Gulf Stream
Besides being just steps away from the beautiful Gulf waters, Gulf Stream Beach Resort offers a heated pool, whirlpool spa, picnic and playground area, horseshoes and bicycles. For golf, there are more than 17 exciting and challenging championship golf courses in Manatee County. Tennis courts are also available in the area. At the end of a busy day, there is no finer place than Gulf Stream Beach Resort to enjoy a spectacular West Coast Florida sunset.We are not a pet friendly resort. Non-smoking units ONLY.
Unit Amenities
Each Gulf Stream Beach Resort unit is comprised of two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The master bedroom has a king size bed and a private master bath. The second bedroom is outfitted with twin beds and a semi private bath. Each condo residence has a full size fully equipped kitchen which has a full size refrigerator freezer, stove, dishwasher, and microwave. Each kitchen has ample cookware and small appliances. If there is anything extra you need, just ask and we’ll get it to you. Every unit has its own washer and dryer. There are three televisions in each unit, one in each of the bedrooms and one in the living room that is accompanied by a DVD player and stereo CD player. A quick elevator ride to the first floor takes you out to the large heated pool and spa.
Resort Amenities & Activities
During your stay with us you don't need to worry about beach chairs, beach Umbrellas,or beach towels. We provide them, along with wireless internet service, bicycles, games and a book exchange for you. All free of charge. Make sure to attend one or all of our weekly activities, whether it be one of our welcome breakfasts, Hot dog roast, chicken roast, shell hunting and crafting, learning about our island sea turtles, taking a tour of the island or sipping Florida Dreamsicles and playing trivia games by the pool with LouAnn, our activities director is always ready to help make your vacation truly memorable.
Resort Team Favorites
While you’re here, make sure to check out some of our staff’s favorite places. Anna Maria Island has a vast array of dining choices from barefoot beach places to five star haute cuisine and our staff all have their favorites. LouAnn and Mark both love the Rod and Reel Pier, located at the north end of the island. It is old Florida at its best. They have a great Grouper Rueben sandwich. The Rod and Reel is also a great fishing pier. Mark remembers fishing there with his dad when he was a little kid and now enjoys doing the same with his nephew. It is a great place to make memories.
Hands down, Lorilai’s favorite is the Sign of the Mermaid for incredibly interesting and sophisticated cuisine and decadent desserts. You can’t beat the ambiance in this beautifully restored 1913 “island cracker” house.
Gloria’s favorite is the Waterfront Restaurant which is a cozy place with an 1800’s fireplace and a great view of the Skyway bridge. It offers a varied and delicious menu at a reasonable price point. Everyone agrees that if you’re looking to watch the sunset, go to the Sandbar Restaurant where they serve the best pina colada on the island and they have a sunset competition each night. If you guess the closet time of sunset, you win a bottle of champagne. After dinner, LouAnn says to make sure and take a quick trip to Tyler’s Ice cream shop in Cortez for the “yummiest” home made ice cream.
Tom aka TC enjoys a cool beverage at the Island Time Bar & Grill after work, and for breakfast Cortez Cafe is the best.
All of the shopping on the island is unique and interesting. You won’t find any chain shops on the island, just locally owned, wonderful and charming places. Lorilai loves the Sand Dollar for gifts, specialty clothing, candles and other fun stuff. Gloria is particularly fond of the shops on Bridge Street, especially the Back Alley and The Two Sides of Nature shops. She also loves the new Island Flea Market, an open air market under a canopy of chiki huts where, she says, your husband can enjoy a sandwich while you shop for local goods. Whether its art galleries, clothing shops or gift arcades, there’s a wonderful variety here on our Island.
Boating, jet skiing, kayaking, sailing and biking opportunities abound. Lorilai really enjoys kayaking on the north end of the island off bean point and at Robinson Preserve, where there is abundant wild life and flats fishing. Mark enjoys boating on the intracoastal and out to Egmont Key, where the box turtles and hundreds of bird species reside. Gloria really enjoys her bike rides on the island bike paths. There are several fishing captains and sunset sailing boats for your enjoyment as well. Stop by the office anytime to find out more about what the island has to offer.
Resort News
Calendar of Events
Weekly Events:
Sundays- Siesta Key Drum Circle
It’s got a life of its own. See for yourself, one hour before sunset, Sundays on the beach at Siesta Key in Sarasota near lifeguard stand No. 3. simplysiestakey.com
Sundays and Wednesdays - Yoga Island Wellness has Yoga classes on the beach south of the BeachHouse Restaurant at 8:30am- offered by donations ($2- $10 suggested) A flat sheet works better than a yoga mat, bring water.
Mondays – Sarasota Ringling Museum
Once inside, remember to breathe and take it all in, and we do mean all. There are some 21 galleries filled with European, Asian and American artwork, plus traveling exhibitions. The best part? There’s no charge on Mondays. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is one slice of a 66- acre enclave rich in history. Included on this sprawling property is the Cà d’Zan mansion, on sparkling Sarasota Bay, and the Circus Museum. While a fee is required for those two venues, something else you can do at no cost is take a walk on the estate grounds, passing cherubic statues on the path to Mable’s poetically beautiful rose garden. ringling.org
Tuesday Nights Comedy Night at Swordfish Grill Dinner @ 8pm show @8:30pm Every Tuesday national comedians will perform dinner & show $20.00 just the show $5.00 with a 2 drink minimum 4628 119th Street West, Cortez (just off Anna Maria Island) 941-798-2035 www.swordfishgrillcortez.com
Wednesdays, two hours before sunset, the city of Bradenton Beach hosts a sunset picnic with entertainer Mike Sales at Katie Pierola Sunset Park, 2200 block of Gulf Drive North, Bradenton Beach. Information 941-448-5798.
Wednesdays & Saturdays 9am - Players Pitch Horseshoes the pits at Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Information 941-708-6130
Manatee River Public Sunset Sails! Wednesday and Saturday Evening Departs: 6:30pm $25.00 per person 2 hours BYOB/Pack a picnic! reservations 941-780-8010
Thursdays Wine tasting party - 5:30pm -7:30pm Wine or Beer Tasting at Waterfront Restaurant; 111Bay Blvd S, Anna Maria cost is $15.00 per-person
Thursday- Art After 5: Jazz on the Bay 5pm at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Tickets $10. Call 941-359-5700
Fridays, 7pm to 10pm Drum Circle with Mike Sales and Scott Blum at Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, Information 941-526-6789
Fridays @ 6:00pm, October 5th - December 4th. The Blues Downtown. South Florida Museum's Film Fridays. Visit www.southfloridamuseum.org for more information.
Friday Evenings- Tampa Museum of Art
Part of the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, the building itself is the crowning glory, a modern vision houses contemporary works. ”Art on the House” free on Fridays, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. tampamuseum.org
Third Friday of the month Pine Avenue Porch Party 5pm - 8pm to benefit Roser Food Pantry at Anna Maria Pine Avenue stores and boutiques. Information 941-896-3132
Sporting Events
National Football Tampa Bay Buccaneers http://www.buccaneers.com/schedule-and-events/index.html schedule & tickets
Museum exhibits
Local Island Events
EVERY THURSDAY- Thirsty Thursday "Island Pearl Excursions" 6:30pm (Sponsored by the Bridgestreet Merchants) Departs from Bridgestreet Pier $30.00 per-person 2hours BYOB/ Pack a Picnic! Reservations- 941-780-8010
Starting in November 2012 - April 2013 Bridge Street Sunday Market 10am - 3pm http://www.bridgestreetmerchants.com/Market.aspx
Live Performing Arts
SARASOTA OPERA SEASON STARTS IN SEPTEMBER WWW.SARASOTAOPERA.ORG or call 941-328-1300
From the Desk of TC, Sales
Currently there are Floating weeks available. Call Tom at 941-778-6667 X340 for details and prices.
SPECIAL GOLF PACKAGES FOR OUR GUEST
Summer Golf Special
ALL YOU CAN GOLF
After 1pm @ $39 + tax
75th Street Extension is Now Open!
January -March: $50.00 plus tax/18 holes After 1pm: $44.00 plus tax/ 18 holes or $25.00 plus tax/9 holes
November, December and April: $40.00/plus tax/18 holes After 1pm: $36.00 plus tax/18 holes or $20.00 plus tax/9 holes
May-October $25.00 plus tax/18 holes After 2pm: 22.00 plus tax/18 holes
Rental clubs: $35.00 plus tax Calloway Rental Club
ALL PRICING INCLUDES GOLF CART, AND PRACTICE BALLS.
This package is through IMG Golf & Country Club; must book though the resort , but pay IMG direct.
Island Pearl Excursions
Manatee River Public Sunset Sails! Wednesday and Saturday Evening Departs: 6:30pm $25.00 per person 2 hours BYOB/Pack a picnic! reservations 941-780-8010
EVERY THURSDAY- Thirsty Thursday "Island Pearl Excursions" 6:30pm (Sponsored by the Bridgestreet Merchants) Departs from Bridgestreet Pier $30.00 per-person 2hours BYOB/ Pack a Picnic! Reservations- 941-780-8010
Egmont Key Adventure swimming, snorkeling & exploring 5 hour Day trip to Egmont Key $49.00 per person $39.00 for kids Includes lunch.
Special Events:
CALL 941-780-8010 OR WWW.ISLANDPEARLEXCURSIONS.COM
Bradenton top retirement spot says Magazine & Sarasota's Van Wezel ranked as #1 performance hall
http://www.bradenton.com/2012/06/04/4064772/bradenton-top-spot-for-retirees.html
BRADENTON — The Friendly City continues to gain national attention as a great place to live, largely thanks to the vibrant, downtown arts scene. Selected by Where to Retire Magazine as a top retirement destination, The Houston-based publication launched in 1992 with the goal of helping its readers find the ideal place to retire.
“Boomers love the relaxing charm of Bradenton, and the residents live up to its motto – The Friendly City,” said Mary Lu Abbott, editor of Where to Retire, in a statement.
“Bradenton possesses qualities important to today’s retirees. They find plenty of action in the nationally recognized arts community, including the Manatee Players theater and the Village of the Arts, where they meet and mingle with dozens of artists living and working together in restored cottages.”
She also notes that with the $6.2 million transformation of the Bradenton Riverwalk, scheduled for completion in October, the downtown entertainment scene “will get even livelier.”
Last month, AmericanStyle Magazine issued a statement that its survey participants voted Bradenton the second-best small city arts destination in the country, up from No. 10 last year and No. 22 in 2010.
“Bradenton, a sunny locale 45 miles south of Tampa, may not be on your radar for arts destinations yet, but it should be,” reads the opening sentence of the blurb on page 66 of the new summer edition of the Baltimore-based publication. “It’s home to Florida’s largest art colony, the Village of the Arts.”
Wade Tatangelo, features writer, can be reached at 745-7057. Follow Twitter.com/wtatangelo.
Sarasota's Van Wezel ranked as No. 1 performance hall by Venues Today
Complimentary trial pass to LA Fitness
LA Fitness has taken over Lifestyles Fitness , so we no longer have free passes at the resort. On LA Fitness' site you can get a three day membership, please make sure you read the fine print for the day pass on their website: https://www.lafitness.com/Pages/freepass.aspx?clubid=942 if this doesn't work got to LA Fitness on the web go to the bottom of the page for guest pass, and put in Bradenton as the city and Cortez location.
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