As a child from Alabama I grew up vacationing in Panama City Beach (aka the Redneck Riviera), where the high-rise condos line the Miracle Strip like Wall Street, completely blocking your view of the water with 18 stories of concrete and metal railings. In college we started going to Destin and Fort Walton Beach, which still had high rise condos interspersed with cute beach houses and plenty of sugar sand beaches. These days my family makes the Spring Break drive to the 30-A towns of Seaside, Watercolor, Santa Rosa and Blue Mountain Beach, where condominiums are completely banned and there are still remnants of 1950’s fish camp houses intermingling with gorgeous new construction homes that are straight out of a magazine. Along the way, I’ve mixed in Florida vacations that required me to fly- like Fort Meyers, Sanibel, and of course Key West and Port Canaveral for random cruises. I’ve never been to Miami or South Beach, for fear of running into one of those dudes that are currently going viral on facebook wearing the half-budgie swimsuits. Yikes.
So, all of that is to say that every time I visit a new part of Florida that I’ve never seen before, I’m amazed by how different it is from what I’m expecting. Anna Maria Island was my latest new Florida city to get a chance to visit, and it was absolutely breathtaking. I expected it to look like Sanibel, but I was wrong. It has it’s own vibe about it that makes it uniquely Anna Maria. From the minute you step foot (or tire) onto the island, the scenery is amazing. The water is a perfect mix of aqua and cobalt against the whitest sugar sands that reminded me of the Emerald coast beaches of my childhood with much more vegetation.
One huge advantage to being on the island is that you can watch both the sunrise and sunset over the water. The sun sets over the Gulf side…
And rises over Tampa Bay side (if you look closely you can see the bridge way off in the distance).
The entire island is just 2 miles wide and 7 miles long, which makes it perfect for getting to a sunset on the water really easily by car, bike or foot. And the public beaches were absolutely stunning.
This was the Anna Maria Pier where people were casting nets over the side 24/7. Pelicans and seagulls and marine life were everywhere you went on this island, hopping around like Nemo saying “Mine? Mine? Mine?” There is a restaurant all the way down at the end with pretty good food, too!
In the heart of town there are plenty of great restaurants and shopping to be found, from junky thrift stores to upscale beachy boutiques. And Lobstahs.
But the majority of the island is made up of neighborhoods that weave their way around the canals. I’d like to know how many of the houses on AMI have a personal boat dock in the backyard. I’d wager it’s a pretty doggone high number. A lot of the houses looked to be straight out of an episode of Golden Girls, but others were super cute older cottages with picket fences like this one:
And of course there were bars.
Lots and lots of places to score a fruity drink in this town, most of them with an amazing water view, and a lot of them open air because the weather is damn near perfection just about all year round.
Our gorgeous rental house for the week was Sirenia Cove from Anna Maria Home Rentals. This place was FAT, y’all. We also got a great hookup from Ford to drive two new Fusions all weekend, including the new Ford Fusion Energi, which is a hybrid that gets NINETY FIVE mpg. Seriously.
As soon as we pulled up I got this shot of the massive palm trees in the front yard that made me swoon. They don’t grow ‘em like this in the Redneck Riviera, y’all. Somewhere there must be a hardiness zone in Florida where the palm trees can no longer survive the winter nights. AMI was definitely south of that line. It was lush and tropical and GREEN. Just green all over the place.
Stepping inside the house was like hopping inside of a magazine. Here are all the bedrooms inside the house, including two master bedrooms and two sets of bunk beds. This house sleeps a LOT of folks comfortably:
This big open living and dining room opened to the kitchen, with three bedrooms and two baths on this level. Perfect for entertaining or just hanging out.
This screened in porch was where we spent a lot of time in the mornings and late night girl talk.
It was a great in-between space that felt like the outdoors with the comforts of a fan and air conditioning.
But the best part was the back yard. Here is the view from the screened in porch. That water view with all the lush landscaping was just incredible.
The backyard featured a private boat dock, a private pool, a bar, a big fat lounger and plenty of seating for huge parties.
The view off the dock was so peaceful. It reminded me of my days growing up on the river, except the river cabin never had palm trees, or yachts…
Here is the Panorama view. I could live right here, y’all. I love the water. I grew up on water, and I just have a NEED to be around it. This place kept messing with my head because I would think I was at the river and suddenly I would see two sting rays swim past, or little tiny ghost-like jelly fish, or crabs crawling up the barnacle crusted traps hanging over the side. I thought about renting some fishing gear, but I saw some huge fish swimming right around the pier. But then I figured to be that huge in salt water they were sure to have razor-sharp teeth so I decided against it and kicked back with a beer instead. It was heaven on earth for this water baby…
When we weren’t sitting on the dock we were sitting in the pool, listening to the neighbor’s country music playlist and drinking some cocktails.
We were given these Shadepop umbrellas in all of our goodie bags. Isn’t this the best invention EVER?? It keeps your drink from melting in the sunshine. Love this thing!
But in case I’m giving you the impression that all we did was lay in the back yard and drink (which we totally did) we also rode our rental bikes down to Anna Maria Donuts for hot made-to-order donuts that melted in your MOUTH.
But riding a bike there and back helped offset the calories, right? Right.
Some of us (not me) went on a kayaking tour of the mangroves. I’ll let you check out some of the other posts to read about that! We also had this great golf cart from Fun and More Rentals that held all six of us comfortably.
But, let me just say that there is nothing quite like getting all dressed up for dinner, then riding backwards hanging off the back of golf cart going 25 miles per hour while a bunch of women scream directions at each other to try to stay on the golf-cart approved streets of Anna Maria.
It was a little bit terrifying and a whole lot hilarious all at the same time. Here is how close I was to the pavement.
We ate FABULOUS meals out at night, including one at Eat Here Anna Maria that went down in the history books as one of the best meals ever. We got our own private mirrored booth and everywhere you turned you could watch yourself chew. It is physically impossible to NOT look at yourself chewing, by the way. The staff was so much fun! We laughed and had the best time at this restaurant. It was excellent.
Here is one more obligatory girls-round-the-dinner-table touristy shot. This one was taken at The Waterfront Restaurant, which was literally within walking distance from the rental house. Yummmmmmm.
From left to right is Roeshel from DIY Showoff, Kelly from Eclectically Vintage, Diane from In My Own Style, Beth from Unskinny Boppy (me!), and Karah from The Space Between. Carrie from Making Lemonade was also there, but had to leave a day early and missed this dinner photo. We had plenty of time party with her, though. Carrie is my new bar-hopping, cardigan stripping, fruity drink sipping BFF. Seriously, go read her post if you wanna see me in full smoky bar karaoke mode.
Love her and ALL these ladies so much! We laughed and had an absolute BALL at this beautiful island, and I cannot wait to go back! Be sure to click on their links to read their vacation from their point of view and see LOTS more pretty pictures from their perspective.
Now before you go getting all jealous on me and my girls vacation in paradise, let me make my HUGE announcement! I am teaming up with all these blog girls and Anna Maria Island Home Rental to bring you a DREAM VACATION GIVEAWAY!!
The Prize Package includes:
• 4 Night stay at Sirenia Cove on Anna Maria Island
• 1 ~ $60.00 Gift Certificate to Eat Here Restaurant Group
• 1 ~ Free Golf Cart Rental for 4 Days from Fun and More Rentals
• Free Beach Bike Rental for 4 Days from Fun and More Rentals
• 2 ~ Paddleboard or Kayak Rentals for 4 Days from Fun and More Rentals
• Free use of Beach Chairs for 4 Days from Sirenia Cove
• 1 – Portrait by the Sea value of $100.00 from Photography by Billi
* Photos to be purchased based on selection from proofs
• 2 Free Shadepops
You can totally go relive my entire trip! How’s that for an amazing giveaway package?? You’ll have to provide transportation, but the lodging and other fun stuff is included. To enter, be sure to click which entries apply to you inside the Rafflecopter right here:
Good luck! I hope you win!
This post was sponsored by Anna Maria Island Home Rentals. As always, all opinions are my own. Please check out the terms and conditions inside the Rafflecopter for more info on the giveaway rules and restrictions. Good luck!
Audra says
Looks heavenly! Think the bikes or golf carts would be put to use first!!!!
Cyndi Gracie says
Walk the beach look for shells holding my hubby’s hand.
Carla B. says
I have a 2 1/2 year-old and a 6 month old — neither of whom have yet been introduced to the beach — so the first thing we’d do is dig our feet in the sand and feel the ocean water wash over our toes! 🙂
Suzanne says
Oh, my stars! That looks so fabulous! The first thing I would do is dangle my feet in the pool while sipping an umbrella drink!
Susan M. says
The first thing I’d do is head to the sand and sea! Awesome giveaway – thanks so much or the opportunity – my fingers are crossed!
Stephanie @ Plain Chicken says
What a fun girls trip!
Sarah Hauser says
Wow! This looks amazing! First thing I’d do is park myself on the beach for a few hours! 🙂
S Washington says
Both sets of my husband’s grandparents wintered in Anna Maria when he was growing up, so he and his parents got to spend a fair amount of time there. For years, my husband and I have intended to take his parents back for a week or two…but life seems to get in the way. My father in-law is now in a pretty advanced stage of Parkinson’s. While travel is difficult for him now, Anna Maria is the one place he talks most often about and wishes he could revisit. I would love to take a photo of my father in-law and the rest of our family standing in the powdery Anna Maria sand.
Kira Hodge says
This is so cool. I am originally from Florida and most of my family lives there. That place is gorgeous! Great choice. 🙂
dawn cook says
I would this trip! It looks great!
Kira Hodge says
I would probably just set up a beach chair, a pitcher of virgin strawberry daiquiris, and my NOOK and relax in the sun. That would be amazeballs. <3
Amy Nabors says
I would go for a walk on the beach.
Lori says
I really, really, really could use this vacation. Work and family stuff has me stressed to the max and I can just imagine how fast I could forget about it all while chilling in that pool and on the beach 🙂
Lauree says
it is always good to hear about welcoming areas of florida!
SheilaG @ Plum Doodles says
I so need a vacation after our move into a camper- yikes, will I ever survive?! 🙂 The first thing I would do is sink my toesies in that luscious sand.
Debby says
I would run to the beach and sink my toes in the sand! thanks for a great give away!
Katie says
This looks amazing and SO relaxing! Would love relaxing by the pool!
Tammy Woodall says
If I won, the first thing I would do when I got on the island is take a long walk on the beach. That is one my favorite things to do at the beach. It’s so calming.
SOLENN says
THE DREAM …
Un séjour de reve
sol’n
B Smith says
Love this! We would love to go checkout the island!
H says
Enjoy the beach!
Debra Schramm says
The first thing I’ll do is go get a cool beverage and fresh seafood, hopefully at a beach front restaurant!
Jamie says
First thing I would do is squeeze into a bathing suit, grab a ice cold drink, and kick up my feet either by the pool or at the beach!
sjderiso says
Great giveaway – first thing i would do would be to go straight to the dock at the back of the house and dip my feet in the salty water!!
Kerry says
Oh how I would LOVE to win this trip. It has been over two years since I have had an official vacation.
JenM. says
I would run to the beach!
Jan says
Hey…I live in Ft. Walton Beach! My family moved here in 1962 from a small town in Alabama. Opp…my place of birth. 🙂 I have seen so many changes in this area. And Destin was just a small fishing village. I’m glad our area has made it on your Florida travels.
(My husband goes down to Anna Marie Island to see spring training baseball games. He loves it).
Taryn T. says
The first thing I would do on AMI would be to find the ocean, to put my feet in, and hear the waves crash!
Jessi @ Practically Functional says
Looks amazing! The first thing I’d do is definitely hit the beach!
Christi (Jealous Hands) says
What an AWESOME giveaway! I hope I win!
Adriane Hawkins says
Wow, looks like you had a wonderful time and what a beautiful place! You look great too!
This is a super getaway giveaway!
Linda Vaupel says
I have not been to any beach in 4 years! I want to go now!
Dawn says
If I were to win the giveaway the first thing I would do is walk down to the water and just take it all in. the sights, smells and sounds of being near the ocean are just too perfect!
shar y says
this looks super fun! Thanks!
Jessica James says
WOW! What an amazing offer! I would absolutely LOVE to win this much-needed vacation! After losing two major elections and going through a terrible divorce in the past 3 years, this would be JUST what the doctor ordered! Thanks for sharing, and I HOPE I win!!! 🙂
Jennifer Palmer says
If I wont the trip I’d take my 2 kiddos down to the water to play in the water and sand right away!!
Jamison says
Looks like fun! Would love to take the fam!
Leeann says
Kick back with a drink!
Rebecca says
The first thing I would do….run to the beach & stick my toes in the sand!!!
Gay Boston says
Oh, I’d love to kick back here for a few days. Can the winner-picker hear me saying “Pick me!”?
Jonathan says
Relax on the beach!
stacey stanislav says
The first thing I would do upon arrival is have a fruity drink with a little umbrella while sitting with my feet in the pool.
Seth says
The first thing I’ll do is check out the lodging, and then look for a cold beverage.
Marie Valum says
I would love, love to win! My baby(24) moved to Bradenton Fl. And I live in Washington state, this is near his area! Praying
tambry says
I want to go to the beach!!
Kathy Cain Yost says
The first thing I would do would be to walk the island and then decide the second thing, and then the third and……..
Brooke says
If I would win I would spend sunset at the BEACH!!
Colleen Richman says
What a wonderful giveaway! I would love to win. Probably the first thing I would do when I got there was to put my feet up and take in the scenery! It looks amazing!
Clay says
The first thing I would do is park at the closest beach, pop open the cooler, and take a group photo with drink in hand to start off a great vacation!
S. Wilkerson says
Your stay sounds wonderful, Beth! 🙂
Sheila