Anna Maria Island, Florida's Secret Island Getaway

A best-kept secret among Floridians, Anna Maria Island is an unpretentious beach community with all the advantages of a legendary beach resort town – minus the usual crowds and congestion. High-rise buildings are taboo, an Old Florida ambiance prevails, and dressing for dinner means putting on a clean pair of shorts and flip-flops. Yet, the island has all the necessities of an unforgettable vacation destination – eclectic boutiques art galleries and antique shops, award-winning restaurants, miles of beautiful beaches and virtually every water sport imaginable. Easy to get to from just about anywhere, the region’s endless variety of activities and attractions means there is always more to explore in a vacation destination that rewards visit after visit. 

Click here to view a map of Anna Maria Island. 

A best kept secret of among Florida families, the charming seaside village of Anna Maria Island is that rare, low-key beach community where high-rise buildings are taboo and a cherished Old Florida ambiance still prevails.

The Florida of days gone by, for all the days to come

Bicycles, kayaks and flip flops are favored modes of transportation.  Quaint shopping and dining districts invite you to stroll among historic landmarks, eclectic cafes, boutiques, art galleries, ice cream and antique shops.

Renowned for its locally owned dining options, the cuisine includes funk burger joints, cutting-edge bistros, and fresh-caught grouper sandwiches in local “institutions” like the beachfront Sand Dollar restaurant, where locals and tourists have fathered for generations to dine on fresh-caught seafood and toast the sunsets.

The beaches are unrivalled, watersports abound, and the fishing attracts anglers from around the world.  They come to outwit the redfish, snook, snapper, grouper, kingfish, tarpon and more.  Cultural attractions include the nearby South Florida Museum and Aquarium, Ringling Museum of Art, Selby Botanical Gardens, Jungle Gardens, Mote Marine Aquarium, DeSoto National Park and the Asolo Center for Performing Arts. 

The beaches, boutiques and restaurants of Longboat Key and Sarasota’s world-famous Saint Armands Circle, beckon just to the south.  The big-city attractions of Tampa Bay are a short drive to the north.  As locals are fond of saying… “The only lines are those you’ll draw in the sand.”

To find out more details about Anna Maria Island, please visit the Chamber of Commerce website.