Seven miles long and sitting in The Gulf of Mexico, Anna Maria Island has it’s own distinct characteristics. 3 cities are located here, Bradenton Beach to the south, Holmes beach is in the middle, and the City of Anna Maria is the northern most city. Each of these 3 cities have their own unique attributes. A great way to get familiar with Anna Maria is to hop on our free Trolley that picks up every 20 minutes all day long, and into the night. It’s about a 1 hour ride from start to finish and you will see all of the island without the distractions of driving. You’ll find a variety of shopping and dining here, some within walking distance from The Nautilus, most within bicycling distance, and everything within a 10-15 minute’s drive.
Beyond Anna Maria Island
If you’re looking for some activities while you’re here there’s plenty of things to do nearby. To the south is St. Armands Circle and Sarasota, about 30 minutes drive. St. Armand’s is a beautiful shopping area located on a big roundabout, and the City of Sarasota is just a few minutes away on the mainland. There’s plenty of culture here. The Ringling Museum houses John Ringling’s personal collection of Old Masters, American and Asian masterworks making it an “awe-inspiring retreat”. The Ringling Mansion is a dazzling 56 room palatial mansion thats a must see, too. The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has been hosting a broad range of performances including symphonies, dance companies, jazz artist, pop performers, cometdy and broadway.
Many other attractions are one hour away or less to the north, including Downtown St. Petersburg. Here you’ll find the St.Pertersburg Pier, The Dali Museum, Tropicana Field for the Tampa Bay Ray’s baseball. Take a drive up the beach and you’ll see the historic Don Cesar Resort, the John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk, The Clearwater Aquarium and Tarpon Springs. Head west to Tampa and get an adrenaline rush from roller coaster rides at Busch Gardens, catch a NFL Buccaneers Game at Raymond James Stadium or a Tampa Bay Lighning NHL game.
The best part of a day trip off-island is your return to Anna Maria Island and your return to a place that’s slower paced and a place that’s easy to get in to relaxing. Catch a sunset, pick out your favorite restaurant and top off your day.
