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    Holmes Beach

    4.5 (36 reviews)

    Holmes Beach Photos

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    Reviews With Photos

    Sanjay G.

    Basically, the beach's name is 'Manatee Beach'. Manatee Beach is a top fan favorite. With its wide & long stretches of white sand and great views of the Gulf of Mexico, it's no wonder this beach is one of the most popular in anna maria island and in Sarasota. We reached here in the evening around 4 PM. Whether it's swimming, sunbathing, or simply just walking with your partner along the shore, Manatee Beach is sure to provide you with a memorable experience. However, there's more to this beach than just sandy shores and crystal waters. Anna maria island beach cafe: right on the beach, small tiki bar, food options (seafood- Burgers, salads, and sandwiches), ice cream. order a beer, or cocktail, or enjoy the stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico while you eat. Parking: Municipal Parking, it's free but gets full so wait in one lane for 10-15 minutes, and you can grab a spot. Restroom: Yes! Changing Room: No Shower: Yes!

    Jessica S.

    This is a fantastic beach goers spot! Super soft white Sandy beach and warm turquoise water - what could be better?! They have clean restrooms on site, along with an indoor and outdoor dining cafe and bar area. There are also outdoor showers to rinse off before heading to your car, along with private changing stations. Another great thing about this particular beach location is that there is FREE parking!! Can you believe it?! We arrived around 11:45am on a Tuesday and it was already filling up quite quickly, so this is definitely a popular sunbathing location. Highly recommend coming here for the day- can't go wrong with views likes these.

    Rachel M.

    We loved our beach day. It was so peaceful and chill. We avoid the main beach areas with the parking lot and the shower and the bathrooms and the cafe attached. It's nice to have but it's just so crowded. We went there afterwards to shower and change and wow what a zoo. We love to drive around the island & go down the side streets. It's a bit of hide and seek, but we can find parking close up to the entrance and not have to deal with the crowds. I hate crowds on beaches. Beaches are meant to chill and not have tons of people right next to you especially now. This spot we found was perfect. I wish I took down the street names to know exactly where we parked.

    just beautiful sunsets
    Cliff K.

    This is one of the nicer beaches in Anna Maria island. it's family-friendly but there's no lifeguard unless you go up to Manatee Beach It has a typical white sand wonderful open spaces that the Anna Maria island is known for and sunsets are really good here. Manatee Beach has the best public parking though.

    Anna Maria Island
    Beth K.

    What's not to love about Anna Maria Island, the charm of "0ld Florida ". The turquoise water is beautiful, white sandy beaches, and the sunsets rule. I love to sit on the beach and watch the dolphins, pelicans, and osprey. Paddle boarding , walking the beach and bird watching is popular. The beaches are perfect for shelling . Occasional you will get a unbroken sand dollar. You cannot bring your dogs on the beach . AMI is laid back and quiet. Social distancing 6 feet apart is a breeze.

    Mark M.

    One of my favorite beaches on Anna Maria Island! They have lots of free parking, restrooms, showers on either side for feet or body, a bar, snack bar, and clothing/souvenirs store. Everyone here is super friendly. The beach is very big with white sand and the walk into the water is very short when wanting to hangout in it at three-quarters water height. Everyone here respects each other. No drinking allowed on the beach but you can drink at the bar that has lots of tables and chairs.

    Holmes Beach
    Jefe H.

    Nice beach. Plenty of parking nearby in small spots along the beach. Not too many people the day we went (a Monday) and people were social distancing.

    Happy Birthday to me!
    Jackeline F.

    Going to Anna Maria Island has been on my list of must visit for 2 years. We always go away for our anniversary/my birthday but this year because of COVID, we decided flying was not what we wanted to do. So we decided on a visit to Anna Maria!! The pictures I have seen online do not do it justice. The trip from Orlando took us a little over 2hours but the traffic was not bad at all. When we arrived I enjoyed the beachy town feel as we got closer to the beach area. We found an entrance to the beach near a small hotel and a sweet free parking spot 20 feet from the entrance. The beach is glorious!! The sand is so pretty and the water is bluish turquoise, just beautiful. There were not a lot of people, thank God. Social distancing was not a problem, everyone kept to their own space. We marked our spot, lathered up with sunscreen(safety first), and peacefully enjoyed a hot sun soak. When we got too hot we made our way to the water, it was a little warm, wish it would have been cooler but it was pristine. This is my new favorite beach and will be back.

    Laura M.

    Gorgeous is the only way to describe Holmes Beach. This is a beautiful beach to spend the day on. Holmes beach is a full service beach. There are lifeguards on this beach which is rare on this coast. There are restrooms here and I think changing rooms too. There is a restaurant right on the sand where you can have breakfast and lunch. There were plenty of tables, chairs and umbrellas available to sit at and enjoy a meal or have a drink and people watch. There was an ice cream shop with indoor seating, in case you don't want your ice cream to melt!! Lol. There was a shop where you can purchase gifts or perhaps something forgotten. I also noticed volleyball courts on this beach. There was a chair rental option as well. When we were there we were fortunate enough to see dolphins playing in the ocean! I think this would be a perfect beach to watch a sunset! If you are in the area or feel like a drive to a gorgeous beach, I highly recommend Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. I don't think you will be disappointed.

    Great sunsets!
    J. J.

    Very beautiful and great sand. Has restrooms and an eatery right on the beach. A playground for small kids and volleyball for big kids. Lifeguards on duty. You can walk down either left or right for a little more privacy. Great time! Trolley runs make it convenient or plenty if parking. We stayed in condo and walked on beach.

    No "No parking" signs. How is one to know?

    Shame on you Holmes Beach parking authority! Wanted a nice beach experience with my grandson while my husband was working in Bradenton, so we headed to Anna Maria Island. Not being familiar with the area, we just headed up the beach road and found a quiet street with beach access, and it turned out to be Holmes Beach. I parked behind an SUV on the left side of the street as it was a private hotel on the right side. When we came back to the car after two hours there was a $100 parking ticket on the vehicle for parking in a spot that is not allowed and for parking on the wrong side of the street. I was truly shocked! No where was there a "No parking" sign, and the "parallel parking only" signage was facing the way our vehicles were parked, so anyone would assume it was okay to park this way. This spoiled what would have been a memorable experience for us, and I will avoid going there again like the plague. Beware of Holmes Beach parking traps!!

    Holmes Beach has bathrooms, outdoor showers and changing rooms, a volley ball court, a snack bar, all you can eat pancakes last I checked and free parking, of course. I took the photo attached showing Holmes Beach and what you can expect to see at times during a nice sunset. After nearly five years living in Holmes Beach I sold everything, packed my car and moved back home to New Hampshire. I terribly missed the food I grew-up eating, missed skiing in the White Mountains, missed the old fashioned New England winters. I missed the starry night skies. I missed the rolling hills and mountains and open lands. Florida has too many people, all flat land, roads that all look the same. I especially missed drinking ice-cold mountain spring water that NH offers plenty of. You can't find water nearly as good and pure in Florida unless you buy Figi water every week. I love Holmes Beach and Anna Maria Island for vacations, but to live there or anywhere else in Florida - forget it. I never could get used-to the nasty freak lightning storms SW Florida has, didn't appreciate flash flooding right up to my door, didn't admire the nearly invisible flies that bite hard like they have huge teeth! Didn't care much for the termites that took over my duplex drilling tiny holes in my ceiling for the sole purpose of dropping their poop below! The poop would form small piles on the floor here and there. Not cool. My landlord had to have the house "tented". I didn't like Palmetto bugs that would sometimes get-in the house no matter how well the house was sealed. They'd surprise me at night scurrying across my kitchen floor into my living room sending shivers up my spine whenever I spotted them! Palmetto bug is the polite name given to three-inch Florida cock roaches! Let's not forget the common, poisonous brown recluse spiders you might find in a new houseplant you just bought or in a bush you walk past. I won't forget the large snakes I often found on my patio near my door. They would keep themselves warm on the cement floor then hunt small lizards there the next day. I accidentally stepped on a large snake one night while wearing flip flops. I nearly lost it! I nearly killed the snake as well when I stepped on it. I also never much cared for the crazy drivers on the roads and highways in Florida, hated waiting five minutes or longer at red lights by the boatloads! I never much cared for driving in the constant heavy daytime traffic Bradenton and surrounding areas have! We don't have any of that b.s. in NH! All the city roads in Florida seem to look alike, businesses on both sides of the road are often foreclosed properties, even gas stations! Let's not forget the certain women at Walmarts in Bradenton. They act like they own Walmart! These mother bears step right in front of your car while it's still moving. They don't look, they don't wave, they don't care even if you have to slam your brakes to stop for them. They have four or five children in tow and the children do the same exact thing. One of them might stop directly in front of your car without looking in order to tie a shoelace while you wait. Mother bear continues to walk in front, doesn't turn around to check on them. She continues into the Walmart children in tow. They run around like animals while mother bear shops and blocks the aisle with her shopping cart while she ignores everything and everyone around her! And if you dare say anything to any one of them - God help you! The Walmart on Cortez Rd had its' own Police SWAT truck continuously parked in front. The Bradenton website calls Bradenton "The Friendly City". Talk about a crock of the highest quality!

    Bevin B.

    Perfect day at this white sandy paradise @ 68th street. People swimming and enjoying their floats, a nice breeze and no signs of the red tide people, having fun times without you all!

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    10 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Fantastic beach with plentiful parking and great amenities for families of young children.

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    7 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Delicious food and awesome drinks Beautiful beach that is close to refreshments. Very friendly staff and clean restrooms.

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    5 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Best beach in Bradenton, clean , safe , has tiki bar and restaurant, excellent food and very friendly

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    8 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    9 years ago

    My favorite beach , clear water and white sand. Getting there is easy and free parking. Best beach !!

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    9 years ago

    Great conveniences for kids/families. good water, not as clear as AMI, but still very nice. The water does drop off very

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    Review Highlights - Holmes Beach

    I love Holmes Beach and Anna Maria Island for vacations, but to live there or anywhere else in Florida - forget it.

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    Bean Point - Look at that water!!

    Bean Point

    4.6(33 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    I saw a video on IG a few months back that stated this beach would make you feel like you were on a…read moreisland, so I had to check out Bean Point Beach. It was an hour plus drive south from my friends house in Gulfport to Anna Maria Island. Bean Point is the north point of the island. Be cautious if you park in a neighborhood as they will ticket you $75 if your car is touching the road. We find out the hard way:( We walked a few blocks and found a public beach access. When I saw the beach I couldn't believe my eyes. The water was a gorgeous color of blue/green! It was hard to belive this was Florida lol. We walked for a while and I found some pretty shells to take home from my adventure. This part of the beach wasn't too crowded which I loved. A few people were fishing and others were sitting and relaxing. While a few tourists were in the water. Brrrr it was too cold for me. I only let it hit my feet lol. I highly recommend checking out Bean Point Beach so you can see this lovely water and beach for yourself!

    This was my very first time at Bean Point, and I swear it felt like I had stepped into a secret…read morepart of Florida that most people drive right past without ever knowing it exists. The moment my feet hit that soft white sand, everything around me slowed down. The air felt lighter. The water looked like it was painted in layers of turquoise and glass. Even the breeze seemed to move with intention, brushing past me in a way that made me feel completely present. I kept walking, almost in a trance, toward the point where the Gulf meets the sky, and for the first time in a long time, my mind wasn't racing. I wasn't thinking about tomorrow or yesterday. I was just there, breathing in a place that felt almost sacred. Then the sun began to set, and the entire sky transformed into something unreal. Pink, lavender, gold, and that deep blue that only shows up at the ocean's edge. Families were laughing softly in the distance, a couple was wrapped in a blanket, and I just stood there taking it all in, feeling this unexpected wave of emotion. It wasn't sadness or joy exactly. It was gratitude. Pure, uncomplicated gratitude that I got to witness a moment like that. Bean Point felt like a gift, handed to me exactly when I needed it. I cherish this place so much. I will be back again and again.

    Photos
    Bean Point - Lovely beach

    Lovely beach

    Bean Point
    Bean Point - N. Shore & Fern access path

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    N. Shore & Fern access path

    Beach Park Access

    Beach Park Access

    3.3(3 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    Predatory Parking Enforcement will ruin your day with $75 violations for subjective failure to…read moreachieve surgical grade precise compliance. No room for error with the both posted and unposted rules. Know before you go.

    Anna Maria Island is just gorgeous, regardless of the section of beach you end up on. Even with all…read morethe rental properties and tourists, it was surprisingly clean on the sand and in the ocean. The waves were minimal, and there were so many fish swimming around us the whole time! I counted three different schooling fish species and a few crabs, which were unusually easy to spot because of how crystal clear the water is. I do want to note that we couldn't fins any public trash cans, showers, and bathrooms. It ended up wasting our water bottle reserves and probably led to spending more money at businesses that had these amenities than we would've otherwise. Options for surrounding businesses are limited and pricey. For instance, the only pizza place within walking distance is great if you can afford $20+ average-sized pies. There's also only one beachside bar along this stretch of beach access that has a long wait time and doesn't list cocktail prices on their menu. Parking is slim, but a lot of it is free if you park on gravel roadsides. Since it has always been extremely windy when I've visited, I definitely suggest firmly anchoring any tents or umbrellas. Also bring materials to hold down blankets and towels. They don't allow alcohol on these beaches, so also keep that in mind when packing your coolers. All in all, this beach is a must-see!

    Photos
    Beach Park Access - Amazing view

    Amazing view

    Beach Park Access
    Beach Park Access

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    Florida Beach Horses - My daughter "surfing"

    Florida Beach Horses

    4.7(58 reviews)
    4.1 mi

    I cant wait to have photos to share about my experience! I texted and booked that way and the…read moreperson i dealt with was fast and fantastic! She hooked me up with the amazing photographer ava who i booked also to do the photos. I wanted to enjoy this and not worry about taking photos but wanted a lot of photos lol I 100% recommend hiring Ava for photos! She is amazing and great to work with and was so incredibly kind! Everyone we encountered in this company was actually wonderful and kind and my husband and i were talking about it recently how this was the highlight of our trip and we did disney world and universal and gatorland! The horses were amazing and wahoo was mine and i just fell in love with him! We brought along our 5 kiddos ages 13. 11. 8. 3 and 3 and every single one of us had the best time. The two ladies who rode with my twins were absolutely phenomenal with them! And the fun activities we got to do! Seriously we cant wait to sign up again with you all when we come back next year! You all made it incredibly memorable

    Unfortunately not as described although still enjoyable. The…read more" beach" ride is not actually a ride on the beach but a full 1.5 hours in the water swimming with the horses. Maybe it should be titled " water" ride? It was fun but not what we had been told to expect. Not even a beach in sight.

    Photos
    Florida Beach Horses - Me and my friend

    Me and my friend

    Florida Beach Horses - Wahoo and me before we started our adventure into the water.

    Wahoo and me before we started our adventure into the water.

    Florida Beach Horses - Wahoo was a blast, but so gentle and sweet too! What great views too!

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    Wahoo was a blast, but so gentle and sweet too! What great views too!

    White Sands Beach Resort - Gulf Front - Anna Maria Island

    White Sands Beach Resort - Gulf Front - Anna Maria Island

    4.6(11 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    As we pack up to leave on this beautiful Saturday morning, we reflect on what a relaxing,…read moredelightful time we have spent here! As others have noted in their reviews, Ken and Jeff are constantly working to keep up this lovely family resort. It is clean and landscaped beautifully, and the rooms are just right! With a sitting area in our two bedroom, we enjoyed the recliner and couch as we watched movies in the evening. In our full kitchen, we stocked the refrigerator from the local Publix and made our breakfast and lunch, which we packed for the beach. Many guests chose to grill out as we saw when we would load up to go to a local restaurant for dinner, but we preferred eating out! On our first night at Hurricane Hanks restaurant down the road, we met up with a resident who offered us more ideas for restaurants for dinner. There's nothing like walking right out onto the beach to spend a morning watching the waves, seeing dolphins frolic, observing osprey catching their breakfast, and swimming in the water among schools of fish. Many of the guests knew each other from yearly vacations, and we have already made our reservation for next year! Anna Maria Island is quiet and family friendly. White Sands Resort offers shuffleboard and corn hole right next to the pool, but the best show is the sunset. On our first night, we were surprised to see how many lined the beach to see God's beauty, of course clapping at the end! Thank you to Ken, Jeff, Joy, and Esther for a wonderful stay. We wish you the best in the coming year, and we look forward to seeing you again!

    We've been coming to Ana Maria Island for 30 years always renting a different place every time…read moreanyway we stumbled upon White Sands Beach resort maybe two years ago and it was absolutely spectacular the rooms are just perfect the bedding is comfortable the white sand is blinding and the color of the water is absolutely spectacular. Most of the folks that go here come back year after year and I understand why. Nothing like a family owned business they were card and it shows. I will be back.

    Photos
    White Sands Beach Resort - Gulf Front - Anna Maria Island
    White Sands Beach Resort - Gulf Front - Anna Maria Island
    White Sands Beach Resort - Gulf Front - Anna Maria Island

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    Holmes Beach - beaches - Updated May 2026

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