If you’ve wondered about the famous Anna Maria Island, perhaps for planning your next vacation, then wonder no more.
This small area of a nearly 2-mile width and 7-mile length is over 70 years old (officially incorporated and named in 1950). It’s got over 8,000 people each month (about 5,000 residents & 3,000 visitors), and you’ll find the Gulf of Mexico right there on the border.
There are limitless Anna Maria Island things to do here, like shopping for rare jewels, seeing piers, and more. To reach it all, take a ride on the free trolley on Anna Maria Island!
About The Trolley
The Anna Maria Island trolley runs every 15-20 minutes from 6 each morning to 10:30 each night. It can take you from the top to the bottom of the island in no time. You can board it anywhere from Coquina Beach to the main AMI beach region. After about 9 p.m., the trolley will make its last few nightly stops every 30 minutes instead of 20. All you need to navigate where you’re at, in case you want to know the closest trolley stop to your location (or you get lost), is an AMI Chamber of Commerce map. Visit any local kiosk, the visitor center at the Manatee Beach, a local business, or even just a local trolley stop for one of these.
Where Does It Stop?
You’ll find nine locations for pick up:
- A – Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach
- B – Gulf Dr/Bridge St, in Bradenton Beach
- C – Gulf Dr/27th St, in Bradenton Beach
- D – Manatee County Beach in Holmes Beach
- E – Gulf Dr/Wachovia in Holmes Beach – Northbound Only
- F – Gulf Dr/Pine Ave in Anna Maria
- G – Anna Maria City Pier in Anna Maria
- H – Gulf Drive/78th St in Holmes Beach – Southbound Only
- I – Island Shopping Center in Holmes Beach – Southbound Only
The trolley will take you near some of the island’s best activities on the trolley. Check out at least a couple of these spots while you’re in town!
Anna Maria City Pier
The pier is right on 100 N Bay Blvd. Here on the pier, you can stand on the edge of the docks and feel the gentle breeze whisking you away to thoughts of peace and calm. You will enjoy the sound of the seagulls and waves softly moving about as you do so. You can also walk along the pier to find many small shops nearby, selling horse-inspired paintings, jewelry, shark teeth and fossils, and much more. The pier also holds the Rod & Reel Pier Restaurant, which opens from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday, it runs from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. The specialty starter course here is their City Pier Crab Cakes.
C&S Plaza
A famous shopping spot in this area is C&S Plaza in Holmes Beach. Several spas, retail stores, eateries, mini-malls, and more are conveniently located. Many stores sell accessories and apparel from Lilly Pulitzer, Nicole Miller, and countless other local, quality names. Grab a bottle of wine from the Island Fresh Market, pick up a pizza from Domino’s, or stroll between the vendors to see what hidden treasures you can find. This strip mall is open from 10-10 daily (but closes as late as 10:30 on Tuesday nights). If you want shopping spots, food places, and laundry, all in one day, you should come here. The vendors here are some of the friendliest in the area as well!
Manatee Public Beach
Seven acres of clean, sandy beach: You get to enjoy here at Manatee Public Beach on 4000 State Road 64 and Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach. For the general public, it’s open from sunrise to midnight (given special exceptions if you hold a particular permit or under special holidays). This beach has more bike racks than you’ll find around any beach in this region. More bikers come out here than beach-goers, and if you’d ever like to take a break from peddling those trails for a while and drop in for some peace and clarity, this would be the perfect beach for you. No matter how you arrive, you’ll enjoy beautiful surroundings, plenty of activities, and a short distance from shops and restaurants when you need a break from the sand.
Plan Your Visit
Our Anna Maria Island rentals are a great choice if you need a condo! We know AMI like the back of our hands and can help you find the ideal condo for your needs. Our team is always here to help you plan the perfect trip to AMI. Contact Florida Dreams today to learn more!
Bridge Street Anna Maria Island
The Historic Old Town District houses the one and only Bridge Street, where you will find a more than generous fill of shopping activities for all ages and personalities alike. Start with The Lot (located on 110 Bridge St.), a shop, and an art gallery. It sells everything from Christmas gifts to beachwear to local custom-made photography products. On November’s last Saturday, you’ll get to see locals light up a massive Christmas tree right here on Bridge Street each year. They play a classic holiday film, too, the title varying each year. Bridge Street is also home to plenty of shops and restaurants, and there is a breathtaking pier to enjoy the view of the water or try to catch a fish. Treat yourself to an afternoon of shopping and relaxing when you stop at Bridge Street.
Get the Anna Maria Trolley App!
This free Android & iOS app, known as myStop, is easier to use. When you download and run it for the first time, it will ask you to choose your transit authority, from which you’ll select or search for Manatee County. If you allow location permissions, it can quickly tell you the nearest trolley or bus route. That’s for permitting this app to track you (in your phone’s settings, you can disable or enable this, as you wish). The app can map the entire island and even show you your current AMI Trolley Route. If you ever want to know the next stop or figure out when the trolley is supposed to arrive, the app can handle all of this for you and more.
Anna Maria Island Rentals
Checking out Florida Dreams for top-quality Anna Maria Island vacation rentals is your best bet when coming to the area. We have got many kinds of rentals to suit any group that arrives on the island. If you seek a perfect model home that you can call yours when you’re in AMI, then say no more. We are here to serve such a need and offer competitive rates and discounted pricing.
