Every holiday is special on Anna Maria Island. With Labor Day just around the corner on Sept. 5, there is still time to celebrate beach season with a getaway. Stretch the holiday weekend into a week-long vacation to enjoy the last hurrah of summer.
Beach Day
There is no need to carry your gear to the beach. CabanUp delivers everything you need for a perfect day in the sun. It’s simple. Choose a day and place where you want to set up. CabanUp will have your set-up ready by 10 a.m. most days. Let them know what you need, whether lounges and chairs, umbrellas and tents, or tables and coolers. When you’re ready to get out of the sun, leave. CabanUp takes care of cleanup.
Cast a Line
Enjoy a local favorite at the Rod & Reel Pier, a restaurant directly on the Gulf of Mexico. This old Florida establishment serves breakfast. After you fill up on your favorites, you can fish right off the dock. You can also try your hand at surf fishing from any of the public beaches, rocks, and jetties. The beaches and rocks on the north side of the island are a favorite spot for fishermen.
Dine Out
Speaking of traditional beach fare, you want to enjoy local seafood while on vacation. Sandbar Seafood & Spirits serves classic seafood fare with beachside seating. Or try an upscale twist at The Waterfront Restaurant & Craft Bar, where you can get tuna sashimi, Kung Pao calamari or grouper tacos. And that’s just for starters.
Paddle
Beach Bums AMI offers a tour along the fringe of red mangroves into Anna Maria Sound, where guests often find dolphins feeding in the shallow waters. The excursion passes under the Key Royale Bridge and into Bimini Bay. Beach Bums also rents the kayaks, bicycles, and golf carts.
Shopping Spree
If shopping is a favorite activity, you’re in luck. Charming Pine Avenue has a collection of outdoor shops where you can walk from Tampa Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. Bradenton Beach has historic Bridge Street with an array of boutiques.
For the Kids
Bayfront Park on Anna Maria Island’s north end is a great place to watch the dolphins swim while the kids enjoy the playground. There are also grills, picnic tables and pavilions. The Holmes Beach skate park has a half pipe and skate bowl. Of course, there is the public beach where you can build sandcastles, splash in the surf and play a game of volleyball.
Sweet Digs
Stay in comfort with a luxury home like the two-bedroom Salt Air East on Holmes Beach, the four-bedroom at 307 65 Street or the four-bedroom Mermaid’s Crossing. Our rentals are an easy walk or free trolley ride to the beach, shops, and restaurants.