Florida's Gulf Islands Visitors Guide® 2008 - (Page 13) EIGHT in our world days day one BEACH DAY ON ANNA MARIA ISLAND Anna Maria Island Trolley This is the time to park the car and hide the keys. Ride the free trolley all day. Sample Itineraries Linger Lodge Restaurant Hundreds of Florida’s creatures are mounted on display. Raccoons, bobcats, armadillos, birds, fish, bugs, spiders, reptiles and butterflies for your viewing pleasure while you enjoy fresh American cuisine. South Florida Museum An afternoon at the largest natural museum on the Gulf Coast and a visit with our official mascot, Snooty™ the manatee, will be a highlight. Allow 2 hours. Beach Bistro Enjoy a romantic Zagat Rated Restaurant, voted as the best food on the Gulf Coast. You’ll have to tear your eyes off each other long enough to watch the sunset from your table. Mixon Fruit Farms Finish off your day with a tour of the grove on the Orange Blossom Express. See the new wildlife refuge and enjoy a famous “Orange Swirl” ice cream cone. Allow 1 hour. Haye Loft An after-dinner cordial and a classic flambé while listening to live music at this intimate loft bar is the perfect ending to a day reconnecting. Joe’s Eats & Sweets If you’re staying island-side, family day won’t be complete without a nocturnal trip to Joe’s, known for their homemade ice cream and chocolate-covered bananas. Café on the Beach A swimsuit-and-flip-flops café right on Bradenton Beach, serving everything from oatmeal to omelets. On Sundays, it’s all-youcan-eat pancakes and sausage. Mr. Bones BBQ Don’t let the skeleton on the sign scare you off; this place has perfectly seasoned melt-in-your-mouth ribs, plus a surprisingly eclectic menu of Indian and vegetarian dishes. day seven NATURE AND CULTURE NORTH OF THE RIVER Emerson Point Around the Bend Tours can lead you through this 365-acre preserve. You will see the largest Native American Temple Mound, go “Critter Catching” in the Manatee River, and explore native Florida. Allow 3 hours. day five LADIES’ DAY OUT Ginny and Jane E’s Even if you visited it already, this place is worth a repeat trip. Fire up the day with a latté and fresh bakery item. Bradenton Beach Take a stroll down pristine white sandy beaches, and spend a few hours gazing at the unobstructed blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico from your beach chair. day three GOLF DAY LANDSIDE Waterlefe Golf & River Club Play the most challenging course in Manatee County. Ted McAnlis designed this course built along a beautiful section of the Manatee River. Bridge Street Pier Located at the end of a charming street filled with gift shops and plenty of choices for lunch. Squeeze in a parasail at Fun & Sun if you feel adventurous. Red Barn Flea Market More than 600 unique shops and flea market-style booths. Enjoy family fun, bargains, collectibles, souvenirs and a variety of food. Mangrove Grill On your way to the Plantation, have lunch dockside at the Riviera Dunes Marina Resort in Palmetto. The Tommy O’Brien salad and a cup of Gulf Coast Gumbo will be another great find. Rod & Reel or Anna Maria City Pier It’s time to go fishing, no need for a license, or a fishing rod; they have it all, plus the bait. You can spend an hour, or the rest of the day, with a park next door and an ice cream shop just a stone’s throw away. Fav’s Restaurant Carb up for more shopping at this authentic, family-style Italian restaurant, serving specialty pasta dishes and other comfort food at reasonable prices. Lunch Grab some lunch at Waterlefe’s River Club or head downtown to the Anna Maria Oyster Bar for a giant grouper sandwich and some oysters on the half shell. Prime Outlets Shop at the Gulf Coast of Florida’s largest factory name outlet center, featuring Coach, Gap, Polo, Ralph Lauren, Saks, Ann Taylor, Nike, Bass Shoes, etc. Gamble Plantation Visit an 1800s antebellum plantation house with details of Civil War figures and Indians. This was a large sugar cane farm in the early settlement of Manatee County. Allow 1 hour. Ginny and Jane E’s A late afternoon stop to check email, grab a café latté or find a unique memento in this eclectic antiques-shop-meets-coffee-shopmeets-Internet-café. Poolside Cool off in your hotel pool this afternoon and we won’t tell if you get a little shuteye poolside before an evening of downtown dining. If you simply can’t rest, take a stroll through the walking artists’ colony, Village of the Arts. Bonefish Grill Market-fresh fish cooked over an oak-burning grill served with an array of sauces is what makes dinner here an experience. Start off with the Bang Bang Shrimp! Peppers in Palmetto This fiery gift shop has everything a chilihead could want, from dozens of hot sauces to salsa, jerk, sprinkles, rubs and jellies. Flavors run as sweet as a “Georgia Peach” to as hot as a “Shark Bite.” Sandbar Restaurant A favorite dinner spot on the beach for fresh seafood and fruity frozen cocktails. If you’re lucky enough, you may get to witness a sunset wedding on the sand. McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre You girls need to laugh, laugh, laugh, and that is just what will happen when you are at one of the comedy shows at McCurdy’s. The Lost Kangaroo Pub Bradenton’s downtown Main Street hosts more than 150 different flavors of beer, and over 15 beers on tap. A great place to replay those awesome shots. Alvarez Mexican Restaurant This family-owned Palmetto landmark has been serving authentic home-style Mexican food for more than 30 years. day six ROMANCE DAY Island Scooter Rentals Rent bikes or a double scooter and tour the islands together this morning. day two SHOP & TOUR DAY Island Creperie or Broken Egg On the islands, breakfast at this French café serving delicious crepes before you hit the mainland is a must. If you’re already landside, the Broken Egg at Lakewood Ranch is delish. Mattison’s Riverside at Twin Dolphin Marina Grill Casual dining indoors or out in the most beautiful spot on the Manatee River. Fresh seafood, choice steaks and salads. day eight ALL ABOUT THE WATER DAY Captain for a Day Our destination is teeming with knowledgeable captains who offer half- and full-day inshore, nearshore and offshore fishing or boating charters – or, rent your own. Cruise down to Beer Can Island or head out to Tampa Bay. We don’t care how you get there, just get out on the water! West Coast Surf Shop While you’re riding, stop at the oldest surf shop in Florida, and buy her a new swimsuit or colorful beachwear. You’ll definitely score points! day four FAMILY FUN DAY Nature Tour On a canoe or kayak, with a nature guide or on your own, our island waters abound with manatees, dolphins and stingrays for peaceful exploration. Rosa Fiorelli Winery Tour the 10-acre vineyard and lunch with the Fiorelli family. You can help bring in the harvest should your visit be at that time of year. Purchase wines to take home or something special from the gift shop. Main Street at Lakewood Ranch A fashionable shopping district in this master-planned community is home to more than 30 boutiques, restaurants, a cinema and gourmet market. Allow 2-3 hours. Cortez Fishing Village Walk through the historic fishing village of Cortez, visit old fish houses like the Bell Fish Company, and eat fresh catches at Cortez Kitchen or Starfish Company. Pirates Game If you find yourself here during season, you’ll get to catch an all-American game of spring training baseball at McKechnie Field, home to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Grab a dog, a Coke and a smile! Afternoon at the Theater Catch a matinee performance of Poe at the magnificent Powel Crosley Estate and Theatre, or an inspired act at the Island Players community theater in Anna Maria. Turtle Watch End the day learning how to help our baby sea turtles get out to sea on an educational beach nesting tour (seasonal). Allow 1 hour. www.FloridasGulfIslands.com | Page 13 http://www.FloridasGulfIslands.com
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