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Tag: Bradenton

Ferry Service

New Ferry Service to Anna Maria Island On the Horizon

Written by Staff on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Blog, Info.

There is a new ferry service coming to Anna Maria Island to make accessing the area a little easier and environmentally friendly. This new service will allow residents and visitors simpler access to both downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. The service run by Gulf Islands Ferry will allow you to enjoy a scenic trip from Bradenton to Anna Maria Island through scenic areas with no traffic, parking, or other hassles. In reverse, those on the island can get to Bradenton for a day exploring the Riverwalk, art galleries, and more with a relaxing trip in that direction.

Ferry Service
Photo Courtesy of ABC7 Staff

One of the great features of this new service is the positives for the environment and vast natural resources of Anna Maria Island. These two new 50-foot catamarans, named Miss Anna Maria and Downtown Duchess, are powered by renewable resources and are energy efficient. Limiting the number of cars coming onto the island eliminates emissions, wear on infrastructure, and alleviates congestion from traffic. Each watercraft will hold 49 passengers paying $8 per trip, and two crew on board for the best trip experience.

Those that are able to use the service remember the Island Trolley once you do arrive to get around easily. Both these wonderful transportation options can add fun, ease, and relaxation to time on the island seeing everything in amazing style. The initial Coast Guard runs are expected in the next couple of weeks, and then the final schedule and details will be released.

Feature Photo Courtesy of Deposit Photos

Downtown Bradenton

Visit Downtown Bradenton

Written by Paradise Realty Staff on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Blog, Info.

Whether you’re coming in from a Tampa or St Pete flight, traveling back in from spending the day in Sarasota, or just wanting to venture off the 7-miles of Anna Maria Island for the day… Downtown Bradenton has something to offer everyone in the family! From a family day to a date night to an afternoon jaunt, Downtown Bradenton is welcoming, walkable, and wonderful.

Farmer’s Market

Home of the extensive Downtown Bradenton Farmers’ Market – a place where the community meets to enjoy fresh produce, local art, upbeat music, demonstrations by local chefs, and free family activities.

Every Saturday, from October through May from 9am – 2pm, the Bradenton Farmers’ Market hosts over eighty vendors who offer locally grown fruits, vegetables, plants, organic products, prepared foods, and the work of local artists and craftspeople. Right on Bradenton’s Old Main Street, you can’t miss it.

Downtown Bradenton

Downtown Bars and Restaurants

Old Main Street is a tree-lined retail district of cafes and restaurants running three blocks north from Manatee Avenue to the Manatee River, where it meets the Bradenton Riverwalk. This is the place to go if you’re looking for a lively bar scene, fun dinner, or just to grab a beer with a view! The options are truly endless and there are so many wonderful spots, just stroll the street and stop in where you’re interested! Parking is free on weekends, and dogs on leashes are welcome.

Sunsets in Bradenton

Museums

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature is the largest natural and cultural history museum on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Featuring The Planetarium, the Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat, the Mosaic Backyard Universe and a constantly changing lineup of temporary exhibitions — offering something new to discover with each visit! With frequents events, specials, and visiting exhibits — it’s the perfect way to spend a rainy (or sunburnt) day of your vacation!

Bradenton Riverwalk

A must-do on a beautiful weather day with the family is to stroll Bradenton’s Riverwalk. The Riverwalk is a 1.5-mile park that features day docks, an amphitheater, performance areas and pavilion, a skateboard park, an interactive splash pad, and much more. Learn more about other fun activities taking place in downtown Bradenton.

Historic

Baseball at LECOM Park

Just a few blocks away from Main Street in Downtown Bradenton is a treasure of our area, LECOM Park! The Spring Training ballpark of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The stadium also hosts Minor League Baseball games for the Bradenton Marauders, the Pirates’ Single-A affiliate in the Florida State League. Built in 1923, it is the oldest stadium still used for spring training, but it has received so many great upgrades and additions in recent years. Take us out to the ballgame!

Photos Courtesy of Unsplash and Pixabay

Cities

Anna Maria Island’s 3 Cities: What’s the Difference?

Written by Staff on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Blog, Info.

While planning your vacation to Anna Maria Island you may have noticed that on this quaint 7-mile island there are three distinct cities. A lot of people seek guidance on which one to book in, so we’re here to help share the differences between the cities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach.

ALL the Gulf of Mexico beaches on Anna Maria Island are open to the public.  Some prefer one cities’ beach over another, however, the difference between beaches are the amount of visitors on each. The softness of the sand, number of seashells, color of the sand, etc are similar if not the same for all gulf beaches.

Cities

The City of Anna Maria is on the northern tip of the island and has mainly of residential properties, making it much less crowded and much quieter. There are two piers and shops you can explore while you visit. The main street of ‘downtown’ Anna Maria is Pine Avenue runs the width of the island from bay at the Anna Maria City Pier to the Gulf and is voted one of the ‘Greenest Main Streets in the USA’. 

Move further down the island to reach Holmes Beach in the middle. This section of land is home to the popular Manatee Avenue and its widest beach. You’ll find more homes than condos, and numerous gift shops and restaurants as well as the island’s sole major grocery store. This area is considered quieter than Bradenton Beach and has many gift shops, restaurants, and the Public Beach.

Cities

Finally, the southern side of the island holds Bradenton Beach. This section is usually the busiest but it is also the most walkable. The narrowest and the southernmost town on the island, has recently taken seriously its downtown atmosphere and created a foot friendly Bridge Street: the heart of the town. Close proximity to the accessible Coquina Beach and all of the Bridge Street attractions if you’re looking for things to do!

While the cities aren’t far apart, and are virtually indiscernible while you’re passing through, we’ll try to sum up the minor differences to make booking your vacation in paradise a breeze. We offer beautiful and affordable A Paradise accommodations in all three areas, and really as long as you’re on Anna Maria Island you really can’t go wrong.

Photos from VisitFlorida.com

Florida

Moving to the Florida Gulf Coast in 2023

Written by Paradise Realty Staff on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Blog, Info.

Why wouldn’t you want to live near “The Friendly City” (Bradenton) in “The Sunshine State” (Florida)? We couldn’t dream up a better location to live than here in paradise. Buying a home in Florida in 2023 is not only an investment in your well-being, but for your future. Especially if you decide to invest in a home on the Gulf Coast in the Anna Maria Island – Bradenton – Ellenton – Sarasota areas!

Moving to Florida

The truth is, the demand for Florida homes remains one of the highest in the nation. With Florida’s desirable weather, lower income taxes, & low property taxes, it’s hard to argue it’s a great place to live. From its stable economy and hot housing market to its top universities and family-friendly attractions, it’s no wonder Florida has grown by an astonishing 14.6% since 2010.

However, there are also key benefits to buying property in Florida in 2022. With it’s rising prices, it’s also an extremely stable investment – people will always want to move to Florida, so snag your piece of paradise while you can! And our expert team at A Paradise can make your Florida home dreams come true.

Moving

Florida’s economy is on rise with no end in sight. The job market is flourishing, the tourism is always steady, and the allure of Florida is solid. With no personal income tax, it’s a fantastic place to move or start a business. In fact, Florida is projected to see GDP growth of 2.8% throughout 2023.

If you’re thinking about moving your family to Florida – the closeness to globally renowned attractions, theme parks, and living in a top vacation spot is enough! Yet there are also top-rated state universities and great public schools here in Manatee and Sarasota counties!

Of course, it’s no news that Florida is THE top place to retire. Sandy beaches, great community, awesome golf courses and museums, there’s no doubt it would be the ideal place to spend your relaxing retirement days.

Housing Market

We know the housing market can seem overwhelming and unattainable, but we assure you that our team can help make the process less intimidating. We have wonderful properties and great plots of land here in the Gulf Coast area that we would love to introduce you to. We are always here to help, and excited to welcome you to our paradise family!

Photos Courtesy of Visit A Paradise Website

Land

Best Way to Invest in Buying Land in Florida

Written by Staff on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Blog, Info.

Land

Want to make the move and put some roots down in Florida? We’ll cut right to the chase here: The housing market is pretty wild right now, and trying to find the right home for you in the right location can be daunting… Especially in the coveted Gulf Coast area. But, there are other ways to set your family up with some space in Florida for decades: Buy land!

If you’ve been looking for land for sale in Florida, we can certainly help. Through Florida’s diverse landscape, from beautiful flat properties to sunny and scenic beaches to picturesque wetlands and hardy pine forests, Florida is an ideal place to buy rural land. That said, excellent properties are out there for those with the patience and knowledge about what it takes to buy land in Florida. Not sure if it’s for you? We can help figure it out!

Whether you’re looking to build a ranch, farm, grove, or homestead — there are plenty of options! In fact, we have a whole team dedicated to it. Our experienced land company deals primarily with agricultural real estate. We also offer full acquisition services for the distinguished investor, large holding companies, developers, and agriculture clients.

Land

There are many benefits to buying in Florida you may not know about, especially in the Bradenton/Parrish/Sarasota areas. One of the largest industries in the state is agriculture, which has kept prices for agricultural land consistently solid, and because Florida is a recreationally-oriented state, land values along the coast and lakes has continued to remain strong.

A major plus of investing in land now is that Florida is growing and will continue to grow. If you have the opportunity to purchase in the hottest agriculture real estate state, it’s without question a worthy investment. If you choose the right piece of land, it can appreciate without taking any time out of your busy schedule. While some vacant land buyers make their purchase with the intent of cultivating farmland or building on it, make sure to consult with one of our land professionals on topics such as: Whether the land realistically suits your plans, which zoning laws may apply, and which agricultural and other tax breaks may apply.

Land
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We know buying land is a big investment and can seem like an overwhelming commitment; that’s why the members of our team are well-versed and fully prepared to answer any and all questions you may have. We live and work in the Manatee and Sarasota County areas, so we want to make sure our neighbors are excited about the potential to become local landowners! There are so many opportunities available to you, and our team is ready to guide you in the right direction.

Check out our website for some of the beautiful properties available, and don’t hesitate to reach out.

Photos courtesy of Visit A Paradise