Anna Maria combines coastal scenery and island history, but each experience has a different focus. At Anna Maria Bayfront Park, the view takes in Tampa Bay; at the Anna Maria City Pier, fishing and walks along the waterfront are part of the experience; and Bean Point is a quiet beach at the tip of Anna Maria Island. The Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum explores the island’s history. This mix helps you sort out your interests before looking for a hotel in Anna Maria.
By the water: views, picnics, and the pier
From Anna Maria Bayfront Park, you can enjoy views of Tampa Bay, Egmont Key, and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The park also has shaded picnic tables and a reservable pavilion with grills. This brings together scenery and picnic facilities. The three landmarks give the view a specific connection to the bay, island, and bridge; the pavilion is an added option for anyone planning a picnic.
At the Anna Maria City Pier, visitors and locals fish for species including redfish, snook, Spanish mackerel, pompano, and sharks. If you would rather stroll or take in the view, you can walk along the waterfront and watch the sunrise or sunset. Fishing and a walk by the water offer different experiences: one focuses on fishing, while the other is about the view across the water and the changing light.
Beach and island history
Bean Point is at the tip of Anna Maria Island and is a quiet beach with soft white sand. From there, views stretch across Tampa Bay to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The beach, sand, and sweeping views shape the experience here. If a quiet beach and scenic views are what you are mainly looking for on your trip, Bean Point offers a different experience from fishing or strolling at the pier.
At the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum, artifacts, photographs, and maps tell the story of Anna Maria Island. The timeline spans the earliest days as a Native American fishing camp, the first homesteader in 1893, and 1920s culture, through to the baseball players who spent the winters there from the 1950s to the 1970s. The exhibits thus take you through several distinct periods: from early settlement stories and development in the early 20th century to the baseball players’ later winter stays.
The historic complex also brings together several examples of historic architecture. The Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum building was constructed as an icehouse in 1920. The complex also includes the restored 1920s cottage Belle Haven and the original Old City Jail. The icehouse and cottage dates are close together; the original jail adds another historic building to the complex. The museum also offers scavenger hunts for children.
Getting around the island
The free Island Trolley runs the entire length of Anna Maria Island. This island-wide route is a useful detail for planning how to get around. If you want to use the trolley during your stay, you can factor its route into your plans for the day.
You can tailor your search for hotels in Anna Maria to your own travel interests.
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Back to the broader travel overview: Manatee.
