about Anna Maria Island

one of the beach entrances in Anna Maria Island
Anna Maria Island is located about 40 kilometers south of Tampa and is an island of just under twelve kilometers in length in the Gulf of Mexico. The three-part Anna Maria Island is conveniently accessible via two bridges. Bradenton Beach, is a classic beach community and which is successfully trying to preserve its history and character. Holmes Beach is younger, with new residential neighborhoods, small hotels and beachfront restaurants. Historic Anna Maria holds on to its hidden flair, visible in old beach cottages and rustic seafood restaurants in an original village center.

Southern end of Anna Maria Island
There is a quiet, relaxed atmosphere here. Particularly characteristic for the island are its long white sandy beaches and turquoise water. With the sugar-white sandy beaches and the pastel-colored houses, the island exudes tropical flair and delights every vacationer. With the Manatee Trolley, travelers can easily get around the island for free at any time. The Longboat Pass Bridge connects Anna Maria Island with Longboat Key. The surrounding area captivates with its Caribbean flair, the Key West style of the houses and apartments and the beach bars located directly on the ocean. A wide variety of properties blend harmoniously into the beautiful island landscape and many of the lavishly restored homes are located directly on the beach.
The Manatee River divides the green landscape area into two shore regions – to the south lies the city of Bradenton, to the north the two cities of Palmetto and Ellenton.
You can indulge yourself in beachfront apartment hotels, cozy motels, vacation homes and private estates. Well-known restaurant chains are not to be found on Anna Maria Island. Instead, vacationers will find a wide selection of individual restaurants with good cuisine: from grill restaurants on the beach to gourmet restaurants.
Anna Maria Island was named a “U.S. Hot Spot” in 2007 – and rightly so. Other dream beaches in the Bradenton Area include Anna Maria Beach, Bayfront Beach, Beer Can Island, Coquina Beach, Holmes Beach, Manatee County Public Beach, North Longboat Key Beach and Palma Sola Causeway.
Each year at the beginning of summer, mother turtles begin burying their eggs on the beach at Anna Maria Island. The Anna Maria Turtle Watch organization ensures that they remain undisturbed while doing so. Every year, animal observers hope to be there again when the turtle offspring hatch and make their way from the beach into the water.
Inland waters are also home to the manatee, which gave its name to the local river. You can get up close to all the popular sea creatures at the South Florida Museum Parker Manatee Aquarium. Numerous native birds can be admired in the various lagoons. The Great Florida Birding Trail leads to the best spots in the region.
History of Anna Maria Island The region was first settled by the Timucan Indians, who – inspired by the manatees that abound here – gave the Manatee River its name. Spanish conquistadors unsuccessfully attempted to colonize the region in the 16th century. In 1892, George Emerson Bean became the first resident to settle here. At the turn of the century, the region was still poorly developed. The only way to reach the islands was by water. It was not until 1922 that Anna Maria Island was connected to the mainland by a wooden bridge structure. Remnants of this first bridge can still be seen today in the Cortez Historic District of Bradenton.