 Anna Maria Beach Resort VIBE: Family Friendly Manatee Public Beach, 4000 State Road 64 and Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217 What is the best beach for family fun with an island vibe? We recommend Manatee Public Beach. We lived on the Gulf coast when we first moved to Florida, and have been there many times. Anna Maria Island is a 7-mile long barrier island on Florida's Gulf Coast. It is one of the most popular destinations in Florida, with over 400,000 visitors annually. The island has a population of about 3,000 year-round residents and a number of vacation homes and condominiums. It is famous for its sunsets, which are often photographed. Close to Tampa International Airport, Anna Maria Island has become a popular tourist destination, and there are a variety of hotels and restaurants available. It is especially nice for families with kids who can enjoy the calm Gulf water. Manatee Beach Sand  We used to live in the Bradenton area and visited Manatee Beach as often as possible. It's such a beautiful ride past the popular causeway beaches. There are people fishing, jet skiing and riding horses in the shallow water. The sand is white, typical of a Florida west coast beach. It is more compacted than other beaches so make sure you have a spike for your umbrella. You will have to work to get it in deep. The sand is a little different than Siesta Key Beach. It may get hot on your feet during the summer so bring sandals to wear until you reach your chosen spot. Then settle in and relax near the Gulf of Mexico shore. Manatee Beach Water  With the clear blue water at Manatee Public Beach, you can see many types of fish swimming around you. You may also see dolphins and the occasional manatee. We recommend you bring your snorkeling gear so you can get a good look at this live undersea treasure. Kids with goggles will love swimming in the warm, shallow water that is almost always calm. Anna Maria Island Beach Parking  Credit: ABC Action News Parking at the beaches on Anna Maria Island is a challenge! The free parking located at Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe is where we always try to park (Manatee Public Beach). It gets very busy, very fast. You must be prepared for a line up that starts back on the causeway. Unfortunately, it is only one lane. The bonus is the cafe has enjoyable food: I had the Grilled Chicken Caesar. No reservations are required at the restaurant. They have breakfast and entertainment beginning at 5:30pm (subject to weather conditions).  Entertainment at Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe Showers and picnic tables are available. A Publix store is nearby if you forget your sunscreen. There is also overflow beach parking at Anna Maria Elementary School which provides 60 additional parking spaces. It is located at 4700 Gulf Drive and is within walking distance of the parking lot at Manatee Public Beach. Like Madeira Beach, there is a free Island Trolley. If you have an RV and need to park, try spending that day on Coquina Beach at the southern end of Anna Maria Island. The free parking lot there is much larger and they are supposed to add 700 more spaces. Beach Activities  Do you love beach volleyball? This is the place to do it. If you love to swim, swimming here is very safe and enjoyable. The lifeguard stations are well-manned and the beach patrolled for safety by an award-winning crew. If you want to explore Anna Maria Island without a traffic headache, then try the free Island Trolley. It is air-conditioned. Several trolleys loop the island from Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach, up to the City Pier in the City of Anna Maria on the northern end of the island on a daily basis. The main attraction on Anna Maria Island, however, is the fiery sunset at the end of your beach day. It is worth every ounce of effort you expend to reach this beach. Like Siesta Key Beach, the sunsets are breathtaking. Look Out! this Could Happen...  Photo: Kristin Swain | Sun We can't stress enough that you find out if Red Tide is at your desired beach before you go. Do not miss this step with any of the Florida Gulf Beaches or you may be disappointed. When Red Tide is present the beach may be uninhabitable. There are often dead fish and the odor can make it hard to breathe. The other issue is traffic congestion and crowds so access this website to view the crowd meter. It will also tell you about tides, winds, water quality and temperature. They even have a sunburn meter! If you take these easy steps, you will likely have a wonderful beach day you'll remember forever. What We Really Think About Anna Maria Island  Credit: Dominic Sansotta The word is out and this is a popular beach for everyone! With a restaurant, live music and beautiful sunset. Yes, parking can be a problem, particularly on weekends during tourist season. Parking regulations are heavily enforced. The beach is groomed and very clean and the Gulf water is the among best clarity you can find anywhere. It is almost as nice as the Destin beaches! We ate at Island Time Bar and Grill at 111 Gulf Dr. S., Bradenton Beach and had fish and chips. We categorized this as a camping beach, although the closest RV Park is just over the causeway. Still, Holiday Cove RV Resort, is less than a mile from the beach and has great reviews.  You Might Also Enjoy: Comments are closed.
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