manatee public beach

We are natives of the area and live about 30 minutes from the beach, so we spend a day at the beach at least once a month.There are several really nice beaches in this area of Florida with calm waves and beautiful white sand. If you are looking for great beaches for family vacations or low key fun with friends, you will not find a better location than the barrier islands off of Manatee and Sarasota counties.I took this picture today on my iPhone (no touchups) at Manatee Public Beach in the town of Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island

We were staying two days in Bradenton and decided to go see Anna Maria Island. It was 4:30 in the afternoon and rush hour traffic had already started. When we arrived on the island traffic was at a crawl with people trying to leave. Luckily we were going in the opposite direction. We didn't really know where we were going but saw as we passed that Manatee Beach had an information center. The information booth was closed so we took a very nice walk on the beach. They have a restaurant and shop. I saw one booth where you could change your clothes. We had planned to go eat and then see the sunset but all the restaurants were packed with long wait lists so we went back to the beach to wait for the sunset. It was a nice surprise to find that there was free entertainment on the beach outside the restaurant. We sat and listened to great country music until the sun started to set. The sight was spectacular.

During our six weeks in the area we typically visit this beach once or twice as a change of pace and views. Because of its popularity which can make it quite busy and a little crowded for our tastes we usually make a full day of it by arriving early to be sure to get a parking space and have breakfast on the beach at the cafe which is surprisingly pretty good and very reasonable - the all you can eat pancakes with three sausage patties is particularly popular. After a full day of beaching it, we like to end our day with a short walk across the street for beers and burgers at Skinny's (a small funky beach bar that is an island institution - check out the TA reviews). Note: On our most recent visit the restroom facilities were boarded up for repairs/renovation which are needed. Several "portapotties" have been brought in during the repairs.

this beach offers a lovely cafe, large lunch bar and a free trolley at the parking lot. the trolley takes you around the island where you can hop on and off anytime. the beach is clean, and the food and drink selection was great. bathroom facilities were not maintained throughout the day as it got busier. that part was disapointing

Beautiful beach, nice cafe with great coffee, adequate restrooms, free trolley around the Island and to other beaches, free music every night and a Drum Circle on Friday nights for Sunset!

everything is at your fingertips.Great beach, lifeguards,bbqs, picnic tables.The beach is regularly groomed and the water is fun

Beach was safe, clean and beautiful. Found a sharks tooth, sand dollars and shells! We will be back!

beautiful beach. free parking. free local trolley. playground. public restrooms. food options. gorgeous turquoise water.but holy hell are the restrooms in bad shape. no one is cleaning them. every urinal is covered with a plastic bag. most lights are out. one of the "family/handicap" restrooms is pitch black (i used this one because of the back-log in the other restrooms. wife says women's rooms are in similar shape. i would gladly pay 5 bucks for beach access if someone would maintain those restrooms.

Great sunset here (but that is any beach on the Gulf on AMI.) It gets crowded during season(November - May) and on holidays. Parking is plentiful most days but arrive early. The MCAT does stop here as well. AMI Beach Cafe is also located on the beach as well.

The food is surprisingly good here for what appears to be a public beach concession. We have had breakfast, lunch and dinner here many times and have never been disappointed by anything. The prices are reasonable bordering on cheap, and when the day is nice, the seats outside have a wonderful view!

Dolphins abound and we had wonderful breakfast at a café that serves outdoors on the beach. Worth a trip

Been visiting this beach since 1980 and the great news is that not much has changed since then. A beautiful beach that offers visitors a chance to walk a few miles north or south, enjoying the low-rise ambiance of Anna Maria Island (as opposed to many Florida beaches that have water on one side and a wall of concrete towers on the other!).Food services are good and this is a favorite place to enjoy breakfast right next to the sand. Restroom facilities are fine and there's ample free parking (unless you're crazy enough to want to go on July 4, Easter or busy summer weekends when kids are out of school!).Don't miss having a burger at Skinny's place, right across the street. Been there since 1954.

Went to Anna Maria Island from a friends recommendation, fantastic day, sand was beautiful, water was lovely and warm even in December. Watched the Dolphins swim bye, plenty to do, good changing facilities. Sunset superb.

Xmas day 2014, beach was strewn with dead mullet fish, otherwise clean, Island Fish platter was a rip-off, not Island and selling Basa as local fish, paid $16+. do not order. eggplant fries are excellent and light.

Our condo was beside this beach. We checked out and spentMost of the day here. We were able to eat rinse of and change before we headed home. Beach and facilities were clean andwell kept.