"Joy Abounds," Holmes Beach, AMI! OLD FLORIDA home, Fully renovated in 2016! | House in Holmes Beach

WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT AS OF 05/21/2020 WE CAN AGAIN OFFER OUR PROPERTY FOR VACATION RENTAL in compliance with the guidelines issued by Manatee County and approved by the State of Florida! Our first concern is for the health of our guests and our families and so we have implemented enhanced cleaning procedures which in addition to standard cleaning include antibacterial and antiviral "fogging" of hard surfaces and soft furnishings like curtains and couches. All linens and coverlets have been washed and sanitized, and throws and throw pillows have been removed. All wall switches, lamp switches, doorknobs, handles, etc., etc., are cleaned and sanitized and will be cleaned and sanitized again between guests. Tiny bar soaps have been banished in favor of no-touch liquid dispensers filled with antibacterial soap. Pool floats are stored in the bright sunshine. And so on.... ~~~ Brand new in February 2020! A 15' x 40' heated pool with a deep end for swimming, built-in seating, a five-foot sunshelf (12" deep, designed for babies and old folks) and a big, surrounding paver patio suitable for lounging, with a hammock, BBQ and outdoor seating as well. We added six pictures of the pool area (our own camera phone efforts, sorry our pro photographer cancelled due to Covid!), we hope you will like our new pool! ~~~ My parents bought this 1950's ranch house on AMI in 1964 and my idyllic childhood began! The streets were paved with crushed shell, we kids never wore shoes, and when asphalt finally came to the Island we'd challenge each other to stand barefooted on the black asphalt the longest. We never went into town (Bradenton) -- there was no bus and we couldn't drive and it was too far to bike -- so we spent our time out of AMI Elementary at the beaches and marinas and boat docks. Cobb's Marina -- near where the Holmes twins lived -- had about 2,000 cats! We'd go from daylight until dark outside -- usually called in at lunchtime by Betsy's mom for soup and sandwiches -- and our parents never seemed to worry much. After all, where could we go? (FYI - Betsy's mom cut the crust off our sandwiches and gave it to us to feed to the wild peacocks who populated the island and scared us awake at night with their "baby screams.") AMI has changed a lot since then, but not in the important things. People are still genuinely glad that you're here! This house was the first built on this block in the early 1950's and is placed on the largest lot facing easterly toward the Gulf of Mexico. It is situated west of Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, so there are no busy streets to cross on your way to the beach, which is only four neighbors away. There are three large bedrooms with king, queen, and two twin beds respectively, and another twin bed on the large back porch. All beds are adjustable SleepNumber beds, and each bedroom has a flat-screen Roku tv. The pine paneling of the queen bedroom is original to the house, as are the hand-applied plaster ceilings in the bedrooms. The queen bedroom contains furniture salvaged from the historic Hotel Dixie-Grande, which opened in Bradenton in the 1920's and was (sadly) imploded in the 1970's. There is a large bath adjacent to the master with a double vanity and walk-in shower, and the hall bath has a full tub and shower with marble vanity. The plumbing, roof, a/c, and all major systems were renovated in 2016. The large living room is adjacent to the main entry and has a large picture window for viewing passers-by, which often include shorebirds and great flocks of escaped budgies, parrots, and love birds. If you set the white bird by the front door outside in the yard, chances are his friends will come by to visit! There is also a green swing feeder by the large tree out front where you may leave food for the squirrels, who may scold you if you don't. There's lots of comfortable seating in the living room, a big-screen tv with 200+ cable channels and a Roku, and free wireless internet throughout the house. The tray ceiling in the living room, the unusually-colored fireplace, and the jalousie windows are all original "Old Florida" details, which we hope you enjoy. There's a dining table for four next to the full-sized kitchen with new stainless appliances and plenty of room for multiple cooks at the same time. If you have a big family (or just a family who all prefer to eat differently) there is ample room to prepare your own dishes and save on eating out. The 'frig is full-sized, and we have a great Publix on the Island to help you stock it. The kitchen has a pass-through window to the "tiki" bar on the back porch (it is actually wearing a grass skirt), and the double-sliding glass door to the back porch opens all the way to the paver patio surrounding the pool and the back yard beyond. The pool is finally finished, having passed its final exam (pool, flood remediation, child safety alarms, fences, etc., etc.) in early February. It is 15' by 40', rectangular, with marble surrounds, beautiful greeny-blue glass tiles with a metallic sheen that go all the way around and are on the edges of the seats at the deep end and the steps at the shallow end. There is a 5' sunshelf with a bubbler, umbrella mounts, and three baby turtles descending from the shelf to the seats in the shallow end. The "mama" turtle is about mid-way in the pool (they're tile, of course, but she seems very real). The pool is heated and big enough for laps if you wish. After dark there is a color LED light program (you can choose from about 10-15 pattens) that puts on a light show in the water and reflecting off the privacy fence like "California Sunset" which cycles through purple, pink, blue, and yellow. The deep end is the maximum depth of 5', and there is seating for adults. There is also seating on the deck around the pool. It is really beautiful out there and the sound of the bubbler is so relaxing! There's a full-sized washer and dryer, as well as a sink, in the large laundry room adjacent to the porch. The porch itself runs 2/3 of the length of the house, and is wonderful for relaxing, reading, and game-playing. The back yard is large enough for soccer practice (IMG Academy!!), privacy fenced, and filled with fragrant plumeria, fruit trees, and Florida green anoles (lizards, they're heck on mosquitos but harmless to humans). There's a glass-topped table, umbrella, and chairs for the back yard, and many items for the beach including a beach cart. AND BEST OF ALL!! NO STEPS TO CLIMB!! There are only two small steps at the front entrance (the same at the back door) to negotiate. Everything in the house is on the ground level! Location, location, location!! Holmes Beach is the central city on AMI, which is approximately ten miles long at the longest point and three miles wide at the widest point. Joy Abounds is proximate to the Anna Maria Elementary School, on the opposite side of Gulf Drive, right in the middle of AMI. We are on the "right" (or west) side of Gulf Drive, so you don't have to cross a busy street to get to the beach! The Manatee County Beach is five blocks south and the S&S Plaza (and other retail centers) are five blocks north. Both are an easy walk, especially if you walk along the beach. You can catch the FREE Island Trolley (it takes your bike too) all along Gulf Drive and go anywhere on the Island. Publix is just past the Manatee County Beach to the south and west and is also an easy walk, but better to take a car and not melt the ice cream! ESPECIALLY FOR OUR VISITORS FROM EUROPE: The Gulf Beaches of AMI have squeaky white "sugar" sand, clear cool green water, and friendly waves. Vastly different from Atlantic beaches, the Gulf beaches are more like those of Tunesia, Morocco, and the Canary Islands WITHOUT the crowds (because your season is our off-season!) And fyi, AMI has NEVER sustained a direct hit by a hurricane in its 150+ populated years! We'd love to have you and your family and friends stay with us at "Joy Abounds" on your next trip to AMI! Thanks for your consideration!

"Joy Abounds," Holmes Beach, AMI! OLD FLORIDA home, Fully renovated in 2016! is located in Holmes Beach. "Joy Abounds," Holmes Beach, AMI! OLD FLORIDA home, Fully renovated in 2016! provides accommodation, featuring Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Balcony/Terrace, among other amenities. This House features Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Balcony/Terrace, to make your stay a comfortable one.

"Joy Abounds," Holmes Beach, AMI! OLD FLORIDA home, Fully renovated in 2016! has 3 Bedrooms , 2 Bathrooms, and max occupancy of 6 people. The minimum rental for this property is 7 nights, but this can change depending on the season you plan on staying. Previous guests have given good rated it, and VRBO labeled it a top-rated House because of the excellent services rendered by the owner or manager of this House, and has consistently provided great experiences for their guests. Most families or guests that use it recommend it to their friends and some of them are repeat guests. House has a friendly neighborhood, and the Holmes Beach has interesting places to visit. If you want to learn more about the House in Holmes Beach, such as places to visit and things to do nearby, you can check below to learn more.