Anna Maria Island fun - Island Real Blog

Outdoor Dining Anna Maria Island – Dine and Drink El Fresco!

Outdoor Dining on Anna Maria Island is the quintessential way to hang out in beautiful tropical climate! There’s nothing better than when going out to grab a bite to eat or drinks, having the warm island breeze surrounding you. Some of the wonderful restaurants I’ve listed below have beautiful water views of either the crystal clear Gulf or Bay, or an open-air setting directly across the street from the beach.

The fresh air of AMI always makes your food taste that much better and your drinks that much tastier, bringing you relaxing vibes that will be sure to lift your spirit. I have suggested different places from smaller and more quant spots, to casual any-time spots, to romantic night spots.

Outdoor Dining Anna Maria Island

Sandbar – 100 Spring Ave, Anna Maria

Direct Gulf front

sandbar restaurant in anna maria

The Waterfront – 111 South Bay Blvd, Anna Maria
Bay views

Anna Maria Pier – 100 South Bay Blvd, Anna Maria
Out in the middle of the Tampa Bay

Anna Maria City pier

Bridgetender – 135 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach
Direct bay front

Bridgetender inn Bradenton Beach

Island Time Bar & Grill – 111 Gulf Drive South, Bradenton Beach
Open-air setting, across the street from the Gulf

The Beachhouse – 200 Gulf Drive North, Bradenton Beach
Direct Gulf front

Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe – 4000 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach
Direct Gulf front

Anna Maria Island Beaches information

Here on Anna Maria Island we have beautiful beaches and all of the Beaches along the Gulf of Mexico on Anna Maria anna Maria island beaches Island are public. There are private entries and Public Beaches with lots of parking but once you get to the sand and Gulf waters, the beaches are everyone’s to enjoy. You can find a beach access point almost anywhere on the island, just look down the street from your house.

There are three main Public Beaches on Anna Maria Island: Bay Front Park, Manatee Public Beach, and Coquina Beach. Bay Front Park is located at the north end of the Island in the City Of Anna Maria. At Bay Front Park you will find quite beaches, spectacular views of the Sky Way Bridge, and offers lots of free parking, covered picnic tables, grills, public restrooms, and a play ground on the beach for children.

Manatee Public Beach is located in Holmes Beach where Manatee Avenue runs right into the Gulf of Mexico. Manatee Public Beach has free parking, picnic tables, public restrooms, a playground on the beach for children, a café right on the beach with food and drinks, and a lifeguard on duty.

Coquina Public Beach is located in Bradenton Beach just south of Bridge Street at the south end of Anna Maria Island. Coquina Public Beach has lots free parking, picnic tables, grills, public restrooms, a play ground on the beach for children, a café right on the beach with food and drinks, and a lifeguard on duty.

We hear many questions regarding, which beach is the best to go to? All of our beaches have white sugar sand with some shells on the beach depending on the rise and fall of the tide. The number of people on the beach can be dramatically different depending on where you are. Anna Maria City beaches are the quietest followed by Holmes Beach then Bradenton Beach. When comparing our beaches to most other Florida beaches we are VERY quiet.

There is plenty of entertainment to be found on our gorgeous beaches, Shelling, Bird Watching, just walking along the beach or searching for the perfect vacation rental or “peace of paradise”. Going to the beach is the perfect way to relax and enjoy the moment!

Top 5 Ice Cream Places on Anna Maria Island

Hey dudes and dude-ettes!! You’re back with The Island Kid right here on Kids Corner, the best place to get the best news on Anna Maria Island. I’m here today to tell you guys about the absolute best places on the island to get your ice cream fix. Now, here on Anna Maria Island, there are plenty of places you can go if you want a frozen treat to eat. But if you’re unsure of which places are best and which places to rule out. Read on for good info!

Best Places for Ice Cream on Anna Maria Island

1: Two Scoops: This ice cream shop is a small shop nestled between Two Sides of Nature and across from the Anna Maria City Pier. With 32 rotating flavors, some as weird as blueberry pie and as normal as your classic vanilla, your pallet will always be pleased. They also have pastries, assorted lunch foods, and candy bars.

2: Dips: An ice cream shop near Three Island Monkeys and The Loft #5 in Anna Maria, this itty-bitty place packs the punch when it comes to ice cream. With thousands of flavors and topping variations, your experience will never be a bore. Plus the classic candies and toys on the wall are great for a trip down memory lane.

3: Tyler’s Ice Cream is just over the bridge in Cortez Village. Well worth the jaunt to enjoy some delicious gourmet flavors-literally hundreds over the years! They have locally themed, as well as delicious classic flavors…and finding out what their latest is, is always part of the fun. But creating your own flavor of shake just can’t be beat!

4: Joe’s Eats and Sweets: This place is the bomb.com. It’s got everything from chocolate to cotton candy & nerds and more! They also have pie on a stick-yes, on a stick- and various types of milkshakes and malts. This place is big colorful building right near Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach, so climb the steps, and check it out!

5: Holy Cow: No, I’m not shocked, they just have really good ice cream! This place has many different combos of flavors and toppings, plus much more. They include a little mini gift shop inside the shop, plus indoor and outdoor seating. So feel free to enjoy your ice cream while browsing the trinkets.

Bonus tip – about 15 minutes off Anna Maria Island is a fantastic custard shop called Sweet Berries. They mix all kinds of goodies in their custard ice cream and call it a concrete. yum!

Whether you’re looking for just one spot or want try them all, these places are the best on the island. So next time you’re visiting, go check ’em out! Let us know what you thought, and check back with us here on Kid’s Corner.

How I Would Spend My Day on Anna Maria Island!

Beach-North End — Bay Front Park in The City of Anna Maria

So here’s what I would do if I wasn’t working today! I would drive past my office in Holmes Beach and head straight to Bay Front Park in Anna Maria, unload my bicycle and go for a ride. As my stomach starts to grumble with hunger I would stop at the Rod N Reel Pier for some breakfast. Remember that breakfast is the most important meal of the day even if you’re eating bacon, eggs, & home fries at your favorite island restaurant.

After breakfast it’s time for a little adventure so I would go see my friends at Yolo Parasail for a relaxing boat ride and sky high view of Anna Maria Island. If you have never been parasailing off the coast of Anna Maria Island you should put it on your to do list!

Beach chair on Holmes Beach — Enjoy Holmes Beach

As the morning comes to an end and the afternoon is just about to begin I would go soak up some rays on Holmes Beach for a couple of hours while looking at the amazing pictures I took from my parasailing adventure. If you are at one of the public beaches you can enjoy some ice cream too.

Now it’s time to go see my good friends at Segs By The Sea in Bradenton Beach for a SEGWAY tour. We start our tour on Bridge Street and head to the beach. Travelling south along the paved beach path through Coquina Beach and up over the Longboat Key Bridge and back. If you have never been on a SEGWAY before don’t worry one of the fabulous tour guides will teach you how to ride, and in about five minutes you will be comfortable and confident on a SEGWAY.

As the Sun is setting on our return trip to Bridge Street the day is almost over but the night is just beginning and now I’m hungry once again. In the mood for good food and live music I head just a couple of doors down to The Blue Marlin where I meet friends and family for diner & drinks. The Blue Marlin is famous for their fresh fish & seafood that they purchase daily from local seafood markets. I’m not the biggest seafood lover but absolutely love the burgers, steak sandwich, and of course ice cold beer outside in the Trap Yard where on the weekends you can enjoy live entertainment from local musicians.

So that’s what I would do if I wasn’t working in paradise today… But I am working today at Island Real Estate on Anna Maria Island and would like to get you here too!

Tell us your story on facebook title it my perfect day on Anna Maria Island and let us know what you did or would do… “Remember life’s better on the beach!”

Applebee’s Family Restaurant In Bradenton

Applebee's Restaurant Bradenton — Applebee’s Restaurant Bradenton

Applebee’s welcomes you to the neighborhood and is a great family restaurant with an added bonus of late night fun where you can be a star. They have paired karaoke nights with their awesome service and affordable delicious food. The karaoke is family friendly, but usually attracts a more adult crowd since it starts at 10PM. Continue reading Applebee’s Family Restaurant In Bradenton

Mote Marine Laboratory Aquarium in Sarasota, FL

Mote Marine Laboratory Aquarium is located in north Sarasota a short drive from Anna Maria Island. The Aquarium is a wonderful day-trip full of fun activities for everybody. Enjoy the touch pools, working labs and high tech interactive exhibits! Mote marine also has weekly shark-feedings that are fascinating to watch. You can even book an Eco boat tour during your visit. There is plenty to do and see at this wonderful non-profit organization.

Mote aquarium

Mote Marine Laboratory Aquarium

The entire facility is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m daily including all holidays.

Mote Marine has two buildings filled with Aquariums along with a shark tank, turtle tank and an Otter exhibit. You will need to walk across a street to see all the areas so be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

Also consider stopping at the Save our Seabirds (SOS) facility located in between the two Mote facilities. Admission is half price with a Mote Marine ticket. Ticket sales go to help this great organization rehabilitate injured wildlife. Mote aquarium examples

Check out Mote’s website for daily events and activities for the entire family! Island Real Estate also has more information on aquariums close to Anna Maria Island.

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
1600 Ken Thompson Parkway
Sarasota, FL 34236
(941) 388-4441

The A, B, C’s of Anna Maria Island – The Best of Anna Maria Island

The following is one person’s opinion of the best things when visiting Anna Maria Island –

Amusement Park: The Best Amusement Park to visit in the Summer – Busch Gardens. Sorry this is about 1.25 hours away but they have fabulous shade everywhere as well as misters. It takes the Florida Summer heat down a notch! Continue reading The A, B, C’s of Anna Maria Island – The Best of Anna Maria Island

Best Beaches For Splendid Seashells On Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island has become famous for its pristine beaches, calm azure waters and unlimited Florida sunshine, but it has so much more than that to offer. People come here from all over the globe to get SEASHELLS! Not just collectors or merchants, but real people like you and me can find absolute treasures. Some of my favorites to find, and possibly the easiest are lion’s paws, tiger paws, clam shells, turkey wings and coquinas. The ones I love to find, and I sure everyone feels the same, are sand dollars! You have to go pretty far out to get them intact, and you have to have some time to spend collecting them from the sea floor. Here is a list of Anna Maria Island’s best shell finding beaches.

1. Manatee Public Beach at the end of SR64 – I am a fifth generation Bradenton Florida native, and this is the beach I grew up on. My parents brought me to this beach for the first time when I was only 6 months old. I learned to swim here, sunbathe here and my favorite beach activity to collect seashells.

2. Anna Maria City Beach at the end of White Avenue – Not only is the beach at the end of this road unspoiled it is mostly secluded. I remember finding seashells here that hadn’t even been touched by other beach goers. This is definitely where I am always able to find unbroken shells.

3. Bayfront Park on North Bay Boulevard – I find that this is a good place to find larger shells because there are not a lot of waves the on the bayside of Anna Maria Island. If you catch this area at its lowest tide you will be able to find shells like none other anywhere on the island.

4. Bean Point on North Shore Drive – This is a place easily missed by most vacationers to Anna Maria Island, but locals like me love to explore the northern most beaches of Anna Maria Island. I found a beaut of a large pink and white conch shell that my daughter swears she hears mermaids singing inside.

5. Coquina Public Beach on South Gulf Drive – The south end of Anna Maria Island is a great place to not only find seashells, but sharks teeth as well! Some great advice I got from a fellow local was to keep my eye on the water line, and that “shark’s teeth will tumble while seashells roll”. I have found the most sharks teeth just remembering that phrase!

Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub In Bradenton

Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub and Grill is Bradenton’s biggest and best tiki bar and your hot spot for live music, karaoke, cocktails and more! Their one of a kind open-air tiki bar and tavern is home to numerous Bradenton-area events, including Monday through Friday Happy Hour Special from 4-7pm, Wednesday and Thursday karaoke, and NFL Sundays in front of our large-screen TV’s.

Continue reading Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub In Bradenton

Anna Maria Island Community Center Hosts Murder Mystery Dinner Theater

The Anna Maria Island Community center hosts their murder mystery dinner theater “Till Death Do Us Part” this Saturday November 19th, 2011 from 6:30pm – 11pm. Tickets are currently on sale for $30.00 each or $200.00 for a table of 8. All of the proceeds will benefit the youth programs at the Anna Maria Island Community Center.

Continue reading Anna Maria Island Community Center Hosts Murder Mystery Dinner Theater