Anna Maria Island, Florida's Hidden Getaway

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 unrivaled. Water sports abound and the fishing attracts anglers from around the world.  They come to outwit the redfish, snook, snapper, grouper, kingfish, tarpon and other fish in the warm Gulf waters.  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. 

Click here to view a map of Anna Maria Island

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.”