Nearest Airport
: Sarasota Bradenton International Airport
at 14
Miles
Nearest Beach
: Anna Maria Island
at 100
Metres
Car: recommended
Anna Maria Island is a step back in time to the atmosphere of the old Florida of the 1950's when high rises did not line the beaches and the lifestyle was laid back and friendly. Unique among Florida's barrier islands, this west coast gem is often referred to by visitors and residents alike as paradise. Here you can relax on the white sugar sand beaches and play in the gentle surf of the Gulf's turquoise waters where dolphins and the occassional manatee pass by. There is also a free island trolley to take you around to the locally owned shops and galleries as well as restaurants serving island favorites from simple fare to haute cuisine. Weekend festivals and art & craft shows dot the calendar for most of the year and there are three annual parades led by our band of local pirates, the Privateers. Naturally, there is plenty of opportunities for in-shore and off-shore fishing along with every imaginable water sport and activity. Mote Maine with their aquariums and dolphin and turtle rehab centers is only a short drive away and so are the Ringling Museum of Art, the Ringling Circus Museum, the Gee Whiz hands-on children's museum, and the South Florida Musum and Planetarium. Anna Maria Island is far from the hustle and bustle of the present day but close to everything that brings life's pleasures.