Larry - Island Real Estate Blog

July 16, 2013December 11, 2020

Tampa Bay Automobile Museum for Anna Maria Car Enthusiasts

If you are an auto-car enthusiast looking for something to do on your Anna Maria Island vacation then look no further. Travel a little less than 1 hour up to Tampa Bay to visit a museum with more than 50 collector automobiles. From vintage vehicles like a 1930 Tracta E to something a bitmore recent like a 1981 Delorean.

General Admission to the auto museum is currently $8 USD with discounts for students and Seniors. They do support large tours if prearranged for a fee. The car museum is closed Tuesdays and holidays and open Mon – Sat 10AM – 4 PM and open Sundays Noon – 4 PM EST.

For additional information on their collection visit their collection web page.

If you are in the market to purchase someone a tough gift then be sure to review their vintage automobile books for sale for a great auto enthusiast gift.

The Tampa Bay Museum is located at 3301 Gateway Centre Blvd, Pinellis Park, Florida, 33782. For more information visit their website or call 727 579-8226. Just under a one hour easy drive from Anna Maria Island.

There is another auto museum close by to Anna Maria Island. A muscle car museum in Punta Gorda. In addition, Sarasota has an exotic car show each year.

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Need more spots to visit in Tampa on your Anna Maria Island Vacation? Visit our Tampa information page for more info.

Larry

Meet Larry Chatt. Larry is the Broker/Owner of Island Real Estate – and has owned Anna Maria Island investment property while residing in New England, Ohio, Colorado, Iowa and across Europe. He and his family have been on the island for decades and Larry has served his community in various roles with the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce

July 12, 2013August 23, 2024

Top 5 Ice Cream Places on Anna Maria Island

Hey dudes and dude-ettes!! You’re back with The Island Kid right here on Kids Corner, the best place to get the best news on Anna Maria Island. I’m here today to tell you guys about the absolute best places on the island to get your ice cream fix. Now, here on Anna Maria Island, there are plenty of places you can go if you want a frozen treat to eat. But if you’re unsure of which places are best and which places to rule out. Read on for good info!

Best Places for Ice Cream on Anna Maria Island

1: Two Scoops: This ice cream shop is a small shop nestled between Two Sides of Nature and across from the Anna Maria City Pier. With 32 rotating flavors, some as weird as blueberry pie and as normal as your classic vanilla, your pallet will always be pleased. They also have pastries, assorted lunch foods, and candy bars.

2: Dips: An ice cream shop near Three Island Monkeys and The Loft #5 in Anna Maria, this itty-bitty place packs the punch when it comes to ice cream. With thousands of flavors and topping variations, your experience will never be a bore. Plus the classic candies and toys on the wall are great for a trip down memory lane.

3: Tyler’s Ice Cream is just over the bridge in Cortez Village. Well worth the jaunt to enjoy some delicious gourmet flavors-literally hundreds over the years! They have locally themed, as well as delicious classic flavors…and finding out what their latest is, is always part of the fun. But creating your own flavor of shake just can’t be beat!

4: Small Town Creamery is the bomb.com. It’s got everything from chocolate to cotton candy & milkshakes and more! Small Town is located in Central Holmes Beach right next to the Feast.

5: Holy Cow: No, I’m not shocked, they just have really good ice cream! The Holmes Beach ice cream shop has many different combos of flavors and toppings, plus much more. They include a little mini gift shop inside the shop, plus indoor and outdoor seating. So feel free to enjoy your ice cream while browsing the trinkets.

Bonus tip – about 15 minutes off Anna Maria Island is a fantastic custard shop called Sweet Berries. They mix all kinds of goodies in their custard ice cream and call it a concrete. yum!

Whether you’re looking for just one spot or want try them all, these places are the best on the island. So next time you’re visiting, go check ’em out! Let us know what you thought, and check back with us here on Kid’s Corner.

Larry

July 9, 2013November 21, 2020

Downtown Disney – Disney Springs Orlando Florida

Looking for something to do after the Disney World parks close or for shopping opportunities? Downtown Disney or newly named Disney Springs has a plentiful selection of attractions, shopping locations, and entertainment.
Continue reading “Downtown Disney – Disney Springs Orlando Florida”

Larry

July 2, 2013November 21, 2020

Tyler’s Gourmet Ice Cream | Cortez Village, FL

Located just west of Bradenton in Cortez Village is Tyler’s Gourmet Ice Cream! Tyler’s proudly serves the area for nearly 30 years, and for good reason. Tyler’s was founded in 1984 and has since become the best place for a cool tasty treat in the area.

What makes Tyler’s so great for a double scoop of delicious ice cream? It’s hand crafted fresh every day by Rob and Laura Alderson who have been running the shop since 2008 using the same traditions that made Tyler’s so tasty in the first place. It doesn’t stop there though because now there are over 300 flavors! That’s enough to visit nearly every day of the year and never have the same flavor!

So what more do we need to say? Delicious ice cream made fresh daily by great people! Stop in for a scoop of Tyler’s Gourmet Ice Cream! If you want the top ten ice cream shops on Anna Maria Island visit our our top fiveice cream post!

Tyler’s Gourmet Ice Cream
11904 Cortez Rd W
Cortez, FL 34215
941-794-5333

Larry

June 20, 2013November 21, 2020

Disney’s Blizzard Beach in Orlando Florida

Disney’s Blizzard Beach is themed after a one time ski resort that has all but melted away making it an awesome water park! Slides, water pools, rapids, and a chairlift are all found within. A perfect one or two day excursion from vacationing on Anna Maria Island. A must visit for a hot Summer day.

Attractions

If you’re daring enough you can take a 120 foot drop on Summit Plummet and find out how fast you were traveling when you reach the bottom. The near vertical drop is enough to get your adrenaline pumping for another climb to the top of Mount Gushmore to ride again!

There are 12 attractions total, and 7 dining options within Blizzard Beach. You can ride with a friend on a double tube down the Runoff Rapids or race against them to be the first one down the Downhill Double Dipper. If that doesn’t suit your style, you can always relax in the one acre wave pool.

The summer 2013 park hours are 9:00AM to 8:00PM.

Disney’s Blizzard Beach
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
(407) 934-7639

Need more information on theme parks? Visit our theme/water park page!

Larry

June 20, 2013November 21, 2020

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon in Orlando, FL

Take a dip, a slip, or a plunge into the cool waters at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. The water park features numerous slides, a lazy river, and cool summer fun. The picture above shows the giant wave pool right along the Disney park beach shore. Soak up some rays and then cool off in the water. A great one or two day trip from Anna Maria Island. Another option to cool off from the Summer Heat is to visit Blizzard Beach very close to Typhoon Lagoon.

Attractions

The park also has a surfing school for those interested in learning. The controlled environment is ideal, and lessons are offered on select days before the opening of the park. More information on the camp can be found by contacting them directly at (407) 939-7529. Don’t forget we have surfing camps on Anna Maria Island as well!

The park consists of 11 rides including the shark reef. Included with your admission to the park is the opportunity to snorkel on the artificial coral reef within the park. You can get an up close look at sharks, stingrays, and schools of fish. The reef is 10 feet deep and a chilling 68 degrees so be ready to take a deep breath before you jump in!

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
(407) 934-7639

Larry

June 20, 2013November 21, 2020

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Orlando Florida

Roar with the lions; monkey around with the prime-apes; growl with the tigers; laugh with the hyenas! You can do all this and more at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. The goal is simple here. Get in touch with nature, and teach conservation so that it can be enjoyed by future generations as well! Being located only two hours from Anna Maria Island makes Animal Kingdom a great Orlando day trip.

Attractions

There are many exhibits to see around the park, and many can be viewed while riding the Wildlife Express Train. In addition to this tour, there are more personal tours which will take you closer to becoming one with the wild. You can learn about how the Disney cast members take care of over 1500 inhabitants of the park in a Backstage Safari, test your physical limits in Expedition Everest, or embark on a Wild Africa Trek where you’ll cross rope bridges and get a great view of the wildlife.

There are also 12 dining options to choose from within the park, including Rainforest Cafe, each with their own unique style and atmosphere.

Park hours for summer 2013 are 9:00AM to 8:00PM Monday-Thursday and 9:00AM to 7:00PM Friday-Sunday with differing hours on holidays.

In addition to the other Disney parks here are some more Orlando parks.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
(407) 934-7639

Larry

June 13, 2013November 21, 2020

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Visiting Disney World from Anna Maria Island is a perfect one or two day trip that is sure to provide another level of entertainment. Bring the Hollywood magic to life at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park. If there is one thing Walt Disney World does amazingly well, it is bringing the movie experience to life within Hollywood Studios. As you walk around the park you will feel as if you’re the main character on set of the next big movie release. The iconic Hollywood Tower Hotel as well as Mickey’s magical hat from Fantasia can be found within!

Attractions

If that doesn’t satisfy you join Phineas and Ferb as they make the movie of all movies detailing their summer vacation! There’s no better way to celebrate the summer season than with the ultimate summer break stars.

If you’re seeking a thrill you can ride the Rock’n Roller Coaster which will have you grooving to Aerosmith tracks or catch the Lights, Motors, Action! extreme stunt show.

There is plenty to see at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park so be sure to bring along a comfortable pair of walking shoes. You’ll be doing a lot!

Park hours for summer 2013 are 9:00AM to 10:00PM with differing hours on holidays.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
(407) 934-7639

Larry

June 13, 2013November 21, 2020

Disney’s Epcot

Featuring cuisines from around the world, Disney’s Epcot is a food lover’s paradise all within the World of Walt Disney, and being in close proximity to Anna Maria Island makes it a perfect Orlando day trip destination! 32 dining choices are present across 24 different categories:

African, American, Asian, Bakery, British, Cajun/Creole, Chinese, Cuban, French, German, Greek, Indian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Mediterranean, Mexican, Moroccan, Norwegian, Polynesian, Seafood, Steakhouse, Sushi. Take your pick or try them all (not recommended in one sitting)!

Attractions

Although the food is the main attraction of the Epcot park, there are 31 attractions to take in as well; themed around the cultures reflected in the food choices. Get a cup of tea from a British coffeehouse, eat a baguette at a French boulangerie, or dine on sushi in a Japanese “Resutoran.”

Disney Epcot park hours for summer are 9:00AM to 9:00PM with differing hours on holidays. We just visited Epcot over Thanksgiving and the fireworks display was amazing!

If you’re still looking for more theme park options that are not too far from Anna Maria Island, we have compiled a list just for you!

Disney’s Epcot
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
(407) 934-7639

Larry