Anna Maria Island’s Cultural Coastline Rocks!

Also known as Anna Maria Key, Anna Maria Island is located off the coast of Manatee County, Florida, between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. Ponce de Leon named the island for his patroness Maria Anna von der Pfalz-Neuburg, Queen of Spain. The name is pronounced ma-rye-a, like the German term for the wind. Seven miles long, the island is divided into three parts with a city in each part: Bradenton Beach in the south, Holmes Beach in the middle and Anna Maria in the north. A trolley runs between the three cities along Gulf Drive, from the north end to the south end of the island, making sightseeing unbelievably convenient.

Picturesque, with crystalline, sugar-white sandy beaches and an average temperature of 75 degrees, Anna Maria Island is a magnet for the savvy tourist. The pristine beauty of the beaches attracts wedding parties from all over the world, making the island famous as the “wedding capital of Florida.” Every year in February, the Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival, inviting brides to experience this spectacular island venue in person, as they plan their big day with on-site wedding planners.

Called the “Cultural Coastline” by the residents, Anna Maria Island offers an opportunity to buy art directly from local artists, visit historical museums, enjoy the marine aquarium and discover local performing artists. Because the entire island is designated as a bird sanctuary, ecotourism is popular. The Intracoastal Waterway is home to bottlenose dolphins, manatees visit the island waters in the summer and sea turtles nest on the beaches. A constant source of entertainment, dolphins leap and play in the wake of sail boats as they cruise offshore.

After a busy day of parasailing and turtle watching, great restaurants are easy to find on the island. Beach dining is especially popular, featuring seafood and sunsets, good wine and friendly service. After dinner, there are quaint hotels and vacation rentals enticing the weary beachcomber to rest well, only to sail, snorkel or cycle again in the cool of another Anna Maria Island morning.