Food scene
So good for a treat 1 mile from the home. Vanilla Custard/Tangerine Italian Ice combo is my favorite! I also enjoy the Cotton Candy Italian Ice. Our kids ask to go here often! Like every day 😂
Coco Joe's Italian Ice
5120 Manatee Ave WSo good for a treat 1 mile from the home. Vanilla Custard/Tangerine Italian Ice combo is my favorite! I also enjoy the Cotton Candy Italian Ice. Our kids ask to go here often! Like every day 😂
We love $2 Taco Tuesdays with a Margarita. Very kid friendly
15 locals recommend
Habanero's Mexican Grill and Bar
5120 Manatee Ave WWe love $2 Taco Tuesdays with a Margarita. Very kid friendly
We enjoy eating on the beach in the midst of the mangroves. Great views and car and dockside parking. My favorite is the Grouper Risotto
88 locals recommend
Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant
760 Broadway StWe enjoy eating on the beach in the midst of the mangroves. Great views and car and dockside parking. My favorite is the Grouper Risotto
Walt's Fish Market Restaurant
4144 S Tamiami TrailA bit of a drive from the home. Fantastic seafood!
Mr. And Mrs. Crab
497 Cortez Rd WA great place for Crab Legs and family friendly!
Restaurant is at the end of pier overlooking the Manatee River.
Kid friendly, great food and reasonable prices. Gluten free options also. Enjoy looking at all the boats in the marina on the boardwalk to the restaurant.
The owner has family in my hometown in Iowa.
54 locals recommend
Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant
995 Riverside DrRestaurant is at the end of pier overlooking the Manatee River.
Kid friendly, great food and reasonable prices. Gluten free options also. Enjoy looking at all the boats in the marina on the boardwalk to the restaurant.
The owner has family in my hometown in Iowa.
A great place to eat outside and is kid friendly. There are outdoor activities for the kids to enjoy while you finish your meal
54 locals recommend
The Ugly Grouper
5704 Marina DrA great place to eat outside and is kid friendly. There are outdoor activities for the kids to enjoy while you finish your meal
A great seafood restaurant according to some guests who have visited the home! Not fancy, only outdoor eating and has a market attached to it. You can sit back and enjoy some delicious seafood while watching fishing boats come in off the ocean.
102 locals recommend
Star Fish Company
12306 46th Ave WA great seafood restaurant according to some guests who have visited the home! Not fancy, only outdoor eating and has a market attached to it. You can sit back and enjoy some delicious seafood while watching fishing boats come in off the ocean.
Skinny's Place inc.
3901 Gulf DrYour place for a great burger on the island!!
The Donut Experiment
210 Pine AveTry their bacon maple donut!
Shore Longboat Key
800 Broadway StSmoqehouse
1701 Gulf Dr NA fellow Minnesotan owns this restaurant!!
Overlooking the Manatee River. We have not been here yet but it looks fantastic. We hope to try it soon.
90 locals recommend
PIER 22 Restaurant • Patio • Catering
1200 1st Ave WOverlooking the Manatee River. We have not been here yet but it looks fantastic. We hope to try it soon.
We hope to visit soon! This place comes highly recommended by residents on Anna Maria Island!
99 locals recommend
The Waterfront Restaurant
111 S Bay BlvdWe hope to visit soon! This place comes highly recommended by residents on Anna Maria Island!
Vinny's Italian Kitchen
5337 Gulf DrA great pizza place on Anna Maria Island
The day we arrive we order pizza either for delivery or pick up at Danny’s. Good food and so easy for a travel day meal.
34 locals recommend
Dannys Pizzeria
7220 Manatee Ave WThe day we arrive we order pizza either for delivery or pick up at Danny’s. Good food and so easy for a travel day meal.
Sightseeing
Our kids are 7 and 10 and loved this museum! Interactive, indoor and outdoor exhibits with live animals. The manatees are always a favorite
532 locals recommend
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
1600 Ken Thompson PkwyOur kids are 7 and 10 and loved this museum! Interactive, indoor and outdoor exhibits with live animals. The manatees are always a favorite
We ventured here on a rainy day. There is a small indoor discovery area for toddler- elementary aged kids. When we were there we enjoyed an outdoor exhibit also.
131 locals recommend
Bishop Museum of Science and Nature
201 10th St WWe ventured here on a rainy day. There is a small indoor discovery area for toddler- elementary aged kids. When we were there we enjoyed an outdoor exhibit also.
We enjoy going to this beach for sunsets. There is a walk up beach food and bar with beach area seating. Volleyball courts, live music and easy access off Manatee Rd
11 locals recommend
Holmes Beach
4000 Gulf DrWe enjoy going to this beach for sunsets. There is a walk up beach food and bar with beach area seating. Volleyball courts, live music and easy access off Manatee Rd
We checked this off our bucket list and it was wonderful! My niece requested to swim with the horses for her graduation gift. Our favorite was when the horses swam and we hung on to their manes. We did the sunset ride and highly recommend this excursion!
24 locals recommend
Cponies Beach Horseback Rides
8400 Manatee Ave WWe checked this off our bucket list and it was wonderful! My niece requested to swim with the horses for her graduation gift. Our favorite was when the horses swam and we hung on to their manes. We did the sunset ride and highly recommend this excursion!
Explore the water around Anna Maria Island by a guided boat!
12 locals recommend
Coastline Dolphin & Snorkeling Excursions
12312 Manatee Ave WExplore the water around Anna Maria Island by a guided boat!
Enjoy seeing the inter coastal water by kayak or paddle board! Rental and tours available. A fan favorite is the mangrove kayak tour!
AMI Paddleboard & Kayak Adventures
Enjoy seeing the inter coastal water by kayak or paddle board! Rental and tours available. A fan favorite is the mangrove kayak tour!
A beautiful beach to explore and enjoy a sunset. Not the easiest to find and park but worth it!!
67 locals recommend
Bean Point Beach
793 N Shore DrA beautiful beach to explore and enjoy a sunset. Not the easiest to find and park but worth it!!
This park is 2 miles from the home and manatees can usually be seen between the months of February-October. It is not a usual tourist place so sit back and enjoy the peaceful manatees. I really enjoy riding our beach cruiser bike to see the manatees when we visit.
10 locals recommend
Portosueno Park
1206 Alcazar DrThis park is 2 miles from the home and manatees can usually be seen between the months of February-October. It is not a usual tourist place so sit back and enjoy the peaceful manatees. I really enjoy riding our beach cruiser bike to see the manatees when we visit.
A bit of a drive from the home but worth it if you want to see manatees in the winter (usually mid to end of November-February). The manatees are drawn to the warm water of Big Bend power plant. We have not been here yet but locals tell us it is family friendly and free. I recommend to check out Portosueno Park first because it is only 2 miles from the home vs. a longer drive.
183 locals recommend
Manatee Viewing Center
6990 Dickman RdA bit of a drive from the home but worth it if you want to see manatees in the winter (usually mid to end of November-February). The manatees are drawn to the warm water of Big Bend power plant. We have not been here yet but locals tell us it is family friendly and free. I recommend to check out Portosueno Park first because it is only 2 miles from the home vs. a longer drive.
A bit of a drive from the home but worth it!! We parked by beach access #7. The beach was narrower and less busy there. We were lucky enough to have 2 dolphins swim by us while we were searching for sand dollars. There is a sand bar between beach access #7 and #8. Often you can find Sand Dollars there in waist deep water.
There is a small trolley that goes up and down the road near the beach.
797 locals recommend
Siesta Beach
A bit of a drive from the home but worth it!! We parked by beach access #7. The beach was narrower and less busy there. We were lucky enough to have 2 dolphins swim by us while we were searching for sand dollars. There is a sand bar between beach access #7 and #8. Often you can find Sand Dollars there in waist deep water.
There is a small trolley that goes up and down the road near the beach.
Recommended by our neighbor as a great place to hike, trail run, climb the look out tower and enjoy the Florida weather while getting some exercise.
193 locals recommend
Robinson Preserve
1704 99th St NWRecommended by our neighbor as a great place to hike, trail run, climb the look out tower and enjoy the Florida weather while getting some exercise.
Entertainment
Fun things to do
A great area on Anna Maria Island with restaurants and shops. We love the Fudge Factory for sweet treats!
Bridge Street
A great area on Anna Maria Island with restaurants and shops. We love the Fudge Factory for sweet treats!
18 holes of mini golf with a decent amount of shade. Feed the gators too!
22 locals recommend
Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf
2000 Cortez Rd W18 holes of mini golf with a decent amount of shade. Feed the gators too!
A great golf course close to the home ! Check course availability as it is a private course.
6 locals recommend
Bradenton Country Club
4646 9th Ave WA great golf course close to the home ! Check course availability as it is a private course.
This park is 1/2 mile from the home. You can walk, ride one of the bikes or drive. If you like pickle ball you need to check out the league at this park! The Pickle Ball courts are incredible!! Olympic size pool with diving boards and slide, disc golf, playground for kids, dog park, skate park. The front desk concierge told me if you want to swim laps it is $3 and you have access to the weight room.
17 locals recommend
G.T. Bray Park
5502 33rd Ave Dr WThis park is 1/2 mile from the home. You can walk, ride one of the bikes or drive. If you like pickle ball you need to check out the league at this park! The Pickle Ball courts are incredible!! Olympic size pool with diving boards and slide, disc golf, playground for kids, dog park, skate park. The front desk concierge told me if you want to swim laps it is $3 and you have access to the weight room.
Bowlero Bradenton
4208 Cortez Rd WA good rainy day activity
We found out about this habitat while we were at Siesta Key Beach. Our daughter is a big tiger fan and we look forward to visiting soon.
158 locals recommend
Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary
7101 Palmer BlvdWe found out about this habitat while we were at Siesta Key Beach. Our daughter is a big tiger fan and we look forward to visiting soon.
Our neighbor owns this fun boutique on Anna Maria Island. In addition to some stylish decor and clothes you can get a temporary tattoo, henna or a hair wrap.
Gypsea Tides Beach Boutique Featuring Beautiful Clothing, Jewelry, Decor, Hair Wraps, Fairy Hair, Mermaid Braids & More
Our neighbor owns this fun boutique on Anna Maria Island. In addition to some stylish decor and clothes you can get a temporary tattoo, henna or a hair wrap.
Tailing Tales
Highly rated local fishing charter!
Traveler advice
Getting around
Cars are the best way to get around. We have 3 bikes also.
The home is 10 minutes from the fabulous beaches of Anna Maria Island. We usually take Manatee Road to get to the beaches. During peak season another option is taking Cortez Road to Coquina beach on the far south side of the island. We have 2 adult and 1 kids bike we like to take to Coco Joe’s for Italian Shaved Ice ❤️