Things to Do with Kids on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide

Updated: September 2026

Anna Maria Island runs on simple pleasures: beach mornings, dolphin sightings from the shore, an ice cream stop before sunset, and a steady supply of easy outdoor adventures. Toddlers, teens, and multi-generational crews all find their pace here without much planning required. For where to eat while you are here, my Dining on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide covers every craving worth knowing about.

Planning around Florida’s afternoon showers? My Rainy Day Activities on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide covers the best indoor options across the island and nearby Bradenton so your family fun never has to pause for the weather.

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Outdoor Adventures & Tours

Kayaking & Mangrove Tunnels

Calm water, protected preserves, and winding mangrove tunnels make kayaking an easy outdoor pick for families with kids of almost any age. Robinson Preserve and Neal Preserve are the two best-known launch points nearby, both with scenic waterways suited to beginners and experienced paddlers alike. For rental details, launch locations, and the best times to go, my Kayaking on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide has what you need.

Boat Tours & Sunset Cruises

A boat tour puts kids at eye level with the island in a way the beach cannot: dolphins alongside the boat, quiet backwater views, coastline scenery from the water. For a full breakdown of tour types, my Best Boat Tours and Charters on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide covers every option, and my Best Sunset Cruise on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide focuses on the evening outings specifically.

Pirate Adventures

Pirate Adventures in Cortez runs an interactive pirate-themed cruise aboard the Sea Gypsy that is built for kids. Young buccaneers get pirate gear, storytelling, games, and a treasure hunt across Palma Sola Bay, Anna Maria Sound, and Sarasota Bay, with music and water cannons keeping the energy up throughout. Book ahead, especially during peak family travel weeks.

Biking

Flat terrain, ocean breezes, and quiet beach streets make Anna Maria Island genuinely bike-friendly. For route ideas, rental tips, and the best scenic paths, my Biking on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide covers what you need to plan a ride.

Jet Skiing

For families with older kids and teens, jet skiing is a straightforward way to cover more of the coastline in less time. My Jet Skiing on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide covers rental locations, safety tips, age requirements, and what to expect.

Parasailing

Parasailing gives families a genuinely different view of the island: sand, water, and rooftops all at once. My Parasailing on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide has the age requirements, safety information, and booking details.

Horseback Riding

Guided horseback rides run out of the Palma Sola Causeway on the mainland side, just before the bridge onto Anna Maria Island, where a handful of outfitters lead rides along the sand and into the calm water of Palma Sola Bay. Horses are not permitted on the island’s own Gulf beaches, so the causeway is where this one happens. My Best Horseback Riding on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide covers booking and what to expect.

Fishing

No boat required: the island’s piers, beaches, and canals give families everything needed for a morning of fishing without leaving dry land. My Shore Fishing on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide covers licenses, bait shops, and the best spots for a first-timer’s rod.

St. Regis Longboat Key Lagoon Experience

Just off Anna Maria Island, the lagoon at the The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort offers a unique planned water experiences. Under the Sea Lagoon is a controlled saltwater environment where guests can snorkel alongside tropical fish and even interact with stingrays, all guided by on-site marine aquarists. It is designed for all skill levels, with a mix of shallow areas and guided experiences that make it approachable even if snorkeling is not usually on your list.

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Beach Activities

Swimming at Lifeguarded Beaches

Swimming near a lifeguard tower is the lowest-stress way to enjoy the Gulf with kids. Lifeguards monitor conditions, post and adjust beach warning flags through the day, and can respond quickly if currents pick up. Anna Maria Island has lifeguards stationed at Manatee Public Beach and along Coquina Beach and nearby Cortez Beach. For what each flag color means, my Beach Warning Flags on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide
is worth reading before the first beach day, and my Lifeguard Stations on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide covers exact locations and hours.

Beach Safety Tip: Borrow a Free Life Vest

Manatee County’s “Beach Like a Local” initiative provides complimentary U.S. Coast Guard-approved life vests for visitors and residents at unguarded stretches of the island. Borrow-and-return stands are located at Bayfront Park and on the beach along Gulf Boulevard between Magnolia Avenue and Palm Avenue, stocked with infant, child, and adult sizes. Worth knowing about if your family plans to swim anywhere outside the three lifeguarded beaches.

Sandcastle Building

The island’s powdery white sand holds moisture well, which makes it easy to shape into anything from a simple tower to an elaborate moat-ringed castle. The best building sand sits closer to the waterline, damp enough to pack without collapsing. Before leaving, flatten your creations and fill in any deep holes; both protect nesting sea turtles and keep the beach safe for the next visitor.

Shelling & Shark Tooth Hunting

A beach walk turns into a treasure hunt fast on Anna Maria Island. Sand dollars and coquina shells turn up along the shoreline, and shark teeth are a common find near Bean Point and Coquina Beach. My Shelling on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide covers the best spots, timing tips, and what to look for.

Skimboarding & Boogie Boarding

Gentle Gulf waves and a gradual shoreline make the island a reasonable place for kids and teens to learn either sport. Morning hours tend to bring calmer surf and smaller crowds, which helps younger riders build confidence.

Dolphin Spotting from Shore

Dolphins show up just offshore often enough that spotting one from the sand is a realistic goal, especially during the quieter morning and evening hours. Coquina Beach and the northern tip at Bean Point are two of the more reliable spots. Bring binoculars if you have them, though dolphins are often visible without.

Beach Picnics

Coquina Beach and Manatee Public Beach both make easy picnic spots thanks to shaded areas and nearby facilities. For something even less effort, my Beach Chair Dining on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide covers restaurant-quality meals delivered right to your beach chair.

Kid-Centered Experiences

Mini Golf

The Fish Hole Miniature Golf, on Bridge Street, is a local favorite with a nautical theme and tropical landscaping, with just enough challenge to keep adults engaged too. Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf, in Bradenton, leans further into the theme with waterfalls, caves, and live alligators on the course, which tends to be a bigger draw for younger kids.

Bowling

Bolero Bradenton offers classic lanes, arcade games, and casual food, an easy pick for a break from the sun or a rainy afternoon that works across ages.

Skating

Astro Skate Family Fun Center in Bradenton rents trainer skates for beginners along with regular quad skates and speed or inline skates, plus beginner and advanced lessons. An arcade and snack bar round it out. Good for a rainy day or a break from the sand.

Hands-On Experiences

For pottery painting, guided art sessions, and other creative activities, my Hands-On Experiences on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide covers every option worth knowing.

Playgrounds

The island has several playgrounds, most near beaches, picnic areas, and restrooms. Coquina Beach Playground, at the southern end of the island, has large shaded climbing structures and swings right next to the beach. Bayfront Park’s playground looks out over Tampa Bay and suits younger kids especially well. Manatee Public Beach Playground sits near one of the island’s most popular lifeguarded beaches, making it easy to move between swimming and playground time.

The Center of Anna Maria Island

Playgrounds, open fields, sports courts, seasonal camps, and family events throughout the year make The Center of Anna Maria Island a good option when you want something active without committing to a full excursion.

Meet the Parrots

Visitin the colorful parrots outside Sun and Surf Beach Shop in Holmes Beach is one of the island’s more unexpected stops, with personalities that tend to charm visitors of every age. For the full story, my The Colorful Parrots Outside Sun and Surf on Anna Maria Island post covers it.

Turtle Talks

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers run free Turtle Talks through the nesting season, typically May through October, with rotating locations and times that shift from year to year. Check current dates and venues before planning around one; they tend to run about 30 minutes and cover why lighting, beach furniture, and nighttime activity matter during nesting season. A worthwhile stop for both kids and adults.

(Izzy’s note: I updated this section based on current information, since the schedule and venue appear to move around each season. Worth confirming with AMI Turtle Watch directly before publishing, since your original draft named a specific day, time, and location that no longer match what I found.)

Trolley

The free Anna Maria Island Trolley runs daily along the length of the island from the Anna Maria City Pier area down to Coquina Beach, with roughly 35 stops along Gulf Drive. It typically runs from about 6:00 AM to 10:30 PM, with pickups every 20 minutes through the day. Kids tend to enjoy the ride itself, and parents appreciate not hunting for parking during peak season. For routes, stops, and how to use it, I break it all down in my The Trolley on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide.

Movies

Regal Oakmont is the closest movie theater to Anna Maria Island, with reclining seats and the usual snacks and air conditioning. It is an easy escape after a busy beach day or a rainy-day plan on its own.

Skate Park

The Anna Maria Island Skate Park at Holmes Beach Skate Park, 5801 Marina Drive, is open daily from 10:00 AM to sunset, with ramps and obstacles suited to beginner and intermediate skaters and scooter riders.

Library

The Island Branch Library in Holmes Beach, part of the Manatee County Public Library System, is a quiet, air-conditioned stop with books, magazines, children’s materials, and occasional story times. It is an easy stop when you want to slow things down for an hour.

Coquina Beach Market

Held under the shady Australian pines Coquina Beach Market, an open-air market brings together local artists and small businesses in a relaxed, breezy setting steps from the sand. Handmade jewelry, coastal artwork, and beachy home decor make it worth a stop, and mornings tend to be the most comfortable time to visit in the warmer months.

Treats & Snacks

Ice Cream Shops

No trip to Anna Maria Island is complete without an ice cream stop. My Best Ice Cream on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide covers every scoop worth seeking out.

Donut Shop

The Donut Experiment on Pine Avenue is the move if you want guaranteed smiles. Start with a warm cake donut and pick your own icing and toppings; chocolate frosting with rainbow sprinkles, maple with bacon, and vanilla with crushed cookies are all in the rotation. Watching the donuts get assembled is half the fun. Grab a box for the beach, take it back to the rental for a slow breakfast, or stop by before hopping the trolley.

Frozen Treats

North Shore Cafe is a solid stop for smoothies and lighter chilled drinks after a beach morning. Blueberries Cafe and Wine has smoothies and café-style drinks in a relaxed indoor setting. Anna Maria Island Frozen Yogurt and Acai lets everyone build their own bowl, which tends to be a hit with kids.

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Museums & Educational Fun

Anna Maria Island Historical Museum

For a deeper look at the island beyond its beaches and sunsets, the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum on Pine Avenue in the City of Anna Maria covers the people and stories behind this stretch of Florida. Vintage photographs, original maps, and artifacts from the island’s fishing-village roots bring its early days to life, alongside the Old City Jail on the museum grounds, built in 1927 to hold rowdy tavern patrons and now a favorite photo stop. Admission is free and the visit takes under an hour, which makes it an easy add to a beach day.

If you would like more of the island’s backstory, my The History of Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide covers its founding families, early development, and the character that still defines it today.

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature

A short drive over the bridge in Bradenton, The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature blends science, history, and hands-on discovery. It is the largest natural and cultural history museum on Florida’s Gulf Coast, with the Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat, exhibits on Florida’s prehistoric past and maritime history, and a planetarium with regular shows. A worthwhile break from the beach that adds some depth to the trip.

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium

Just south in Sarasota, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is a natural next step for kids curious about the ocean life they have been spotting from the beach. Touch tanks let kids interact with certain marine species, and exhibits on sharks, sea turtles, manatees, rays, and reef fish round out the visit. As an active research facility focused on marine conservation and coral restoration, it is the kind of place that might spark a future marine biologist.

Florida Maritime Museum

currently closed for rehabilition

Housed in a restored 1912 schoolhouse in historic Cortez Fishing Village, the Florida Maritime Museum focuses on the history of commercial fishing, boat building, and the maritime traditions that shaped the region. Exhibits on traditional wooden skiffs, early fishing tools, and the families who built Cortez’s legacy make it an engaging stop for both kids and adults. Admission is free, and the grounds are open enough to keep younger visitors interested. Pairs well with a walk around the village and a dockside lunch afterward.

Cortez Fishing Village

Just across the bridge from Anna Maria Island, Cortez Fishing Village is a genuine slice of Old Florida. My Historic Cortez Fishing Village: My Insider Guide covers everything worth seeing, eating, and doing there.

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Save for your Visit

Looking for something to keep the kids entertained on the drive over or during downtime at the rental? A few printable options worth grabbing:

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Coastal Close

Anna Maria Island makes family travel easy in a specific way: mornings on the beach, a mid-day adventure, something sweet in the afternoon, and a sunset that brings everyone back together. Whether the crew is chasing dolphins, building sandcastles, biking the island, or just putting in another beach day, these are the moments that stick after the trip ends. For everything worth eating while you are here, my Dining on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide covers every craving, and my downloadable Anna Maria Island Restaurant Guide on Etsy is worth grabbing before you go.

— izzy