In Florida, there are two major attractions. One is the Magic Kingdom, home
to the most famous mouse in the world and the other is of course the
spectacular beaches. Florida Beaches are among the finest beaches in the
world. Every year, several Florida beaches routinely receive awards by
various rating organizations. In fact, Florida beaches have been rated among
the top ten in Dr. Beach's America's Best Beach list each year. With nearly
1,200 miles of coastline, Florida has some of the best beaches in the world
and Anna Maria Island is home to many of those great beaches, including
Anna Maria Beach, Bayfront Park, Manatee County
Public Beach, Holmes Beach, Coquina Beach, and Leffis Key.
Dreaming of a Florida beach vacation. Your dreams just came true. Anna
Maria Island is completely surrounded by four bodies of water with the Gulf
of Mexico to the west, Tampa Bay to the north, Florida’s Intra-
Coastal Waterway to the east and Sarasota Bay to the south. The beaches of
Anna Maria Island are never more than a few steps away. There is a
popular saying about this tropical beach paradise,
"Anna
Maria Island is not a place where you go to the beach, when
you are on Anna Maria Island you are at the beach"
The #1 Beach Vacation Destination
So impressive are Anna Maria Island beaches "Trip Adisor" named Anna
Maria Island "America's #1 Beach Vacation Destination.
Affectionately known as "The Island In The Sun" Anna Maria Island
comprises over 150 miles of waterfront, more than 7 ½ miles of powder
white sand beaches, Gulf temperatures averaging 84 degrees and more than
361 days of sunshine per year. The surrounding waters of Anna Maria Island
are known as the nursery because of the large number of dolphins that raise
their young here. Anna Maria Island boasts more sunshine per year than
Honolulu and some of the finest beaches in the world.
Click on images for enlargements
No need to worry about exclusive resorts placing claim on precious spans of
beach. Discover Anna Maria Island and you’ll find that the entire stretch of
beach all the way around the island is free to access. You can walk miles
from the top of the island to the bottom with your toes in the sand and gentle
Gulf surf. This hidden beach destination that people from all over the world
escape to, Anna Maria Island has somehow managed to keep condo towers,
all-fast-food chains, amusement parks, and glitzy mega-resorts off its shores.
In fact, no construction on the this seven-mile long barrier island on
Florida's Gulf Coast is more than three stories tall and 60 percent of its land
is open beach.
"My trip to Anna Maria made me feel in a nostalgic sense what beach
vacations must have been like 20 or 30 years ago," says Tim Leffel, author
of "Make Your Travel Dollars Worth A Fortune" who visited
the Anna Maria Island with his family. "It has something other destinations
have lost. It's an old-fashioned place where you can just relax and hang out
on the beach with your kids, without arcades and other distractions."
Click on images for enlargements
Quaint, according to Webster, means marked by beauty or elegance,
unusual or different in character or appearance, pleasingly or strikingly oldfashioned.
That’s Anna Maria Island, according to the November issue of Islands
magazine, which names Anna Maria Island the Best Quaint Island in the
world for family vacations. The Island is ranked alongside 13 others exotic
locations as Tahiti’s Bora Bora and Hawaii’s Kauai.
While selecting family-friendly island vacation destinations, the magazine
considered factors such as opportunities for discovery and family bonding,
easy accessibility, fun amenities and roomy accommodations.
At the top of its checklist for quaintness is the absence of large resorts and
chain restaurants. "Anna Maria Island" Big resorts? No. Chain restaurants?
No. Miles-long beaches? Oh yes," says the Islands magazine article. "All
that makes for beautifully charming days on Anna Maria Island, just a
drawbridge removed from the Florida mainland."
A typical day on Anna Maria Island starts first with the beach, of course.
In the mornings the most common sight in town is a family in flip-flops,
heading for the water. Everybody carries something: a beach chair, the
cooler, towels, inflatable toys. In the afternoon, after a day of playing in
the turquoise water and building castles in the sand, they head back the
other way, exhausted, sunburned, but very, very happy. Bring
paperbacks, sandals, shorts, swim wear and plenty of sunscreen but
leave most of your clothes at home. The most challenging part of
your stay might be deciding whether to go anywhere else.
Click on images for enlargements
While doing nothing is Anna Maria Island’s prime pastime, there are plenty
of options when you want something to do. Interested in water sports? You
can rent rent a wave runner, kayak, sailboat, bicycle, beach wagon, book a
fishing charter, para-sail or simply indulge your self with a beach message
right on the beach just a few minutes walk from our Anna Maria Island
beach condo
Most people visit Anna Maria Island for the exquisite beaches. You can
relax in the serenity and capture the feel of old Florida on the remote stretch
of Anna Maria Island or simply enjoy the warm seas of the Gulf and the
amenities – playgrounds, picnic tables and showers – that the more popular
beaches (Manatee, Holmes Beach, Coquina) have to offer or the more
secluded and private beaches. Wherever you decide to laze, the beaches are
true paradise and deliver the most magnificent sunsets to rival anywhere in
the world. The two most distinctive and popular pubic beaches on Anna Maria Island
are Manatee Public Beach and Coquina Beach offering something for
everyone.
Click on images for enlargements
Manatee Public Beach
Manatee Beach is a fascinating 900 ft. wide expanse of powder
white sand beach located on Holmes Beach directly in the middle of Anna
Maria Island. Manatee Beach has picnic tables, grills, public restrooms, a
playground on the beach for children, life guard shacks and the newly
renovated Café directly on the beach. Enjoy food and cold drinks right on
the beach and a lifeguard on duty. Manatee Public Beach is a great place to
spend the day playing volleyball, fishing, swimming, or just relaxing in the
Florida sun. When you get hungry or feel like a cold drink you don’t even
need to leave the beach, take a stroll to the café at Manatee Public Beach,
they offer both inside and outside dining areas. You are sure to find a
sandwich or a tasty snack to cure your appetite. Next to the café is a gift
shop with souvenirs and blow up rafts. Manatee Public Beach also has a
small beach bar where you can grab a cold beer and watch the sun slowly
slip away into the Gulf Of Mexico.
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Right across from Manatee Beach is
Skinny’s Restaurant where you will find the best burgers on Anna Maria
Island. Read what Dr. Beach had to say about Manatee Beach. "Truthfully,
there are many great family beaches on the Florida Gulf Coast. I choose
Manatee County Public Beach as the best because it is on the most family
friendly island AND is a great family beach. I should know, I grew up on
this beach."
This beach and the island it's on are still family oriented. The
beach is located west of the City of Bradenton, at the western end of
Manatee Avenue (Highway 64). The sand is beautiful and white, the water is
calm, clean, and shallow enough to be kid-friendly. The beach is protected
by lifeguards and there are restroom facilities, outdoor showers, a gift shop,
a pier to walk on or to fish from, a picnic area, and of course there is the
Cafe On The Beach when you get hungry. Anna Maria is a residential
community that caters to a wide range of visitors from all over the world. It
is a quiet island without high-rises, big hotels, or nightlife. The focus is on
relaxing and enjoying the beach and the community. There are plenty of
restaurants, from seafood to Italian and Indian cuisine and everything inbetween.
Click on images for enlargements
From Manatee Public Beach you can walk all the way to the
north tip of the island if you care to (many do) in about 2 hours. If you need
some adventure, go parasailing, take a charter fishing trip or a tour boat to
Egmont Key. People who vacation on Anna Maria Island keep coming
back year after year. Another great thing about Anna Maria is the beautiful
water. Anna Maria has some of the clearest water on the west coast of
Florida.
Coquina Beach
Coquina Beach is a 96 acre pine shaded oasis located on the south end of
Anna Maria Island and is the longest stretch of beach on Anna Maria,
with plenty of free parking, lifeguards, concessions, picnic tables, a
playground, restrooms and showers. Remnants of old piers jutting out
into the water making Coquina Beach a choice spot for surfers. A
common scene on Coquina Beach is families building sand castles,
throwing a frisbie, snorkeling, soaking up the sun, grilling lunch and
enjoying a picnic under the magnificent Australian pine trees. This is a
great place to bring kids.
Click on images for enlargements
Coquina Beach is named for the tiny colorful clam like creatures that dig
into the sand at the shoreline . Coquina Beach has an extended walking
path shaded by hundreds of Australian Pines some over 100 feet tall.
The most appealing aspect of Coquina Beach is the expanse of pine trees
that surround the park entrance. The pine trees seem surreal so close to the
water’s edge and this makes for an even more exciting beach experience.
This is also a great place to get a break from the sun’s heat if you aren’t up
for taking a dip in the water. Swimming is prohibited at the southern tip
of the beach at Longboat Pass because of the strong currents…. but you
can view the unbelievably crystal clear blue waters! Compared to the
rest of Bradenton, Coquina beach has undergone relatively few changes
in the last 35 years, and most of the changes have happened in the last 2
years, but haven’t really changed the look of the beach.
The 10 Best Beaches for Families: 2011
Find out which waterside escapes are real gems for families.
By Karen Cicero
Ranking the Beaches
Simplicity is the beauty of a beach vacation -- the shore is essentially
a giant sandbox with free rocks and shells, and the waves are more
fun than any pool. But there can be rough spots if you go to the
wrong place. That's why Parents combed through water quality
reports, closings, and advisories for more than 1,000 U.S. beaches.
Naturally, we nixed shores with persistent problems and ones where
the water isn't tested. From there, we looked at three other deal
breakers: restrooms, calm surf, and lifeguards. Nature trails and other
extras helped determine which places made the final cut.
Dive into the most kid-friendly beach under the sun.
Coquina Beach Park, Bradenton, Florida
This beach, on the southern tip of Anna Marie Island,
near Sarasota, is famous for "coquinas," colorful mini
seashells. "Every morning, there's a row of shells on
the shoreline for kids to scoop up," says Debbie
Meihls, executive manager of the Bradenton Area
Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Click on images for enlargements
Another activity:
kayaking. You can rent one on the beach or sign up
for a guided eco-tour; either way, you're likely to see
dolphins, manatees, and stingrays. Shady Australian
pines, warm water (it averages 82°F year-round),
and a 11/2-mile paved nature trail also make Coquina fun.
Spend your vacations at: "Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals"
Just a short walk from Coquina Beach. This extraordinary condo has
private beach access, heated pool, 2 balconies, a view of the Gulf,
pool or bay from every room, 50" television, 40" television, HD
television with over 200 channels, remote keyless locks, free long
distance calling, ultra-fast-internet, king size bed and much more. A
great money saver: Beautiful 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo.
Summer rates start at $1200.00 per week.
Pg. #12
Leffis Key
Anna Maria Island has its own island preserve. "Leffis Key"
Leffis Key Boardwalk across the street from Coquina Beach has it’s
own boat launch where footpaths and boardwalks lead visitors around
tidal lagoons and mangrove shoreline. Dolphins are often sighted not far
from fishermen doing some fishing of their own. There is plenty of
Parking, Shade Trees, Sunshine and breathtaking Sunsets!
Click on images for enlargements
There are several boardwalks with strategically placed viewing platforms
opening on to the waters of Sarasota Bay. There are breathtaking 360 degree
views of Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. What a great idea to bring a
picnic lunch someday and enjoy the views! Watch for the interpretive signs
describing the various habitats and the plant and animal life located along
the paths.Leffis Key is a designated site on the Great Florida Birding Trail.
People come from all over the world to see the birds that live at Leffis Key
and use it as a stopover on migratory routes.
One of the unique features of the design is a 26-foot high hill in the
center of the restored area. This upland feature offers a breathtaking
360 degree view of Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The hill was
planted with native dune and coastal ridge plants such as sea oats,
beach elder, dune sunflower, southern red cedar, green buttonwood, sea
grape, gumbo-limbo, hercules club, jamaica dogwood and strangler fig.
In addition, over 20,000 marsh grass plants, such as smooth cordgrass,
saltwater cordgrass and salt jointgrass, were installed along the banks
of the tidal ponds. The plant installation was accomplished with
volunteer labor that included hundreds of school children, local
environmental clubs and citizens.
Click on images for enlargements
Site amenities include footpaths that circle and scale the hill, benches,
and 1,500 lineal feet of boardwalks that meander through the mangrove
forest, with strategically placed viewing platforms penetrating the open
water. Interpretive signs describing the various habitats and the
respective plant and animal life are located along the paths.
Additionally you will be treated to are hawks, blue heron, rabbits, crabs,
and lots of small fish swimming in the lagoons. There are a lot of
different species of young fish that take refuge in the lagoons here to
avoid larger fish and predators in the bay. You may see young mullet,
red drum, snook, and sheepshead in these shallow lagoons.
Once a spoil island overgrown with non-native plants that greatly
reduced its habitat value, Leffis Key is now a shining example of how
government and private interests can collaborate to restore and
enhance vital saltwater wetlands, essential to the health of a nationally
significant estuary.
Bradenton Beach
South of Coquina beach you will find nothing but beautiful white sand
beaches meeting the Gulf of Mexico and not one condominium or restaurant.
You will marvel at the lush vegetation and Australian pine tree some over
100 feet tall. Continue walking south until you reach the southern tip of
Anna Maria Island at Longboat Pass where the boats enter the Gulf of
Mexico from Florida’s Intra-Coastal Waterway.
Click on images for enlargements
Between Manatee beach and Coquina beach you will find 4 miles of quieter
and secluded private beaches where you will find tourists enjoying the beach
directly in-front of their accommodations. Relaxing in a beach chair or
walking this vast expanse of powder white sand beaches you are likely to see
dolphins playing, para-sailors passing by, kids building sand castles,
sailboats, jet-skies, people fishing, scuba divers coming out of the Gulf and
witness a beach wedding. You can also enjoy food and drinks along this
stretch of magnificent beach at the "Tiki Hut" and Beach House.
Characteristic of the this stretch of beach is the waters are generally warm
and calm compared to the east coast beaches and these beaches are family
friendly. The visionary statement of these beach communities perfectly
describe these beaches. "Friendly island community that values the civic
pride of both permanent and seasonal residents, maintains its Old Florida
charm, and respects its bountiful natural resources. History, hospitality and
spirit are the hallmarks of our thriving waterfront, offering ease of mobility
by land and sea. "Our private beach access"
Bean Point, Anna Maria
At the very northern tip of Anna Maria Island you will find one of the best
kept secrets about Anna Maria Island known as Bean Point. Read what a
past visitor had to say about Bean Point "The beach at Bean Point is
spectacular! White sands and crystal blue water, need I say more? We had a
dolphin swim right by us, and found many shells and sand dollars. My son
even spotted a live starfish on the sandbar. The most beautiful natural beach
in Florida. Most beaches in other parts of the world have to truck in sand this
beautiful. Don't forget, there is no lifeguard or shower/bathroom facilities.
Bay Front Park, Anna Maria (Tampa Bay side) Family Fun with a View-Bay Front Park Anna Maria Island Park
is a charming waterfront park on the northern side of Anna Maria Island,
with outstanding views of Egmont Key, and the world famous towering
Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay. The park is situated between two
of the oldest and most active fishing piers in Florida, "The City Pier" and the
"Rod and Reel Pier". These visual elements, combined with the tall shade
trees, and the waterfront picnicking, are what give Anna Maria Island
Bayfront Park its special feel. This is a delightful family spot, peaceful and
unique with scenic qualities. Amenities include covered tables, grills, public
restrooms, and a playground on the beach for children everyone is happy.
The Sunshine Skyway to the north is an impressive four mile, cross-bay
bridge that soars 250 feet above the bay at its highest point and provides a
link to St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Remnants of the old Skyway bridge
have been converted into a first rate fishing pier extending into Tampa Bay
from both sides of the bay.
Click on images for enlargements
Anna Maria Beach (Gulf of Mexico side)
What distinguishes Anna Maria Island from other tropical beaches
locations is the affordable accommodations and restaurants. You can
rent our luxurious vacation rental condo
for $1200.00 per week and
enjoy seafood entrees for under $15.00 at the most beautiful waterfront
restaurants on Anna Maria Island. There is nothing like walking the
beach from our condo to your favorite restaurant for dinner and
parking your car for your entire vacation.
Click on images for enlargements
The one topic everyone agrees on: The joy of visiting Anna Maria Island
is that a milestone is celebrated every day: the sunsets that are gorgeous
enough to inspire spontaneous applause. Watching the sunset is a
cherished ritual on this sleepy barrier island. Anna Maria has the best
sunsets in the world. Every evening just as twilight starts to dim the
bright sun, it seems the whole town heads over to the beach. Visitors
and locals alike gather on the beaches to savor the dimming of the day,
sipping a glass of wine as the sky turns dusky shades of pink and orange.
It only takes about three minutes for the sun to disappear after it
touches the horizon, finally fading to a deep and glowing purple.
Children run on the sand, honeymooners stroll hand in hand, and local
residents take a deep breath and relax. Perhaps nowhere on the planet
is that time celebrated with more passion than Anna Maria Island. The
sunsets so beautiful this ordinary event becomes extraordinary enough
that locals and visitors alike realize how special Anna Maria Island
really is.
Contact us now to book your vacation in paradise on beautiful Anna
Maria Island.
Dreaming of a Florida beach vacation. Your dreams just came true. Anna
Maria Island is completely surrounded by four bodies of water with the Gulf
of Mexico to the west, Tampa Bay to the north, Florida’s Intra-
Coastal Waterway to the east and Sarasota Bay to the south. The beaches of
Anna Maria Island are never more than a few steps away. There is a
popular saying about this tropical beach paradise, 
A typical day on Anna Maria Island starts first with the beach, of course.
In the mornings the most common sight in town is a family in flip-flops,
heading for the water. Everybody carries something: a beach chair, the
cooler, towels, inflatable toys. In the afternoon, after a day of playing in
the turquoise water and building castles in the sand, they head back the
other way, exhausted, sunburned, but very, very happy. Bring
paperbacks, sandals, shorts, swim wear and plenty of sunscreen but
leave most of your clothes at home. The most challenging part of
your stay might be deciding whether to go anywhere else.
Most people visit Anna Maria Island for the exquisite beaches. You can
relax in the serenity and capture the feel of old Florida on the remote stretch
of Anna Maria Island or simply enjoy the warm seas of the Gulf and the
amenities – playgrounds, picnic tables and showers – that the more popular
beaches (Manatee, Holmes Beach, Coquina) have to offer or the more
secluded and private beaches. Wherever you decide to laze, the beaches are
true paradise and deliver the most magnificent sunsets to rival anywhere in
the world. The two most distinctive and popular pubic beaches on Anna Maria Island
are Manatee Public Beach and Coquina Beach offering something for
everyone.
There are several boardwalks with strategically placed viewing platforms
opening on to the waters of Sarasota Bay. There are breathtaking 360 degree
views of Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. What a great idea to bring a
picnic lunch someday and enjoy the views! Watch for the interpretive signs
describing the various habitats and the plant and animal life located along
the paths.Leffis Key is a designated site on the Great Florida Birding Trail.
People come from all over the world to see the birds that live at Leffis Key
and use it as a stopover on migratory routes.
Family Fun with a View-Bay Front Park Anna Maria Island Park
is a charming waterfront park on the northern side of Anna Maria Island,
with outstanding views of Egmont Key, and the world famous towering
Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay. The park is situated between two
of the oldest and most active fishing piers in Florida, "The City Pier" and the
"Rod and Reel Pier". These visual elements, combined with the tall shade
trees, and the waterfront picnicking, are what give Anna Maria Island
Bayfront Park its special feel. This is a delightful family spot, peaceful and
unique with scenic qualities. Amenities include covered tables, grills, public
restrooms, and a playground on the beach for children everyone is happy.
The Sunshine Skyway to the north is an impressive four mile, cross-bay
bridge that soars 250 feet above the bay at its highest point and provides a
link to St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Remnants of the old Skyway bridge
have been converted into a first rate fishing pier extending into Tampa Bay
from both sides of the bay.
