Disney to Anna Maria Island

[lbklyn]

Was just wondering if anyone has gone from Orlando to Anna Maria Island (Just looked into it today)? Looking for a really nice quiet beach place to go to before or after the parks one of these days and this place really looked nice. How would the trip be and is it as nice as it looks? Any pros or cons? Thanks!

 

[kpadalik]

I live in Sarasota Cty, which is just south of Anna Maria Island. AMI is a beautiful place, small little beach town/village. It will probably take 1-1/2 hrs or so to get there. It is not right off the interstate either. You will have to drive through Tampa or Bradenton. I have never stayed there, but I have driven through a few times. It's very much a place where you spend your time outside, so if the weather is iffy, you probably don't want to head over that way. I'm not sure when you are planning on visiting, but the weather really can make or break your trip. If it's winter, it can be downright cold and windy (or warm and humid - but hey that's FL for you!). If spring, can be nice at times, but very temperamental. Summer is hot, humid, and stormy (think hurricane season!). Fall is nice, usually humidity is less, hot during the day, but beautiful in the evenings. One thing is for sure - you will see some of the most beautiful sunsets ever! Have fun in your planning!

 

[lbklyn]

Thank you so much for the information! We would probably look into staying there for 3 or 4 days and then head to Orlando. Always looking for the perfect beach town! Not big on crowds (can't get around that in Disney though!) and happened upon AMI on trip advisor and it just looked so pretty!
Thank you again!

 

[JenIN]

Hey!

Four years ago when we took our DD on her first trip to Disney we did a split trip. We spent 3 days at Disney and 2 at Anna Maria Island. We knew nothing about the area, except that it was an island with a beach. We went there because I like the resort we found. Resort may be too luxurious-sounding a name for where we stayed, but we liked it well. It's called Cedar Cove Resort. You can check it out at www.cedarcoveresort.com We stayed in a 2 bedroom/1 bath apartment--I think it was the "Sunset Suite." It had a living room and eat-in kitchen. There was a patio with dining table. It is an older, but well-kept place. Fairly basic. The resort is on the beach. Our apartment was 2nd row, but we could see the gulf. They have lounge chairs on the beach, a hammock and lots of beach toys to borrow. The beach is not the super-fine sugary beaches of the panhandle (or even what my uncle says is down near Port Charlotte), but it was pretty nice. Once you got past a fairly shell-y part of the beach, the sand by the water was nice. The surf was low the days we were there, which was great for introducing a 2-year-old to the gulf. I convinced her King Triton lived out there and had calmed the waters just for her. I'm thinking it took at least 2 hours to get there from Disney. Anyway, we enjoyed it and would certainly recommend it. Hope this helps.

JenIN

 

[lbklyn]

Thanks JenIN! In the pictures the sand looks pretty white, not so much? And is the water as turqoise as it appears? I know I sound like a nut but the people I would be going with keep saying Fort Lauderdale or Palm Springs (which as far as I know are VERY far from Orlando). We went to Lauderdale by the Sea last June for a wedding and although I liked it and it is not as crowded as Fort Lauderdale itself I still prefer a calmer laid back atmosphere at the ocean. As long as AMI is a nice area and the beach is as nice as it looks everyone would be happy with the choice.

 

[JenIN]

The sand was pretty and white, but you had to cross a swath of shell-ier sand (probably the high tide line) to get to the better part of the beach. The beach was nice, just not as lush as Destin (but few things are). We really enjoyed it. Looking back at my pictures--the water really is that pretty and turquoise. Thinking back, it was a rather quiet beach. I think we were often on the resort's beach alone and may have only seen a half-dozen or so couples/families walking the beach during the couple of hours at a time that we'd be on the beach.

JenIN

 

[lbklyn]

Thanks again! Still looking into AMI but now you have me also looking into Destin! So Destin is nicer?

 

[Melynny]

We just did Anna Maria Island before-between our last trip ( we just got home yesterday) I love Anna Maria because it is closer to disney than destin. and depending on the weather, it will be warmer in the winter. Thanksgiving, the water was way too cold to swim in but the sun was great. shells were there. And we saw dolphin every day. Never saw any dolphin on the beach at destin.

 

[postesf]

We just came back from Bradenton on Sunday. Our friends have a condo down there... It's about 10 min over the bridge from AMI. We took his boat out and it was so nice! The water there is really clear and very pretty. I thought the sand was very pretty and white as well.

If you like Margarita's try Anna Maria Oyster Bar. I think it's actually in Bradenton on Cortez Road. They have 2 for $5 and they are yummy! We ate dinner there twice! Breakfast at Peaches (again in Bradenton) is really good too!

There is a Something... (can't think of the name) Circle that is down by Longboat Key. Lots of shops (some definately higher end) and some restaurants there too.

From Bradenton, you go over the bridge and AMI is to your right and Bradenton Beach is to your left. If you turn left, there is a good little ice cream shop on your left and if you continue on, you will go to Longboat Key and the Something another Circle where the shops and all are at.

Whatever you guys decide, I hope you enjoy it!!!

Stacie

 

[lbklyn]

Thank you all! I looked into Destin also but although the beaches look beautiful it does seem very crowded. Also i am guessing that is a looong drive to Orlando.

 

[JenIN]

Destin is great, but is no longer the undiscovered jewel it was when I started visiting with my parents 25 years ago. It is very crowded. There are still some quiet places on the panhandle, but that part of Florida is going to be a haul from Disney. My personal preference is the gulf-side beaches over the Atlantic-side beaches.

JenIN