Anna Maria Island, Florida
Our Anna Maria Island, Florida Vacation began on April 13, 2026 when we flew out of Salt Lake City to Tampa Airport, Florida.
This was the beginning of our 6-Day Anna Maria Island Adventure.
Overview
Anna Maria Island offers pristine white-sand beaches, stunning sunsets, and a relaxed, Old Florida charm. Top must-see spots include the secluded Bean Point, the bustling Bridge Street with its historic pier, the scenic Coquina Beach, and Pine Avenue for local shopping and dining.
Top Attractions:
- Bean Point: Located at the northern tip, this is considered the island's most beautiful and secluded beach where the gulf meets the bay.
- Coquina Beach (Bradenton Beach): Famous for its long stretch of white sand, pine trees, and calm, clear waters.
- Bridge Street: Located in Bradenton Beach, this area is packed with restaurants, shops, live music, and a historic pier, providing a hub for entertainment.
- Pine Avenue: Known as the "heart" of Anna Maria City, this street offers boutique shopping, local art, and restaurants.
- Anna Maria Island Historical Museum: A free, quaint museum offering insights into the island's history.
- City Pier & Bayfront Park: Great for fishing, viewing Tampa Bay, and relaxing in green spaces.
Additional Activities:
- The best burger in Anna Maria Island, look no further than Skinny's! After, do some shopping at The Surf Shop across the street.
- Sunset Viewing: Any spot on the West side of the island is perfect to watch the sunset over the Gulf.
- Dolphin & Eco Tours: Take a boat tour or kayak through mangrove tunnels to see dolphins, manatees, and birds.
- Free Trolley: Ride the trolley to easily get around the entire seven-mile island.
- Sand Dollar Painting: Visit The Shiny Fish Emporium to paint a souvenir sand dollar.
- Fishing: Enjoy fishing off the Bradenton Beach or Anna Maria City piers.
Best Beaches for Families:
- If you're planning your next winter beach vacation to this stunning Gulf Coast Island, there are some great alternatives to Bean Point where you can confidently get in the water. Manatee Public Beach and Coquina Beach both have lifeguards on duty year-round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended watch hours to 7 p.m. during the summer (from Memorial Day to Labor Day). Both beaches also offer family-friendly amenities, like picnic tables, water fountains, grills, and shower stations. Plus, Manatee Public Beach has a playground for little ones.
- Manatee Public Beach: Located in Holmes Beach, this spot is ideal for families, offering a restaurant, playground, lifeguards, and amenities.
- Bayfront Park: Offers calm, shallow waters and shady areas.
- The Sandbar. You not only get some of the best food in town, you get a great view of the ocean while you eat right on the beach.
- The best beaches for shelling on Anna Maria Island are Bean Point for variety, Coquina Beach for abundance, and Bayfront Park for larger shells. Key times are early morning during low tide.
* Bean Point (North End): Considered a top spot due to converging currents, often yielding large conch shells and a wide variety of species.
* Coquina Beach (South End): Known for being a, family-friendly, mile-long stretch with many shells, particularly good for finding smaller coquina shells.
- Top shell-hunting beaches on the island:
* Manatee Public Beach: A local favorite, great for shell collecting.
* Anna Maria City Beach: Secluded and full of unbroken shells.
* Bayfront Park: Ideal for larger shells, especially at low tide.
* Bean Point: A hidden gem with unique finds, including conch shells.
* Coquina Public Beach: Great for both seashells and shark teeth.
Free Trolley Service
The Anna Maria Island Trolley is a free service running the length of the 7-mile barrier island from Coquina Beach (south) to Anna Maria City Pier (north). Operating daily from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at 20-minute intervals, it connects key areas including Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, and Pine Avenue, with major stops at Publix and Manatee Beach.
Do's & Don'ts
Do's
- Hit both ends of the island. Pine Street on the north end and Bridge Street on the south end are where you'll find lots of places to eat, drink and shop. The free trolley makes this a breeze.
- Ask friends who've visited the island (like me!) for recommendations. That's how we found the restaurants we liked the best, like.
- Eat at The Sandbar Restaurant. We liked our first meal so much that we went back a few days later. Get there early if you want to sit on the patio at sunset. Five stars for the shrimp stuffed with crab!
- Eat at the Gulf Drive Cafe & the Kokonut Hut. We got a table outside the bar from which we could watch the sun setting on the beach and listen to the live reggae music. Get a drink to share. Five stars for the shrimp tacos.
- Eat at the Bridge Tender Inn Restaurant. It's just off the Bridge Street Pier with a view of the water. Great food and reasonable prices. Five stars for the Baja Mahi Tacos. Plus, for my husband who's not a big seafood fan, they had a great hot dog.
- Go beach hopping! There are lots of choices, including Bean Point, Holmes, Anna Maria, Manatee, Bradenton and Coquina. It's easy to walk from one to the next. If you like a good long walk, take the trolley to one end of the island, walk to the other, then take the trolley back to where you're staying.
- Check out the shops! The Bridge Street Bazaar was our favorite for traditional souvenirs like t-shirts, hats and island decor. I found some wonderful bracelets and Christmas ornaments at The Island Cabana on Pine Avenue, and a beach bag decorated with sea turtles in the gift shop at the Gulf Drive Cafe. The Sandbar also has a nice gift shop, where I found bi-focal sunglasses right after mine broke!
Don'ts
 Don't get a rental car without some research. There are shuttles available from the Tampa International Airport. Once you're on the island, the free trolley will take you anywhere.
- Don't overpack! This is really hard for me, but I'm trying to get better about it. You'll need a pair of sandals and a pair of walking shoes. We visited in mid-February, and the jeans, sweater, rain jacket, capris and socks stayed in the suitcase. (My walking shoes are comfy without socks.) For a five-day stay, I just needed a swimsuit, a pair of shorts, two skorts, a swimsuit cover, a few t-shirts and tank tops. Of course, you'll want to check the forecast before your visit.
- Don't forget the sunscreen. Use it often and wear a hat.
- Don't forget to look up occasionally while you're walking on the beach. We were watching dolphins play from our balcony while others were walking with heads down, probably looking for shells. They missed out on the show!
- Don't accept the first price you find for lodging. I found ours on VRBO, but it was actually cheaper on Expedia.
DANGERS!
- Are there alligators on Anna Maria Island?
- Swimming is now banned at Bean Point Beach. Web Site
- Three people have died in drowning incidents at Bean Point Beach on Anna Maria Island in the last month.
- The city is considering a permanent ban on swimming in the dangerous area.
- Bean Point is hazardous due to the merging of Tampa Bay and the Gulf, along with a steep dropoff.
- Every year tourists flock to Anna Maria Island, a popular small-town Gulf Coast destination with white sand beaches and a stunning clear emerald sea. But "no swim zone" signs have been posted around Bean Point Beach on the island and the city will be considering banning swimming there altogether after three people drowned in the area within the last month.
- Anna Maria Island, Florida, is generally considered a safe, tourist-friendly destination with low violent crime rates. The majority of reported incidents are "crimes of opportunity," such as theft from unlocked cars or beach rentals, making it important for visitors to secure their belongings. Violent crimes are rare, though burglaries and larceny occur, especially with high tourism.
- Key Crime and Safety Information:
* Crime Type: The majority of crimes are thefts (larceny) and property crimes rather than violent offenses.
* 2023 Statistics (Anna Maria): According to the AMI Sun, there were zero homicides, manslaughter cases, or rapes in 2023, with a 25% decrease in overall Group A offenses compared to 2022.
* Safety Tips: Local law enforcement encourages tourists to lock vehicles, secure vacation rentals, and avoid bringing valuables to the beach.
* Nature Safety: Beyond crime, visitors are warned of dangerous rip currents, particularly around Bean Point
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