Are You Planning a Trip from Tampa to Anna Maria Island and Looking for Direction? Look No Further! This blog post will walk through all of the Essential Steps You Should Follow when Planning the Perfect Visit To This Breathtaking Gulf Island Barrier Island
Step 1: Determine Your Transportation
To reach Anna Maria Island, first choose how you will get there. Your options include driving, taking a bus from Tampa or flying. Driving will take approximately one hour from Tampa; buses run between Bradenton and Anna Maria Island daily or you could transfer via Bradenton into local bus service to reach Anna Maria Island directly. Lastly, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is about 20 miles away and makes an excellent starting point if flying is chosen as your mode of transport.
Step Two: Locate Your Accommodation
Once you’ve selected your transportation method, the next step should be finding an accommodation option. Choose between hotels, resorts, rental homes or condos. Stay near the beach to take advantage of water activities directly in front of your room or stay closer to restaurants and shops by staying downtown or near restaurants in town center.
Step 3: Plan Your Activities
Anna Maria Island offers plenty of exciting activities and attractions that will keep you occupied during your visit, including some of its top highlights:
- Spend a Day at the Beach: Anna Maria Island offers seven miles of beautiful beaches where you can swim, sunbathe and enjoy watersports. Experience an Anna Maria Island Sunset Cruise to Cap Off Your Day
- Start fishing: Anna Maria Island is famous for its incredible fishing opportunities, so don’t miss your chance to cast a line and experience Anna Maria’s rich fishing heritage.
- Visit historical sites: With such a long and distinguished past lies several historical landmarks to discover such as the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum – don’t miss your opportunity!
- Explore by Kayak Tour: With its smooth waters and ample tour companies offering guided kayak trips, this island is ideal for kayaking tours.
Step 4: Plan Your Meals
Anna Maria Island offers an abundance of fantastic restaurants, cafes and bars offering everything from fresh seafood to international fare. Some top places include:
- The Sandbar Restaurant: Situated directly on the beach, this restaurant provides fresh seafood with spectacular ocean views. Waterfront Restaurant: Offering waterfront dining experience featuring fresh seafood, steaks, and pasta dishes.
- Ginny and Jane E’s Cafe and Coastal Store: This delightful eatery provides delicious breakfast and lunch offerings, along with an exciting shopping experience.
Step 5: Pack Your Bags
Once you have planned for transportation, accommodations, activities and meals – including any necessary transfers or flights – it is time to pack. Remember to include clothing suitable for both the season and activities you intend to participate in; and don’t forget sunscreen, hats and sunglasses in case the sun comes out!
Plan the perfect trip from Tampa to Anna Maria Island by following these simple steps. Be sure to select transportation, book accommodation, plan activities and meals ahead of time, pack accordingly and ensure an amazing journey experience on this idyllic island!
From Anna Maria Island, Tampa is an ideal day trip. Perhaps even using Tampa International Airport (TPA).
Anna Maria Island Beach Rentals make exploring more of Florida easy! From scenic journeys, diverse activities and distinctive island experiences to beach rentals that provide everything from privacy to adventure – Anna Maria Island offers something different to experience. With so much on offer in Florida it makes an Anna Maria Island vacation rental an excellent base from which to venture forth and see more!
How to Reach Tampa From Anna Maria Island
There are two approaches for arriving at Tampa from Anna Maria Island (AMI). One option is passing through St. Pete on the Gulf of Mexico side; or taking the long but scenic drive north through mainland. Driving is by far the fastest method and will cover approximately 55 miles over about one hour, whether traveling via I-275 North or I-75 North.
Travel from AMI to Tampa via I-75 N and visit St. Petersburg and cross the iconic Sunshine Skyway Bridge, offering stunning views over Tampa Bay while providing an opportunity for photo opps at Skyway Fishing Pier State Park and Skyway Fishing Pier State Park, respectively. If time allows, Clearwater makes for a pleasant detour;
At Apollo Beach’s Manatee Viewing Center, visitors can come face-to-face with Florida’s native manatees during cooler months when they gather near the power station for warmth. Take I-275 N via the mainland route; note that its season runs November 1 through April 15. When planning a day trip to
Tampa Bay, here are a few activities and spots worth seeing during an itinerary:
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
- The florida aquarium
- Tampa riverwalk
- Tampa museum of art
- Ybor city
1. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens is an amazing way to spend an entire day, perfect for family fun! Ride thrilling roller coasters, enjoy live performances and view exotic animal exhibits! For maximum crowd avoidance consider visiting on weekdays; that is one of its main draws!
2. The florida aquarium
Visit one of the country’s premier aquariums to witness an array of aquatic and terrestrial animals! Children can interact directly with them with its stingray petting tank or admire sharks and alligators swimming right around them!
3. Tampa riverwalk
This popular walkway runs for 2.6 miles along Hillsborough River in Tampa and connects many of its major attractions such as parks, restaurants, museums and more – an excellent way to pass an afternoon exploring this vibrant city!
4. Tampa museum of art
Art and history lovers alike will adore visiting the Tampa Museum of Art, home to both modern and contemporary works as well as antiquities from ancient civilizations such as Greeks, Romans and Etruscans.
5. Ybor city
Once known as the ‘cigar capital of the world,’ Ybor City is an historic neighborhood renowned for its authentic Latin American and Caribbean food as well as vibrant nightlife scene.