Spring is around the corner. So, it is time to make vacation plans for school break. Is your family ready for sun, surf and sand? Anna Maria Island provides a family-friendly destination. Here is a rundown of what makes it great.
Location, Location, Location
Situation on the Gulf of Mexico, south of Tampa and north of Sarasota, Anna Marie Island is in the perfect spot. Average temperatures hit 77 during Spring Break. You cannot find a better beach town to vacation than AMI, with proximity to the Gulf and two bays.
Crowd-free
AMI is still a hidden gem. Our secluded beaches, locally-owned restaurants and laid-back lifestyle is a world away from the hustle and bustle of many beach communities.
Awesome Accommodations
Beach Retreats helps you find the perfect property for your crew. Whether you need a two-bedroom cottage that sleeps six or a six-bedroom vacation home that sleeps 10, we’ve got you covered. Our homes are clean, well-furnished, and accessible to local amenities.
Sand and Surf
Then, of course, there are our beautiful beaches. It never gets old to take a walk on the beach, splash in the waves or sit in the sun and stare at the Gulf. There are several spectacular beaches on the Island. Pick a spot, and set up beach chairs. Better yet, have CabanUp set it up for you.
Swim with Horses?
You can go horseback riding on the beach. That’s right. Book a ride with C Ponies, which offers several trout, including that beach ride where the horses will even take you for a swim.
Reel ’em In!
The fishing is incredible! Book a trip with AMI Charters – from two-hour family trips to night fishing to a six-hour offshore charter. An experienced crew puts you on the fish and help you reel in a winner. Make a memory with your kids that will last a lifetime.
Get on the Water
Paddle some flat water. Beach Bums AMI offers a scenic kayak tour along the mangroves and into Anna Maria Sounds. Paddlers can catch sight of lots of wildlife, including birds, dolphins and maybe even a manatee.
Make Things Easy
Enjoy a true, relaxing vacation by having your rental stocked with groceries prior to your arrival. The Loaded Kitchen does all the work for you. Go online, fill up your shopping bag from home, and The Loaded Kitchen will deliver it to your vacation property and even put it away.
So, with a few clicks on your keyboard or touch of your tablet, you can book your stay and activities, and order your groceries for a spring break week in paradise.
It’s winter. Much of the nation is covered in ice, snow, and frigid air. But you know where it’s not cold? Anna Maria Island. That makes it a great place to be during winter months.
What can you do? Pretty much anything you can do in the summer, just cooler weather for it.
Enjoy a Beach Day
Our beaches can be relaxing or exciting, whichever you choose. Grab a hoodie and a good book, and plop down in the sand for a peaceful beach day. Or grab the Boogie board, a Frisbee, sand buckets, and shovels for family fun.
Take an Art Walk
The Homes Beach Art District Art Walk takes place the second Friday of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. through April. Artists display wares along the street, and participating businesses provide refreshments and music as you browse.
Watch a Regatta
Watch powerboats race during the Bradenton Area River Regatta on Feb. 11. The free event has top drivers roaring across the water at top speeds of 125 mph. Watch from the Green Bridge, which is closed off for viewing. Other activities include a spectacular drone light show, flyboarding demonstrations, a stunt dog show, and family fun zones.
Get Some Air
The Homes Beach Micro Skate Park upgraded a couple of years ago. Open from 10 a.m. to sunset, the park is perfect for skaters of all levels, though geared toward kids and beginners. Bring your board to try out the ramps and grind bars.
Make a Splash
The average high in January is 77 degrees, so it stays warm enough to enjoy the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay even during winter. You don’t have to be a polar bear to make a splash. Water temperatures average 64 degrees.
Cast a Line
Winter conditions make for some great fishing. Use live shrimp to attract hogfish, mangrove snapper, and amberjack offshore. In the bays and Intracoastal Waterway, snag a catch-and-release spotted sea trout, flounder, black drum, sheepshead, or catch-and-release redfish. Fish from the Bradenton Beach City Pier on Sarasota Bay, Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria, from the beach or book a charter. Tip: A Florida fishing license is required.
Get Back to Nature
The Leffis Key Preserve, located across from the Coquina Beach entrance in Bradenton Beach, offers beautiful hiking and wildlife viewing. Though small, the preserve includes 1,500 feet of boardwalks that run through a mangrove forest. Get a 360-degree view of the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay from the hilltop observation deck. Robinson Preserve, about a 15-minute drive from AMI, has 682 acres of coastal wetland, tidal marsh, and mangroves. Discover nature trails, bike trails, fishing, kayaking, and a 40-foot observation tower.
Beach Retreats has you covered with pristine properties to provide your home-away-from-home during your AMI vacation.
If you’re looking for salt air and sunshine to kick off your year, your search is over. Anna Maria Island has everything you’re looking for the perfect beach getaway.
Perfect Properties
Book with a trusted vacation rental management company that offers accommodations with plenty of privacy, comfort and all the amenities you need to make your vacation the best. Choose a large vacation rental like the four-bedroom Reef Romance with a private pool in the city of Anna Maria. Or the smaller Starfish Cove in Holmes Beach that offers three bedrooms and features a heated pool. Our properties are luxurious, and we use the highest standards of cleanliness and customer service.
Beautiful Beaches
Anna Maria Island Island is a seven-mile stretch of spectacular beaches. At the quiet Bean Point, visitors can see where the Gulf of Mexico meets Tampa Bay. Anna Maria Beach is another place to swim or sunbathe in near seclusion. Then there’s Manatee Beach and Coquina Beach. Find your spot in the sun, kick back and listen to the waves roll in.
Easy Set-Up
Use a beach service to set you up with beach chairs, umbrellas, skim boards, games and more to help you enjoy your time in the sand. CabanUp offers packages and will take care of delivery, set-up and removal.
Fresh Seafood
When you’re on a beach vacation, you definitely want to try the local seafood. The Ugly Grouper in Holmes Beach offers grouper tacos, coconut shrimp, flounder Hollandaise, and much more. The Waterfront Restaurant in Anna Maria prepares local catch in delightfully creative dishes. Order the fresh catch, grouper cakes or shrimp & grits.
Water Fun
Kayaking and standup paddle boarding are popular activities, and the island makes a perfect spot for it. Beach Bums rents kayaks and paddle boards, providing basic instruction and life jackets. They even deliver to your rental free of charge.
Fishing
Book a fishing excursion with AMI Charters. They offer everything from two-hour Kid’s Fishing Trips to the eight-hour trips and even night charters. There’s nothing like reeling in a big one.
Catching a Sunset
Watching a sunset on the water is one of life’s most beautiful moments. Watch from one of the local beaches like those at White Avenue in Holmes Beach. Or take a Sunset Cruise with AMI Charters to see the sunset from the water. Gulf Drive Tiki Cafe also offers magnificent views.
There are plenty of other reasons to visit Anna Maria Island in 2023. But aren’t sun, surf, sand, saltwater, and seafood enough of a draw?
Shake things up this year for your New Year holiday celebration by spending it in a warm, tropical locale. Create a holiday the family will long remember with an Anna Maria Island vacation.
The best reason for an Anna Maria Island vacation is the moderate weather, which makes it a true winter wonderland (in our opinion). You don’t have to bundle up for New Year’s Eve fireworks. Daytime temps are in the mid-70s, while it only drops to the mid-50s at night, so enjoy festivities without donning a scarf and hat.
Those mild temps and less crowds make it a perfect time to enjoy our spectacular beaches. Bean Point is a peaceful spot where you can see the Gulf meet the Bay. Anna Maria Beach, also on the north end of the island, has the Rod and Reel Pier for fishing. Manatee Beach is a family-favorite close to Holmes Beach, while Coquina Beach at Bradenton Beach provides the longest stretch of sand on the island.
Start your celebration by watching as the sun sets on 2022. A stay in our four-bedroom Reef Romance property puts you a short walk from the Atlantic shore. The three-bedroom Beach Paradise on Longboat Key is another property a short walking distance to that gorgeous sunset.
Local and visitors enjoy ringing in the New Year at The Beach House Waterfront Restaurant in Bradenton Beach. Guests enjoy a meal, then watch the sky light up in a colorful display. If you don’t want to reserve a table, nearby beaches also offer great views of the fireworks.
Watch the Pineapple Drop at midnight during the Downtown Sarasota Pineapple Drop & Block Party. The festivities take place from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. Enjoy a full day of fun with carnival rides, live music, plenty of food and drink, and more.
Start 2023 with the Shamrock Shiver at noon on New Year’s Day at Clancy’s Sports Bar & Grill, 6218 Cortez Road West in Bradenton. The event collections donations for charity. Get there early for the pre-party. If you don’t want to brave the water, no worries. Enjoy a traditional New Year’s Day meal at one of the delicious area restaurants.
Do something different this year with an unforgettable Anna Maria Island experience.
Skip the busy city sidewalks this holiday season. Opt for a laid-back getaway on Anna Maria Island where you can find everything you need for a festive Christmas. And you do not have to bundle up in scarves and hats to hit the stores.
The first stop is St. Armands Circle, known for its elegant shops for chic beachwear, gifts, and souvenirs. This shopping complex is designed in a circle with a lovely park at its center where kids can run around and play. Alicia’s Dream, Hatley, Crazy Shirts, Pepper Palace, and Little Bo-Tique are a few of the boutiques offering a fun and festive shopping experience.
Next, take the free trolley from your vacation rental to the newly revitalized Historic Bridge Street area. Bridge Street is a walkable community with incredible water views and ample opportunity to shop and dine. End a day of shopping with a scrumptious meal and a seasonal cocktail at one of the area’s restaurants. Bazaar, Back Alley Treasures, Beach Life Ami, and Bridge Street Jewelers are just a few shops and boutiques to browse.
Discover another prime shopping spot on the north end of the island at Pine Avenue. Pink & Navy boutique and Island Cabana are shopping destinations worth checking out. Discover a quaint village with an art gallery, gift shops, a general store, and more at Historic Green Village, just off Pine Avenue.
For the sportsman/woman in your family, hit up AMI Outfitters Coastal Gear & Apparel, with a wide variety of high-quality sun-protection clothing, hats & sunglasses, as well as Yeti Coolers, Ice Mule Coolers, day packs, and other accessories.
Are you looking for souvenirs of Anna Maria Island? No store is more authentic than the West Coast Surf Shop, which opened its doors in 1964. The surf shop carries T-shirts, hats, sweatshirts and hoodies, sportswear, drinkware, and surf gear.
Pick up all the perfect gifts for everyone on your Christmas shopping list during an Anna Maria Island stay this December.
If you think a White Christmas requires snow, you have to spend the holidays enjoying the beaches of Anna Maria Island. The pleasant December weather makes it perfect for lounging in the sun.
Aside from relaxing on the beach, shopping at local boutiques, and dining at delicious restaurants, a full slate of holiday activities makes for a merry Christmas.
Kick off the season with the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Holiday Tree Lighting and Open House beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2. The tree lights up by 6:15 p.m. Bring out your family for this festive event.
Enjoy the festively decorated vessels in the Bradenton Beach Boat Parade on Dec. 3, which sails from Bradenton Beach Marina. View the parade from the Longboat Pass Bridge, the Bradenton Beach City Pier, or the Bradenton Beach City Pier. Or get your boat all decked out and enter the parade.
A Night Before Christmas takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9 at GT Bray Park, 5502 33rd Ave. Drive West in Bradenton. The event features a real snow slide, face painting, a bounce house, the movie “Elf,” and more. Admission is free; however, $5 wristbands are required for inflatables and slides, and a suggested donation per family of a new, unwrapped toy for Toys For Tots is requested. Wristbands will be on sale at the GT Bray Park front desk starting Dec. 2.
Yo Ho Ho, Mateys! The Anna Maria Privateers Island Christmas Parade rolls at 10 a.m. on Dec. 10 from the north entrance of Coquina Beach Park in Bradenton Beach to City Pier Park on the northern tip of the island. Immediately following the parade, the Privateers host a Children’s Party with Santa. All children are welcome.
Also on Dec. 10, the Manatee River Holiday Boat Parade sets sail up the Manatee River with a fleet of decked-out vessels. Thousands of local residents and visitors flock to the river to experience the magic. Grab a spot at Green Bridge or the Bradenton Riverwalk. Staging takes place at Snead Island and the parade starts at sundown.
Christmas in the Park at Palmetto Historical Park takes place the first weekend in December. To celebrate Christmas, the Palmetto Historical Park and Manatee County Agricultural Museum partner up to create a fun, festive event that includes visits with Santa, crafts, and tours of the beautifully decorated buildings (by reservation only). Parents, bring your cameras. With the most wonderful time of the year just around the corner, there is no time like the present to gift yourself a luxury vacation rental.
Spend your vacation on Anna Maria Island for a laid-back gathering with your family. Being on vacation doesn’t mean giving up your traditions. It just means creating more.
Take your Thanksgiving meal, for example. You can still savor your sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie, and other holiday favorites. But you won’t have to cook or clean up.
Anna Maria Island Beach Café will be open on Thanksgiving. Preorder your Dinner on the Gulf, which includes turkey, ham, and all the trimmings! There is no better view for your holiday meal.
Or make reservations at Pier 22, just over the bridge in Bradenton. The Thanksgiving Feast menu includes fresh roasted turkey, house-made stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and an array of other sides.
Pier 22 also takes pre-orders for its Dinner To-Go so you can enjoy your Thanksgiving spread at your luxury vacation property. Kickback Cabana, a three-bedroom home in Holmes Beach, offers plenty of space for your family holiday, along with a heated pool. Caribbean Surf is also a three-bedroom with a nice dining room table, as well as a table on the deck overlooking the pool.
Of course, you can swim off those extra holiday goodies, or go for a run to work up your appetite.
The 25th Annual Bradenton Runners Club Turkey Trot 3 Mile fun run will be held at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day at Robinson Preserve in Bradenton. The three-mile course begins at the main entrance to Robinson Preserve. There is a $10 registration fee, and race organizers ask participants to donate to selected local charities or bring canned or dry goods on race day. Register online only.
Or join about 4,000 others for the Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson State Park in Sarasota. The 5K run/walk begins at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, with the Kids Dash at 7:15 a.m. This event brings runners, joggers, and walkers from across the Suncoast and beyond.
There are other benefits to an Anna Maria Island holiday. Take a walk on the beach. Do your Black Friday shopping in specialty shops and boutiques. Paddle the waterways or book a boat charter. Rent a golf cart or bike for getting around the island.
Start new Thanksgiving traditions on Anna Maria Island.
It honestly doesn’t get much better than dropping a line off Anna Maria Island during the autumn months. Those cooler temps keep you comfortable, whether you’re fishing from a pier, the beach, or on a charter fishing excursion. October and November are fun and exciting months for fishing around the Anna Maria Island area. The grass flats, brackish waters, and open sea offer plenty of opportunities to get a hook in the water.
Fall is a particularly great month to target redfish. The resident population has fattened up during the summer and spawning females arrive on the flats. Seatrout are also active, as are snook. Spanish mackerel run inshore and nearshore during the fall. So how can you be assured to get a fish on your hook?
The expert captains at AMI Charters offer a range of charters that are sure to put you on the fish.
The four-hour inshore/nearshore trip is perfect for learning the basics and having fun. These trips target snook, redfish, tarpon, trout, pompano, and more. They also offer a two-hour kids trip. These are inshore, catch-and-release trips that offer kids a chance to wet a line and catch smaller fish. For a longer trip, book a six-hour charter targeting those same fish, but with more time on the water. They also offer a backwater, four-hour kayak fishing trip chasing a variety of inshore and nearshore species using artificial lures. With a charter trip, your captain will provide all licenses, gear, and bait.
But Anna Maria Island also offers plenty of opportunities to grab a rig and go fishing on your own. The first thing you need is a saltwater fishing license. Licenses range from $17 for a non-resident, three-day license to $47 for a non-resident annual license. Florida residents pay just $17 for an annual saltwater license. Order your license online, at a Wal-Mart in Manatee County, or at a local marina. Children under 16 do not need a license to fish.
For pier fishing, use light tackle with a medium to medium-heavy rod. Fishing is allowed at the Rod and Reel Pier and Anna Maria City Pier on the north end of the island on Tampa Bay. The Bradenton Beach City Pier overlooks Sarasota Bay.
Florida residents can surf cast off the beach, as can members of the military.
Shiners are the best live bait to use. Minnows work, too. If you want to use an artificial lure, choose one that is natural-colored with a redhead. Spanish mackerel hit those live shiners, as well as artificial lures. Bonita may also bite.
Boat trips have reported that trout, ladyfish, and flounder are plentiful so far this season, and anglers have spotted a lot of mullet jumping and even some large stingrays in the water.
You can also have an absolute blast catching Bonita on light tackle!
Whether you book a charter trip or go on your own, get out there and have some fun during your Anna Maria Island stay.
Ready for a fall getaway? Where better to go than Anna Maria Island, where the weather is perfect, and the beach sits there waiting for you? Check out some of our favorite fall activities on the Island.
BayFest
Live to the music during the 21st BayFest from10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 15 at Pine Avenue. Music takes place all day, along with arts and crafts vendors, a car show, food booths, and more!
Farmers Market
Pick up fresh fruits and vegetables for your vacation when the city’s seasonal farmers market returns on Tuesday, Oct. 11. The weekly market takes place every Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting, through May 10 under the shade sail at City Pier Park across the street from the Anna Maria City Pier.
Beach Market
The Coquino Beach Market takes place on Wednesdays and Sundays in October, and Sundays only in November. Vendors display their wares, which include apparel, homemade treats, novelties, gifts, home decor, and more. The market is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2650 Gulf Drive in South Bradenton Beach at the trolley stop.
Symphony on the Sand
It’s the seventh year for the Symphony on the Sand, featuring the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus & Orchestra. The event takes place in November at Coquina Gulfside Park and lasts for about three hours. Tickets range in price from $20 to $125 per person. Watch for updates on this year’s schedule.
Thanksgiving Feast
Are you planning a Thanksgiving getaway to Anna Maria Island? What’s better than enjoying a beachside holiday meal? Anna Maria Beach Cafe serves Thanksgiving ham and turkey with all the trimmings. Pre-order a meal for pick-up or make a reservation for a table.
Wherever you stay on Anna Maria Island, you are a short walk to gorgeous Gulf beaches. Bring your family pet when you book the two-bedroom Chasing Waves property just steps from the beach and on the free trolley route. Or stay in luxury at the stunning three-bedroom/3.5-bath Emerald Bay house.
This property is fully outfitted with everything you need for a care-free stay, including a heated pool in the backyard for those cool autumn evenings!
When you want to bring man’s best friend along on your vacation, you’re in luck. We’ve got prime properties in the most sought-after locations that accommodate your four-legged friends.
Chasing Waves is a two-bedroom, two-bath home that makes an excellent retreat. Guests are allowed up to two dogs, provided they are house-broken and friendly with people and other dogs.
Salt Air East also offers two bedrooms and two baths a short walk from the sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. It also includes a private, heated pool behind private fencing. Bring up to two dogs who will also enjoy relaxing at the beach or poolside.
Footprints in the Sand is a four-bedroom, 3.5-bath home in the heart of Anna Maria Island on Holmes Beach. It is also a short stroll to the beach.
Swept Away provides a stunning, luxurious property with private beach access. You’ll enjoy relaxing in the spacious home that offers more than 4,300-square-feet of space. But you’ll really be blown away by the outdoor space, with a private, resort-style heated pool, large jacuzzi, three-hole putting green, outdoor dining areas and plenty of entertaining space.
Let your dog run free at one of the off-leash dog parks on Anna Maria Island: Holmes Beach Dog Park, a grassy on the corner of 62nd Street and Flotilla Drive; and the Happy Trails Dog Park at 2811 51st St. W.
Be aware that the closest dog-friendly beach is Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue, about a 10-minute drive from Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island.
Just 15 minutes from Anna Maria Island is Robinson Preserve, with a 7.2-mile dog-friendly trail where you can traverse with your leashed pet.
Check out all of our pet-friendly properties. Then book a spot and make yourself at home with the whole family.