The minute you step foot on Anna Maria Island, just over a bridge from the mainland, you will know that you have arrived somewhere special. Anna Maria Island has preserved a laid-back, small-town beach vibe:

1. Old Florida Charm

No high-rise hotels

At the Heart of AMI, no big hotels means the beaches aren’t packed and there’s less hustle and bustle. Calm mornings and slow nights with unobstructed ocean views are all Anna Maria.

Local houses instead of mega resorts

Our favorite places to stay have always been right on the water – calm, peaceful and true island life. Checkout all of the beauty of our own home away from home, Stillwater Palms. We love it here and promise you will too.

Flip-flops, bikes, and golf carts over traffic

We always rent a golf cart on island. It’s a fun way to get around, open air with the salty ocean air blowing through your hair. Looking for a good ride, check out Beach Bums, right on Pine Avenue. And flip flops, well they go everywhere.

2. Stunning, Accessible Beaches

Powder-soft white sand

Anna Maria beaches are as soft and clean as it gets, perfect for a morning walk, lounging the day away or a sunset front row seat. Certain times of the year they are home for nesting sea turtles. No dogs are allowed on the beaches, just birds, people and turtles!

Calm, shallow waters — perfect for families

The Bayfront Park beach is the calmest on island with very little waves, perfect for kids who want to swim or go out on a paddle board. You can quickly walk to Bayside Beach or kayak through the canals from Stillwater Palms. On the Gulf side, Bean Point is our favorite – rugged, beautiful and the most amazing view! It’s got a strong current and isn’t good for swimming, but if you love to sit on the beach and watch the waves, Bean Point is your spot.

Incredible sunsets every single night

No matter where you are in island the sunsets are something to behold and they just get more beautiful after the sun sets. Bean Point sunsets will never disappoint. Take a chair and put your phone down to get lost in the beauty.

Public beach access everywhere (no “private beach” stress)

You can literally walk the entire island on the beach and you will find friendly faces throughout. All public but all not crowded, that’s Anna Maria. If you are looking for a great beach with lifeguards on duty and public facilities, Manatee Public Beach is your spot. Bonus tip, there is a great Cafe there with all you can eat pancakes on Sunday mornings!

3. Food That is Local & Personal

Fresh seafood caught nearby

From the Seafood Market at Cortez Fishing Village, or Captain Anthony’s at north end there are great places to buy fresh seafood.

Waterfront dining without pretension

No need to dress up or make reservations, come as you are and enjoy chef-inspired delightful food around the island. Our very favorite restaurant on the island…and really anywhere is the Waterfront. A chef-led restaurant with lots of gluten free options, the food is absolutely amazing. We all have our favorites and we always start with the delicious chaucuterie. Bonus, the drinks are AMAZING!

Iconic local spots that feel like traditions, not chains

You won’t find chains on Anna Maria, just a collection of local, thought and fun bars and restaurants. Plus

4. Slow, Simple Island Living

Life on Anna Maria moves slower. Literally when you drive onto the island, things slow down. There is one road in and one road out. Leave your hustle and bustle on the mainland and slow down to enjoy the people and places around you.

Bike rides to breakfast

Bikes are everywhere on AMI – it’s a calm easy way to travel and safe because traffic moves slow! Bonus tip, ride a bike to the beach and you won’t have to worry about finding a parking spot (if you don’t want to walk).

Ice cream after sunset

Our favorite spot for a cone after dinner is Two Scoops. Generous servings, plenty of flavors and delicious ice cream is our speed.

Long beach days with nowhere else to be

Our favorite day starts with a walk on the beach in the morning, breakfast and then back to beach mid-day. Late afternoon we make our way back to the pool at Stillwater Palms to float and get hydrated (or make a good drink) before sunset at Bean Point. No schedule, just moving through our time at the water.

It’s a mental reset — many visitors say they sleep better here

At Stillwater Palms up in the calm, quiet north end of Anna Maria nightlife is at your home away from home. There’s no loud music or cars. Just calm, quiet and plenty of stars over the water. We promise it will be some of the best rest of your life.

5. Family-Friendly & Welcoming

Safe, walkable neighborhoods

You can walk all over on Anna Maria day and night safely. Plenty of sidewalks plus slower moving cars means pedestrians rule! We love to walk all over the island – you can do miles without even feeling it.

Beaches ideal for kids

While Anna Maria Island beaches are beautiful, safe and fun, one thing they aren’t is a place for party crowds. Alcohol is not allowed on the beach, making it an ideal place for families.

Locals who actually talk to you

If you’re looking for a good happy hour stop into Slim’s Place or Bortells Lounge – you’ll plenty of people who live on the island happy to discuss life, the island and everything in between.

It’s a place where generations return together year after year

Once you fall in love with Anna Maria it gets in your heart and in your soul. As shared in our first blog, from the time we first set foot on the island all we wanted to do was get back to where the beaches are beautiful, life slows down and our family comes together.

6. Nature Is Everywhere

Dolphin sightings are common

If you walk on the beach in the morning you just might see a dolphin. No matter if it is the first or four hundredth time we always love to see dolphins!

Manatees, pelicans, sandpipers

The variety of birds on the island is immense. Whether on the water at the private dock at Stillwater Palms or out flying over the gulf, diving for fish birds and wildlife are everywhere. We love that manatees gently float near the shore and through the canals in the warmer months. It is a true sight to behold.

Mangroves, bays, and quiet preserves

You feel connected to nature without having to “go explore” — it surrounds you. At Stillwater Palms you will stay right on the water where the canals meet at Lake LaVista. Take a kayak out off the dock to explore the canals and mangroves or enjoy nature from the dock, trying your hand at fishing.

7. It Feels Personal

People don’t just visit Anna Maria Island — they fall in love with the island – trust us at the Heart of Anna Maria Island, it is our heart and soul:

Family vacations

Anna Maria is made for families. Quiet, safe, walkable and fun. Renting a house with extended family is the perfect way to come together, catch up, share meals, have some fun at the beach or pool and just reset away from everyday life.

Annual traditions

Everytime we come to the island we have a lineup of things we must do. morning walks on the beach, chaucuterie at Waterfront, ice cream at two scoops, float at the pool, sunset at Bean Point, repeat.

A sense of belonging

Anna Maria truly feels like a home away from home. It feels like you belong, like its a community of friends, like a place you want to return to time and time again.

Anna Maria “feels like home, even when it’s not.”