Seven-mile Gulf Coast barrier island with low-rise beach towns, quiet streets, and old-Florida character.
Anna Maria Island is a seven-mile barrier island off the coast of Manatee County, just south of the mouth of Tampa Bay. It has managed to resist the high-rise development that dominates much of the Florida Gulf coast, and the result is a low-key, old-Florida atmosphere of beach cottages, small restaurants, and quiet streets.
The island has three small communities: Anna Maria at the north end (the quietest, with Bean Point — the wild, car-free northern tip — as its best-kept secret), Holmes Beach in the middle (the most commercial), and Bradenton Beach at the south end, where the Historic City Pier marks the spot where the original 1921 bridge first connected the island to the mainland.
The beaches are wide, white-sand, and uncrowded by Florida standards. The water is calm and warm. Kayaking through the mangrove channels on the bay side is excellent for spotting manatees, dolphins, and wading birds. The island is small enough to explore entirely by bicycle. For local history, the Anna Maria Island Historical Society tells the story of the island's eccentric origins through a cottage that literally fell into Tampa Bay and was rescued.
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Eating Out
The island's restaurants lean toward seafood and casual Florida cooking, with a few more ambitious kitchens in Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. Fresh grouper, snapper, and stone crab are the things to order when in season. Many restaurants have outdoor seating facing the water, and the pace is relaxed — nobody is rushing you to turn the table.
The Bridge Street strip in Bradenton Beach has the highest concentration of places to eat and drink in one place. In Holmes Beach, the stretch of Gulf Drive has several well-regarded spots. Reservations are advisable at the more popular places, especially on weekends and during winter season (December through April), when snowbirds fill the island.
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Getting There
Anna Maria Island is connected to the mainland by two bridges: the Manatee Avenue Bridge at the north end and the Cortez Bridge at the south end. Both are roughly 10–15 minutes from the US 41 corridor in Bradenton. The nearest commercial airport is Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), about 25 minutes by car. Tampa International Airport (TPA) is about an hour away and serves far more routes.
There is no public transport directly to the island. A car is essentially required, and parking in season (December through April, plus summer weekends) requires patience — the island is small and the car parks fill up. Many visitors rent bicycles as their primary transport once on the island, which is an excellent strategy: the island is flat, the distances are short, and cycling keeps you out of the parking headaches entirely.
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When to Go
The winter season (December through April) is the peak period: warm, dry weather, calm Gulf waters, and the steady influx of snowbirds from the northern US and Canada. Prices are highest and accommodation books up well in advance. This is the best time for beach-going and wildlife watching, with manatees at their most concentrated in the warmer bay waters.
Summer (June through August) is hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms almost daily. Crowds thin significantly and prices drop. The water is warm enough for comfortable swimming and the shelling is excellent after storms. Hurricane season runs from June through November, with September and October the riskiest months — always check forecasts if visiting in the fall.
Spring (March through May, after Easter) offers a sweet spot: crowds dropping from peak, warm weather, and still-pleasant Gulf conditions. Many long-time visitors consider May the best month on the island.
