Must Do Things On/Around Anna Maria Island

[stepmead]

We are staying just off Holmes Beach for 6 nights and looking for things to do. We are a family of five with children who will be aged 13, 10 and 3. They are very happy on the beach but wondered what other things we should not miss.

Any suggestions of good places to eat too please?

[karalma]

If you check out my trip reports in my signature you can see what we did.

[discostu]

Depending on the kids, ice skating at the Ellenton rink (its behind the Ellenton Outlets) Bowling at Bradenton lanes. There is a batting cage near by. Mote Aquarium, Try Full Belly BUrger for food, very relaxed but its small.There are a few Amish restaurants nearby as well as the usual changes

[jemett]

You can hire bikes to explore or hire a golf cart.
Ginny and Janeys for breakfast or lunch. Walk to two scoops for ice cream. Rod and real pier for breakfast.
Coquina beach will see dolphins and manatees.
Sandbar for a meal and watch the sunset.
Early morning beach walk to hunt for shells and the elusive whole sand dollars.

[LLKJDisney]

Originally Posted by karalma

If you check out my trip reports in my signature you can see what we did.

See more...

Can i ask where you stayed and how did you book it please?

[Scoop]

One of the best seafood restaurants is the Starfish Company. It is just off Cortez. You will probably will have to Google it as it is off the beaten track x

[Hank]

Go and see Manatees at Palma Sola Bvld, just across the bridge from Anna Maria Island, whenever we have been few local people were there including woman who said she came in her lunch break every day. We saw 7 including 2 babies

We went for lunch and found a nice place, go back the way we came to Cortez Road and turned right towards the coast after short distance we turned did a u turn before just the causeway at another Bar / Restaurant and headed inland on Cortez rd again for short distance and turned right into 124th street
which took us to

starfishcompany
Star Fish Company Market & Restaurant
starfishcompany
Seafood Market and Dockside Restaurant in the Florida fishing village of Cortez



It closes at 3pm Sunday and Monday

This really is old Florida and very cheap and cheerful Cash only, no cards, we really enjoyed it, it was like going back in time, food come in a box which is handy if you want to take some home.

[JLH]

Not quite on Anna Maria but whilst we were there for a week we visited Sarasota - we went on a Saturday whilst there was a farmers market and have a browse round that and once we had finished there went onto St Armands circle , wandered round there before having an ice cream in the Ben and Jerrys shop.

[florida girl]

Definitely hire bikes it’s a great way to get around the island very safe. Robinson’s Preserve is a lovely place to walk or cycle not far from Holmes Beach just along the causeway.

[carolineonecat]

The mote aquarium- they also do a great explorer cruise for the kids