Anna Maria Island - Florida beach paradise

Anna Maria Island is located 40 miles south of Tampa and seven miles west of Bradenton. Stretching 7.5 Miles from Tampa Bay, Anna Maria Island is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico, Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay. It's accessed by two bridges from the mainland and is the northernmost of a string of barrier islands that stretch south to the Florida Keys

The unhurried tropical living will leave you relaxed and relieved - you will not regret spending your Vacation on Anna Maria Island.

While doing nothing is a popular pastime on the Island, there's still plenty to do! Activities on Anna Maria Island are abundant; you will not run out of things to do while you're here. Parasailing is a fun way to get a unique look at the island, and there are public tennis courts in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach. If golf is your game, Anna Maria Island is just a short drive to more than 45 championship courses.

Several art galleries are located on Anna Maria Island featuring local artists. Shopping is assorted, with historic, souvenir jewelry and fashion stores in each of the three cities, and dining out can be anything from Southern Florida Seafood to Oriental.

Here are some facts about Anna Maria Island and the three cities that reside here; Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach:

- Population of Anna Maria Island is appx. 8500, the largest city is Holmes Beach with a population of 4978, followed by Anna Maria City with 1815 and lastly Bradenton Beach with 1654 people.
- There is a FREE Trolley on Anna Maria Island that picks up and stops all over, including Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria Island.
- Key Royale is the nearest Island to Anna Maria Island.
- Anna Maria Island has three fishing piers; Rod and Reel, Bradenton Beach City Pier and Anna Maria City PierAnna Maria Island in 1948 featuring Esther Williams, Peter Lawford, Ricardo Montalban, Jimmy Durante, Cyd Charisse, and Xavier Cugat
- The Perfect Storm, a much more popular movie featuring George Clooney, was also filmed on Anna Maria Island in 2000.
- The First permanent resident of Anna Maria Island was George Emerson Beach in 1892
- Bradenton & Florida's Gulf Islands of Anna Maria and Longboat Key offer more than 5000 lodging rooms including beachfront, boutique hotels, luxury hotel/condominiums, Superior Small Lodging properties, economically priced hotels, scenic camp and park sites.

The Difference with is that the Island is free from condo towers, fast food chains, amusement parks, mega resorts and other things are used to with popular vacation destinations. There's just one Franchise on the Island, Subway - and no buildings taller than three stories. You can rent a vacation home with great views and enjoy your holiday in paradise for a priceAnna Maria Island that isn't hard on the wallet.

Bradenton Beach is on the Southern end of Anna Maria Island and home to one of the most popular beaches here, Coquina Beach. The City Pier was recently restored and is welcome to anybody who would like to fish from it. There are quite a few resorts on Bradenton Beach, and famous Bridge Street shopping. Along the Gulf Side of Bradenton Beach you can enjoy a variety of different restaurants and view the beautiful Gulf of Mexico Sunsets.

Anna Maria City is located on the Northern end of Anna Maria Island and is mostly remembered for the historic Anna Maria City Pier. The Pier goes out into Tampa Bay and many of the locals gather here to fish or catch up. Beach front restaurants in Anna Maria City are a popular place for wedding ceremonies - the sunsets are unreal. The beaches here are beautiful, but can have limited parking.

Holmes Beach is right in the middle, and home to the Manatee County Beach. There's plenty of parking and a great restaurant right on the beach; another favorite for sunsets. There are several shopping plazas in Holmes Beach, and a few different options for renting bikes, kayaks and more. The center of Holmes Beach has several banks and other commercial outlets and the only high rises on the island.

Many visitors to Anna Maria Island will vouch for their vacation spot. The Island is home to many people who have been coming here for years. Lots of families own vacation spots that they call their Second Home and have been passing them down through their families for years. Come visit Anna Maria Island and see if it's somewhere you could call home.

Anna Maria Island is a beautiful spot located in Florida off the Gulf of Mexico. Each year thousands of people visit this small paradise to relax, rejuvenated and experience life with a little bit of peace and quiet.


Vacation Rentals on Anna Maria Island are easy to find, and assorted - much like the Island itself. There's plenty to do for people with all types of interests, and enough beaches on the Island to keep you busy the entire time you're here.

Here are some favorite things to do while visiting Anna Maria Island :

Enjoy Florida's sunset at it's best, visible from many of the beaches and restaurants located on Anna Maria Island

• Go to the Mote Aquarium, located just south of Longboat Key


• Bird watch. There are many local birds on the shores of Anna Maria Island


• Take a day-trip to St. Petersburg Harbor, and retire for the night enjoying a glass of wine at sunset.


• Taste the natural foods of Florida, seafood and fresh fruits are abundant on this little piece of paradise.


• Tour the Island with the free Trolley Service available to anyone on the Island.


• Rent a Bicycle from FunAndMoreRentals.com and spend the day cruising around the beaches and the towns.
  
  What do you like to do on Anna Maria Island or Longboat Key?
  
  

Florida and surrounding area are great spots to hang out and have fun. Anna Maria Island is a small gem in a big state - but the fun you have on this Barrier Island will be HUGE.

Step foot on Anna Maria Island - the warm air and breath taking views will invite you to start your Vacation on the Gulf of Mexico. An activity loved by locals and visitors is fishing - and you can do this directly from the Anna Maria City pier while enjoying cold drinks and long stories.

Ease out of morning by eating your lunch picnic-style on one of Anna Maria Island's many beaches, or head back to your Anna Maria Island Vacation Rental with your newly caught food and enjoy the fresh seafood that is abundant in Florida's warm waters.

Why not spend the rest of your day doing what Anna Maria Islanders do? Hop on your bicycle and start taking in the sights and views with your closest friends or family. Stop for coffee at one of our local cafes or restaurants. You can also spend the afternoon at the Anna Maria Island Museum or head to Longboat Key for an afternoon of theater.

Another favorite is Bean Point, shared by visitors and locals for years - and comparable to the warm beaches of Hawaii. This Beautiful Beach with Sugar soft sand will bring you back time and time again - and is a GREAT location to watch Anna Maria Island's infamous sunset.

When the night starts to fall on Anna Maria Island, the fun is just beginning. After a long day of enjoyment you might want to settle down to a nice campfire, delicious snacks and a glass or two of local Florida wine.

You could also go to your favorite beach spot to enjoy a romantic sunset with the ones you care about most.

Whatever you do on Anna Maria Island, remember, you're on Vacation. Enjoy your time here and you'll quickly learn why Anna Maria Island is becoming Florida's number one wedding and travel destination.