Sand Dollars Along Anna Maria Island Coast

One of my favorite things to do in the morning is to walk along the beautiful stretches of beach on Anna Maria Island.  I look for sand dollars washing up in the surf. Almost everyday I find one or two whole sand dollars and consider it my lucky day!

 They range in size from an average three inches in diameter to tiny baby sand dollars.  Sometimes I'll find parts of very large ones with diameters of five to six inches.  

 Sand dollars are found in sandy, shallow water, although some are found in deep ocean floors throughout all the world's oceans. Mostly, they live in groups near land.

 You might have heard that picking up a sand dollar and keeping it is wrong because it is a "live" animal.  Most beaches and state parks have strict rules against taking any live sea life from their home, so please honor those laws.

                                         photo:theradula.com

Sand dollars are marine animals so please be sure not to disturb live ones.  A live sand dollar is brown, dark tan or even a purple with many tiny moving brown spines covering its surface.  These little "arms" enable the sand dollar to move along the ocean floor as well as obtain food and push it into its mouth.  It has a "velvety" feel.  

Most sand dollars have five sets of pores on the surface, which is used to move seawater into the body where it is pumped to aid in movement and internal functions. 

                                                  photo:questconnect.com

Pick up only the white ones, and you'll be fine.  The sand dollar skeletal shell is smooth, hard and white, so by the time it washes up on the beach, its probably no longer living.  Just the shell remains, so it’s fine to collect these.  If you come across a brown one with moving fuzzy spines, just toss it back to the sea. 

 Curious about how these little creatures reproduce?  The female discharges already ripe eggs and the male then fertilizes them externally.  Females can produce over 350,000 eggs per year.  The baby sand dollars develop into several stages until the hard skeleton starts to form, then they drop to the bottom and live in groups for the rest of their lives.

photo:flickr

Not many sea creatures bother the sand dollar since they don't have much in the way of edible parts and the skeleton is pretty hard. If the water is fairly calm, you might be able to see a sand dollar stand on its edge wedging itself in the mud.  In areas of strong currents and tides, sand dollars burrow into the soft sandy bottom. Sometimes they actually swallow sand grains to add weight so they're not washed away!

photo:scuba-explorers.com

If you find sand dollars along the beach (low tide after a storm is the best time), then you might want to preserve them, since they are brittle.

Try these simple steps:

-soak it in fresh water

- rinse, then soak in 2/3 fresh water and 1/3 bleach for 15 minutes.

-rinse and let dry

-mix water and white glue in equal portions

-brush on and let dry.

Now, you're ready to display your find!

photo:coastalcottages

If your sand dollar breaks, no worries.  Use this as an opportunity to check out the anatomy of this unique sea creature.  You might hear something rattling inside.  Shake it out into your palm and, as legend tells it, there will be five little "doves" waiting to spread good will and peace. 

photo:mitchelpublications.com

To see live sand dollars in action, check out the videos below: 

photos:flickr

videos: Youtube

Just one more bit of info.  
There are several different types of sand dollars:
Arrowhead:

    

Flat Round:

Sea Biscuits:

Pancake:

 Sea Gopher:

photos courtesy seashells.org

I usually find the flat rounds, but have found arrowheads, too.
Let me know what you find!

Anna Maria Fish Tales

I received this email just a couple of days ago from Dave and Kris who rented our Pineapple Cottage. 

Pineapple Cottage - Pine Avenue, Anna Maria, Florida

Thought you'd like to hear their impressions of our beautiful island:

March 23rd, 2011 -  week stay at Pineapple Cottage
4th year visiting Sue and her island.  Great location and very easy walk to the beaches and shops!  Had a great day in the water, fishing with Jason and his kayaks.  Trout, snook and  redfish all came on top water plugs, very cheap and one of the best guides in the area, not mention a world wide award winning guide!

Check out Captain Jason Stock:

JM Snooky Charters

Dave and Kris, from Wisconsin.

Interested in an exciting fishing trip?  Let one of our vacation specialists at Coastal Cottages know what you'd like.  We're here to make your vacation memorable and easy!

Discover Anna Maria

Did you know that Anna Maria Island was  featured on the Discovery Channel?  Florida Travel and Life's Affordable Luxury filmed our beautiful beaches and towns for a recent program.  

The show's senior editor had this to say about our island:
"The island culture on Florida's Gulf coast is irresistible.  It truly is a slice of paradise."  Anna Maria Island has "one of the most tranquil beach spots...it is also a unique destination offering cultural experiences, fabulous dining, shopping and museums."

Anna Maria Island is the perfect place for your next vacation, and
Coastal Cottages AMI has a full range of beach house rentals waiting for you.  Just call (941) 567-6253 today to reserve the perfect island getaway.

Coastal Cottages Grand Opening

We were featured in the Bradenton Times this weekend.  

Here's what they said:

The Bradenton Times, Saturday, March 19, 2011

Grand Opening of the new Coastal Cottages AMI office at 9908 Gulf Drive in Anna Maria. 

Coastal Cottages AMI Team:
Broker/Owner, Sue Carlson, with her friendly Boxer, Fritz. 
Kellee Karsten, Ellie Ellis, and Gina Tafuri.



Visit the new Coastal Cottages office at 9908 Gulf Drive, in Anna Maria, next to Rudy's, or the "user-friendly" website at www.CoastalCottagesAMI.com.   They offer a great array of rental properties with friendly rental agents as well as on-line bookings with availability calendars for each property!

Started by Sue Carlson, Broker of the sister office "An Island Place Realty," Sue originally developed and owned Anna Maria Island Accommodations, the Flip Flop Company, which she sold in 2004.

Coastal Cottages AMI is built upon the need for a smaller "boutique-style" rental company offering personalized service and superlative accommodations, catering to concierge offerings to make the vacationers' stay one of a kind.  Professional cleaning services, with Ritz-Carlton quality laundered sheets and towels, are also offered. 

Stop by our office or visit us online!

Anna Maria Islanders Love a Parade!

Whatever month you choose for your coastal vacation, there will probably be a parade on the island.  Anna Maria Islanders just love strutting their stuff. 

Sunday, March 13th, heralded the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Anna Maria Island.   It was one of the largest crowds ever. 

Onlookers lined the parade route collecting green beads thrown from floats as they were entertained by the Jacobite Pipe and Drum Band, the Privateers, the Braden River High School Marching Band and the PomPom squad from Southeast High School marching band.   The Anna Maria Garden Club handed out flowers along the route.

                                                                     photos: The Islander

Judy the elephant was the star of the parade.  

                                                       Photo: An Island Place Realty

 It was a fun day for all with picture perfect weather for a parade!

              Photo:  An Island Place Realty

Check out this video of the parade:

                                         

Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival

Coastal Cottages vacationers had a fun opportunity  last weekend to celebrate one of the last remaining working fishing villages in Florida. The 29th Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival took place this year on Feb. 19th and 20th.  It's just a short drive over the Cortez bridge from Anna Maria Island.  

The two-day fishing festival gives visitors the opportunity to learn more about coastal commercial fishing and its history. The town offers two working fish houses providing grouper, mullet, stone crab, baitfish and other seafood to local and international markets.

Other activities included live music, nautical arts and crafts, kids' games and famous Cortez seafood. Proceeds from each festival support the purchase and restoration of 95 acres of mangrove wetlands immediately east of the village, the FISH (Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage) Preserve. More than 50 arts and crafts vendors, as well as participants offering boat rides and sponsoring marine life and fishing exhibitions.

This year, the event  was moved to the eastern end of the historic fishing village, next to the Florida Maritime Museum ( a restored 1912 schoolhouse).  The new location  was a hit.  Lots of shady spots and bay front breezes cooled down visitors to the festival which was held under sunny skies in the '70's.

The festival menu featured the freshest seafood in the area. Coastal visitors enjoyed live music, fabulous Florida seafood, arts and museum displays, and a day of family fun. A good time was had by all!

For more photos and info check out their site at:

Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival

For more information:  contact your vacation specialist at

Coastal Cottages AMI.

Kickback, Relax "Coastal" Style

                                                                photo: coastal cottage chic

Get closer to your ideal lifestyle, go "Coastal".

Many of our Coastal Cottage vacationers write us with questions about how they can recreate that Coastal feel in their homes after returning from their Anna Maria Island experience.

Likewise, our sister office, An Island Place Realty, receives requests every week from buyers wanting advice on how to turn their home into a seaside retreat.

Beach style is all about bringing nature into your home with a laid-back, casual feel.   Your goal is to create that feeling of well-being and calm found at the beach.  

                                                                                          Photo:  Coastal Dreams

Get that Coastal Cottage style with these 3 simple steps:

1. Start with Color. Mimic the Gulf’s tranquility with a monochromatic color scheme (shades of one color).  Your walls can focus the color with white whites for your furniture, or choose an all white palette and accent with color.

                                                                        Photo: Beach Elements

Use an “inspiration” photograph. 
Look for colors that inspire you. 

Don’t try to match the colors in your photo, just be inspired.

Imagine the blue-grays of the water and the way it changes into a soft turquoise.  Notice the white whites and sandy browns, dark browns, oranges and shades of coral in the shells. Look for contrast: soft edges of rippling water as it washes over the sand and contrasts with the sky.

Choose lighter tones of the blues, preferably soft pastels.

                                                                       photo: ocean styles

2.  Choose Comfortable Furniture.

Breezy, comfortable…. Think naps and reading.

Painted wood, wicker, rattan, natural pine

Think about recycling old furniture with a quick coat of white flat paint.  Sand the edges to give it a “shabby chic” look.

                                                                                             photo: cottage design

3.  Accessorize with “Sea-Themed” Accents.

Infuse your interior with natural materials. Fill a handmade basket with simple beach finds like starfish, sand dollars and of course, sea shells.

Get a couple of fun signs for the walls.

                                                photo:white flower farmhouse

Don’t forget books:  mysteries, beach stories, old classics.  You can pick these up at garage sales and pile them on side tables near all those comfy chairs you found.

Add beadboard halfway up the wall with a shelf for shells.

                                                                         photo: coastal shells

Coastal Cottages need artwork:  a simple sea scape, or dune painting.  Perhaps a brightly colored canvas of flowers, butterflies, or fish to add a splash of color.

                                                                      Artist: Deborah Webster

Whether you live by the beach or just dream of ocean breezes, its all about kicking back, relaxing and  bringing the peace of the island home with you to create your own Coastal Cottage.

                                                                                       Photo:  beach elements

The Mermaid's Tale

Slow sail'd the weary mariners and saw,

Betwixt the green brink and the running foam,
Sweet faces, rounded arms, and bosoms prest
To little harps of gold.      

 Lord Alfred Tennyson, The Sea Fairies

Since the time of ancient Greeks, tales of a mythical sea creature, part female, part fish, have inspired artists, poets, musicians and sailors. Described with the head and body of a woman and a fishtail replacing legs, these folklore figures have been known to lure lusty sailors to their deaths. 

Christopher Columbus noted in his log of 1493, the sighting of “female forms” that “rose high out of the sea.”   In 1614, John Smith, an English explorer, described seeing a mermaid in the Caribbean:  “Her long green hair imparted to her an original character by no means unattractive.” Further entries in his travel log indicated that he’d “begun to experience the first effects of love.”

Love, could it be?  After months at sea, little food, and a bad case of homesickness, ancient sailors probably mistook the sighting of a manatee as a mermaid.  Manatees are lovable, gentle sea creatures.  Most are gray or brown and can grow up to 13 feet and weigh over 2,000 pounds.  (Voluptuous women were the ideal back then!!!)

The largest population of manatees is found right here in Florida.  It is estimated that there are between 1,200 to 3,000 manatees in our coastal waters.  You can find them in shallow rivers, bays, estuaries and along the coast.  They thrive in warm waters which they need in order to survive without cold stress.  

During the winter months you can view them in Anna Maria near the “hump back” bridge (on Bay Street near the City Pier). Manatees are vulnerable to cold weather. During winter season, manatees will gather near power plants which have a consistant warm water output serving as a safe place for adult manatees and their calves.  

If you are interested in viewing hundreds of manatee, then consider a short day trip to the Florida Power & Light Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach.  It’s about a 40 minute drive from Anna Maria Island north towards Tampa.  The center is a state and federally funded manatee sanctuary.  They offer an observation platform for visitors to observe manatees in the wild without disturbing them, along with a tidal walkway, and interactive educational exhibits. Visitors view manatees that gather in the clean, warm water discharge canal between the Big Bend Power Station and the center when the temperature of Tampa Bay falls below 68 degrees.

You can check out the interactive web cam by clicking here:

                         Manatee Viewing Web Cam

Viewing season is November 1 through April 15, and hours are 10 AM to 5 PM daily, no charge.

Manatees have no natural predators. Unfortunately, humans have caused manatees to become an endangered species through hunting (now illegal), inadvertent collision with boats, and habitat destruction.  It is against the law to kill, injure, molest, torture or annoy a manatee. Boaters must remember to reduce their speed where posted and where manatees have been sited. These gentle, slow-moving sea creatures can live to 60 years. 

To learn more about manatees and see them up close, you might be interested in visiting The Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.  They have a Manatee Research Program whose primary goal is to study manatees in Florida.  Mote is located in Sarasota on City Island between St. Armand's Circle and Longboat Key. 

Check it out:  Mote Marine Laboratory

So, now you know.  Mermaids were just a product of lonely sailors’ imaginations….

Or were they?  

There is one more spot to check out just an hour north of Tampa where you can claim your own mermaid sighting. It’s the mysterious blue world of mermaids, manatees, turtles and bubbles, known as Weeki Wachee Springs.  The city of live mermaids is one of Florida’s oldest and most unique roadside attractions.  

Make the most of your manatee and mermaid experiences by checking in with one of  Coastal Cottages vacation specialists who will help you with all the details of your Anna Maria vacation.