HomeSpecial SectionsLocal GuidesInsider's Island - The...

Insider’s Island – The insider’s guide to outdoors AMI

There’s more to outdoors life on Anna Maria Island than you think.

From kayaking mangrove tunnels to diving a historic wreck to finding your perfect beach, here is a guide that will turn you into an AMI outdoors insider. Grab or click your map and get started!

Bradenton Beach

Longboat Pass Jetty – Cindy Lane | Sun

The Longboat Pass jetty is at the southernmost tip of AMI, marking the start of Coquina BeachNamed for the delicate, pastel creatures that dig into its shoreline, Coquina Beach covers 96 acres trimmed with Australian pine trees that shade a recreational path, picnic tables, pavilions and barbecue grills. The beach has a snack bar, lifeguards, restrooms and showers, and plenty of room for a long walk.

Coquina BayWalk at Leffis Key
Coquina BayWalk at Leffis Key – Cindy Lane | Sun

Across Gulf Drive, Coquina BayWalk at Leffis Key is a 30-acre park on the Intracoastal Waterway featuring mangrove-shaded trails and the tallest hill anywhere around. Climb to the top and you can see Bradenton, Sarasota and St. Petersburg.

Cortez Beach
Cortez Beach – Cindy Lane | Sun

Back on the Gulf side, Cortez Beach offers plenty of parking for a beach day. Or take a walk or a run on the multi-use path, which offers more secure footing without sacrificing a beach view. A disabled ramp leads from the path to the beach, where wheelchairs can park on the sand.

Bradenton Beach Pier
Bradenton Beach Pier – Cindy Lane | Sun

The Bradenton Beach Pier is the place to go fish in the Intracoastal Waterway. If you’re keeping track of time, the clock tower at the pier tolls the daylight hours, but you’re on your own after dark, when the clock is silenced. Fish cleaning stations with fresh water are spaced all along the pier and restrooms are at the end.

Regina commemorative plaque
Regina commemorative plaque – Ed Ice | Submitted

The wreck of the 300-foot barge Regina, a state underwater archaeological preserve, is marked by buoys in the Gulf of Mexico off the 800 block of Bradenton Beach. It sank in a storm on March 8, 1940 while being towed from Havana to New Orleans, making molasses from Cuban sugar cane. One crewman drowned with his dog; seven were saved by local residents.

Holmes Beach

Grassy Point
Grassy Point – Cindy Lane | Sun

Grassy Point Preserve’s mangrove tunnels on the Intracoastal Waterway are perfect for kayak exploration. You may see roseate spoonbills (often mistaken for flamingos), roosting pelicans and white ibis, or even one of Florida’s threatened manatees. You can also walk the hiking trail and enjoy Florida’s native foliage from land.

Manatee Beach
Manatee Beach – Cindy Lane | Sun

Manatee Beach at the western end of Manatee Avenue features a playground, picnic tables, lifeguards, restrooms, showers, a gift shop, a fishing pier and an indoor/outdoor snack bar with live music on weekends. Head north to the Skate Park, where watching the stunts is almost as much fun as doing them, and Scentral Park, for off-leash dog fun.

Anna Maria

The northernmost city on the Island, Anna Maria is home to the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum at 402 Pine Ave. Housed in a 1920-era ice house, you’ll learn fun facts like the Island’s original pronunciation, “Anna Mar-eye-ah,” how a diving platform was built in the Gulf of Mexico for an Esther Williams movie, and how

Belle Haven Cottage
Belle Haven Cottage – Cindy Lane | Sun

the inventor of the Fig Newton helped build the Roser Community Church just up the street. Next to the museum you can tour the Belle Haven Cottage and the Old City Jail. The story goes that prisoners at the jail, which had no window glass, were punished more by the mosquitoes and the heat than by the law.

Rod & Reel Pier
Rod & Reel Pier – Cindy Lane | Sun

Bayfront Park in Anna Maria overlooks the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, the historic Egmont Key lighthouse and the Rod and Reel Pier at 875 North Shore Drive, a popular fishing spot and restaurant.

To wrap up your AMI tour, walk the beach at sunset at the northernmost end of the Island. Bean Point offers panoramic views.

– Cindy Lane | Sun

Most Popular

More from Author

Surf shop celebrates 60

HOLMES BEACH – Jim Brady’s West Coast Surf Shop is in...

Cortez founded on mullet

CORTEZ – A visit by Dr. Angela Collins to the Cortez...

Underwater Anna Maria Island gallery

Hold your breath and take a tour of the limestone reefs...

Floridian Mortgage wins championship

ANNA MARIA – Spring has sprung and winter sports at The Center are coming to a close, with team Floridian Mortgage earning the win against team Moss Builders Thursday night in the adult co-ed flag football championship game. The top two teams in the league matched up in...

Man completes Chamber passport program in five hours

ANNA MARIA ISLAND - The annual Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s Passport Program is a fun way for residents and visitors to the Island to get out and discover Island businesses with a passport offered for free by the chamber. Participants are encouraged to get their passports...

One ARK Foundation raises funds for foster families

live music, delicious food and spirited fundraising as the One ARK Foundation held its second annual “Kindness Matters Extravaganza” at The Cheesecake Cutie & Cafe on March 21. “One ARK” stands for “one act of random kindness” and is a newly-established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by The Cheesecake...

Save our homes

This column should be titled “Save our Taxes,” since that’s what we’re really talking about. However, saving on property taxes is part of the Save Our Homes benefits and portability transfers are another piece of this law. In January of 2008, the Florida Legislature passed legislation that allows...

 Reel Time: Salon fundraiser meets with success

Salon (noun) - a conversational gathering of notables held at the home of a prominent person. On Saturday afternoon, Suncoast Waterkeeper held its Suncoast Salon fundraiser at the Sarasota home of Anna Maria residents Bill and Debbie Partridge. The event was a sellout and attracted some of...

Temporary paid parking vendors hired

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners considered four temporary use parking permits at the March 21 commission meeting and after much discussion, approved three with stipulations, denying one. Permit applications were submitted by developer Shawn Kaleta for temporary parking lots at 102 Third St. N., 207 Church Ave. and...

Fire department sued over rental regulations

BRADENTON – Almost a year after passing a resolution changing the district’s approach to taxing and inspecting vacation rental properties in residential areas, West Manatee Fire Rescue is receiving pushback from one rental owner. During a March 19 commission meeting, the district’s attorney, Maggie Mooney, informed the board...

Bridge Street traffic, parking among commission concerns

BRADENTON BEACH – In what was an unusually lengthy, seven-hour city commission meeting that began at noon on March 21, commissioners dove into parking and traffic issues, pickleball and organ donation. BRIDGE STREET ONE WAY? A Bridge Street business owner asked the commission to consider making Bridge Street one...

Scaccianoce new Bradenton Beach commissioner

BRADENTON BEACH – Ward 1 has a new commissioner. The application for commissioner by business owner and former Manatee County records manager Deborah Scaccianoce was approved by the commission and she was sworn in at its March 21 meeting. She filled the vacant seat left by former Commissioner Jake...

Kruse talks beach parking, Island consolidation

HOLMES BEACH – About two dozen people came out on March 20 to meet with Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse, bringing their questions for the candidate, who is seeking re-election in November. Kruse held a town hall meeting at the Island Branch Library where he answered every question...

Commissioners deny bids for paid parking

BRADENTON BEACH – Rather than partnering with an outside vendor as planned, commissioners are now considering city-managed paid parking lots throughout Bradenton Beach. The city had put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) on Feb. 9 to “Provide the City with a complete parking management and enforcement system...