"The Answer is Anna Maria Island!"

... said Southern Living magazine when it asked - "Ever wonder where all the good old Florida beaches have gone, the places we loved before high-rises, fast food, and traffic took over?" Then it added - "Imagine if you could turn back the clock for a simpler kind of Florida vacation. One in which wide strips of white sand, curling blue-green breakers, and unhurried walks on weathered piers dominate your days … Where families play volleyball before gaggles of gulls, and an all-you-can-eat pancake joint sits smack-dab on the beach."

Just North of Sarasota, Florida, Anna Maria Island remains a perfect paradise, the best of Florida west coast islands, and a choice destination for family Winter vacations or romantic weekend getaways. An idyllic choice for Sarasota Florida vacation rentals.

Discovered by the Spanish explorer Cortez in 1530, the island was marked "Anna Maria Cay" on old Spanish maps in honor of Virgin Mary and her mother Anne. Home of the inventor of the Fig Newton, the 7-mile long Anna Maria Island is comprised of three cities – Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach – each with a distinct character.
Those wishing to escape the lazy pace of life on the island will find multitude of choices from theatres, the opera house and museums in nearby Sarasota and St. Petersburg to theme parks in Tampa and Orlando – all within convenient driving distances. The island itself sports a community theatre and several festivals and art shows throughout the year.

The Island Trolley now offers free trips to destinations throughout Anna Maria Island!