.islandartleague.org or call 941-778-2099.

Bring your friends along too!

 

 

Categories
Events Family Fun Shopping

The Anna Maria Island Coquina Beach Market!

This is the location of the Coquina Beach Market
Coquina Beach before the Market

The Coquina Beach Market on Anna Maria Island takes place two days a week. From 10am – 4pm every Sunday in November – July, and from 10am – 4pm  every Wednesday in December – May. The market is a great place to find island treasures. From fresh produce, arts and crafts, to jewelry and apparel and everything in between!
Remember! Tough this market is a beach market, it is still wheelchair and stroller accessibly. Also, there are NO pets allowed in Coquina Park.

Ride the free Anna Maria trolley to Coquina Beach or there is plenty of free parking. Be sure to grab a cold refreshment from the Coquina Café located right by the market. They serve breakfast and lunch daily and now have beer and wine for sale.  Also, you can enjoy the beautiful white sandy beaches which are just a stroll from the market! You won’t want to miss this fun outdoor market!

Beach Market at Coquina Beach:
2650 Gulf Dr. S., Bradenton Beach

 

For more great, local farmer’s markets, check out our blog; Farmer’s Markets On and Off Anna Maria Island.

 

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Holmes Beach Restaurants Shopping

Holmes Beach Holy Cow Ice Cream on Anna Maria Island

Holmes Beach Holy Cow Ice Cream
Get your Ice Cream game on at Holy Cow Ice Cream

 Anna Maria Island is home to the Holmes Beach Holy Cow Ice Cream shop, one of the best ice cream stops in the area.  It is also a great gift shop too! With a tiki lounge and a kids area, Holy Cow Ice Cream is also a perfect place to go with the family.

While you’re there make sure to try one of my personal favorites, their famous handmade chocolates.

Holy Cow Ice Cream is located on Holmes Beach in the same shopping complex as Walgreens. Swing on by with the whole family and enjoy some delicious frozen treats!

Navigating to Holy Cow Ice Cream On Anna Maria Island

Facebook for Holy Cow
3234 East Bay Drive
Holmes Beach, FL34217
(941) 779-0690

Categories
Bradenton Beach Events Family Fun Shopping

Thieves Market Anna Maria Island Privateers Coquina Beach

Anna Maria Island Privateers
Island Maria Island Privateers

The Thieves Market Anna Maria Island is for the kids! Are ye looking for somewhere to spend your plundered gold doubloons? Head on down to the Thieves Market. It’s sponsored by some of the most ruthless pirates this side of the Gulf of Mexico.

These scurvy dogs founded their organization in 1971 as a youth outreach program, and have been a staple of Anna Maria Island life ever since. The thieves market is a a great fundraiser. It keeps these wonderful people doing all the great things they do for the community.  There is our yearly 4th of July parade, multiple youth scholarships,  Christmas on Anna Maria Island, the Christmas parade and more.

Selling your wares at the Thieves Market Anna Maria Island

Here is more information about the privateers. Even a landlubber like you can become a “black shirt.” (That’s pirate lingo for member.) Head on over to the website and poke around a bit. If you own a business and would like to sell you wares, you can also find the application to be a vendor on their website.

 

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Anna Maria Family Fun Shopping The Things that Locals Know!

Anna Maria Island’s Annual Bayfest Fun for All Ages!

Anna Maria Island is celebrating BayFest again this year!  This fantastic family festival is set to take place on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria October 21, 2017.  It is a wonderful celebration with fun for all ages.   The FREE BayFest features, live music, arts, crafts & retail vendors.  Bayfest also has a “Taste of the Island” food court, and even a children’s play area.

The festivities start on Friday evening with a Kickoff Party on the corner of Pine Avenue and Bay Boulevard in Anna Maria City.  Mike Sales will emcee the evening which will include live music starting at 5pm.  There are always a wide array of tasty treats and dinner tidbits at hand.

Food Vendors at Anna Maria Island BayFest

Drinks are also for sale ranging from Water to Rum Runners.  Kids, parents, nieces, nephews, neighbors, friends all head to the North end to enjoy dinner and music on the lawn.  There are chairs and tables set up so you can sit and enjoy your meal. Kids can eat pizza and chicken.

Grown-ups have great options with exceptional fish tacos, bar-b-q, gyros, yummy chips, fries, crab cakes and sliders.  Dessert include funnel cakes, pies and cakes or all kinds.  There is also an open area for dancing and laying blankets to picnic.

Things To Do at Anna Maria Island BayFest

Whether you are on the East or West side of Pine Avenue, there is something to do.  The Anna Maria Island Community Center  hosts a Kid’s Fishing Tournament on the Anna Maria City Pier.

On the West End of Pine Avenue you can start your day by enjoying the Island’s Largest Classic Car Show, which will run until 3pm.  There are great Oldies playing as you stroll around these beautiful cars.  There are awards handed out for several categories, starting at around 2:30pm.

The wide variety of cars to enjoy include something for everyone from antique, to classic, to custom, to muscle, to high performance vehicles.  With 100 pre-registered cars, this show is already at capacity, and sure to be great fun for onlookers of all ages!  My Dad appreciates the intricacies of all the vehicles, while my kids appreciate how cool they are to look at and listen to! You’re bound to find one that catches your fancy!

Moving down Pine Avenue, you can grab a beverage, and walk through the outstanding display booths.   Every year we are able to pick out holiday gifts of all sorts.  Jewelry, home decorations, cool crafts and artistic wonders abound.  The kids LOVE the marshmallow blasters they got last year, while I am still wearing the anklet I got!

There are clothes, and gadgets, decor, and displays- definitely something for everyone!   I even nabbed a new pair of sunglasses, to help extend the day’s enjoyment!  Toward the Eastern end of Pine Ave you will find the EVER popular Children’s Play Area, with festival classics like bounce houses, and prize games.   There are always fun demonstrations and activities for the kids to participate in, as well as games to play and crafts to make.  We are hoping to see the bubble cup craft again this year…always a big hit with my crowd!

The Pirates at Anna Maria Island BayFest

Before grabbing more tasty treats my kiddos HAVE to pay a visit to the Privateers at the far end of Pine Avenue, near the City Pier.  Their ship always has a stronghold on the corner, and the kids love to see the crew dressed to the nines in full pirate regalia!  The privateers are always eager to share pirate spirit and usually a little pirate bounty!

So, you can be sure you will enjoy a fantastic day on beautiful Anna Maria Island when you come out for Bayfest!  As always, Island Real Estate is happy to help you find that perfect Anna Maria Island Vacation Rental.  With all the Vacation Rentals we have on Anna Maria Island you are sure to find what you are looking for.

Contact one of our Vacation Rental Specialists, to help you book your Island Vacation.  Or call us at 877-778-6066 and let us make your Anna Maria Island experience a celebration!