Activities
One thing you’ll never be on Anna Maria Island is bored! There are so many activities in the area, you could plan a full day and never cross over to the mainland! From fishing and wildlife watching to lazing on the best beach in the area, our Local Scene blog has the best of the best in things to do from Holmes Beach, Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and even farther south into Longboat Key and Sarasota!
Island Yoga Space
Beach yoga, SUP yoga, meditation classes, and more! Island Yoga Space in Anna Maria offers all of these classes taught by only the best instructors. Their upstairs studio is a great tranquil place to let your inner yogi out.
Island Yoga Space offers some great classes, workshops, and even retreats! Check out their websites schedule...
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Leave the Pets and Bikes at Home to Enjoy Perico Preserve
Similar to Neal Preserve, Perico Preserve in Bradenton also does NOT ALLOW pets. But, it is for a good reason! Perico Preserve isn’t just a preserve, it’s a bird sanctuary. Without the added noise of pets and bikes, the birds and wildlife here have the best chances of being successful in the breeding and rearing of their young.
Whi...
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Neal Preserve - Located in Bradenton, Just off Anna Maria Island
Unlike most of the preserves in Manatee County, Neal Preserve does NOT ALLOW pets, and does NOT ALLOW bicycles on the tails. This preserve is specifically designed to be enjoyed on foot. Which isn’t a bad thing. In fact it makes Neal Preserve quite peaceful.
Open daily from sunrise to sunset, Neal Preserve is 120 acres of beautiful...
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Explore Duette Preserve - The Largest Preserve in Manatee County
Located in the Northeastern part of the county is where you’ll find Duette Preserve. It is the largest preserve in all of Manatee County, and takes up 21,000 acres.
Here you will find native vegetation and wildlife, including the burrowing owl, snowy egret, white ibis, and gopher tortoise. Plus rare species like the Florida scrub j...
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Rye Preserve - Experience Old Florida in Parish
Want to experience Old Florida? Look no further than Rye Preserve in Parish. About an hour drive from Anna Maria Island, Rye Preserve is 145 acres of trails that run through sand pine scrub, xeric oak scrub, oak hammocks, and the river community.
Here, you can see all kinds of local wildlife, including rare species like the gopher ...
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Emerson Point Preserve is a 365 Acre Preserve in Palmetto
Emerson Point Preserve in Palmetto is absolutely beautiful! It is a 365 acre preserve full of hiking and kayak trails that run through coastal Florida habitats.
Emerson Point Preserve offers great for dogs, and a good space for them to swim around in the water. You can fish and kayak/canoe here!
*Fishing is only permitted along t...
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Jiggs Landing Preserve - Freshwater Fishing and Canoeing
Located in East Bradenton, Jiggs Landing Preserve offers freshwater fishing, canoeing, and more. This place is very popular because of the boat ramp here, where you can launch right into Braden River. Jiggs Landing is open daily from sunset to sunrise, however if you want to get out on the water before it’s open, you can buy a one-...
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Riverview Pointe Preserve is 11 Acres of Wildlife and Nature Trails
Riverview Pointe Preserve is a small park adjacent to DeSoto National Memorial Park in Bradenton. It is 11 acres of uplands & coastal habitats. It’s a nice place to take your dog to for some exercise, fishing, and great for wildlife viewing.
Riverview Pointe Preserve is open daily, and hours vary with season.
Address:
8250 Des...
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Explore the Trails of DeSoto National Memorial Park in Bradenton
Located in North West Bradenton, not far from Robinson Preserve, is DeSoto National Memorial Park. DeSoto Memorial consists of 26 acres of land. 80% of this land is a mangrove swamp, and the remaining land consists of pine flatlands, mixed hardwoods, remnant shell ridges, and deposited dredge material from the Manatee River.
Explor...
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