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33 Best Things to Do on Anna Maria Island | Travel With A Plan

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Skip to contentThis post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy.Are you looking for a list of the best things to do on Anna Maria Island?In this article, we highlight the best family-friendly activities on Anna Maria Island, as well as show you the many reasons that this United States vacation destination is the ultimate beach-lovers paradise.Whether you’re looking to relax on the beach, go fishing, watch dolphins, or dine on delicious seafood, there are literally so many fun things to do on Anna Maria Island.Look no farther for the&nbsp;33 best things to do on Anna Maria Island to find your piece of paradise!This post may contain affiliate links, which means that we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link.&nbsp;For more info, see disclosure.Table of ContentsAnna Maria Island Florida is a barrier island located on the southwest coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico.Anna Maria’s 7-mile long coastline is home to three laid-back, beachy communities: the City of Anna Maria (to the north), City of Holmes Beach (in the center), and Bradenton Beach City (home of Beach Bridge Street Pier/Bradenton Beach City Pier, to the south).All three cities provide access to spectacular beaches, accommodations, and amazing outdoor activities that offer a friendly Old Florida feel.Regardless of whether you’re dining and drinking on the shore or dipping your toes into the aquamarine waters of the Gulf of Mexico, an Anna Maria Island vacation will have you feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and refreshed.Additional planning tip: Take notes on our favorite Anna Maria Island things to do for families year-round, or visit here to find things to do on Anna Maria Island today!As the absolute best free things to do on Anna Maria Island…head to the beach!After all, there are a total of 6 pristine beaches on Anna Maria Island to choose from.Though each beach on Anna Maria Island is unique in its own way, they all offer the same picturesque aquamarine-colored water, as well as luscious, pure-white sand that is always cool to the touch. &nbsp;You can’t go wrong in choosing to go to either of these beaches, though your choice(s) may come down to their proximity to your overnight accommodations or where you are able to find parking.Here’s a quick snapshot of each:Additional planning tip:&nbsp;Though parking at the beaches is free, it can be hard to get a spot, especially on the weekends or holidays.Plan to arrive at the beaches early in the morning, or later in the afternoon (after 3:00 PM) when people are beginning to leave.Don’t forget to bring along these&nbsp;must-have beach essentials&nbsp;that will maximize your fun and safety while on the beach!Similar to when visiting Siesta Key and other small beachside communities, one of the best things to do on Anna Maria is to rent bikes!Being that vacationing on the island is all about getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, bike rentals allow you to never have to start your car engine once you’re settled in.In fact, there’s no easier way to get around Anna Maria Island and avoid the stress of having to find a parking spot than to bike to and from all of your favorite spots.Along with being a convenient mode of transportation, biking is a fun entertainment option too!Popular Anna Maria bike rental companies such as Beach Bums, AMI Beach Fun Rentals, and Fun and More Rentals offer free delivery of their bikes, rentals for one or multiple days, and complimentary helmets and locks.Hands-down one of the best Anna Maria Island activities is to take a guided dolphin tour offered by our favorite, The Salty Dolphin!Anna Maria Island is known for its large population of bottlenose dolphins that love to frolic and play in their local waters.The best part about taking a guided dolphin cruise is that your captain will know just where to find them!For both adults and kids alike, there’s something so special about seeing dolphins in their natural habitat swimming and playing alongside one another.For only $35/person, we loved getting to spend 1.5 hours learning about the local wildlife, watching seabirds, searching for manatees, and being treated to the beauty and splendor of Anna Maria Island’s resident dolphins.This is an experience you don’t want to miss!Every now and again, you taste something so delicious that your taste buds will never let you forget how great it was.In comes what you will experience when customizing your own freshly-made cake donut at The Donut Experiment!This ultra-adorable hang-out located on Pine Avenue is filled with friendly staff just waiting to assist you at the donut bar and to serve you up a cup of piping hot coffee or other specialty drink.After the donuts are cooked right in front of you, they’re dipped and dunked into the icing, toppings, and drizzle of your choice making for a completely fun and unique experience.Biting into these fresh and delicious donuts tops our list of things to do in Anna Maria Island, FL!Additional planning tip: If there’s a line to order, hold tight. These melt-in-your-mouth donuts are well worth the wait. Plus, for only $1.35 per donut and $13.75 per dozen, they make for the perfect, affordable snack!Our favorite restaurant on Anna Maria Island is Anna Maria Oyster Bar, otherwise known as ‘AMOB’.Along with its prime location on the Bradenton Beach Pier, AMOB has a fun and family-friendly atmosphere, amazing staff, and a food and drink menu that is off the charts (be sure to try the White Sandy Beaches or Toasted Monkey cocktail)!You can’t go wrong in ordering their Calamari, Tuna Stack, or Jumbo Chicken Wings as an appetizer followed up with perfectly cooked seafood, Gulf-fresh fish, oysters, steaks &amp; chicken, hearty soups, or pasta.For a chance to dine right on the ocean and eat amazingly fresh food in a great atmosphere, we definitely count a visit to Anna Maria Oyster Bar as one of the best things to do on Anna Maria Island!Additional planning tip: There is limited parking directly in front of the restaurant. Simply pull up to the hostess stand and a staff member in a golf cart will assist you in finding their nearby available (free) parking.Mini-golf is definitely one of the best family things to do on Anna Maria Island!In fact, located just a short walk from Anna Maria Oyster Bar, you can get in a round of mini-golf at The Fish Hole located on Bridge Street.This 18-hole miniature golf course is surrounded by tropical plants and shade trees and features a fun, nautical décor that fits in with the vibe of Anna Maria Island.Though the course itself is not challenging it is both affordable ($9.49 per person) and well-maintained, as well as provides the perfect opportunity to have some family fun.Additional planning tip: Bring along some change! There is a fish food dispenser located next to the gigantic 3,000 Koi pond found at the course.Our kids loved seeing and feeding the dozens of resident Koi here!*Walk and go mini-golfing after dining at AMOB and you won’t have to find a new parking spot.We mention utilizing free transportation as one of the best things to do on Anna Maria Island for its convenience and awesomeness.With a few differences, both the Anna Maria Island Trolley and Anna Maria Monkey Bus offer free rides and stops up and down the island to avoid the hassle of driving, traffic, and parking.The Island Trolley operates 7 days a week on a fixed route and starts service at 6 AM. It runs at 20-minute intervals until 9 PM, then every 30-minutes until 10:30 PM. Trolley stops can be found every 2 – 4 blocks.Island Beach Monkeys, “The Monkey Bus”, on the other hand, travels all over Anna Maria Island by request only. You can call 941-565-6542 to schedule a ride anywhere on the island (and beyond) from 12 AM to 3 AM, 7 days a week.“Rides for Tips” is their slogan as there is no official charge for this service.Additional planning tip: For the Island Trolley, look for teal-colored, open-air trolleys. Monkey Buses are brightly colored, covered minibusses.Whether you’re an avid fisherman looking to book a deep-sea adventure or simply want to test your luck and throw in a line from shore, Anna Maria Island offers great fishing opportunities.First off, Anna Maria Island is home to several companies that offer chartered fishing trips where the bait, tackle, rods, boat, and a guide are all provided at a cost.Many people rank these experiences as some of the best money they’ve ever spent fishing, however.For a land-based experience, both the Rod and Reel Pier and the City Pier, along with Bradenton Beach Pier are excellent spots to fish from. At all three of these places, you can rent rods and purchase bait for low hourly rates.At Rode and Reel Pier, for instance, we paid $2.00/person to fish, $2.00/hour for pole rental, and $3.50 for a bag of frozen shrimp bait. We excitedly caught snook and snapper.All in all, fishing from the piers is truly one of our favorite things to do on Anna Maria Island for the endless smiles that it provides.Additional planning tip: Those in your group who are 16 years or older will need to purchase a local license to fish. If fishing from a pier as a non-Florida resident, however, you do not need a license are you are covered by the pier’s license.There aren’t many things to do on Anna Maria Island when it rains, so your best bet may be shopping!Anna Maria Island is home to an abundance of dessert shops, jewelry stores, boutiques, clothing stores, art galleries, and other specialty gift shops.The hand-made goods and boutique items are ones that you simply won’t find elsewhere!Both Pine Avenue (near Anna Maria City Pier, Bayfront Park, and the Rod and Reel Pier) and Historic Bridge Street (in Bradenton Beach) are home to unique and creative shops that are some of the most popular and fun places to visit on Anna Maria Island.Here’s a list of our favorite shops that you won’t want to miss:The Sandbar is another hugely popular restaurant and tops most people’s list as one of the most romantic things to do in Anna Maria Island.Located on the north end of the island, the Sandbar is situated on the sandy shoreline of the Gulf, meaning that it is no joke that you literally ‘dine with your toes in the sand’.Not only does The Sandbar offer an epic dining experience in an unbeatable location, but it is also the perfect spot to watch an iconic Anna Maria sunset.There is nothing quite as breathtaking as watching the gigantic sun sink below the horizon over the Gulf of Mexico (with unobstructed views).This is something you definitely need to do each and every night when visiting here.Additional planning tip: Expect long waits to be seated at The Sandbar, especially during peak tourist seasons. Be aware that the food is just as great as the view!Other great restaurants on Anna Maria Island include:When talking about fun things to do at Anna Maria Island, it is necessary to mention its close proximity to so many other amazing coastal and local communities.The best day trips from Anna Maria Island include the fishing village of Cortez, Longboat Key, Bradenton, Sarasota, and Siesta Key.For some ideas on things to do near Anna Maria Island, check out both our&nbsp;favorite things to do in Sarasota&nbsp;and the absolute best things to do in Siesta Key, as these are two of our other favorite family vacation spots.Needing a theme park fix?Travel 2 hours and 30 minutes northeast and you’ll find plenty of&nbsp;things to do in Orlando including Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and Legoland.In short, you will definitely not be at a loss of finding things to do when visiting Anna Maria Island and the surrounding area!Where is Anna Maria Island? Anna Maria Island is located southwest of Tampa, Florida. It is a barrier island bounded west by the Gulf of Mexico. Anna Maria Island is located close to the cities of both Bradenton and Sarasota. What is so special about Anna Maria Island? Anna Maria Island is a low-key place. There are amazing vacation rentals, beautiful beaches, unique seaside dining venues, local art, and plenty of outdoor activities. In other words, there is truly something for everyone here! What is the best time to visit Anna Maria Island? The best months to visit Anna Maria Island are from January through March, and then again in October. The humidity is much lower than during the summer months and is it usually not as busy either. Is Anna Maria Island expensive? Because there are no fast-food chains or high-rise hotel chains, you’ll spend more on food and lodging in Anna Maria Island. Also, most accommodations here have ocean or beachfront views making prices higher than when staying inland. What are some Anna Maria Island things to do at night? From dive bars (Drift-In), sports bars (Slim’s Place), to stylish dockside bars (Bridge Tender Inn), and live music on the weekends (Cortez Kitchen), there are several fun things to do on Anna Maria Island at night. I wouldn’t consider it to have a huge party atmosphere, however. Just laid-back fun.Here’s a recap, plus some additional Anna Maria Island things to do that the entire family will love!This list is a recap of all of the fun things to do on Anna Maria Island that are listed above – with a few additional Anna Maria Island activities that we’ve discovered on subsequent visits!Relax at Bean PointPicnic and swim at Bayfront ParkSpend the day at Holmes BeachHang out at Manatee Public BeachGo to Bradenton BeachGo shell picking at Coquina BeachBrowse the Beach Market at Coquina BeachRent bikes from Beach Bums and bike the islandGo on a dolphin cruise with The Salty DolphinBuild your own donut at The Donut ExperimentTake photos from the Bradenton Beach PierDine with a view at Anna Maria Oyster BarGo mini-golfing at The Fish HoldTake the free Island TrolleyRide the Monkey BusGo fishing (and rent equipment) from Rod and Reel PierGo shopping on Pine AvenueGo shopping on Historic Bridge StreetDine and watch the sunset at The Sandbar restaurantVisit nearby towns like Bradenton, Sarasota, and Siesta KeyGet ice cream at Two Scoops or Small Town CreameryThe next night, get ice cream at Dips (then compare the two)Take a guided kayak tour with Happy Paddler Kayak ToursVisit the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum run by the Island Historical Society: Located on Pine Avenue; get a glimpse of Florida’s history and learn about the rich history of the island&nbsp;; take a photo at the Anna Maria City Jail, one of the most photographed places on the island.Visit the Anna Maria Historic Green Village: Also located on Pine Avenue; an art gallery, jewelry and gift shop, village bakery and outfitter shop that are all run on natural energy.Play on the playground at Coquina Bayside ParkGo parasailing with Anna Maria Island ParasailingRent a pontoon through H2O WatersportsTake Sailing Lessons on sunfish sailboats from Bimini Bay SailingGet coffee or a fresh smoothie from Ginny and Jane E’s CafeHave barbecue at the SmoqehouseRent a kayak from Happy PaddlerRent a golf cart from Anna Maria Golf Carts*All photos courtesy of VisitSarasota.com unless otherwise noted.Thanks for reading! What are some of your favorite things to do in Anna Maria Island FL? Our fellow travel readers would love to know!Jen*Before leaving, be sure to check our&nbsp;Travel Resources Page&nbsp;to find exclusive travel discounts and to book hotels, rental cars, and guided tours.*Sounds like the perfect family getaway for a week! Especially for us Canadians dying to head south right now.ReplyBeen dying to visit this area – you know I am always in Naples and SWFL – but where does one stay on AMI? Up in Sarasota? are there only beach house rentals and not hotels? I need to explore this area – I mean beach and make your own donuts, Im sold!ReplyI have been wanting to get to Anna Maria Island for some time now! We spend a lot of time on 30A in the panhandle and it seems to have a very similar vibe! Saving this post for our trip!ReplyWhat a neat little island! How have I not heard of this; it looks absolutely amazing. Like a secret gem! Thank you for sharing! Definitely adding this to my list 🙂ReplyWe’ve had Anna Maria island on our list for a long time!! I’m all about the dolphin tour…and we can’t pass up a good donut!!😆ReplyMy kids would love the build-your-own-donut place! And, I would love staring at those gorgeous water views!ReplyWhy hadn’t I ever heard of Ana Maria Island before?! It looks so beautiful!ReplyWe love Anna Maria island and it is such a great place to visit for families. We haven’t tried the dolphin tour yet, but it is such a great idea to add to our list for the next visit!ReplyI help families plan fun &amp; fulfilling family vacations by sharing our exact itineraries and “best things to do” lists to popular US vacation spots. Take the stress out of planning a family vacation by using our detailed destination guides and ultra-convenient packing lists to help you travel better.Meet JenFree PrintableFree packing list printable when you subscribe for the latest travel updates!Find your next vacation destination!Find out where we’re traveling now!You don’t have to wait until your kids are more grown up or you have a ton of money saved to start traveling.With a little planning and a lot of love, lifelong family vacation memories can be made at all ages, stages – and places both near and far.Free packing list printable when you subscribe for the latest travel updates!©2023, Travel With A Plan. 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Skip to contentThis post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy.Are you looking for a list of the best things to do on Anna Maria Island?In this article, we highlight the best family-friendly activities on Anna Maria Island, as well as show you the many reasons that this United States vacation destination is the ultimate beach-lovers paradise.Whether you’re looking to relax on the beach, go fishing, watch dolphins, or dine on delicious seafood, there are literally so many fun things to do on Anna Maria Island.Look no farther for the&nbsp;33 best things to do on Anna Maria...

33 Best Things to Do on Anna Maria Island | Travel With A Plan

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