Things to do nearAnna Maria Island
Anna Maria Island is a laid-back barrier island on Florida's Gulf Coast, beloved for its sugar-white beaches, colorful Old Florida cottages, and calm turquoise waters.
Anna Maria Island sits at the northern tip of a chain of barrier islands along Florida's central Gulf Coast, separated from the mainland by Sarasota Bay and Tampa Bay. Unlike much of Florida's coastline, the island has resisted large-scale resort development, and local ordinances have kept building heights low for decades. The result is a streetscape of bungalows, art galleries, and family-run restaurants that feels closer to the Florida of the mid-twentieth century than to the condo towers visible elsewhere along the coast.
The beaches here rank among the finest on the Gulf. Bean Point at the island's northern tip offers a secluded stretch where the bay meets the Gulf, making it a rewarding spot for shelling and watching dolphins work the tide lines. Manatee Beach and Coquina Beach to the south provide amenities and easy access, while the water throughout remains notably clear and shallow, ideal for wading and swimming.
Pine Avenue in the city of Anna Maria serves as the island's social and cultural center, lined with boutiques, a historic pier, and casual eateries where the menu leans heavily on the day's catch. The Rod and Reel Pier at the avenue's end is a favorite with local anglers and offers a relaxed vantage point over the bay at any hour. Guided fishing charters, dolphin-watching tours, and paddleboard rentals are available throughout the island for those who want to spend time on the water rather than beside it.
Anna Maria Island earns its reputation not through spectacle but through simplicity, offering a genuinely unhurried stretch of the Florida Gulf Coast where the natural environment remains the main attraction.
7-day forecast
Chance of rainTips for visiting Anna Maria Island
Visit during the shoulder seasons of late April through May or October through November to enjoy warm water and fewer crowds than the peak winter and spring-break months.
Try the grouper sandwich at one of the waterfront seafood shacks along Pine Avenue, where locally caught fish is a staple of nearly every menu.
Bring a kayak or rent one locally to paddle through the mangrove tunnels along the island's bayside, where you may spot manatees and roseate spoonbills.
Arrive at Coquina Beach near sunrise to claim a spot and watch pelicans dive just beyond the shore break before the parking lots fill up.
Walk or bike the length of the island using the free trolley as a backup, since the Anna Maria Island Trolley runs daily and eliminates the need to move your car between stops.
Top tours & experiences near Anna Maria Island
Parasailing in Bradenton Beach & Anna Maria
Soar up to 800 feet for a thrilling 10-minute parasail flight with an expert crew over the Gulf of Mexico
Cruise Sarasota Bay on a Private Sunset Dolphin Tour
Private 2-hour sunset cruise to spot dolphins in Sarasota Bay
Explore Anna Maria Island by 6-Passenger Golf Cart
Rent a street-legal 6-passenger golf cart with delivery included
Cruise on a Private Dolphin Tour in Bradenton Beach
Take a private dolphin tour by boat for up to 12 guests
Explore Anna Maria Island on a Bayliner Deck Boat Rental
Rent a Bayliner deck boat for up to 8 and cruise Anna Maria Island
Ride an AMI Jetcar Rental in Bradenton
Drive a Corvette-inspired Jetcar on Palma Sola Bay with safety briefing included
2-Hour Private Dolphin Eco Tour in Sarasota Bay
Cruise Sarasota Bay on a private dolphin eco tour aboard the Anna Maria Explorer
Sunset Dolphin Cruise in Bradenton Beach
Cruise Anna Maria Sound at sunset on a 2-hour dolphin-watching boat ride
Captained Tritoon Cruise in Anna Maria Island
Cruise Anna Maria Island by captained tritoon with room for up to 6
Explore Anna Maria Island by 8-Passenger Golf Cart
Rent a street-legal 8-passenger golf cart with delivery included
2-Hour Dolphin Watching Cruise in Anna Maria Island
Cruise Anna Maria Island waterways and look for dolphins with drinks included
Sunset Kayak Tour in Anna Maria Island
Paddle into a Florida Gulf Coast sunset with a guided kayak tour
21' Tritoon Boat Rental in Sarasota
Cruise Sarasota’s intracoastal waterways on a 21' Bennington tritoon for up to 10
Take a Private Helicopter Tour in Sarasota
Fly a private helicopter tour from Sarasota for up to 3 passengers
Anna Maria Island 22' Pontoon Boat Rental
Cruise Anna Maria Island waters with a paddle board and kids kayak included
Anna Maria Island 24' Pontoon Boat Rental
Cruise Anna Maria Island waters with a paddleboard and kids kayak included
Anna Maria Island 21' Pontoon Rental
Cruise Anna Maria waters with shade, GPS, and room to relax
Anna Maria Island Tahoe T18 Deck Boat Rental
Cruise Anna Maria Island and relax at a sandbar
42' Boat Charter in Bradenton Beach
Customize a private Gulf Coast cruise with room to relax, swim, and explore
Anna Maria Island Hurricane 237 Boat Rental
Cruise, swim, and beach-hop around Anna Maria Island aboard a spacious deck boat
22' Tritoon Boat Rental in Holmes Beach
Cruise, swim, and explore with triple-pontoon stability and Mercury 150HP power
Beachcat 23' Boat Rental in Holmes Beach
Cruise Anna Maria Island waters on a stable 23-foot catamaran
Anna Maria Island Sunset Cruise
Explore Anna Maria Island and Tampa Bay with stops tailored to your group
Bradenton Beach Sunset Cruise
Cruise Florida's Gulf Coast on a private outing with flexible routes and onboard coolers
4.5-Hour Cruise in Bradenton Beach
Customize a Gulf Coast cruise with sandbar swims and waterfront stops