The Bradenton Beach Historic City Pier extends into the waters off the south end of Anna Maria Island at the foot of Bridge Street, the town's main commercial strip. Fishing is popular from the pier at all hours, and pelicans and brown pelicans work the water below. The views from the end of the pier — back across to the island's beach cottages, and out to the Gulf — are among the best on the island.
Bridge Street itself, running from the pier back through the centre of Bradenton Beach, is lined with small restaurants, bars, and shops that have a genuine local character. In the evenings, particularly on weekends, it comes alive with live music and the kind of unhurried sociability that the island does well. The area also has easy kayak launch points for exploring the mangrove channels on the bay side.