Anna Maria Island, Florida: Beach Front Hotel Rentals For Amazing Sunsets

Anna Maria Island is one of the most popular beach destinations in the state of Florida. It's location near Sarasota on the mouth of Tampa Bay beneath one of the most active sky lines in the world. Visitors are treated to big beautiful clouds and spectacular sunsets.

The region also boasts an average of 350 days of sunshine per year. That's why Anna Maria Island's pristine white sand and turquoise waters are consistently rated highly among thoroughly relaxed Florida travelers every year.

If you are considering Anna Maria Island for your next beach adventure, here are some hotels located directly on the island's eight miles of sand.

    1 Anna Maria Island Inn: This resort has 14 units, however only seven are beach front. AMII is located near the center of the island. Its units are apartment-style (kitchenette) and the property does accept small pets.
    2 Bali Hai Beach Resort: Bali Hai is one of the largest rental properties on AMI with 42 motel-style rooms and homey cottages. It is located on the northern half of the island near many of the popular shops and restaurants. Bali Hai does not accept pets and reservations are only accepted by phone or in person.
    3 Blue Water Beach Club: Just south of Bali Hai is Blue Water. It has 29 rentals, mostly studio and single bedroom units. Blue Water does not accept pets. It is one of the only resorts on the island that has a pool with a Gulf view.
    4 Bungalow Beach Resort: This resort is located near the geographical center of the island. It has five up-market rentals located directly on the sands of Cortez Beach. The resort has does not allow any pets.
    5 Cedar Cove Resort & Cottages: The four suites of Cedar Cove are located directly on Cortez Beach on the southern half of AMI. The decor of the units might be considered a bit dated, yet Cedar Cove offers a relaxed beach-infused atmosphere including tiki huts on the beach. It does not accept pets and do not have a pool.
    6 Coconuts Beach Resort: This resort is centrally located in Holmes Beach. Coconuts has 10 beach-front one and two-bedroom units. It does not accept pets.
   7 Club Bamboo: Club Bamboo has 15 beach-front apartments with king-size beds. It is located in Holmes Beach near many shops and restaurants. They do not accept pets.
   8 Mainsail Beach Inn: There are no luxury resorts on Anna Maria Island, however Mainsail is the closest thing. It has 12 Gulf-front two- and three-bedroom apartment-style units. No pets.
   9 Seaside Inn & Beach Resort: Seaside Inn has 10 units located on Holmes Beach near the center of the island. Most units are studios or one bedrooms, but it has a Gulf-front penthouse. Seaside doesn't not allow any animals.

Find dozens more Anna Maria Island hotels here, as well as more information on island restaurants, shops and activities.

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Florida Old Style Homes

As an interior decorator and design consultant, I became fascinated with the history of Florida and Old Florida style homes, including the Old Florida Cracker style home. So I began my research into the back roads of old Florida. I found that Florida is not only rich in heritage, but also rich in culture and architectural design.

Florida is a kaleidoscope of many nationalities like Spanish, British, French, Italian and Cuban and with them came many influences on architectural design styles. Settlers also came from other states like South Carolina, New York and Louisiana. This diversity of cultures influenced the architecture and decorating style of many buildings, historical hotels and Florida homes.

Florida's first settlers were actually Native American Indians. Ponce De Leon, a Spanish explorer, was the first to discover Florida in 1513, landing in St. Augustine, the nations oldest city. St. Augustine is also the home to the Casa Monica hotel, a Moorish Revival and Spanish Baroque style hotel.

Fernandina Beach on the Florida East coast touts a Floridian seaport village with cobblestone streets adorned with Victorian style homes and beachside cottages.

The Breakers Hotel in West Palm Beach is a grand Old Florida Italian Renaissance hotel, built by real estate and railroad tycoon Henry Flagler in 1894. 75 artisans were brought in from Italy to complete the magnificent paintings of the main lobby ceiling.

Another popular Florida home-style design was the Renaissance and Mediterranean style homes found in both old Winter Park and Coral Gables neighborhoods. Also, mid-century architecture, based on Frank Lloyd Wright's ideas, was popular in Sarasota and Fort Lauderdale.

The Miami national historic district reflects 1950-60 architectural styles such as Mediterranean Revival, Art Deco and Miami Modern (MIMO) style.

Do not forget Florida old style homes in Key West, like Ernest Hemmingway's home, a magnificent home in its day, decorated with French and Spanish furnishings. Key West also boasts the famous home of President Harry Truman; known as the Little White House. This is a Victorian style home in which many of our presidents visited. Key West is well known for the conch house style, introduced by the immigrants from the Bahamas. The conch house is an architectural home style using native conch shells, timber framing, low gabled roofs and large porches.

In Sarasota, John Ringling, of the Ringling Brothers Circus, built an Italian Renaissance style mansion modeled after a palace in Venice, Italy.

The Tampa Bay Hotel, located in Tampa, was built by Henry Plant, the railroad mogul. This hotel also uses Spanish Moorish revival architecture.

Old Florida also included mid-19th century Florida classic-revival plantation home styles like the Gamble Plantation house in Ellenton, the only surviving antebellum mansion near St. Petersburg.

Florida old style homes not only had some of the most magnificent, elegant old world hotels; it also had some laid-back, simple homes. One of the most familiar is the Florida Cracker vernacular style home that reflects green design by using local natural resources and is designed to withstand the Florida environment.

These homes were comfortable in the Florida heat since they were built off the ground so cooling air could circulate around them. They also had high peaked tin roofs to reflect the heat, shady wrap around porches with extended roof lines and lots of windows for cross ventilation. The Cracker house, now dubbed "Cracker Chic", is making a comeback in the south with modern developments.

The next time you travel in Florida, why not take a side trip to some of these historical treasures? Better yet, take the scenic Old Florida Heritage Highway, rich in natural beauty where you can observe pastoral countryside and explore historical Florida old style homes like the Cracker home of the famous writer Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings in Cross Creek, an environment that attracts writers, poets and artists. A place that will restore you spirit and refresh your soul. Happy travels!

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The Best Fort Lauderdale Hotels in Florida

Fort Lauderdale is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. It is known as the Venice of America because to its intricate and expansive canal system. It is the main city of South Florida metropolitan region habitat to about 5,413,212 people.

It is the main yachting center with about 42 resident yachts and 100 boatyards and marinas. Fort Lauderdale and its suburbs host about 120 nightclubs and 4,100 restaurants. It has true tropical rain forests with humid, hot summers and dry, warm winters.

There are four railroads that serve. The CSX Transportation and the FEC or Florida East Coast Railroad are freight lines, the Tri-Rail provides travelers service between Miami-Dade County, Broward County and Palm Beach County and the Amtrak provides travelers service to some cities on the Atlantic Coast.

The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is the fastest growing main airport and it is the city main airport in the country. It is an emerging international airport getaway for the Latin America and Caribbean. The Palm Beach International Airport and the Miami International Airport also serve Fort Lauderdale. It is home to the Port Everglades state's 3rd busiest cruise port. Broward County is served by some main Interstate Highways and U.S Highways like US 41, US 27 and US 1.

This place is home to Aquatic Complex that contains about two units of 23 meters by 50 meters competition pool and one 20 by 23 meter diving well. It is also home to the large indoor and outdoor flea market the Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop. It is the place of the world's biggest drive-in movie theater with about 13 screens.

Other sites of interest in Fort Lauderdale are the Hugh Taylor Birch State Park and the International Swimming Hall of Fame. The Hugh Taylor Birch Park is a park beside the beach with picnicking and camping areas, nature trails and canoing.

There are many hotels situated around it. One good example is the Ocean Sky Hotel and Resort. This full service hotel is situated on the beach in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is 15 minutes away from the historic Las Olas Boulevard and downtown Fort Lauderdale and 20 minutes away from the Its International Airport. The hotel is located near the shopping areas, the convention center and business district.

It offers about 225 guest rooms with ocean view and open-air balconies including 15 oceanfront suites. This hotel features a fitness center, game room, business center, water sports, indoor and outdoor restaurant, outdoor oversized Jacuzzi, polo lounge, gift and sundry boutique and much more. All guest rooms features free wireless internet access, hairdryer, microwave oven, mini refrigerator, cable television and much more.

The La Quinta Inn and Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport is situated one minute drive from the Hollywood International Airport. It is 10 minutes away from the Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve, 25 minutes away fro the South Beach and about 20 minutes away from the Sawgrass Mills Mall.

The hotel features free bright side breakfast, high speed internet access, meeting facilities, outdoor swimming pool and fitness center. All guest rooms features data port phones, television with premium cable channel, coffee maker, hairdryer, alarm clock and iron with ironing board.

Beach Plaza Hotel Fort Lauderdale is a great accommodation option to an unforgettable vacation. The hotel is situated close to the several restaurants, shops, airports and to the Port Everglades. The hotel guest room features cable television, microwave oven, refrigerator, coffee and tea making facilities, hairdryer and air conditioning.

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Anna Maria Florida Island: 5 Hotels On North Region For Quiet Stay

Anna Maria Island is one of Florida's most popular beach getaways. However the island itself is broken into three parts (the City of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach)

The northern portion of island is the City of Anna Maria. It is most popular among travelers who seek a quiet and relaxing escape from the rest of the world.

There are fewer hotel options in the City of Anna Maria than other portions of the island.

Here is a breakdown of five hotel accommodations located in the City of Anna Maria:

    1 Anna Maria Beach Cottages: One of the cleanest and most comfortable properties on the entire island is Anna Maria Beach Cottages. AMBC has 11 cottages and apartment-style units. The property grounds are well maintained, and its pool is one of the largest on the island. AMBC is located at 112 Oak Ave. Its biggest drawbacks are that most weekends at AMBC tend to book six months to a year in advance, and it does not have any unobstructed Gulf views.

    2 Anna Maria Motel: A change in management has greatly improved Anna Maria Motel over the past year. It is the northern most accommodation on the island and has 12-motel style units. AMM is located about a block away from Bean Point and its stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. AMM accepts small pets, and it is in a very quiet residential neighborhood where a dog can enjoy being outside as much as you will. Its drawbacks are that it does not have some of the mood-setting beach décor you'll find at the larger properties and it is unlikely you're cell phone will be good for much more than telling time (VERY little cell signal).

    3 Rod & Reel Resort: Although many people first think of a Gulf view when they book on Anna Maria Island, they learn upon arrival that the views of Tampa Bay are just as stunning. Rod & Reel Resort offers the island's best bay views. It has 11 traditional units, and is located on the island's northern bay front. Rod & Reel has comparably low rates. Its noticeable drawbacks are its lack of a pool and the distance from the island trolley and most shops and restaurants.

    4 Sea Isle Motel: If you don't have to have an ocean view, Sea Isle Motel might be right for you. It has six apartment-style units and a large, covered pool. The rates are low, too. SIM is located on North Bay Blvd., just a few blocks away from the iconic City Pier as well as many Pine Ave. shops and restaurants. Its drawbacks are that it's a bit of a walk to the nearest beach and it tends to book months in advance.

    5 Sunrise Garden Resort: One of the most elegant pool areas is located at Sunrise Garden Resort. The name "Sunrise" is a nod to the resort's location near the bayside of the island. It has 16 rental apartments, most of which are one bedroom. However, they are spacious, clean and comfortable. Sunrise is located near many of the shops and restaurants located along Pine Ave. and South Bay Blvd. Its drawbacks are that you'll have to walk a few blocks to the beach and it doesn't have any units three-bedrooms or larger.

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Enjoy Our Florida Beach Review to Pick Your Destination - Discount Florida Vacation's Florida Beach

Now that summertime is upon us and it's time to take that much needed vacation whether you are out of school, have paid time off from your job, or have been planning that family vacation for months.

If you have decided to go to Florida for your trip, and haven't decided which of the many fabulous beaches to venture to, we have put together our Florida beach review for you to discover the best beach for your vacation.

Why should you listen to us? We have researched and visited dozens upon dozens of beaches in Florida. Plus, we have surveyed other beach lovers to get feedback on various travel destinations in Florida. These came from both locals and tourists.

Discount Florida Vacations - Florida Beach Review Thumbs Up Destinations

 Our favorite beach and a consensus among others, has to be Clearwater Beach Florida. Of the dozens of beaches in Florida we have vacationed at, Clearwater is our comparison. This is also a popular spot for two other beach lover friends of ours. They will pack up their belongings for a weekend and fly down there to spend a couple days eating at Crabby Bills, touring the town, relaxing on the white-sandy beaches, and enjoying the Gulf of Mexico.

If you enjoy water everywhere you look, sun shining constantly, and a relaxed atmosphere with great food and entertainment, Clearwater if for you.

South Beach Miami is our second Florida beach review destination. 

In all honesty, you can't write an article or mention a Florida beach without talking about South Beach. The Cuban culture that surrounds this south-eastern spot is a hot spot of the rich and famous.

Hot bodies are located everywhere, quick paced, an amazing nightlife, and all the excitement needed for one trip is located here. Movies and television shows have been filmed here, a diet is named after it, and it is within close proximity to other great beach destinations if you choose to drive the coast on highway A1A.

Offering crystal clear water, plenty of history, more than enough to do, and an overall excellent vacation for any traveler, Miami is a definite and gets an A+ on our Florida beach review.

Destin Florida is a top our Florida beach review. 

Spending many family vacations there growing up, the landscape and layout of Destin is beautiful. Plenty of golf and water activities portray this great beach on the Panhandle.

Offering sugar white sand beach and emerald green water, Destin is a spot that will leave you fealing spoiled. Not to mention Destin is a great spot for any budget.

Sarasota Beaches
Sarasota and the beaches that surround it (Siesta Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key, and others) is a vacation spot that amazed us. Whether you want to live there, buy a second home there, or just visit this tropical paradise, Sarasota is the whole package. We were tucked on Lido Key and had the pleasure of enjoying the areas around Sarasota fully.

The food was amazing, the beaches were clean, large, and perfect for walking, jogging, relaxing, playing, and more. This was the one beach vacation that we did nothing but enjoy the beachfront hotel and surrounding water/beach activities and never got bored.

Atlantic Coast Review

Our final Florida beach review is on the Atlantic Coast. Daytona Beach has been a staple on the beach scene for decades. With movies going back to the 60's making this a popular and trendy spot, Daytona Beach is a must.

Events are always taking place here. The long list includes, Bike Week, Spring Break, Nascar racing, car shows, reunions, and more. The cool part was that you could drive on the sparkling, fine grained sand or play volleyball, basketball, or any other beach sport.

Because of it's northern location, Daytona is a great spot for the summer months and offers plenty of beach fun! With the snow-bird's gone, the spring's jammed pack events over, summer offers an enjoyable trip for anyone.

We could go on all day doing a Florida beach review. These are some of our favorites that we wanted to touch on.

We touched on the various coasts and locations all over Florida to give you an array of choices, but we believe if you are having a tough time picking a destination, these picks won't do you wrong.

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Affordable Beach Hotels in Miami, Florida

Miami also holds a lot of economic clout in the financial, media, entertainment and commerce segments and is therefore one of the most famous destinations in the world featuring in many international events and being in the limelight constantly all over the world.

There are many hotels near the beaches in Miami, Florida as the beaches are naturally its main attraction. These hotels are luxurious and provide the tourists with an unparalleled experience but a question arises. Can every tourist afford the prices that these fancy hotels quote?

Here's a list of the more affordable yet comfortable hotels so that tourists going to Miami, Florida can enjoy their vacations to the fullest.

Haddon Hall hotel
The Haddon hall Hotel is in the Art Deco District in Florida and is only a block away from the beaches. This Miami hotel has a swimming pool that is known for its fancy waterfall. There is also a game room, library room, smoke free area and the attached bathrooms in this Miami hotel are decorated Art Deco fashion complete with a tub and shower. This Florida hotel also has a bar and lounge.

Chesterfield hotel, Suites and Day Spa
This Miami hotel is located at one of the most happening nightspots also in Art Deco district. The beach again is just a block away and the night spots around this Miami hotel are numerous. The lobby of this hotel in Florida sports a tribal African mask that lends this Miami hotel a unique feel as you enter it.

There are in total 90 rooms in this Florida hotel all of which are furnished for a natural and rustic feel. All modern amenities provided at the hotel too to ensure full comfort for the guests. The

Jerry's famous deli is one of the dining options around this Miami hotel. It's open 24 hours as it's a well known night spot and people stream in at all hours of the day and night. There is also a bakery in this restaurant apart from the usual servings of dinner, breakfast and lunch. The Chesterfield Hotel in Miami also allows pets but only to a certain weight limit and they cost extra. Being truly family friendly, This Florida hotel offers babysitting services as well with a 24 hour concierge service.

There are many cafes and bars in the premises of this Florida Hotel. Cafe Leon is one such cafe that serves Cuban American cuisine all day. The Safari is a bar that has a wildlife theme. The windows are painted with Zebra stripes while the stools all have leopard skin patterns. The Safari bar has a trademark drink that's called the Mojito and surprisingly, this bar offers to and fro shuttle service to the Miami airport.

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Naples Florida Beach Hotels: Top Luxury Hotels in Naples Florida!

Of all the Naples Florida hotels, the Naples beach hotels are among the most luxurious and lavish. Some of the finest hotels in the sunshine state are located on the spectacular Naples beaches in the charming, upscale Florida town of Naples Florida: one of the best of the Florida beaches.

The hotels on the beaches of Naples, offer the best of what a Florida beach vacation is all about. The beach is a wonderful playground for swimming, surfing, boating, fishing, building a sandcastle, shelling, a game of frisbee or a snooze! It's a great place to people watch, too! Being close to the beach, to experience the sights and sounds of the alluring Gulf of Mexico, is what sets the mood for a Naples beach vacation.

The beachfront hotels in Naples Florida, are stellar choices for singles, couples or families. For those seeking a romantic getaway for two or a honeymoon destination, a romantic Naples resort on the beach is a perfect choice.

Each of the top Naples beach hotels have restaurants, concierge service, pools, golf courses, children's programs, coffee lounge, bar, spa, valet parking and fitness facilities.

There is a wide range of prices for accommodation at Naples beach hotels. Exquisite suites at these beach resorts can be priced as high as $2000 U.S. dollars for one night's lodging! However, most suites are available in a more modest price range.

Here are a just a few of the highlights of 5 top beach hotels in Naples Florida.

   1. The Rosewater Beach Hotel Naples - This newly, renovated Naples resort offers good parking facilities, on-site restaurant, spa, well-appointed suites overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
   2. Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club - This is one of the original Naples hotels, with a #1 prime beach location close to premium shopping, restaurants and the well-known popular attraction, the Naples Pier. There's a private golf course, several on-site restaurants and a popular sunset bar, to take in the stellar sunset views.
   3. Naples Grande Beach Resort - Beach access at this resort, is via a ¾ mile boardwalk with free tram service. There are several pools including a very popular 100' water slide for the kids.
   4. LaPlaya Naples -While melting away the hours at a beach cabana, drink and lunch service can be enjoyed, as well as a glorious 'cold towel service'. Baleen's, an upscale award-winning restaurant is also located at LaPlaya.
   5. Ritz Carlton Naples - Located in the very exclusive section of the Naples beaches, Vanderbilt beach, this beach hotel has an extraordinary world-class spa and salon, a golf course and many restaurants.

A beach hotel in Naples Fl is more expensive than those located away from the prime beach location. But given the premium location, the amenities, numerous conveniences, and the delightful services available, the extra cost can certainly be justified.

Imagine spending a vacation in Naples Florida, at an upscale, world-class beach hotel. Imagine basking in the luxury and comfort of a spa. Imagine savoring the flavor of a glass of premium wine at a restaurant overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Imagine the enchanting, tropical sun sinking into the horizon, as you walk the beach, barefoot, with the one you love.

Go ahead. Spoil yourself. Take that vacation you deserve. Book one of the Naples beach hotels resorts for an unforgettable Naples Florida vacation!

Discover much more about Naples beach hotels and Naples resorts!

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