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!

Bradenton - Sarasota Florida to host the 2014 Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final

Ran across this article the other day.  The Manatee Sarasota county Florida area is quickly becoming one of the great sports area in the country.  In conjunction with the Pentathlon our area will be hosting:

• The prestigious 2014 World Cup Final (June 5-8, 2014)
• The 2015 World Cup Competition, Round #1 (March 2015)
• The 2016 United States Olympic Team Trials (March 2016)
• The 2016 World Cup Final (June 2016)

We will also be hosts to the World Rowing Championship in 2017 and sponsors of Off Shore Power Boat races.  More on these later.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO.  USA Pentathlon announced today that the Union International de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), the international governing body for the Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon, has selected Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida as the host of four major Pentathlon events, including three World Cup competitions: the World Cup Final in 2014 and 2016 and the World Cup #1 first round competition in 2015.  Sarasota-Bradenton will also host the United States Pentathlon Olympic Team trials in 2016.

“The Pentathlon world is delighted to be coming to Sarasota-Bradenton, and looks forward to bringing the global Pentathlon family to the United States,” UIPM President Klaus Schormann said in announcing the UIPM Executive Board’s choice on November 24.  “The United States continues to play an important role in the Olympic Movement, and we support newly-elected IOC member and US Olympic Chairman, Larry Probst in his efforts to showcase all Olympic sports in his country.”

“For the first time in over 40 years, the international championship for one of the oldest and grandest Olympic sports will return to the United States,” USA Pentathlon Executive Director Rob Stull said.  “Sarasota-Bradenton’s cohesive vision and exceptional presentation secured World Cup events in each of the next three years; an amazing feat and a significant opportunity for the growth of Pentathlon in the United States and throughout North America.

“I congratulate the local organizing committee and its Chair, former Florida Secretary of State and Congresswoman Katherine Harris,” Mr. Stull continued.  “Without Congresswoman Harris’ determined leadership in bringing together a dynamic local team and articulating an effective vision, this achievement could not have occurred.”

"Winning these prestigious events constitutes a seminal moment in the evolution of Sarasota and Bradenton into truly world-class communities,” former Florida Secretary of State and Congresswoman Katherine Harris said.  “The Pentathlon brings together a diverse array of Olympic sports and their associated communities, giving our region a tremendous opportunity for exposure to a broad global audience.

“Sarasota and Bradenton offer a unique sense of scale to this event,” Congresswoman Harris added.  “We have grown large enough to provide the necessary resources and support, but our small-town hearts will ensure that Pentathletes and fans never receive greater attention or a warmer welcome.  Indeed, this cohesive community spirit is what enabled us to assemble a successful bid under an incredibly tight deadline.  I wish to thank Paul Blacketter and our local organizing committee for the amazing work they performed, and I look forward to working with them to ensure the success of these events.”

UIPM selected Sarasota-Bradenton from an illustrious group of cities in bidding to host Championship Pentathlon events; including Cairo, Egypt; Frankfurt, Germany; Acapulco, Mexico; Rome, Italy; Budapest, Hungary; Minsk, Belarus; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Cheng Du, China.

The 2014 World Cup Final will showcase the top 36 male and 36 female Pentathlon athletes from around the world.  Then, for the next three years, Sarasota-Bradenton will remain an essential stop along the “Road to Rio,” as some of the world’s top athletes prepare for the 2016 Olympic Summer Games.

Designed by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic movement, the Modern Pentathlon combines five sports: equestrian show-jumping, fencing, swimming, running and pistol shooting.  This selection of disciplines was based upon the legendary tasks of a nineteenth century military courier, which could involve virtually anything necessary to deliver a message successfully, such as procuring the first available horse and jumping over an array of obstacles; defending from enemy attacks with a pistol and sword; swimming across intervening bodies of water; and running on foot.

Olympic Pentathletes ride an unfamiliar horse (drawn by lot) over a jumper course, fence other participating athletes with an épée sword, swim freestyle for 200 meters, and shoot a laser pistol while running a half-mile course (4 x 800 meters).  General George Patton was the first American Olympic competitor in this event, competing in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics.