In other places in the world it may feel as if you wait all year for summer to arrive, only to have it end in a blink of an eye, and although that is not an issue we have here on Anna Maria Island, we do feel your pain. Fortunately, the time left until Memorial Day, the unofficial kick off to summer, can now be counted in days and weeks, and if you have already made plans for an AMI getaway, you may be wondering what all there is to do when you aren’t exploring the comforts of your Anna Maria Life Vacation Rentals sanctuaries, something we are eager to help with. This guide to the top things to do for Memorial Day on Anna Maria Island will make sure you don’t miss out on one single exciting activity or event!
Of Course, a Beach Day Is #1 on Our List!
We aren’t slow, we know that the pristine white beaches of Anna Maria Island are the biggest draw to our island home, with most of our guests dropping their luggage on the bed, opening it just to get out a swimsuit, and rushing out to bury their toes in the sand! Your first full day in Florida will always be set aside to explore all that the beach has to offer and whether you plan on lazing about, working on your tan as you sip margaritas from your Stanley cup, have signed up for surf lessons, preordered jet skis, or are simply content to float on the waves, feeling the gentle motion of the surf rock you into a state of bliss, your first beach day will become a memory that you will cherish forever!
Catch Your Dinner
Memorial Day is a holiday that pays homage to our military heroes who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that we can still enjoy the freedom we have honored for nearly 250 years, and we like to think our dearly departed would want us to spend a lazy Memorial Day morning dropping a line in the turquoise waters of the Gulf. Anna Maria Island City Pier is one of the most popular spots to fish from, but anywhere you can find a secluded spot to sit with cooler at your side and pole in hand is a good spot. Many of our island retreats will offer barbecue grills, the fire enhancing the flavor of the sweetest seafood in the state, or if cleaning fish and cooking them is not really your thing, the Waterfront Grill, 111 S Bay Boulevard offers a “you catch, we’ll cook” service, doing the messy stuff for you so all you have to do is sit and savor every bite.
Watch a Parade
Anna Maria Island doesn’t offer a parade, per se, but head off the island before 10 AM, pointing your rental car in the direction of downtown Sarasota and catch their annual Sarasota Memorial Day Parade featuring the City of Sarasota Police Color Guard and a large number of Veteran’s groups proudly marching down Main Street. We often forget that Memorial Day isn’t just for barbecuing, partying, and kicking off the summer season, and this charming parade helps us remember the serious reasons behind the holiday, before we return to our regularly scheduled holiday programming.
Shop the Sales
Holiday sales can be found in nearly every shop on Anna Maria Island and the surrounding town of Sarasota and Bradenton, and the souvenirs you are seeking can probably be had at a wonderful bargain! The downtown area of AMI offers quite a few cute shops, boutiques, and stores or you could linger in Sarasota a little longer and head over to St. Armands Circle for a day of luxury shopping in some very high end shops. The souvenirs you bring back will be unlike any others you have purchased!
An All-American Celebration in Our All-American Island Sanctuaries
You may not want to wander far from your Anna Maria Life Vacation Rentals holiday hideaways, and that is perfectly ok with us. Offering both condos and homes that sit right on the beach, your day of celebrating will be a family affair never to be forgotten. Wake up early to watch the sunrise from your balcony or patio, or sleep in and greet the morning a little later with a swim in your private pool or the community pool. Family pool parties are the most American way of celebrating the holiday and at home barbecues allows guests to grill up their catch of the day or any other meat they prefer with the sounds of the surf accompanying your holiday activities. However you choose to spend this day of celebration, the kickoff to summer, spending it with Anna Maria Life Vacation Rentals may become a new family tradition. Reserve your favorite today!
