MSS

Has anyone stayed at or at least can tell me a little about the location of this fairly new resort that supposedly opened in May, 2002? Appears to be nice, and is located on Bridge Street, Anna Maria Island. Don't want to be sleeping in a highly active part of town, but rooms look beautiful. Thanks, any info appreciated!

adeewebstr

MSS - I don't know anything about the Bridge Street hotel/resort, but I do know the area. Bridge Street is a fun little street - a block or so of little shops, the Bridge Tender, a restaurant that appears popular with vacationers, a post office, and - at the end of the pier that used to be part of the bridge - a little restaurant that we go to for basic burgers/fried grouper sandwiches - the kids love it. It's on the bay side of the island. To get to the beach (not my favorite part of the beach - very narrow) you have to cross a VERY busy road, the only north/south road on the island. I checked out the website and the rooms do look really nice. Bridge Street is not really active, but then none of Anna Maria is. To get to nicer beaches would not be hard - they are close by if you want to drive, or you might could catch the island trolley. When are you visiting and what are you looking for (nightlife, resort, quiet beach town)?

linman

Hi, Where would you recommend staying to be on the best stretch of beach? I,too, looked at the site and thought the rooms looked great. It was deceiving because it looks like the beach is right there with no road to cross let alone a busy one. Thanks

LN

Hi

I've been to the restaurant and have seen the resort but have not stayed there. I actually have a home on the lower island, Longboat Key.

Bridgewalk is quite new and is an upscale resort added to Bradenton Beach. bradenton beach is the lower end of Anna Maria Island. As Adee said it's a fun area where many of us go for dinner to the bridge Street Pier or calpyso Bay or the beach House BUT it is not directly on the gulf. You would have to cross the street to get to the beach and yes, it's a very busy street right there. I don't live directly on the beach and I cross the street from the bayside to the beach and have no problem with that but I did know that before I bought. Coquina beach is about a mile south and is a beautiful, wide beach.

If you are interested in beachfront why not look at some of the other resorts on Anna Maria such as Bungalow Beach . There's many of them listed on the AMI site.

linman

Thanks much LN.

adeewebstr

Bungelow Beach is an old-time (to me - when I was growing up in the '50s and '60s friends used to go out there for the obligatory "week at the beach" from Bradenton), spiffed up multiple cottage place. The beach would be nice there. If you want a motel/hotel (mind, lots of the places on Anna Maria date from the '60s - if you want fancy you need to move south to Longboat Key - but we prefer our island) on the water, look north of the Bridge Street area - the gulf side of the city of Anna Maria (one of three towns on Anna Maria Island) or Holmes Beach. There are also condos/houses for rent for longer periods: check out realtors on Anna Maria Island. Mike Norman is one, Island Realty is another - I could come up with more names if you want. It's not fancy, but the Blue Water Resort (read "motel") is where we used to stay after my parents moved into a condo - nice owners and nice, but plain, rooms. Friends who have a cottage a bit north of there send their overflow guests to Haley's Motel - funky and fun is how it has been described. Both have web sites. There are lots more motels. The Harrington House B&B is pricey, but REALLY nice - it, too, has a website. If you want more of a resort, the Colony on Longboat Key (just south of us) has a great reputation - there are, as I said, lots of more up-scale, resort-y places on Longboat.

MSS

From all that I have read, Bungalow Beach still seems to be what I am looking for. We can always go to Bridge Street for a visit while there. One more question: Tampa airport seems to be about an hour drive, but could anyone tell me how far a drive it is from Ft. Myers airport? Looking for the easiest drive, not necessarily the shortest. Sarasota airport would be ideal, but the layovers from Ohio are unrealistic. Also, can anyone tell me how far it is from Anna Maria to Siesta Key? Prefer the laid back lazy atmosphere of Anna Maria, but would like to visit some Siesta Key and Sarasota areas also. Sorry, just trying to gather as much information as I can before finalizing my trip.

help

try this website...premierbradentonhomes.com and click on gulf beaches..also click on the others too..it has info and a map..Tampa is usually cheaper to fly into than Ft Myers..try the Econolodge on (2502 north)Gulf Drive..in Bradenton Beach Beach..941-778-6671..most units right on the beach and a few across the street...

help

found the site that is better..onroute.com and click on Florida...then Anna Maria and Bradenton..

tmh

Don't know about Ft Myers but have flown many times to our place in Bradenton (3 miles in from Bradenton Beach). The drive is very easy from Tampa. You're right, it's almsot exactly 1 hour so the 90 miles form Ft Myers would be longer.

adeewebstr

I would fly into Tampa and take I-275 through St. Pette (not at all bad), across the Skyway Bridge (really pretty views of Tampa Bay - as long as you don't mind tall bridges - $1 toll), and then south on 41 (either business through Palmetto or around). That takes you to Manatee Ave (State Road 64)- turn right and it deadends on Anna Maria. It's maybe a 45 minute, very easy drive. Ft. Myers would be a much longer drive. Siesta Key is probably a 30 ot 40 minute drive - distance isn't bad, but traffic is. You have to get off the islands and drive through Sarasota. It is nice, though lots of fun restaurants and shops. What time of year are you coming down? Most of our snowbirds go home for Easter or soon after, so it's much less crowded then.

LN

Hi again

Sounds like you're getting interested in Anna Maria Island!! It's lovely there especially on the north side.

I'll try to answer some of your questions. Distance from Tampa airport to AMI is approximtely 1 hour - sometimes a little less. We generally come down 275 and cross the bridge then RT 41 to bradenton and then Rt 64 out to the island. (We use the same route as our island is the next one down)

Siesta Key would also take about an hour - it's off the southern portion of Sarasota. It's another delight in this chain.

Sarasota has a lot going for it - they have the opera, ballet, theater, it's very upscale and has many decent restaurants. While there you might want to try Marie Selby Gardens, the Mote Experimental Acquarium, the Ringling Museum and home. On Sarasota's Main Street you'll find many good restaurants as well as on AMI, LBK, and Siesta. Once you've seen the beaches you'll have found a home.

Oh, the trip from Fort Myers to AMI would take a couple hours - it's not at all convenient. We used to hope that Southwest would come into Sarasota.

adeewebstr

St. Pette - no! St. Pete. My fingers don't always work! LN knows where to go - Selby, Mote, Ringling, etc. Do you want restaurant info? What ages are on the trip?

MSS

Thanks so much, everyone, for all the help! I am going to print all the information. To answer some questions, we are 2 adults (50's) looking for some R&R. (Have 1 teen left, staying at home.) Love to run/walk on the beach, swim, enjoy really good seafood, nothing fancy, usually the locals places seem to be the best, our nightlife seems to be dinner and a few drinks, sunsets, like to bike, maybe take in some scenery and sightseeing, nothing touristy. Like to go to original local shops. oh, and we are going in July, but I love the heat and those hot, balmy nights, so heat definitely is not a problem. We are planning staying 5 nights, and actually some of the condo's I checked would be cheaper to rent for 7 days, (even though we are staying 5), than just renting per night. Still deciding on that part - since I like the fact that Bungalow Beach sits directly on the beach. Thanks again for all the help/suggestions. Also...how is red tide so far this year? We were on Sanibel last summer and it was pretty bad, but I didn't let it ruin our vacation.

LN

We can't predict what July will bring in the "Red Tide" problem but it's not there now.

Hope you enjoy your stay on AMI.

Maggi

My sister and I had a dream vacation at Bungalow Beach resort on Anna Maria in November. I loved the location: easy access to Sarasota where we took in the ballet and symphony and, going the other way, our favorite place, the Sand Bar for margaritas and munchies at sunset. My advice re BB resort is to make sure you get one of the beachfront cottages. We loved sitting on our porch so close to the water.

My trip report is at:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...een_name=Maggi

For photos of our room, go to:
http://community.webshots.com/user/maggiwun

If you do stay at BB resort, make sure to check out the deli (sorry I can't recall the name) just across and down the street a bit. Wish we had discovered it earlier! They have really tasty carryout meals and desserts.

Have a great time!

MSS

Thanks Maggi, for the trip report and pictures. 104 was one of the bungalows that we were looking at, and the other is 101, larger, with 3 decks, but only has a queen bed, go figure!

Thanks for the tip on the Sandbar. It sounds perfect for my quest of finding the perfect margarita. I am pretty much like you in trying to pull myself away from the beach in order to take in a concert, tour, etc.

Just one question, can you tell me if they close their pool at a certain time? We sometimes enjoy a late evening swim after dinner, but don't want to venture into the ocean after dark. We have found that most places that don't have a lot of children frequenting the place are happy to accomodate.

LN

Hi

If you'd like some reasonable restaurants we can come up with a few! Yes, the Sandbar is a great place and has a great outdoor bar. You can sit in the sand, enjoying your favorite, while waiting for a table. Mar-Vista (Longboat Key) is another reasonably priced island favorite which offers inside or outside seating. For a decent hamburg at lunchtime only, try Duffy's tavern on AMI - good burgers! For some decent seafood (stone crab claws) try the Star Fish Company, located right off Cortez around 123rd St. Then, of course, there's Awful Ralph's (AMI and yes, that's the name) - and it's right on the water.

If you'd like some higher priced speak up!

help

isn't that Rotten Ralph's..Dufy's is small and not ac'ed..but funky/cool.. Holmes Beach is a restaurant/bar and food is good(by the bath-house) and morning has the big Belguim waffles..also Shells is good..Sanbar has good pina coladas too..try to get there for early bird specials..

LN

Thanks Help - you were helpful!