Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, a perfect time for a beach getaway. Whether you take advantage of the three-day weekend or stretch the vacation, Anna Maria Island makes an excellent destination.

 

Nestled between bays and the Gulf of Mexico, Anna Maria Island offers a laid-back, serene spot for your beach stay. It’s a place where old-Florida charm meets the 21st century. Where flips flops are still en vogue, but your vacation property provides high-speed Wi-Fi.

 

Beaches

As for reasons to visit, we’ll start with the most obvious – our beaches. Bean Point, Anna Maria Beach, Manatee Beach and Coquina Beach each offer beautiful surf and sand with a unique flair. At Bean Point, you can see where the Gulf meets the Bay. Anna Maria Island is off-the-beaten path. It’s quieter than other beaches. Manatee Beach is a family favorite with bathrooms, showers and a playground. Coquina Beach offers the usual facilities but tends to be less crowded than Manatee.

 

Memorial Day Salute

The City of Anna Maria holds a Memorial Day Patriotic Symphony Salute from 10 – 11:30 a.m. at City Pier Park on Monday, May 29. The one-and-a-half-hour-long event is free to attend. Celebrate with music, a flag presentation and refreshments. Put this one on your to-do list, as Memorial Day is a time to honor our fallen service men and women.

 

Take Advantage of the Grill

For a lot of people, the Memorial Day weekend means barbecue. Several local parks offer charcoal grills and picnic areas, so you can grab ingredients from a local grocery store and fire up the grill. Many of our properties have a grill on site and kitchen tools for preparing ribs, brisket, or chicken.

 

Shop the Avenue

Pine Avenue in Anna Maria offers an array of specialty stores and boutiques where you can browse to your heart’s content. Or explore the Historic Bridge St. District in Bradenton Beach. Walk the pier, take in the view, and celebrate the holiday at one of the local restaurants.

 

Get on the Water

Is it summer if you haven’t been on a boat yet? AMI Saltwater Charters offers fishing trips, sunset cruises, and kayak tours. From a two-hour kids’ fishing trip to an eight-hour flats skiff excursion, choose an outing that fits your family.

 

An AMI beach vacation is a wonderful way to welcome the season if we do say so ourselves.