According to www.HomeAway.com there are 10 Decorating Styles that every homeowner must avoid if they hope to regularly rent out their property. Our area is saturated with vacation rentals, so you as the homeowner need to do everything in your power to put your property at the top of potential guests’ lists! Avoid these decorating faux pas at all costs: 1. Dingy chic. If a piece of furniture was once in...

The most important aspect when choosing a vacation rental for travelers are the amenities available to them. Whether it’s a fully stocked kitchen or wireless internet, guests want all of the comforts of home plus a few little extras to make their vacation time a memorable and relaxed experience. www.HomeAway.com has put together a very useful “Top Ten” list based on what traveler’s are searching for...

TripAdvisor.com just named Anna Maria Island, Florida one of the top 10 most romantic destinations in the world! Ranked alongside notoriously romantic loactions, including Paris, Praque and Maui, our small beach town is now an up and coming hot spot for couples seeking a private, tanquil getaway or even a beach wedding. Picturesque sunsets, long walks on the white sand beaches, romantic waterfront restaurants...

COMBINING THE JOYS OF THE GULF WITH THE CHALLENGES OF GOLF Written By: Maureen Florio   Most of our guests to Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key long for the warmth of the sun and beaches of the Gulf of Mexico particularly during the cold, dreary and long months of any given Winter Season.  Relaxing on the pristine beaches along the Gulf of Mexico is the perfect way to forget those cold days and make you the...

Sea shells are by far the most sought after treasure for the beachcomber and Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key offer an abundance of unique and beautiful shells.   Experienced beachcombers know to look for shells at low tide and after storms or unusually strong tides. All beaches have shells, but some of the best beaches in Florida for consistently productive shelling are located in southwest Florida, on...

 Red tide, a naturally occurring phenomenon, is a high concentration of a microscopic alga in the water. Learn all about this occurrence, its side effects and how it impacts your vacation time in Florida!     1.      What is red tide? Red tide occurs when there is a high concentration of a microscopic alga in the water. In Florida, the species of algae that causes most red tides is called Karenia brevis....

Anna Maria Island’s wedding industry has grown from about 50 weddings a year five years ago to nearly 1,000 in 2008. And a large number of the members of wedding parties return to the Island as vacationers, said Caryn Hodge, marketing director for the Sandbar Restaurant in Anna Maria. “Many of them who are visiting the Island for the first time with a wedding party say they’re coming back for a vacation....