Anna Maria

Luxury living is effortless in Anna Maria, a small beach community that sits peacefully in the Gulf of Mexico just west of Bradenton. “It’s coastal convenience. Everything you want to live the island life is right there,” says Matthew Huffman, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty. “I have a listing on Pine Avenue, for instance. You walk outside and to your left is the City Pier, where you can grab a coffee or go fishing. To your right, you walk up the street where the shops and restaurants are. You head past them and you’re on the beach. The difference in living on the island and living just 10 minutes away -- where you have to pack up all your belongings for a day at the beach – is night and day.”

Anna Maria is one of three communities that makes up Anna Maria Island. Occupying the northern section of the island, Anna Maria is the secluded, residential cousin of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, its more commercial and tourism-driven relatives. “You’ve got the beach bungalows with the history and charm, you’ve got newer homes being built and you have all the coastal homes that can be used as a primary residence or as a rental investment,” says Huffman. “Depending on what you want, you can find what you’re looking for.” The collection of cozy beach homes, some more than 100 years old, typically list between $1 million and $2 million. Multilevel coastal homes are common throughout town and typically list between $2 million and $ 6 million. The coastal style is incorporated into some of Anna Maria’s largest homes, which also include new properties and typically list for $7 million or more. You’re not just paying for a pristine location. Among the listings, amenities include private boat slips, rooftop decks and even a putting green. The most expensive listing is a 5-bedroom, 7,163-square-foot waterfront home for $22.5 million. You can be on the beach looking out over the Gulf in seconds, by opening the back door and stepping outside.

Unlike most of the beaches on AMI, as the locals call the island, the beaches on Anna Maria are rarely busy. Most popular among residents is Bean Point Beach, a wide, secluded stretch located on the northern tip. It’s the perfect place to enjoy the beach in peace. No lifeguards, concessions or amenities. Just sun, sand and water. The center of activity is City Pier. Stroll down the boardwalk and order a burger and ice cream cone from the City Pier Grill & Bait Shop. Afterward, drop a line in the water and wait for the snook and redfish to bite. While you wait, enjoy the view, which features the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to St. Petersburg. The annual AMI Privateers 4th of July Parade ends at the pier and is followed by the Anna Maria Picnic Celebration. “Anna Maria is the most family-friendly beach town we have ever visited,” says Huffman.

Students can attend Anna Maria Elementary, an A-rated school on the island, and mainland schools Martha B. King Middle and Manatee High, a B-rated institution that is the oldest public high school in Bradenton.

City Pier was the drop-off site for steamboat passengers before AMI was connected to the mainland. These days, travel is much easier. Residents can walk, bike or ride a golf cart around town. And if they want to visit the buzzier sections of AMI and points south, including Bradenton Beach and Coquina Beach, a new weekend water taxi service is slated to begin in the fall of 2023. Pine Avenue is a charming stretch of stores and eateries, all of which can be accessed by foot. At the end of that stretch is The Sandbar, a popular waterfront restaurant located along a pristine stretch of beach. It is not uncommon to see children and their parents frolicking in the sand after dinner as the sun sets over the Gulf.

“It’s just a very special place, and people can feel that,” says Huffman. “Anyone who goes there, they want to go back. It’s not overly commercial, so it feels like your own private island.”

Written By

Matt Pallister

Photography Contributed By

Leila Sally

Video By

Robert Edmonds