This Under-the-radar Island in Florida Is One of the Best Places to Go in 2024 — With Dolphin Sightings, Sherbet-colored Beach Houses, and Amazing Local Oysters (2024)

For generations, families have returned to Anna Maria Island for its powdery white sand, abundant nature, and old Florida small-town feel. It’s no secret, but compared to more flashy Sunshine State locales, this little barrier island south of Tampa Bay feels like one.

Luckily, many fans care about preserving historic AMI and, in so doing, the island has recently experienced a come-up. After a renovation of Pine Avenue, the little main street that crosses Anna Maria City, homes around the island have been refreshed to an array of sherbet-hued and clapboard-sided beach houses. Meanwhile, local business owners have doubled down on their commitment to sustainability, respect for wildlife, and an ethos of farm-to-table and gulf-to-table dining. In 2023, Anna Maria Island became the first Florida destination to partner with the national Leave No Trace organization.

It follows, then, that AMI was just named one of the best places to travel in 2024 by Travel + Leisure editors. Here, how to explore the island, according to experts.

Best Hotels and Resorts

Mello on the Beach

Opened in 2023 on Manatee Beach, this spot has 11 bright, one- to three-bedroom villas with all the comforts of your own place – kitchenettes, in-room laundry – paired with resort amenities like a central pool, lawn games, and private beach access.

Vacation Rentals

The majority of island accommodations are vacation rentals and one of our favorite Airbnbs isParadise Blu. ​​A three-story home in Anna Maria with an upper-tier deck overlooking the bay and ocean, and three rooms with king-size beds and attached baths, it's perfect for large family getaways.

Waterline Villas & Marina, Autograph Collection

Arrive by boat to this more sophisticated hotel with 37 two-bedroom condos, each with a balcony, and dock in one of its 50 slips. At the on-site Chateau Anna Maria restaurant, French-inspired dishes from Food Network alums Buddy and Jennifer Foy are served in a nautical dining room.

Joie Inn

The apartment-style accommodations at this recently opened inn in Holmes Beach feel like stepping into a Crate & Barrel catalog. Each suite is color-themed and equipped with beach gear and a wagon for toting it. Electric bikes are at the ready for getting around town.

Best Things to Do

Wildlife Spotting Sea Excursions

Tour operators Paradise Boat Tours and AMI Dolphin Tours have small-group excursions for reliable dolphin encounters. “With Ben Webb [at AMI Dolphin Tours] you know they're going give you a good experience – he knows exactly where to find dolphins – and also one that'll make you feel good, for their respect of the animals,” said Kolby Gayson, marketing director for the Bradenton Gulf Islands.

Have Fresh Coconuts Delivered on the Beach

The island is known for its many beautiful beaches, from Coquina on the south end to Bean Point in the north. “Manatee Public Beach is the first spot you hit after driving onto the island. It has free parking and is great for people-watching. If you want some solitude, just walk a hundred yards in either direction,” said Charles McCool, an U.S. Gulf Coast expert at tour operator McCool Travel. Amp up your beach days with fresh coconut water delivered seaside by AMI Coconuts or scale your set-up with fancy chairs and umbrellas from Beach Suites.

Take the Historic Stroll Down Pine Avenue

The island became known in the early 1900s when day-trippers from Tampa sailed by steamboat to the bayside pier and walked a path to the beaches. Today, visitors can do much the same, but the path is now Pine Avenue and the old bathhouse is the iconic Sandbar Restaurant. Stops along the way include the Historical Society House and “City Jail” for a photo op; The General Store and Hometown Desserts for sustainable provisions in the net-zero Historic Green Village; Shiny Fish Emporium and the Olive Oil Outpost for crafts and goods; and great eats at Poppo’s Taqueria.

Sunsets on Bean Point

On the north side of the island, Bean Point Beach faces straight west and is known for stunning sunsets. Stop into Sandbar Restaurant for frosty beverages then head to the back deck for toes-in-the-sand viewing or stroll the sandbars during purple sky sunsets.

Ginny’s & Jane E’s Cafe & Coastal Store

“One of the quirkiest places in Florida,” said McCool, the store has “a robust and fascinating breakfast menu” with smoothies and mimosas to kick things off. They’re known for exceptional cinnamon rolls “the size of your head,” Gayson added.

Best Nightlife

The Doctor’s Office

A craft co*cktail bar that takes care to another level with a roster of classic and bartender creations adorned with fresh herbs, dry spices, char, and smoke. A new menu of bar snacks in the garden, as well as hearty main dishes like lobster and prime rib, is a snacker’s dream. Reservations are suggested as the “No New Patients” rope goes up quickly.

The Ugly Grouper

Sure, great grouper is a solid reason to visit this crowd-pleaser on Marina Drive in Holmes Beach. Another: the lively setting that draws partiers for its daily music and extensive drinks list. Get your Insta shots with the giant bug-eyed grouper sculpted from vintage car parts.

Bridge Street

“Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach is the more adventurous, louder cousin to Anna Maria where you don’t mind having an extra co*cktail," Gayson said. Live music and a selection of bars bring this historic walking district to life in the evenings. Some standouts are Blue Marlin Seafood for great food and music, Daiquiri Deck for second-story views of the water, and Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the pier for local oysters.

Best Restaurants

The Porch

A classic spot in one of the island’s oldest homes, this charming restaurant is loved for its quality ingredients, quintessential dishes like succotash shrimp and scallops, and sumptuous desserts of double chocolate cake and Basque cheesecake.

Waterfront Restaurant

In a 1922 cottage, with a deck overlooking the pier, is this laid-back restaurant known for exceptional grouper and co*cktails. “Their grouper tacos are phenomenal. They also make an original mai tai," Gayson said, adding that visitors should follow lunch here up with shopping on Pine Avenue.

Beach Bistro

A white tablecloth restaurant overlooking the Gulf, this restaurant is Zagat-rated and James Beard-nominated for its five-course tasting menus that highlight ingredients with provenance such as Maple Leaf Farm duck breast and Colorado lamb, not to mention Gulf Coast grouper.

Salt Bar & Table

A newcomer to the island brings global-inflected apps and entrees, craft co*cktails, and impeccable service to a sleekly tiled indoor space and outdoor patio in Bradenton Beach. Visitors also love their non-alcoholic drink menu.

Hurricane Hanks

Don’t be fooled by the unassuming strip mall location, this pub is a top-notch family destination for on-point fish, burgers, baskets, and starters all in a cool setting with friendly service. The owner’s bar is next door in case you need to kill some time.

How to Get There

Getting to AMI has never been easier thanks to the exponential growth of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Four new domestic destinations were added in 2023 and the airport has plans to complete an expansion of its fifth terminal in 2024. Fly into Sarasota, half an hour away, or Tampa International, about an hour away by car, then rent a vehicle or Uber to the island.

Neighborhoods

There are three towns on AMI: Anna Maria in the north, Holmes Beach in the center, and Bradenton Beach on the south side. You can take Gulf Drive from one end to the other in about 25 minutes by golf cart.

Cortez: A historic fishing village off the island’s south bridge is worth a day trip, but you can’t go across by golf cart. Excellent food at Star Fish Market and Swordfish Grill is the progeny of some of the most sustainable commercial fisheries in Florida. “As old-school throwback Florida as you will ever find on the Gulf Coast,” McCool said. “Fresh fish is brought in twice a day, sold in the seafood market, and prepared out back. Be prepared for a line and bring cash (no credit cards). One of the freshest and tastiest blackened grouper sandwiches in Florida.” Visit the Fox Mercantile for local homewares and vintage shopping and Breezy Bakery for seasonal bakes.

Robinson Preserve: Just across Anna Maria Island Bridge, a 682-acre tract of coastal wetland habitat has rubberized hiking trails and kayak launches. With mangroves that are up to 200 years old, it’s known for excellent bird and wildlife spotting. “I couldn’t paddle on one side of my kayak because the manatees were so close. It was amazing,” Gayson said. A four-story observation tower and a newly built Canopy Zone and NEST Center (for Nature, Exploration, Science, and Technology) make sightings even easier.

How to Get Around

Golf Carts & Bikes: Many motor or pedal from place to place in these open-air vehicles and there are an array of rental options on the island. Mokes from Beach Bums on Pine Ave are also a hit.

Anna Maria Island Trolley: From 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. this free hop-on, hop-off bus loops around the island every 20 minutes so you can skip traffic and parking. Consult the timetable for stops.

Gulf Islands Ferry: A new ferry runs from Bridge Street Pier to downtown Bradenton where a new convention center is bringing revitalized energy to the neighborhood.