Anna Maria Island For Families Guide – Everything You Need To Know

This Anna Maria Island For Families Guide is filled with everything you need to know if you are booking a family vacation to the Island. Anna Maria Island is seven miles of paradise filled with white sandy beaches, shopping, restaurants, history, and plenty of things to do for the whole family. If you have ever thought about planning a family vacation to Anna Maria Island, let me reassure you, you will not regret it!

❤️A special thank you to some of the companies listed in this guide for providing our family with either complimentary tickets or a discount on our adventure, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own. ❤️

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Anna Maria Island For Families Guide

Our family has visited Anna Maria Island many times and people always ask why we keep going back to the same area. It’s simple, Anna Maria Island to me is the true “old Florida.” You won’t find drive through chain restaurants, or even high rise hotels, thanks to a ban in the 1970’s that limits how tall a building can be. There are family-owned businesses around every corner. It still has that throwback feel of what it was like when everyone wanted to vacation on Anna Maria Island. Of course, you will find the big vacation homes, it is Florida after all, but most of the island is filled with quaint cottages painted in vibrant tropical colors.

How To Get There

Anna Maria Island is in southwest Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico. It is conveniently located near the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. However, make sure you do your research first because sometimes our family has found much cheaper flights flying into the Tampa International Airport.

Our family usually rents a van for the duration of our trip, just in case we wanted to take some day trips off the island. But if you are planning on renting a golf cart while on the island, you can get a taxi from any surrounding airport. Click here to find the best car rental rates! 

How To Get Around On Anna Maria Island For Families

If you choose to for go a rental vehicle, there are plenty of options for you once you arrive on the Island. One option, and probably my children’s favorite, is the free trolley. The Anna Maria Island trolley runs daily from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and offers both air conditioned and open air seating. You can hop on at any convenient stop on the island where the trolley picks up about every 20 minutes. It makes a continuous loop from the Anna Maria City Pier, on the north end, to Coquina Beach on the south end.

Another option, and a rather popular one on the island, is to rent a golf cart. Most rental companies offer both a gas and electric models that can seat four, six, or eight passengers. The speed limit on Anna Maria Island is 35 m.p.h. or less, so you don’t have to worry about getting run over. So whether you are headed to the beach, shopping, out to eat, or just going for a drive, a golf cart might be all your family needs to get around.

And last, but not least, is you can rent bicycles for the whole family. Anna Maria Island is very bike and walking friendly. There is even a scenic trail on the southern end of the island that is perfect for families. While there are plenty of businesses on Anna Maria Island that offer bike rentals, quite a few of the rental homes have bikes you can use during your stay also.

Where To Stay On Anna Maria Island For Families

There are three communities on Anna Maria Island; Anna Maria City (north end of the Island), Holmes Beach (middle of the Island), and Bradenton Beach (south end of the Island). Each area offers something different and I guarantee, we will help you find one that fits your family’s needs. No matter where you stay on the Island, you are never far from incredible, white sand beaches!

Check out these incredible VRBO Anna Maria Island Rentals!

Anna Maria City (North End Of The Island)

If you are looking for a low key, laid back family vacation that is seeped in history, then the north end of the Island is the place for you. George Emerson Bean was the first homesteader on the Island in 1893 and owned a large piece of property from North Point to Magnolia Avenue. This is what would later become known as Anna Maria City. Bean Point Beach, on the tip of the Island, is named after him.

George Emerson Bean had a son, George Wilhelm Bean, who was business partners with Charles M. Roser. Charles made his fortune selling the Fig Newton cookie recipe to the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) in 1910 for one million dollars. Some of that money was used to build the Island’s first streets, sidewalks, vacation cottages, water system, and even a dock for steamships at the end of Pine Avenue, now known as the Anna Maria City Pier.

Pine Avenue

All along Pine Avenue, also known as “The Greenest Little Main Street in America”, you will find tons of shops, restaurants, businesses, and history. The Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum is a great place to stop and learn more about it the Island. It is filled with a ton of Island history both inside, and outside.

Anna Maria Island Historical Society

In the Historical Park, located next to the museum, is one of the original cottages that was built in 1920 on the end of the City Pier, Belle Haven. But in 1926, it fell into the bay and was pulled to the Island where it became a family cottage for over 50 years. Belle Haven was later moved to the Historical Park in 2001 to save it from being demolished, and it has been restored and furnished with heirlooms and antiques that give you a glimpse into what early island like was like.

Don’t get too rowdy during your visit, otherwise you might find yourself at the Anna Maria City jail. (Kidding!!) Originally, built in 1927 to hold people who had a little too much to drink at the local tavern-dance hall. The jail caught fire in the 1940’s leaving only the outer walls and it is now one of the most photographed spots on the Island. Don’t forget to stop by for your photo!

Roser Community Church

John Roser built the Roser Community Church in 1913, in memory of his late wife, Caroline. He wanted a place where Anna Maria Island residents, and visitors, could gather to worship. Well, gather they did! The congregation has grown so much over the years that they had to build a bigger sanctuary AND add a second worship service during the winter. The original sanctuary is open during the day if you wanted to take a peak inside. The stain glass windows are so amazing on a sunny day!

Anna Maria City Pier

At the Bay end of Pine Avenue, you will find the Anna Maria City Pier, built in 1911, to welcome visitors from the mainland long before any bridge was built. After sustaining significant damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017, it was rebuilt and is better than ever! At the end of the pier is a grill, bait shop, and incredible views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

There is a great beach right next to the pier where the water is shallow, and the waves are smaller due to it being on the Bay side. Our family spent a lot of time here and the kids had a blast wading in the water!

There is another pier, just north of Pine Avenue, called the Rod and Reel Pier. It’s a little more rustic than the Anna Maria City Pier but it is also home to the two-story Rod and Reel Pier restaurant. If you are looking for fresh seafood, served all day, you need to stop here! Our friends and family swear by it!

Last, but not least, make sure you stop by the Anna Maria Island Farmer’s Market on Tuesdays at the City Pier Park (Pine & S. Bay). It is open from 8:30am-2pm and it is a popular place, so I suggest getting there early.

Click here for some family-friendly VRBO Anna Maria Island Rentals located on the north end of the Island.

Holmes Beach (Middle Of The Island)

When you arrive on the island, via Manatee Avenue, you will find yourself in Holmes Beach, one of two more densely populated areas of the Island. I like to call this area the “welcome center” of the Island, as it is located right in the center of the island. This is where you will find everything you need during your vacation; groceries, public beaches, and restaurants. What Holmes Beach lacks in history, it makes up for with incredible outdoor activities.

Beaches

Manatee Public Beach is the perfect family beach with all the amenities! It is open from sunrise to 10pm, and trust me, you might stay here that long! Manatee Public Beach is conveniently located in the center of the Island, and is one of the many stops on the free Island trolley. The facilities include ample parking, grills, picnic tables, changing cabanas, restrooms, showers, lifeguards, chair and umbrella rentals, a gift shop, volleyball, and a large play structure for kids. It is also where you will find the Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe, known for it’s amazing breakfast. It is located right on the beach so you don’t have to travel far to grab a bite to eat. If you decide to spend the whole day at Manatee Public Beach, make sure you stay for the sunsets. They are some of the best I’ve ever seen!

*Please note that if traveling with a pet, they are not permitted on the beaches of Anna Maria Island. There is, however, a dog park located on the island, Scentral Park Dog Park, on Flotilla Drive. There are separate play areas based on the size of your dog and plenty of shade for everyone to relax. The closest dog-friendly beach, Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue, is on the main road leading in and out of Anna Maria Island. This park is along side a busy road so make sure you keep an eye on your pet.

Water Activities

If you are looking to spend the day out on the water, I highly recommend a boat rental from Anna Maria Island Watersports. Our family went with the four hour pontoon boat rental and it was SO much fun! We visited secluded islands, one of which is a Florida State Park (Egmont Key), walked the beaches of Passage Key for shells, and stopped at a sandbar for a little swim. It was a great opportunity to experience Anna Maria Island, and everything that surrounds it, from the water.

After your boat rental there is still plenty of other family activities to enjoy in Holmes Beach, such as:

• fishing tours
• paddle boarding tours and rentals
• Segway tours
• scuba diving and snorkeling tours
• boat tours
• a charter boat to Egmont Key State Park
• and kayak rentals.

So there is no need to worry that you will run out of things to do on Anna Maria Island for families.

These VRBO Anna Maria Island Rentals will make your trip a memorable one!

Bradenton Beach (Southern End Of The Island)

If you love to be in the “middle of it all” while on vacation, than you will enjoy Bradenton Beach on the southern end of the Island. Here you will find miles of white sandy beaches, historic Bridge Street, and, yes, even a nature preserve. You will never run out of things to do on Anna Maria Island for families!

Bridge Street

A wooden bridge was built to connect Anna Maria Island to the Village of Cortez in 1922. Bridge Street became the “downtown” area of the Island. Today, there is a fishing pier where the wooden bridge once stood. We spent a lot of time sitting in the swings at the end of the pier, watching the Cortez draw bridge open and close.

Water Activities

While Bridge Street is where you will find a ton of shopping, restaurants, lodging, as well as a mini golf course, The Fish Hole, it is also a meeting point for a lot of outdoor activities. Our family has taken part in:

• a dolphin tour with Bradenton Beach Marina
• parasailing with Bradenton Beach Parasailing
• and a kayak tour with Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & Ecoventures.

We all had such an amazing time and I highly suggest booking them all! The dolphin tour is an unbelievable opportunity to experience dolphins in their natural environment. Parasailing was nothing like what we were expecting it would be! The bird’s-eye view of Anna Maria Island are totally worth it! And on the kayak tour was a family favorite activity. We were able to visit a secluded island with perfect views the Gulf of Mexico and Coquina Beach.

Beaches

There are two main beaches in Bradenton Beach; Cortez Beach, and Coquina Beach. While you can’t go wrong with either of them, our family prefers Coquina Beach. My husband grew up in Bradenton, and every Sunday his family would spend the day at Coquina Beach. The beach is open from sunrise to midnight, and the parking is free.

Coquina Beach

Just like most of Anna Maria Island, Coquina Beach also has that “old Florida” feel that we love. Towering pine trees line the shoreline, providing ample shade from the Florida sun. You can sit on the very end of the beach and watch the boats go in and out of the Longboat Pass. Bring some food to grill and enjoy under one of the pavilions, or you can grab a bite to eat at the Coquina Beach Cafe’.

Coquina Beach is the longest stretch of uninterrupted beach on Anna Maria Island so it is perfect for walking along the shore. The North end is more narrow which makes it less busy, and a great place to just sit and relax. The South end is wider and where a lot of the families hang out due to plenty of space to spread out and let the kids play. The South end is also the last stop on the (free) Anna Maria Island trolley loop. So no matter where you are on the island, you can hop on the trolley and spend the day at the beach. In my opinion, Coquina Beach is the perfect beach on Anna Maria Island for families.

Coquina Beach Amenities:

• Bike Racks
• Changing Cabanas
• Gift Shop
• Lifeguard Stations
• Scenic Trail (paved)
• Picnic Tables
• Playgrounds
• Restrooms
• Shower (outside)
• Trash & Recycle Receptacles
• Trolley Stop
• Volleyball (sand)
• Water Fountains

Coquina Beach is also where you can find the Coquina Beach Market. This local market is filled with art, crafts, jewelry, clothing, food, fruit and produce, and tons of other local items.

Nature Preserve

YES! There is also a nature preserve on Anna Maria Island called Leffis Key. If your family loves to hike trails and discover new places while on vacation, then this is the place for you!

Leffis Key Preserve is located on the southern tip of Anna Maria Island, across from Coquina Beach, and is open from 8am to sunset. This area used to be overgrown with non-native plants that basically killed the island’s habitat. But thanks to many dedicated people, the Preserve has been restored back to a healthy wetlands and a thriving estuary.

Make your way along the trails as you are surrounded by native plants, grasses, and wildlife. Twisting boardwalks turn around towering mangroves, where you are greeted with stunning views on viewing platforms over the open water. 

The highlight of our visit was a 26-foot-high hill in the middle where you can see 360-degree views of Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The views are just incredible! Leffis Key Preserve is another great location on Anna Maria Island for families.

Day Trip Ideas

While you could spend your entire vacation never leaving Anna Maria Island, you also are not far from some other major cities. Most of them are about 30-45 minutes away, but there is even some that are closer like Longboat Key and the historic fishing village of Cortez. If you are looking to get away for a day trip, here are a few family-friendly things to do in surrounding cities.

City of Bradenton

• Bishop Museum Of Science and Nature (It is a museum, planetarium, and aquarium all in one place!)
• River Walk
• Manatee Village Historical Park
• Robinson Preserve
• De Soto National Memorial Park
• Village of the Arts

Sarasota

• Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
• The Ringling Circus Museum
• The Ca’D’Zan
• The Bayfront Gardens
• Marie Shelby Botanical Gardens
• Myakka River State Park

Clearwater

• The Clearwater Marine Aquarium – It is home to Winter, the world-famous dolphin with a prosthetic-tailed, and star of the film, Dolphin Tale. She recently passed away however her legacy will continue for years to come!

Tampa

• ZooTampa at Lowry Park
• Florida Aquarium
• Museum of Science & Industry

Have A Wonderful Trip!

We hope our guide was helpful to you while planning a family trip to Anna Maria Island. If you have any other questions, please let us know in the comments below!