Explore Anna Maria Island, The Nature Lover’s Paradise

If you’re dreaming of sugar-white sand lapped with warm turquoise waters, come explore the pristine beauty of Anna Maria Island, one of Bradenton’s best-kept secrets. This seven-mile island is home to dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, birds, seasonal tarpon, and a wide variety of other sea life in the Gulf of Mexico. Nature’s playground is at your fingertips on Anna Maria Island, here’s how you find it.

Visit a preserve

Spend a day at the beach

Plan a boat excursion

We have curated a list of the top things to do and places to visit for nature lovers looking to explore the beautiful outdoor life on Anna Maria Island.

Visit a preserve

One way to explore the waterways around the mainland is by checking out one of the preserves on Anna Maria Island. Be it by boat, paddleboard, canoe, kayak, bicycle trails, or by hiking the nature paths, you can be sure to see the many wildlife and protected species that habitat the area. Keep your eyes open to spot bird wildlife such as roseate spoonbills, wood storks, white pelicans, or bald eagles. Pack a picnic and plan to watch the beautiful sunset when you visit these two preserves on the island.

Jiggs Landing Preserve

Robinson Preserve

Spend a day at the beach

Visiting Anna Maria Island for a week? Maybe two? If you’re looking to explore the beaches of our beautiful island, there are no shortages of places to discover. If you’re heading to the beach to bird watch, some of the many species you can find are pelicans, egrets, herons, ospreys, sandpipers, vultures, eagles, and storks. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, stingrays, the occasional jellyish passing through, and more marine life.

You can’t visit the Gulf of Mexico without shelling either. The best times to shell are at daybreak or after high tide. Here are some of the top beaches on Anna Maria Island.

Holmes Beach 

Anna Maria Bayfront Park

Manatee Public Beach

Coquina Beach

Palma Sola Causeway Park

Bean Point Beach 

Plan a boat excursion

If you want to see Anna Maria Island by water, booking a boat excursion is a must. Whether you’re looking for a public or private tour, there is something for everyone to enjoy and see on the Gulf of Mexico. For the dolphin lovers in your family, get up close with a dolphin tour. The underwater explorer can also find out what’s hidden below with a snorkeling adventure tour. Check out the tours and boat rentals available on the island.

Anna Maria Island Dolphin Tours

M/V Minnow

Fun Boat Tours and Parasail

Passage Key Dolphin Tours

We can help you find the perfect vacation rental to enjoy all that Anna Maria Island has to offer. Enjoy a luxurious and cozy vacation experience while exploring the pristine outdoors along the Gulf of Mexico. If you have any questions or wish to check on property availability, you can fill out a form and contact us or call at (813) 748-8215.

Check out these other helpful resources when planning your vacation to AMI

3 New Must-Try Restaurants on Anna Maria Island

Top Grocery Stores on Anna Maria Island

How to Love Anna Maria Island Like a Local