Posts made by author 'Stephanie Hollender'

One of the best things about living in the Sarasota-Manatee area is it's proximity to the water. Not only is the area home to some of the best beaches in the country, but it also offers many opportunities to enjoy a memorable waterfront dining experience. 

Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or are looking for a great place to enjoy a casual lunch, the ideal waterfront restaurant is just a short drive away. 

Our REALTORS® have some favorite waterfront locations to share with you.  Here are five to start your local waterfront dining tour.

1. The Sandbar Restaurant: 100 Spring Avenue, Anna Maria, FL 34216
   Located on the north end of Anna Maria Island, The Sandbar Restaurant offers an extensive menu made with fresh, local ingredients. The restaurant serves lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch, giving you plenty of opportunities to kick off your shoes and enjoy a memorable dining experience with your toes in the sand.
   
   While you're on the island, we recommend taking some time to explore. If you get a chance, strike up a conversation with some of the locals. It won't take long for you to understand why Anna Maria homes for sale are in such high demand. 

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If you're touring Anna Maria Island homes for sale, then you're considering buying a home where the rest of the world dreams of vacationing. With its many quaint shops, award-winning restaurants, and beautiful beaches, there's never a shortage of things to do here. 

Our REALTORS® recommend taking a short break from house hunting to get a taste of what island life is like. Spending the day on a fishing or sailing charter is a great way to do just that. Here are a few of our favorite charter services to help you get started. 

1. AMI Charters: 114 Beach Ave. Anna Maria Island, FL 34216
   For the ultimate day of saltwater adventures, you can't go wrong with AMI Charters. Book a full, three-quarter, or half day inshore/nearshore fishing trip. If you're not a fishing fan, you can also choose to leave your poles behind and enjoy the sites instead.
   
   AMI Charters offers daytime family sight-seeing trips, sunset cruises, and a "fun run" option that gives you a chance to check out the nearby sandbars, private islands, and dockside restaurants and pubs. This is a great way to enjoy the benefits of having a boat without the hassle of having to drive! 

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When it comes to summer fun for the kiddos, our real estate agents have a tip for you: Sarasota-Manatee has some of the top summer camps found anywhere in Florida! The concept of summer camp has sure changed over the years. Now, the conventional "cabin in the woods" approach is just one of many kids can embark on during break. Everything from arts to surfing to engineering is available to the lucky little ones living in our area. With more than 100 active summer camps around Sarasota and Bradenton, picking just one can be a real puzzler. To get you (and the kids!) started, we'd like to recommend five standout camps in Sarasota-Manatee:

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Life in the Sunshine State is sweet! Our year-round warm weather and gorgeous natural spaces make Florida the perfect place for outdoor adventures. Sarasota and Manatee Counties offer residents the perfect mix of land and sea excursions that people of all ages can enjoy. Here are some of our REALTORS® favorite outdoor adventures from Bradenton to Englewood.

1. Florida West Scuba & Charters – 509 N. Tamiami Tr., Venice, FL 34285
   After you've toured Venice homes for sale, discover what colorful fish and wildlife make their homes under the sea with excursions from Florida West Scuba & Charters. Known as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World, Venice is the perfect place to dive into adventure and go searching for your own shark teeth. The crew at Florida West Scuba & Charters has never come back from a trip empty-handed, so you're sure to see shark teeth and fossils on your journey. With basic, advanced and refresher open water dive classes available, there's a sea of adventure waiting for you just off the Venice coast.
   
   
2. Around the Bend Nature Tours – P.O. Box 1136, Bradenton, FL 34206
   Around the Bend Nature Tours invites you to discover the area's natural and cultural history with guided tours throughout the county. They'll take you exploring in the estuaries around Palmetto, teach you about Florida pioneer history at Duette Preserve, and guide you through diverse habitats to view gorgeous birds. Featuring summer camps, field trips and coastal climate walks, Around the Bend Nature Tours — conveniently around the bend from Palmetto homes for sale — will take you on an exciting journey through the natural landscape that's right in our backyards.
   
   
   

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Our REALTORS® are always thrilled when new residents come to Sarasota to look for a home and ask about interesting things to see and do. Inevitably, we direct them to a popular destination with public art that comes with quite a storied past. 

Sarasota's "Unconditional Surrender"

One of the most photographed statues in Florida, if not America, is a 26-foot tall statue that calls Sarasota home. It commemorates the famous photo that appeared in LIFE magazine of a young U.S. sailor dipping and kissing a nurse in Times Square on the day World War II ended. The statue, Unconditional Surrender, is part of a series of statues created by American artist Seward Johnson and can today be found in Sarasota's Bayfront Park.  This statue pays homage to the "Greatest Generation" and the joyful celebrations at the end of the war, but its placement in the park has a rather interesting history.

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