Bradenton doesn’t have any beaches, but nearby Anna Maria Island features a slew of them, including Holmes Beach, Coquina Beach and more. Manatee Beach is among the finest, and is located at 4000 Gulf Dr., Holmes Beach 34217, FL.
Vibe
Popular and relaxed white sand beach with loads of amenities. Lifeguards, a beach café, free parking and shallow, gentle waters make Manatee Beach a favorite with families—and everyone else who needs a dose of sand and sun, making it the island’s most beloved beach. Encompassing seven acres, Manatee feels like old-Florida. It’s the kind of place to nosh on a grouper sandwich, watch the sunset paint the waves pink and orange, and dance to live music with your toes in the sand.
See, feel
Situated on Anna Maria Island, a seven-mile-long sliver of sand hugged between Anna Maria Sound and the Gulf of America, Manatee Beach delivers the ultimate in convenience. You can rent umbrellas and chairs right next to the beach, and changing cabanas make it easy to wiggle in and out of your bathing suit. Anna Maria Island Beach Café invites you to cool off with an ice cream cone or sip on a tropical concoction, and a free-to-use beach wheelchair means everyone in the family can join the fun. Yet, the beach is the undisputed star of the show, laden with picture-perfect, snow white sand that doesn’t burn bare feet. The emerald-tinted water is calm, shallow and clear, with a backdrop of dunes, seagrapes and palms-- and no high rises. Expect some crowds, but not a wild party scene: it’s relaxed and family friendly. While normally calm, winds, tides and offshore systems can cause the water to be rough.
On or near the beach
Take a splash in the placid waters, perfect for timid swimmers; work on perfecting your tan; challenge your buddies to a game of beach volleyball; or let the kids burn off steam in the playground. Refuel at the Anna Maria Island Beach Café, and stick around for the sunset and live entertainment.
Accessibility
Manatee Beach’s accessible amenities include ADA parking. The Anna Maria Island Beach Café offers free-to-use beach wheelchairs, first come, first served.
Facilities
Amenities at Manatee Beach include lifeguards; a visitor information stand; a playground; volleyball courts; a beach shop; chair and umbrella rentals; grills, benches, and picnic tables; bike racks; changing cabanas; restrooms; outdoor showers; water fountains; and a trolley stop. Last but hardly least, the Anna Maria Island Beach Café features indoor and outdoor seating, and is famed for all-you-can-eat pancakes.
Lifeguards
Lifeguards are on duty 365 days a year at Manatee Beach, from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. Labor Day through Memorial Day, and 9 a.m. through 7 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Parking
Manatee Beach delivers ample, free parking, with ADA parking available- but it’s a popular spot, so arrive early. In addition, free trolleys arrive every 20 minutes to transport visitors to locations all across Anna Maria Island. The trolleys operate from 6 a.m. until 10:30 p.m., seven days a week.
If you prefer to pedal, you’ll find built in bike racks at the beach.
