ANNA MARIA ISLAND AREA BEACHES
Our favorite beach is simply the beach out front with private access at Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals – 601 Gulf Dr. N. Anna Maria Island, Florida 64217 — A perfect spot to spend the day and ideal for watching the breathtaking sunset. It is simple and pretty and one of the finest Gulf of Mexico beaches along the sun coast.
As our guest, there are other area beaches that you might like to explore. Here is a list in order of distance, closest to furthest from Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals.
Cortez Beach — Featuring 140 feet of undeveloped beach it picks up just south of us and ends at the North part of Coquina Beach. This is a unique “Old Florida” style beach, with tall trees lining the beach along with native grasses, sand dunes and sea oats. Combine this with the sandy beach and beautiful gulf waters to make a picture postcard setting. This is a fabulous beach with a completely different feel from Coquina Beach. There are no life guards so you swim or surf at your own risk and there are no amenities like children’s playgrounds, volley ball areas or beach chair rentals.
Although you can still reserve a picnic pavilion here and there are restrooms nearby this is a much quieter beach.
If you drive, Cortez Beach sits on Gulf Drive South on Anna Maria Island, so just slowly cruise the street while looking for a parking spot on the right (west) roadside parking area. You basically pull off Gulf Drive South and on to the side of the road to park. As you jump out of your car you can taste the salty air. This is a beach where you can enjoy the blue skies, warm Florida sun, white sand and make an exceptional day of it.
This Manatee County Beach is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Coquina Beach — 2650 Gulf Dr S., Bradenton Beach, FL
Located on the southern end of Anna Maria Island this is spectacular beach with white sand and turquoise blue water. Coquina Beach offers on duty lifeguards, a concession stand, beach equipment rentals (umbrellas, beach chairs) picnic areas, children’s playground, volleyball courts, water fountains and restrooms. There is a multi-use biking/walking path spanning a large distance. Coquina is lined with tall pine trees offering shady covering for the picnic area where you can enjoy your food and drink. At the southern end of the beach you can sit and watch the boats pass from the west into the inter-coastal waterway looking across at Beer Can Alley. The northern end tends to be a bit quieter where you can relax and maybe if you are lucky you will spot some of the dolphins that frequent the shoreline.
The Coquina beach park is conveniently located on a trolley stop, so you are able to get to it easily from our condo. There is plenty of parking available for those wanting to drive their car.
Manatee Beach — 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach
This beautiful white sand beach is a popular spot for families visiting Anna Maria Island. With lifeguards on duty, picnic tables, children’s playground and volleyball courts, this is a gorgeous natural Florida beach. There is a Café on the beach with indoor and outdoor seating. Other facilities include rest rooms, changing stalls, showers, water fountains, umbrella and beach chair rentals. There are also picnic tables in the shade, tucked under the Australian pines. For us beach walkers…you can walk for miles, north or south of Manatee Beach. A five minute drive from our condo and right on a trolley stop this public beach is in a central location on the island. There is lots of parking in the good sized lot and it is free! This is a very popular beach that fills up fast. Definitely worth a visit!
Beer Can Island/Greer Island Park/Hooked Spit
Located on the northern tip of Longboat Key at Longboat Pass drawbridge. this undeveloped white sand beach is a popular hangout for locals. Virtually everyone comes by boat, but you can walk here in low tide like we did. By boat you will have easy access and if you are driving you should park your car at the west end of N. Shore Rd and walk north along the gulf. The beach will curve and you will find many old fallen trees. Continue walking (now east) to Longboat Pass where you will find a group boats anchored to the beach. The entire walk is about half a mile one way and is really tranquil. You don’t have to go all the way down to the boaters and can setup your beach spot anywhere. The swimming here isn’t great, because there are dangerous rip currents in Longboat Pass. It’s safer to swim where you park the car off N. Shore Rd. or across the bridge at Coquina Beach. You will find, even at low tide, there are quite a few rocks to clamber over and it is not really accessible with little ones (except by boat). However, the beach at the Northern end of Longboat is still a wonderful place to visit and to escape the crowds. The twisted trees seem to tell a story and I’m sure they have a lot to tell.
Incidentally there are no public restrooms or lifeguards here.
Whitney Beach — Approximately a quarter-mile long, Whitney Beach is located directly across from Whitney Plaza at the north end of Longboat Ley. Once you’re on Longboat Key, simply follow Gulf of Mexico Drive until you find a road off to the right near North Shore Rd. This is the area in which you want to be that leads out to Whitney Beach. There is a public parking area conveniently located on Broadway Street just west of Gulf of Mexico Drive. Approximately a seven minute drive from our condo this beach extends southward behind several condominium residences. With no amenities you will have to bring what you require for this beach. This is a pristine beach where you will find lots and lots of shells.
Bayfront Park — 310 North Bay Boulevard, Anna Maria
This beach has beautiful white sand that even in the hottest sun, won’t burn your feet. The water is crystal clear and usually nice and calm. A great location for a beach family picnic, with pavilions, grills, benches, showers, water fountains, playground and restrooms. It does not have lifeguard services. Approximately a ten minute drive from our condo and there is a free trolley stop at the City Pier right next to the park.
Bayfront Park offers some of the best views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and Egmont Key with excellent picnic and grilling facilities. Visit this beach to enjoy an afternoon barbecue with your family while enjoying the scenery.
Bean Point — This gorgeous, secluded white sand beach which wraps around the whole northern part of Anna Maria Island is probably the quietest beach on the Island. Situated on the northern tip of the Island where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Bay the view is as peaceful as it is beautiful. There are no facilities here, therefore, it doesn’t seem to attract tourists so you might very well have the beach to yourself. If you need a break from the Florida sunshine there are lots of pine trees around so you can enjoy the shade. Swimming is not always recommended here because of the risk of strong currents and riptides so please use caution. You can certainly walk along the long shoreline and enjoy the tranquil views. Bean Point is also well known for its incredible sunsets! This is also a great place to fly a kite. Park on any of the side streets in the area and make your way to this beach at the northern tip.
For the latest up to date new, things to do, special offers, travel tips and more continue to follow our blog @ Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals/Blog
*The content of this blog is not to be copied, adapted or shared without the written consent of Anna Maria Condo Rentals.
