Anna Maria Island ...for families
A Vacation Insiders Guide
THOUGHTS FROM THE EDITOR
EVERY PARENT'S DREAM... As a husband and father of 2 kids I know the value of finding a vacation rental that has a pool, quick access to the beach, and the space for my wife and I to enjoy some quiet time after a day with the kids (who I strongly suspect feel the same way!). That's exactly what you get from the 4 and 5 bedroom homes owned by Nancy McAleer, our Anna Maria Island insider for those with families. In fact they make the perfect base for 2 families traveling together, or those attending a reunion or family wedding. But Nancy is more than "just" the owner of these places. She is also passionate about Anna Maria Island, and can point you in the direction of the best spots for just about any family activity. Whether you want to see manatees or dolphins, snorkel the crystal clear waters, get the kids in a surf school, or treat your family to local, fresh seafood, how valuable is it to know that Nancy has done all these things many times and can save you the hassle of researching? As well as natural beauty, Anna Maria Island also has a fantastic location. It's just under an hour from Tampa, making it an easy journey if you've flown in with the kids (I know the value of that). And, within a 2 hour drive, is Orlando if you promised the kids a little bit of magic. Nancy's places are clearly wonderful homes so they book up fast. If you do find she's booked, Nancy has suggested the Mainsail Beach Inn. If that doesn't work feel free to drop us a line. Have a great vacation!
E: andy@vacationinsiders.com W: www.vacationinsiders.com
MEET YOUR INSIDER
NANCY MCALEER
Hi, my name is Nancy McAleer, CEO of Anna Maria Island Home Rental and I am crazy in love with Anna Maria Island! Thanks for visiting our Anna Maria Island Vacation Insider's Guide and finding out a bit more about us. Anna Maria Island Home Rental is really a mom and pop shop which means we truly care about your vacation needs. We continually search out the best places to eat, stay and play on this truly remarkable island. Yes, it's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it! What’s not to love about the beautiful beaches, great restaurants, boating and the Islanders themselves? We love sharing our insider information with our guests and friends. If you need any tips or pointers on how to get the most our of your family vacation just drop us a line. Chances are we've done whatever your asking with our own family! And you can always stay up to date on what's happening on the island through our Facebook Page - just click on the icon below.
“We have one goal in mind - to create a luxurious tropical ambiance where vacation memories are cherished on beautiful Anna Maria Island, Florida.” While increasing our assortment of luxury vacation rental home offerings, we have one goal in mind - to create a luxurious, tropical ambiance where vacation memories are cherished on beautiful Anna Maria Island, Florida. We personally vacation in our homes and have included all the luxuries that we would want as travelers. Since our first home purchase in 2011, we have seen a growing trend in multi-generational vacations. We know many of you want to share your vacation experiences with close family and friends and, to accomplish this, a vacation rental just makes sense financially. And your family will have the space and privacy to stretch out and relax in all of our luxury home rentals, unlike many hotels!
Contact Nancy: Simply click any of the buttons below to find out more about Nancy's vacation rentals on Anna Maria Island...
Alternatively feel free to call Nancy direct on: +1.514.606.6673
Nancy's Reviews: Click on the image below to read the HomeAway reviews left by past guests of Sirenia Beach House...
All that remains to say is that we are here to assist you in making your dream vacation possible. Whether you're holding a family reunion, celebrating a wedding, or simply taking a much needed vacation, our luxury beach houses are waiting for you! Feel free to contact us today.
NANCY'S REAL ANNA MARIA ISLAND...
My guess is that if you've stumbled onto this page, someone must have whispered to you about how unique and untouched Anna Maria Island is.
tour guide and explore the island aboard a rental golf cart or Segway. It's an easy, quick way to get around the island and the kids will love it!
Anna Maria Island has received multiple accolades recently; “One of the Best Beaches in Florida, Top 10 Family Vacation Destination and one of the Top Islands in the USA”! Blessed with seven miles of sugar white quartz sand beach, Anna Maria has an average temperature of 83/29 degrees and is rated one of the top 10 sunniest cities in the USA. So if that doesn't entice you yet our Insider's Guide will.
If fishing is your passion then you won't want for options. Charter or rent a boat and try your luck at deep sea fishing, and then cook your catch that evening back at your vacation rental! Or you can simply fish from one of three licensed piers without needing your own license.
Anna Maria's off the grid charm will lure you back year after year. Strolling down Anna Maria's main street is reminiscent of days past. With it's eco conscious residents, new initiatives have made it known as "The Greenest Mainstreet in America". Traverse hump back bridges, enjoy home-made ice cream while you saunter down our 100 year old pier and discover island treasures at one of the many shops or boutiques, all within walking distance from our properties. Enjoy award winning fine dining or sample one of the quirky cafes bound to fit every foodie’s palette. Anna Maria is a treasure found on Florida’s Southwest Gulf Coast, conveniently located between Tampa (55 min), Sarasota (20 min) and 2 hours from Orlando. Enjoy the island sites on the free Island Trolley or be your own
A "Sirenia Favorite" is trolling the crystal clear Inter-coastal waterways looking for dolphins and endangered manatees. Then weigh anchor at your own private island, wade knee deep in a sandbar to fish or snorkel, and stop to enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants. Most of the waters are safe for the kids as well. Anna Maria is also a beautiful and romantic setting to celebrate your wedding with friends and family. The island is quickly becoming known as the “Wedding Capital of Florida”. The pristine beaches and beautiful slow sunsets provide a glorious backdrop for your special occasion. End each day of your vacation at your luxury beach house in the heated pool while you gaze at the stars and share the day’s memories of Anna Maria with your family and friends.
5 EXPERIENCES YOU CANNOT MISS... 1
Eat Like Tony Soprano...
2
Free Summer Surf Camp for Kids...
3
Freshest Seafood You'll Ever Taste...
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Get to Know the Local Wildlife - Free Tour...
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Our Best Boating Spot...
Yep, you read that right! The owners of Vinny and Cheryl's Italian Kitchen used to run a catering business in New Jersey where they catered to the cast and crew of "The Soprano's" production team. Once they retired to Anna Maria, they couldn't find an authentic Italian restaurant, so they did the next best thing and opened one themselves. They have fresh baked artisan Italian breads, pastries and cookies, a wood burning pizza oven, freshly made pasta and ravioli that transports us back to Italy.
Doesn't EVERY kid want to learn how to surf? To feel the board gliding over the waves on a sunny summer day... there really is no better feeling! Beach life is all about getting out there and enjoying the fresh salt air, having fun and exercising in the emerald green waters of beautiful Anna Maria Island. Register early for the Free Eternal Summer Surf Camp because it grows every year!
If someone hasn't told you about The Starfish Company you will never find it! It's virtually in a secret location, you can get to it by car or better yet by boat. Sharing tables with strangers, who quickly become your friends, is the norm here. We guarantee your meal will not be fresher anywhere else! Our tip, if you are too busy or tired to wait in line, is to head next door to their Seafood Market and take home the freshest catch of the day to cook up at your luxury vacation home.
Get to know the locals... the local wildlife that is! Endangered sea turtles, such as Green, Leatherback, Loggerhead and more, have found a haven on Anna Maria. Our best insider tip for getting up close and personal with sea turtles is by taking a free guided tour offered from April to October through the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Group. Children of all ages are welcome.
We love boating and are willing to share our best boating spot with you! Head out to Egmont Key whatever way you can via pontoon, power, or shuttle boat. This Florida State Park is primarily a wildlife refuge, but it can be a personal refuge too - a place to relax and collect shells along secluded, pristine beaches. This park has great photography opportunities for rare shore birds, due to it's restricted bird sanctuary section, as well as manatee sightings.
NANCY'S SUSTAINABLE VACATION TIPS... Sustainable Vacationing is not a new concept but each location has it's specific idiosyncrasies. We'll keep it simple by giving you our Top 6 Sustainable Tips for Anna Maria Island.
#4: Travel the island while having fun and being eco friendly! Being eco-conscious we love the Free Island Trolley on beautiful Anna Maria Island. What a great way to get you and the rest of your gang from one end of the island to the other in such a sustainable and budget friendly way. If you are up for getting around the island in a more free wheeling way we suggest renting a golf cart. There is no better way to soak up the smell of the salty air and get sun kissed hair, all while using clean energy to toot around the island. #5: Donate your food at the end of your stay!
#1: Be a hero for the local wildlife All of our vacation homes have the name Sirenia in them, and many people ask us why. Our name is important to us... and is pronounced "SIR-EN-E-YA". Sirenia is the order of aquatic mammals called manatees. You'll feel good about renting our homes when you realize a donation from every rental goes towards saving the manatees for future generations to enjoy. You can also make a gift donation to one of the local wildlife organizations who provide much needed care to many animals that are hurt, injured or living on the endangered list in and around Anna Maria Island. #2: Forego traveling to outlet shops and buy local! Anna Maria Island has unique mom and pop style shops and is void of brand name or big box stores. While you are traversing the island in style we suggest heading to the local shops to stock up on island life clothing, jewelry, and more! Buy Local and take home items that are as unique as you are! #3; Donate to the local community Riding bikes on the island is one of the charms and also a favorite of our kids. What better way to make memories than by riding as a family to the local ice-cream shop and a walk along the pier. A week-long bike rental for kids on the island may exceed the price you can pay to buy a new bike from a Big Box store. The sale price of the bike can save you money versus that week-long rental and after you leave, you can drop it off at the local Goodwill shop on the island. Feel good about your donation!
We are lucky enough to host many families and friends throughout the year. The entire island is comprised of "luxury resort style" private residences, where most likely you will be self sufficient. Imagine the impact we could all have if each guest took the time to drop off their un-opened and unused grocery items to a local charity? Food Donations can be made to the Roser Food Pantry through the Roser Church office. 941-778-0414 #6: Stay in a vacation rental that takes sustainability seriously! We are not corporate honchos with tons of cash, but we are do-gooders, high maintenance, eco-friendly junkies. We consider it part of our responsibility to try and incorporate green living into our vacation homes. We use Energy Star rated appliances and eco-friendly lighting. We provide extra blinds and sun film on our windows to reflect the sun's heat, decreasing the cooling need. When carrying out renovations, we've used low or no VOC paints, reducing off-gases into our home interiors. Our exterior landscaping is focused on tropical plants that are native to the area, requiring less watering. If the idea of a sustainable eco-friendly vacation appeals to you... we are waiting for you!
NANCY'S TIPS ON WHERE TO STAY... Anna Maria, Florida has a number of options depending on your needs. Below are Nancy's very own vacation rentals, along with another suggestion. Should those all be booked up feel free to drop us a line and let us know. We're not a travel agency but will certainly try to lend a helping hand by offering some tips to make your search easier!
Nancy’s Very Own...
If you are looking for a luxury resort style vacation rental then look no further than Sirenia Beach House! Rejuvenate in the heated salt water pool & spa or lounge on the luxurious outdoor furnishings under tiki huts on our backyard beach. The deep water canal is at your backdoor to enjoy fishing and water activities or simply watch for manatees from the dock. Steps to the beach, this is truly a one of a kind vacation destination!
Nancy's Other Vacation Rental...
Sirenia By The Sea is a sprawling luxury vacation rental perfectly located on the waterfront just steps from the pristine beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. You can’t get any closer deep water access this close to the beach! Beautifully appointed inside it's perfect for a large group with two separate living rooms. Enjoy al fresco meals at the outdoor dining table by the pool followed by a short stroll to the beach to watch a fabulous sunset.
Nancy Suggests...
Mainsail Beach Inn is a TripAdvisor 2013 Certificate of Excellence winner. The resort directly overlooks the beach and has 12 upscale vacation rentals, all with beachfront access. They do have some 3 bedroom units which make an ideal (if a little smaller) base for your family if we happen to be full. There is a communal swimming pool, hot tub, pool side grill, and beach lounge chairs & umbrellas.
NANCY'S Practical Tips... Fishing Licenses...
Expect Traffic Slow Downs!...
Local Ordinances...
One of our best Fishing Tips is to avoid getting a fishing license if you don't need one! Fishing with a licensed operator of a boat charging fees for fishing or from any of the three piers who are licensed is permitted without your own license. You can check all the regulations here...
On Anna Maria there are draw bridges with boat traffic, the free Island Trolley that makes frequent stops on the main roads, as well as many pedestrian crossings that you do have to stop for. So if you're forced to slow down to a speed of 15 to 25 mph just relax, you're on holiday!
There is a parking ordinance that is quite strict. No parking is allowed other than in a designated spot. If you have even one wheel of your vehicle on the roadway, you will be ticketed. The second important ordinance to mention is the noise ordinance. There is no excessive noise allowed past 10 pm.
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