THINKING OF RELOCATING TO BRADENTON, FL? CHECK OUT THIS NEW LISTING!

5315 52ND AVE W, BRADENTON, FL  $299,000

Take a look at this spacious true 4 bedroom home with separate formal living and dining room and two car garage. This home boasts air conditioned living area of 2175 square feet with plenty of room in the back yard for your pool.  Glen Lakes is one of the few newer developments which has homes with high volume ceilings in the west Bradenton area. Beautiful community which offers tennis courts to its owners. Close to beaches, golf, restaurants, medical facilities and Nick Bolletierri/IMG Sports Academy and  more. The home needs some minor updating, but is priced accordingly. Great opportunity for a buyer to select their own tile, carpet or wood flooring if updating is desired.

For more information, call 941.545.5786 or email us at house@mindspring.com or go to the "search homes" icon in the    middle of the front page of our website and enter mls#A4124615.

Coquina Beach, Anna Marie Island Rates #5 in the World for the Perfect Sand in 2015

MANATEE COUNTY - Anna Maria Island's Coquina Beach has been named one of the world's "top island beaches for perfect sand" by Conde Nast Traveler Readers for 2015.

Facts

THE TOP 10

Top 10 island beaches for perfect sand:

1. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, Australia

2. Cayo de Agua, Los Roques, Venezuela

3. Cocoa Island, Maldives

4. White Beach, Boracay, Phillippines

5. Coquina Beach, Anna Maria Island

6. Shoal Bay East, Anguilla

7. Vamizi Beach, Quirimbas Archipelago, Mozambique

8. Kaihalulu Beach, Maui, Hawaii

9. Playa Falmenco, Culebra, Puerto Rico

10. Playa Negrita, Vieques, Puerto Rico

Source: Conde Nast Traveler

Coquina Beach is the only Florida -- and U.S. mainland -- beach to make the top 10 list year. Other destinations include the No. 1 spot, Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island, Australia; No. 2, Cayo de Agua in Los Roques, Venezuela; No. 3, Cocoa island in the Maldives, plus beaches in Hawaii, Anguilla, Puerto Rico and the Phillipines.

Conde Nast Traveler's "Readers' Choice Awards," which has been rating travel destinations for more than 25 years, is seen in the industry as a coveted seal of approval. The awards rank top cities, hotels, resorts, spas and cruiselines.

Coquina Beach was chosen as the No. 5 beach destination because of the sugary texture and color of its sand.

It was described by Conde Nast Traveler as "the opposite of South Beach: It's laid-back, bordered by towering pines, and boasts perfect, unspoiled sand as fine as powder. It's also the longest stretch of sand on Anna Maria -- uninterrupted but for remnants of old piers jutting out into the water."

"This ranking confirms how special Coquina Beach is, not only to our community, but to visitors as well," said Elliott Falcione, executive director at the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Coquina is just one of the Bradenton area's beautiful sugar white-sand beaches, and we are thrilled that it continues to set us apart from others around the state, country and world while maintaining its authentic Florida charm."

This isn't the first time a Southwest Florida destination has been recognized by Conde Nast Traveler Readers.

Last year, Siesta Key was included on a list of Florida's top white sand beaches by Conde Naste's The Daily Traveler.

The Resort at Longboat Key Club earned the No. 12 spot on a list of Top 40 Florida Resorts released by the 2013 Conde Nast Travelers Readers' Choice Awards. It was the first time the Longboat Key Club made the Top 40 list for Florida resorts.

The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota also made the 2013 list, taking the No. 28 spot. The Gasparilla Inn & Club, in Boca Grande, was 26th.

Article by Justin Griffin, Herald Tribune

WATER FUN IN BRADENTON, FLORIDA

World-class beaches line Manatee County, providing residents and guests with plenty of diversions and gorgeous views. The sandy beaches of Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key and Manatee County's mainland are ideal for a day with the family and offer a distinct experience for beach lovers. Activities range from swimming, fishing, kite surfing and parasailing to scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking and more. There are 30+ marinas and eight boat ramps, allowing for quick access to miles of waterways, bayous and rivers that wind throughout the county, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay.

The waters of Manatee County are renowned as fertile fishing grounds, teeming with pompano, flounder, redfish, and trout to name a few, while grouper, tarpon, mackerel and kingfish abound in the Gulf waters, providing fishermen of every skill level plenty of fish tales about "reeling in the big one". For those who prefer to fish from the coastline, there are a host of public fishing piers, including the world's longest fishing pier, which extends more than a mile and a half from the Skyway Bridge. Anna Maria's City Pier at Pine Avenue and Rod 'n Reel Pier along Bay Boulevard are also favorite fishing spots, along with Bradenton Beach Fishing Pier at Bridge Street and the Manatee Beach Fishing Pier on Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach.

Standing as one of the oldest and largest state parks, Myakka River State Park encompasses one of the most diverse natural areas in Florida. In addition to the Myakka River, which has earned the designation as a "Florida Wild and Scenic River", are two lakes offering ample activities including boating, freshwater fishing, kayaking and canoeing. Hiking, camping and wildlife viewing are also popular pastimes.

The area is also home to Lake Manatee State Park, which is comprised of a 2,400-acre lake that is perfect for canoeing, kayaking, boating, swimming and fishing. Traversing over three miles of the south shore of Lake Manatee is a 556-acre recreation area offering visitors opportunities for hiking, bird watching, picnicking, camping and just relaxing in the shade.

Article courtesy of Manatee Chamber of Commerce

Bradenton Florida's PedaPub is "open for bussiness"

Bradenton's newest downtown feature is the PedalPub!  Thanks to forward thinking city officials the downtown area has been experiencing an incredible revitalization. 

The concept has been very popular in the St Petersburg area and some of the northern states.  Patrons saddle up to the mobile bar and pedal their way through downtown Bradenton while sipping on beer or wine. 

The custom made bikes were created by two craftsmen in Amsterdam. 

 "It's about a two-hour tour and, depending on the group, we start from Motorworks and head south to Darwin's, through the Village of the Arts and down Old Main Street to the waterfront and then back to Motorworks," said Bertelson, the PedalPub manager.

Bookings have been brisk with inquiries from as far away as Winter Haven.

"People south of the Skyway bridge tend to stay south, so we thought this would be a unique and fun thing for Bradenton that will attract visitors from Sarasota and further south," Bertelson said.

While the group helps propel the mobile pub down the street, Bertelson said the driver is in complete control at all times. Group members are signaled when to start and stop peddling and the driver has a double braking system to ensure the vehicle stops safely.

Group members bring their own beer or wine on the trip. No hard liquor or glass containers are allowed.

"We are absolutely super excited to get started," said Bertelson. "This has been a seamless process and the city has been very helpful and respectful in moving this forward."

Bertelson even received a letter from state Rep. Greg Steube congratulating her for bringing a unique business to Bradenton and offered his best wishes for success.

"We are happy to be able to get out onto the street," said Bertleson. "We are a trusted national business. We know the ins and outs and run a very strong, safe business."

If part of a group, the average cost per person is about $23, and slightly higher for mixed singles tours where individuals are encouraged to join the ride.

"We are very excited and know from when they did their prelaunch that they are bringing a lot of excitement to the area and we are happy to be a part of that," said Barry Elwonger, marketing manager for Motorworks. "It's going to bring a lot of visibility to the area, especially as the entertainment corridor continues to grow. It's going to be great for the city to have people moving through town to the different stops, which will help people know more about the city and all it has to offer."

For more information about PedalPub, call 727-581-3388.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2014/09/11/5350816/bradenton-unlocks-pedalpub-to.html#storylink=cpy

Another Cold Snowy Winter Predicts The Farmer's Almanac

Remember last year with record cold temperatures and lots and lots of snow.  Well according the The Farmer's Almanac, we are getting it again this coming year.

"Shivery and shovelry are back, calling for frigid conditions, bitter conditions", said the Almanac's managing editor Sandi Duncan.

For three-quarters of the United States is forecasted  to be colder than normal and wetter than usual, east of the Rocky Mountains.

The national Climate Prediction Center said they had no good explanation as to why the polar vortex moved so deep into the United States, but the Farmers' Almanac got it right.

Sounds like it's time to buy your Florida winter home.  Florida, depending on what area, usually has a very sunny and warm climate through out the winter. 

So while your friends are up north shoveling snow and slipping on ice, you could be on the golf course, baking in the sun on our  gorgeous beaches or just tending your flower garden.

Prices have started climbing since the ressesion, but still affordable.  Check it out.

 

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Key West's Ernest Hemingway look a like contest

KEY WEST, Fla. — A white-bearded Arizona restaurateur has won Key West's annual "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike Contest on his sixth attempt.

With over 130 entrants for the Key West Ernest Hemingway look a like contest Wally Collins of Phoenix was the winner.  The winner was announced at the famous Sloppy Joe's Bar, which was a favorite of Ernest Hemingway during the 1930's.

                                        Stephen Terry, second from left, celebrates his 2013 "Papa"  
                                       Hemingway Look-Alike Contest victory with previous winners 
                                       Saturday, July 20, 2013, at Sloppy Joe's Bar in Key West, Fla.
                                       Terry, 56, beat 125 other contestants. 

Competitors in sportsman's attire paraded before a judging panel of former winners during two preliminary rounds and the finals trying to prove their resemblance to the real Hemingway.

Michael Groover, who is Paula Deen's husband, from Savannah Georgia was one of the contestants 

Collins said "I didn't have as many wives as he had, and I have a lot more children and grandchildren , but there are a lot of things that he stood for that I really like.

The look a like contest is always a highlight of the annual Hemingway Days celebration which honors the Nobel Prise-winning author who lived and wrote in Key West from 1931 through the late 1939's. Hemingway's home, where he wrote the two novels "To Have and Have Not" and For Whom the Bell Tolls" is now a museum.

Ernest's Hemingway's granddaughter, Lorian Hemingway, directs a short story competition and a spoof on the running of the bulls in Pamplona Spain during the festival.  It all ends with an arm wrestling contest at Sloppy Joes.

The festival was held July 15th - 20th of July.   This is truly one of Florida's fun events.

                  Ernest Hemingway look-alikes push life-size, fake bulls during

                  the "Running of the Bulls" Saturday, July 20, 2013, outside 

                  Sloppy Joe's Bar in Key West, Fla. The hijinks's spoofed the

                   event of the same name in Pamplona, Spain.

Bradenton Florida's Snooty Celebrates 66th Birthday!

Located in downtown Bradenton, Florida is the South Florida Museum is the home of Snooty, believed to be the oldest living manatee in captivity in the world.  July 19th was Snooty's 66th Birthday!  In honor of Snooty, the city of Bradenton, Florida threw the "Snooty the Manatee's 66th Birthday Bash, Arts and Wildlife Awareness Festival".

Marilyn Margold, Director of Living Collections at the SouthFlorida Museums, said "We've got exhibitors from 20, almost 25 different organizations which is going to be fabulous."  And it was!  There were record crowds in attendence and fun was had by all.  The festival was family-friendly, conservation-themed events.

When visiting the museum, it's always great fun to watch this big sea cow trying to say hello to his visitors.  He certainly a friendly fellow.  It's hard not to pat his shoulder or hold his flipper to say hello back, but touching is a no no.

All of the co-workers at the museum say he's not a pet, but the ambassador of the environment, a king of conservation.

Snooty was actually born in captivity in July of 1948.  His pregnant mother was captured by Miami fishermen, back before there were laws protecting this endangered species.  His mother was released, but Snooty remained in captivity.

Bradenton acquired Snooty in 1949 and has been a beloved fixture in our community ever since.  Snooty eats a specialized diet mimicking the sea mammal's vegetarian diet in the wild.

Snooty weighs approximately 1,020 pounds, and like most of us, he's showing a little extra weight like an extra waddle around his waddle and is a little lighter gray in color.  So he's not in the same shape as 20 years ago, but are any of us?

For Snooty's birthday, his cake consisted of cabbage, sweet potatoes and carrots, with some pineapples and strawberries thrown in.  Margold said he has a bit of a sweet tooth.

South Florida Museum is a lot more than just Snooty's home.  It also is the home of the region's premier astronomy education facility with a full dome planetarium theater, as well as a multimedia theater for films, lectures, live music and digital art performances.

Check it all out at http://www.southfloridamuseum.org/.  It even has a Snooty cam!