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.