On Anna Maria Island in Florida amisland.com it is time for the white flamingos to arrive in the bay. They don't stay around for long and the flock is an incredible sight to see. Take aboat trip with Captain Don Meilmer out around the island and explore the intracoastal waterway. Ask him to take along a barbeque grill and cookout on a sandy beach or small island. Just pick up a few steaks, a salad and some crusty white mountain bread and you have a feast to enjoy in the sunshine. Washed down with a cold beer or a glass of Californian wine, this is outdoor dining at its best. Anna Maria Island is all about the sunshine and the water.

Over in the UK on the Bwlch Tre Banau Estate Spring has arrived. The carp pond is fed by spring water and at this time of year the water iris are starting to grow around the edge, protecting the fish from the heron. They should be starting to come to the surface soon to feed. www.walesholidaycottages.com The pond is also home to a myriad of wildlife including a couple of frogs who languish in the shallows enjoying the spring sunshine. When you walk by they hide under the nearest stone or just freeze, thinking that you can't see them if they don't move, floating suspended in the water.

Down at Torquay in England's west country torquay.uk.com the driveway has just been repaved with brindle pavers and it is now lined with golden daffodils, flowering shrubs and trees emerging from Winter into Spring. The lawns are greening and the flowers in the borders appearing. I never fail to be bowled over by the expansive view of the water that unfolds as you walk through the French windows onto the terrace.

For unrivalled sunshine and a relaxed and friendly environment amisland.com you cannot beat Anna Maria Island on Florida's west coast. Fly direct to Tampa. The island lies in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico just off the coast and is accessed by either of 2 bridges from the mainland.

Torquay's premier vacation rental, The West Wing Cottage torquay.uk.com has one of the best positions on the South Devon coastline.

Choosing a holiday by the sea or in the countyside need not be an issue. Spend some time in both places www.walesholidaycottages.com Carmarthenshire is home to 3 holiday rental cottages near the Brecon Beacons is South Wales. Easy access from the motway and set in stunning countryside with unsurpassed views.

If you want to stay on Anna Maria Island it is not essential to have a car. Renters can fly into Tampa, St Petersburg or Sarasota airports and then travel down by limo. Once here, visitors find the tram travels up and down the length of the island every 20 minutes and connect with transport to both Bradenton and Sarasota. Our local taxis are very helpful and can be used for a more personal door to door service. http://annamaria.com/ Villa Serena is looking delightful and is very popular with our clientele. The other property we have recently received compliments on is Villa Tuscany, at the moment our least expensive property and superb value for the dollar. amisland.com

If you are visiting the UK this summer you must stay for a few days in Carmarthenshire or Devon. this are five star country properties in England and Wales
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March is the perfect time of year to be in Florida. Sunshine and flowers, great restaurants and friendly islanders. Anna Maria Island is a real gem. amisland.com
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You can get most things on Anna Maria Island, from provisions, to gifts, sporting goods and even pets. But if you really have to get away and put your credit card to the test there are plenty of malls and major stores located within a short drive.

For provisions use Publix – 3900 East Bay Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217. Phone 941 778 5422. All you could need, with fresh fruit, vegetables, a super bakery which bakes fresh bread, cakes and doughnuts daily. Large selection of wines, excellent meat selection, a good delicatessen and everything else you could need to cook a special meal, or stock up on provisions for a picnic.

There is a good selection of shops in all three of the cities on Anna Maria Island. The Holmes Beach shopping center, located just past the traffic lights on Gulf Drive, has small cafes, gift shops, rental shops and art galleries.

In Bradenton Beach, check out historic Bridge Street, with its boutiques, bars, restaurants and art shops. And head north to Anna Maria and you will find plenty of small boutiques, clothes shops and small cafes. Here are a few highlights. For the vacation of a lifetime amisland.com
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Winter sunshine and warmth are a real tonic during the long cold winter months and where better to experience this than on Anna Maria Island, just south of Tampa bay in Florida. Seven miles of white sand beach, some of Florida's best restaurants, friendly and welcoming people and easy access to the mainland make Anna Maria Island a great place to chill out, make new friends, spend time with the family and enjoy the best vacations. amisland.comSun and sand, great food and wine, plus the coldest beer this side of heaven.

If you are heading for Europe this summer then there a couple of places to put on the agenda. The first is Torquay in the county of Devon torquay.uk.com and second is Camarthenshire in Wales. Both are in the western part of the United Kingdom and are not to be missed. www.walesholidaycottages.com

Anna Maria Island welcomes the Snowbirds, visitors from the colder northern states and Brits looking for a great welcome, a warm climate and some sunshine. www.walesholidaycottages.com Anna Maria Island has a well deserved reputation for friendliness, great service and gorgeous rental properties. The beaches are peaceful,, the water stretches out like a mirror between the island and the mainland and the Gulf of Mexico is a haven for dolphine, manatees and seabirds. amisland.com
Just heard about the exciting new vacation rental in South Devon’s elegant restort of Torquay over in the UK. It is where the Brits go for a long weekend or to spend long lazy weeks in the Spring and Summer. Sure to attract its fair share of visitors from the United States this year as the dollar is so strong against the UK pound. There has never been a better time to visit Britain, so come on Americans, visit the Bwlch Tre Banau Country Estate in Wales and The West Wing Cottage in Torquay to experience a little of our British hospitality. torquay.uk.com