Or just walk two blocks along shop-lined Bridge Street to the inland waterway where the restaurant, The Bridge Tender Inn, overlooks many boats lining that peaceful waterway.

 

March 26 - April 9

Cruises to Cuba & Dominican Republic
April 3
Quarterly meeting at Seabreeze, 7 PM
April 17
Anna Maria Island
May 8-10
3 day/2 night trip to Venice, Englewood & Gasparilla Island




Barefoot Beachcombers Club (‘BBC’ will also suffice)
333 Colony Blvd. #110
The Villages, FL 32162

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2017 Beach Trips

Manatee Beach is the kind of simpler, unfussy sort of beach you may have visited along the Atlantic Coast or on the shores of a Mid-American lake.  The water is so clean you can stand in it up to your hips and still see your toes.  The gulf waves are very gentle, making it easy to both float and swim. 

The two-block after-dinner stroll back to the buses will help minimize those dessert calories.

Warning:  You might be feeling a bit like this guy by time you get home.

If so, consider joining us at Anna Maria Island on the Gulf on
Monday, April 17
from 8:30am - 8:30pm

Might you enjoy returning to the memories of your youth at the beach ??

The sand is perfect for walking along the beach, observing natural life, other beach goers (well some of them, anyway), dolphins, fish, starfish, and sea shells.  Or you can simply “sit and sip.” 
 

I/we would like to go to Anna Maria Island with the BBC on April 17th.  Enclosed is my $25 check (pp). 

Print your name(s):   ________________________________________________________

I/we wish to be on the bus with these friends (name up to four) ________________________________________

I/we still have a credit with the BBC and I would like to use that credit. _________





One of the best parts of this beach is the Anna Marie Beach Café which is known for its great food and really nice staff.  See menu at:  www.amibeachcafe.com/blank-nj8ci.  And while you place your order at a service window, the food is served to you at your umbrella-covered table and your dinnerware and refuse is cleared away for you. (Mom and Dad likely played that role in the 40s and 50s.) Beer, wine, and a small sundry/gift shop are also available.

Liability Waiver:  The BBC has a revised Liability Waiver specific to our club.  Even if you have signed a liability release form in the past for our club, we are asking that you sign the revised one. This will only need to be done one time; not yearly as in the past.  Please click on link below, print and sign, and give the form to your bus leader on this trip. 

This is one of the beaches most frequently requested by our members for a return visit.

We'll travel first to the northern end of the 7-mile long Anna Maria Island simply to see its beauty and appreciate its steadfast policies of "no tall buildings, no fast food".  Enjoy viewing customary pastel beach houses (which previously did not cost $5 million).  We'll then return to the center of the island to spend the day at Manatee Beach in the town of Holmes Beach. There you can relive fun times of your youth (without all the shenanigans, we trust!!).  Otherwise, you might wind up in the island jail built in 1927, originally to handle late disturbances from a newly formed bar. The jail had a wooden roof with bars that left jail goers open to a night of mosquito swarms and plenty of bites. That encouraged them to never come back again!

The restrooms are simple, but we've survived them before. Beach equipment can be rented: two beach chairs and an umbrella $20, or one chair $6, one umbrella $12.  This is one of the few Gulf beaches under protection by a lifeguard.  And if you find that you've had enough sun for the day, relax and enjoy a simple but spacious shady area on the beach. In late afternoon, we’ll drive south to Bridge Street where several restaurants will be glad to host us for dinner.  The Beach House Restaurant on the Gulf is a scenic favorite. 

 Copyright. Barefoot Beachcombers Club.  All rights reserved

If this trip interests you, print the reservation form (click on green button below) and mail it along with your check (made out to the BBC) for $25 per person to the address below.  On March 31st, we will conduct our lottery and you will be notified shortly thereafter of your seat confirmation or waitlist status.