Things to Do with Kids
Anna Maria Island
We've compiled our Insider knowledge of the Best Things To Do with Kids on Anna Maria Island
Read all about our comprehensive Kids Guide, full of interesting things to do for children of any age from toddlers to teens on Anna Maria Island, Florida. From knowing where the best playgrounds are to partaking in totally unique, educational and sometimes weird activities, we've got you covered for a fabulous vacation with your family that will be memorable for years to come!
Feel free to follow our Facebook Page, Anna Maria Island Beach Life. to keep up to date on local events and activities that pop up throughout the year on Anna Maria Island, Florida prefect for kids.
Remember to keep kids safe by learning about our beach safety tips. You could save a life! BEACH SAFETY TIPS
Download the Free Kid's Acitivity Checklist and let your kids decide on their ideal vacation!
Best
Kid Activities
What to do
When it Rains
Toddlers
Parks
skateboard park
volleyball beach
shelling
pine ave shopping
bodysurf
busch gardens
sarasota jungle gardens
neal preserve
boat charters
jet ski
bimini bay sailing
beach horses
Mixon Fruit Farms
free trolley
biking
Aquariums & Museums
Best
Kids Beach
Amusement
Parks
Best
Kid Restaurants
Teens
1. a favorite family hike or walk
2. the best beach around for families (and why)
3. water park, amusement park, mini golf nearby
4. good biking area (and info on bike rentals)
5. boat or train rides
6. nearby restaurants that are especially family friendly
7. the best ice cream shop around
8. kid-friendly museums, zoos, science centers
Best Kid Activities
The Ultimate List of the
Things to Do with Kids on Anna Maria Island
Surfing
There's nothing like the feeling of riding a wave on a surfboard. There are several surfing options in the area to accomplish this sport.
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Eternal Summer Surf Camp runs in the summer months every Sunday for six weeks from 2:00 - 4:00 pm, the team combines a short Sunday sermon spreading the word of God along with free lessons to any child who registers. Do register here on their website as they now have over 2,000 attendees at all of their campuses. Register for Eternal Summer Surf Camp here.
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West Coast Surf Shop's Kids Summer Surf Camp runs their camp on a weekly basis. Kids attend for half days with local instructors. The West Coast Surf Shop is the oldest one in Florida. Open since 1964. You can register and ask for details via the West Coast Surf Shop's Facebook page here.
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Book a session with a surf instructor. Individual sessions are offered for hire via West Coast Suf Shop's resources of local surf instructors. Use their Facebook page above to send them a message and ask for more information. Don't forget to buy your first board from West Coast they offer spongey versions to avoid bumps and lumps.
Best for Kids and Teens
Kayaking
Kayaking is a great way to get out and up close to marine life and shorebirds that call Anna Maria home. Since each of our vacation rentals boasts a waterfront location we really enjoy getting out on the water and our deepwater canals, and Bimini Bay which leads into Tampa Bay. The shallow water and the fact that kayaking doesn't require experience lends itself to a perfect kid-friendly activity. Note: be sure to wear life-jackets and always have an adult on hand to supervise children on the water. If you need to rent kayaks you can book them on our Things to Do page on our website here.
Best for Toddlers to Teens
Fishing
Fishing from any of our Anna Maria Island piers is an adventure, also offering kid's a chance to see dolphins, manatees, Floridian fish, and pelicans. Children under the age of 16 years do not need a license to fish in the state of Florida. Expect to catch popular sportfish such as; flounder, Red Drum, Sheepshead, Snook, and Spotted Seatrout. Piers may charge a fee to fish from, please enquire at each location (Rod n Reel, Anna Maria City, Bridge Street Piers). Please participate in catch and release and educate yourself on the restrictions and what type of fish you can or cannot remove at the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Please note, It is illegal to fish at public park beaches on Anna Maria Island in order to keep swimmers safe.
Best for Toddlers to Teens
Mini Golf - Mini Putting
The Fish Hole is a wonderful miniature adventure golf park for the kids located right in Bradenton Beach. Get your free coupon here for The Fish Hole.
Best for Toddlers to Teens
Best Kid Beaches
The Ultimate List of the
Best Kid-Friendly Beaches on Anna Maria Island
Turtle Nest Excavations
AMI Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring offers Turtle Talks June through July at the Crosspointe Church which is both educational and fun. They offer videos and live artifacts for the children to view and touch. It's a great way to educate adults and children of all ages on the essential habitats of turtles and shorebirds and best of all it's free, donations are welcome. During our Turtle nesting season, the same organization also escavates the sea turtle nests to gather data and occasionally you can see a straggler hatchling that is released into the ocean if you are lucky. Nests on all beaches on the island are excavated and you can read their notices on their Facebook page to dates, times and locations on our beaches. Note: it is illegal to touch or tamper with any staked nests on the island so please look but don't touch! www.islandturtlewatch.com
Bayfront Park in Anna Maria
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Manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach
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Manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach
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Best Kid Restaurants
The Ultimate List of the Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants
on Anna Maria Island
Kid-Friendly Sweet Treat Restaurants on Anna Maria Island
All of the Restaurants listed below are great for Kids of All Ages from Toddlers to Teens
Ice Cream
Our kids' love, love, love heading to the local ice cream shop for a scoop or two! There is an abundance of options throughout the island. Check out our Ice Cream Smackdown article of the Top Ice Cream Shops on Anna Maria Island to get your best ice-cream on the island no matter where you are located. There are some unique ice cream options like the Hawaiian Ice-Cream Mochi Bubbles found at Shiny Fish Emporium. Be sure to get the total island experience by riding your bikes to your local shop or taking a golf cart. You can read the Ice Cream Smackdown on our Anna Maria Island Beach Life Blog here.
Donuts
Anna Maria Island is known for its fresh, made to order donuts Anna Maria Island Beach Life Blog here.
Flip Flop Candy Stop
Anna Maria Island is known for its fresh, made to order donuts Anna Maria Island Beach Life Blog here.
Cupcake Delights
Anna Maria Island is known for its fresh, made to order donuts Anna Maria Island Beach Life Blog here.
Kid-Friendly Beachfront Restaurants on Anna Maria Island
Gulf Drive Cafe
Anna Maria Island is known for its fresh, made to order donuts Anna Maria Island Beach Life Blog here.
The Sandbar & The BeachHouse Restaurant
I often tell our guests that have young children to head to the restaurants located right on the beach so that their kids can step away from the dining table and dig their toes and hands in the sand while they are waiting for their food to arrive or for the adults to finish their meals. It's a great idea that an adult heads down to with The Sandbar Restaurant or The BeachHouse Restaurant beforehand to put in their name for an outdoor table then call the rest of the gang that is ready to head to the waiting table immediately. The Sandbar is located in Anna Maria on the north end and The BeachHouse is located on the south end of the island in Bradenton Beach. Read our reviews on our Casual Dining Guide page here.
Kid-Friendly Pier Restaurants on Anna Maria Island
Anna Maria City Pier
Anna Maria Island is known for its fresh, made to order donuts Anna Maria Island Beach Life Blog here.
Rod n Reel Pier Restaurant
Anna Maria Island is known for its fresh, made to order donuts Anna Maria Island Beach Life Blog here.
Anna Maria Island Oyster Bar on Bridge Street Pier
Anna Maria Island is known for its fresh, made to order donuts Anna Maria Island Beach Life Blog here.
Tides Tables Waterfront Restaurant
Anna Maria Island is known for its fresh, made to order donuts Anna Maria Island Beach Life Blog here.
Great Kid-Friendly Restaurants on Anna Maria Island
Ugly Grouper
Anna Maria Island is known for its fresh, made to order donuts Anna Maria Island Beach Life Blog here.
Skinny's Place
Anna Maria Island is known for its fresh, made to order donuts Anna Maria Island Beach Life Blog here.
Ginny 'n Jane E's Restaurant
Anna Maria Island is known for its fresh, made to order donuts Anna Maria Island Beach Life Blog here.
Eat Here Restaurant
Kids love to build their own pizzas at the Eat Here Restaurant in Holmes Beach. Eat Here "celebrates great food without pretension" so you can feel just fine showing up in jeans or shorts. Casual Dining Guide page here.
Aquariums & Museums
The Ultimate List of the Best Kid-Friendly Aquariums and Museums near Anna Maria Island
Mote Marine Laboratory Aquarium
Mote Marine Aquarium is a marine research center founded in 1955. They specialize in educating the general public through their aquarium located on City Island, one block north of St. Armand’s Circle. Explore the secrets of the sea via touch pools, viewable-working labs, and exhibits. There are over 100 species of marine life to encounter. Mote Marine also offers eco-adventure boat tours guided by marine experts. A fun and fascinating way to get a chance encounter with dolphins, manatees, osprey, bald eagles, and other Florida wildlife. Ticket prices range from $19.00 - $27.00. You can buy your tickets here
South Florida Museum
South Florida Museum in Bradenton will offer you a guaranteed manatee viewing. Rescued manatees that are being rehabilitated before being released back into the wild call South Florida Museum home. Watch the live webcam here (daytime only). The South Florida Museum is the largest natural and cultural museum on the Florida Gulf Coast, boasting a Planetarium, Museum, and Aquarium, it's a great place to explore at any age. Tickets range from $14.00 - $19.00 You can buy your tickets here
Clearwater Beach Aquarium
The Clearwater Aquarium is home to Winter and Hope the dolphins who star on Disney's movie's called A Dolphin's Tale. Clearwater Beach is a quick 1-hour 15-minute drive from our vacation rentals. It's a great way to spend a rainy or sunny day in Florida. Tickets start as low as $20.00. You can buy your tickets here
Florida Aquarium in Tampa
The Florida Aquarium delivers the beauty of ocean animals with interactive and immersion galleries diving deep into the world of Florida's natural habitat and other ecosystems. From the Wetland's iconic spiral dome enclosure where free-flying birds soar and playful otters frolic to the deep coral reef environment within a 500,000-gallon tank, animal interactions and information go wild in the heart of Tampa Bay. Children love unique features like the stingray feeding, the penguin promenade, and the huge outdoor water play area. Tickets are up to 35% OFF!. You can buy your tickets here
Amusement Parks
The Ultimate List of the Best Kid-Friendly Amusement and Theme Parks near Anna Maria Island
Busch Gardens in Tampa
Busch Gardens is a family favorite of ours. My kids and hubby love to get to this amusement park in nearby Tampa for a thrill. This amusement park hosts up-close animal encounters, thrilling rides and wonderful shows for all ages. Plan a safari through their Serengeti Plains on an authentic truck tour. Busch Gardens is only an hour and 20 minutes drive from Anna Maria Island, Florida. You can buy your tickets here
Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando
Walt Disney World Resort is an iconic must-see attraction at least once in a lifetime! A short 2-hour drive from Anna Maria Island Home Rentals, Disney showcases all of your favorite characters in a multitude of themes, animal and water parks. Once you are “Disney'ed” out you can return "home" for a much-needed rest and some relaxation. You can buy your tickets here
What to Do When it Rains
The Ultimate List of the Things to Do when it Rains with Kids on Anna Maria Island
The Fish Hole is a wonderful miniature adventure golf park for the kids located right in Bradenton Beach. Get your free coupon here for The Fish Hole.
AMI Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring offer Turtle Talks June through July. It's a great way to educate adults and children of all ages on the essential habitats of turtles and shorebirds and best of all it's free, donations are welcome. www.islandturtlewatch.com
There are several parks and preserves on and around Anna Maria Island to explore. Neal Preserve, Perico Preserve, Robinson Preserve are the closest to the island. Leffis Key at Coquina Bayside is on the island. Ungarelli and Riverview Pointe Preserve are a little further away. Primarily used for walking, hiking, dog walking, bird watching and in some cases kayaking. Click the Manatee County Preserves and Conservation Lands link for more information on park times and activities.
Biking is a fabulous way to enjoy Anna Maria Island for any age group. Our recommended route for youngsters that need guidance would benefit from the mile long bike path on Coquina Beach.
Flyboarding. Older kids will enjoy this high adrenaline adventure. Imagine jet propulsion into the sky, flipping, and diving in the warm Floridian waters. Very easy to learn within 10 minutes. Video packages are available to remember this Bucket List activity. Kids must be 15 years or older with parental consent as well as a minimum of 100 lbs. Book Now