http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Holmes+Beach&state=FL&address=306+62nd+St&zipcode=34217 is the mapquest link
Visit the chamber of commerce on the island for ideas on things to do. They are located 9 blocks from Songbird and they will help you. http://www.annamariaislandchamber.org/
http://www.captkathe.com/sightseeingmanateecounty.html is a fun tour that I suggest to people and fairly reasonable in price.
One thing I like to do on a warm day is walk the 2 miles or so north on the beach to the Sandbar Restaurant around 5pm and have a nice long dinner and watch the sunset around 7:40 and you guess the time too for a prize - then a walk home under the stars along the beach.
I also like the Rod and Reel Pier Restaurant http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3712904187 for a Grouper Sandwich.
St Armands Circle http://www.starmandscircleassoc.com/about.cfm is a straight drive south on Gulf drive and you cross over to Long Boat Key and you will find it. Shopping and some people watching.
http://www.mote.org/ Mote Marine is worth a visit and on the way to St. Armands
Fishing
There are four piers available.
1. Anna Maria City Pier
2. Rod and Reel Pier
3. County Beach Pier
4. Bradenton Beach Pier (currently being repaired re: hurricane damage)
Fishing here is much improved. A really good place for some wade fishing is the east end of the Anna Maria bridge. You have a pretty empty area to wade out into (about 2 - 3 feet of water) and a bunch of deserted docks in the NE direction. There have been reds, trout and Spanish mackerel in there. The other day a flounder showed up.
If you decide to do some fishing in the Gulf, the beach area in Anna Maria ( Bean Point) is a great spot. You can cast from shore and if you're lucky, you can run into snook, snapper and pompano. If you're really lucky, you might get a cobia.
No fishing license is required for visitors.
BTW - I've attached my "Anna Maria Island Quiz" for some fun and a few more interesting facts.
If pier fishing is of interest, the Rod and Reel pier, the Anna Maria pier, the Manatee County pier and the newly reopened Bradenton Beach pier have all been good in the AM. 10/07
ROD AND REEL PIER
875 North shore Drive, Anna Maria, FL,
(941) 778-1885
Open from 7:00 am - 10:00 PM.
Here’s a nice spot to cast a line — and maybe swap some fish tales.
Pier stretches 350' into Tampa Bay. Back in 1979 a whopping 17 ft, 1,386 pound Hammerhead Shark was caught off the Rod & Reel Pier, the world record Hammerhead Shark. It is the largest shark ever caught off a fishing pier. Good place to drop a line in for Tarpon, Snook, Red fish, Trout or Flounder. Even if you don't get a 1,300 pound fish off the Pier you can still catch a plentiful variety of Jacks, Mackerel, Snappers, Drums, Snook, Cobia, Barracuda, King Fish, Ladyfish, Tarpon, Sand Perch, Sheepshead, Trout, Red Fish, Grouper and a variety of Sharks. Perfect for fishing, manatee watching or dining at the Rod and Reel Restaurant.
Bradenton Beach Historical Bridge Street Pier
200 Bridge Street, Bradenton, FL (941) 779-1706
Located on the bay side. This is a great spot to fish for grouper, flounder, mullet, bluefish, ladyfish. A restaurant is located on the first part of the pier. Pier is open 24-hours a day.
Anglers flock to this popular spot, which is at the end of historic — and newly refurbished — Bridge Street.
Longboat Pass Bridge
There always seems to be someone casting a line from the bridge that connects Bradenton Beach to the north end of Longboat Key.
Bradenton Memorial Pier
Downtown, end of 12th st West
Anna Maria Island Historic
City Pier
101 Bay Blvd.
The pier is at the end of Pine Avenue. Stretching 710' into Tampa Bay, this is the perfect spot to drop in a line and catch a wide variety of saltwater fish. The pier was first built in 1910. Located at the end of the pier is the Anna Maria Oyster Bar, a perfect place to enjoy a gulf island sunset.
