One of the things we loved most about Plumfish
has to be the location; perfectly placed for the incredible beaches of Bean
Point and probably our most favorite spot on Anna Maria Island, the Rod &
Reel Pier.
My three children loved getting on their
bikes in the morning and we would all cycle to the, historic pier and walk the
boards reading and remembering the names that are engraved into the wood. We
would chat and imagine who we thought that person to be, and what had initially
bought them to Anna Maria Island.
The Rod & Reel has a restaurant at the
end and whether you sit outside or inside, you are enveloped by views of the
ocean from all sides. The breakfast menu was our favorite…amazing perfectly
cooked steak and eggs, pancakes with a bottomless jug of maple syrup or fruit
compote, accompanied with an endless mug of freshly ground coffee or fruit
juice for the girls. This was a fairly standard staple of our breakfast, but it’s
not just their breakfast menu which is impressive!
This Anna Maria restaurant is also known as
a Manatee hotspot - the island’s mascot. We saw so many during our time
here….incredible animals, enormous, yet so delicate as they glide through the
water. We also spotted lots of dolphins
and an array of other fish…who needs SeaWorld?!
Bean Point, we discovered was named after
the first settler on the Island, George Bean. It is the furthest Northern Tip
of Anna Maria Island, and you can capture both a sunrise and a sunset here - which
we did often during our stay. This spot was so quiet and peaceful, it really
never got tiring and the views were absolutely breathtaking. Something very
special!
So, back to Plumfish! This Anna Maria villa
was absolutely perfect for our trip. The open plan space downstairs was great
for our family; cozy, but spacious enough. And we loved the kitchen (it is actually
nicer than what we have at home!). Tall glossy cupboards, every piece of
equipment you need, lots of work surfaces and a table and chairs so we could
all sit together whilst we were getting dinner ready.
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Plumfish's kitchen
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To eat, it was always outside. Plumfish has
a beautiful terrace overlooking Hammock Bayou. The weather was so perfect
during our stay we dined alfresco almost every night wiling away the hours, and
with a mosquito covering over the entire area we were not distracted by any
flying intruders!
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Plumfish's terrace
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The children loved the sleeping
arrangements! My husband and I had one of the two double bedrooms downstairs
and the children had their own ‘tower’ upstairs. Stairs off from the lounge led
to one room, which had four bunk beds (two doubles), a desk, flat screen TV and
spectacular views out across the water. They loved it! They felt they had their
own privacy, although they didn’t realize we could hear them giggling into the
night from wherever we were in the house!
I love that kind of security in a rental
home. As a couple we had our own space in the evening, but we very aware of
what was going on in the children’s room, whether we were in the lounge, or
sitting outside on the terrace or deck at the front of the house (very
Southern!).
The dock is a small stretch of boards that
goes out over the water, like your own little pier. Some Adirondack chairs are
out there, so you really can ‘sit on the dock of the bay’ and enjoy a bottle of
wine, when the children go to bed. Truly magical!
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The dock |
We cannot wait to go back to Plumfish and
Anna Maria! An amazing rental home on a spectacular island! Great memories,
thank you Pineapplefish!
Labels: Anna Maria Island Rentals, Pineapplefish, Plumfish