Couples Activities for Your Anna Maria Island Vacation

Romance is perpetually in the air on Anna Maria Island. It might be the weather, the white sand, or laid-back atmosphere – perhaps a combination of it all. Anna Maria Island offers a stunning vacation for you and your sweetheart, and there’s plenty to do as a couple. Here are some of the best couple of activities available on Anna Maria Island. 

Pools & Beaches

Spend many lazy mornings and afternoons by the water. Anna Maria Beach Resort has a lagoon-style pool for guests, allowing you the opportunity to swim at any time. 

Anna Maria Island’s beaches are famous for their aqua water and gorgeous white sand. The most popular is Manatee Beach, which offers numerous public amenities, such as bike racks, changing cabanas, active lifeguards, picnic facilities, barbecues, and volleyball nets. Because of its top-notch facilities, Manatee Beach is very popular among families and tends to be a bit crowded. 

For a more secluded location, consider Bean Point, one of the most beautiful spots on the island. Kick back your heels, jump in the water, or soak in some sun. You’ll want to stay for hours. Be sure not to miss the stunning sunset!

Book a Tour

If lying around the beach 24/7 isn’t your style, there are plenty of adventures awaiting active couples. Some activities are possible independently, but if you’re trying something new or need equipment, there are numerous companies and rental agencies around the island to help. Consider booking through AMI Adventure Rentals, which offers a wide variety of rentals and tours. 

For anyone wanting to get out on the water, consider a sunset tour. It’s hard to get more romantic than that! A wide variety of private and public tours are available across the island. Public tours cost approximately $30, and hiring a private boat with AMI Adventure Tours costs $298.50. When booking a private boat charter, you may also sightsee, sandbar hop, snorkel, or fish. 

A two-hour dolphin sightseeing tour is available through AMI Adventure Rentals. The tour costs $35 and leaves daily at 2 p.m. For your best chance of seeing a wild dolphin, head out to sea with an experienced captain who knows the region. At certain times of the year, it is also possible to catch a glimpse of grazing manatees. 

Active couples will also enjoy taking a parasailing or flyboard lesson together. AMI Adventure Rentals offers private lessons for couples. The cost is $79 for 10 minutes with $10 off for the second person. While soaring above the Gulf, you may be fortunate enough to spot dolphins or other marine wildlife!

Explore by Tandem Bicycle

There’s plenty to see on and around the island that you’re able to explore independently for a romantic afternoon and picnic. Consider renting a tandem bike from AMI Adventure Rentals. The island is only 7 miles long, an easy bike ride from one end to the other. This will give you the chance to visit beaches at your own leisurely pace and wander the many shops and restaurants scattered across the island. Pine Avenue, in particular, is known for its fun and unique stores and is a great place to get souvenirs. 

The Maria Selby Botanical Gardens on the Sarasota Bay is a beautiful place to visit and a great place for a date. Stroll hand-in-hand through the bamboo garden and past the koi pond. Afterward, grab a bite to eat at the Selby House Café. 

Outdoor Activities 

Nature lovers will enjoy a day trip to Egmont Key State Park and National Wildlife Refuge. Only accessible by ferry or boat, this is one of the lesser-known jewels of the Anna Maria area. The park is a refuge for many species, including the gopher tortoise and various sea birds. Visitors may picnic, hike, snorkel, shell, and explore the 19^th-century ruins of Fort Dade. A visit to Egmont State Park is the perfect day trip for any adventurous couple!

For a movie-worthy romantic experience, go horseback riding on the beach through the crashing waves. You can even swim with the horses! This is an extremely rare opportunity; horses are banned from most beaches across the country. And what better place to do it than with the beautiful Gulf backdrop?

Consider renting a kayak for two. You can spend hours paddling through gorgeous mangrove lagoons, exploring and experiencing this unique ecosystem. Manatees occasionally frequent the mangroves near Anna Maria Island, and they are home to many species of birds. If spotting a manatee is an absolute must, you can take a day trip to Crystal Island two hours north, where sightings are more frequent. 

If you’d like to stay closer to the island, head out to the pier for some good old-fashioned fishing. City Pier or Rod and Reel both rent fishing equipment. The pier is another perfect location to catch the sunset. 

Get Cozy in Your Luxury Suite

Anna Maria Beach Resort is so cozy you may not even want to leave your room. Everything you need is right at home: king-size bed, fully stocked kitchen, WiFi, flat-screen TV, and beautiful deck and patio views of the Gulf. If you don’t step outside for a day or two, who could blame you? 

Get a Couples’ Massage

Consider a couple’s massage with Serenity Spa or book a lesson to learn how to massage each other. Body and Soul Spa Wellness offers massages with acupuncture, pedicures, waxing, and more. For massages with techniques focused on reflexology, try Claire Marie Spa. Aluna Wellness Spa and Massage provides a number of different massages, such as deep tissue, hot stone, and trigger point. 

Restaurants Perfect for Romantic Dinners

Sooner or later, you’ll want to venture out of your rooms and try some of the fantastic restaurants around town. For a toes-in-the-sand dining experience, check out the Sandbar Restaurant. It offers a tropical yet casual ambiance with outdoor seating right in the sand. Visit the Sandbar for dinner, and you’ll be fortunate enough to catch a stunning sunset!

The Waterfront Restaurant is another local favorite. Located across from the city pier, this classic restaurant stands out for its old Florida décor and ambiance. Open-air patio views give diners a great view of the Gulf, perfectly complementing their fine meals.

Stop by Ginny and Jane E’s for breakfast or lunch. The café is beloved for its giant, freshly-baked rolls and crème brulée French toast, among many other tasty, home-baked delights. Treat yourself to sweets with stores like The Donut Experiment, which offers made-to-order donuts where you choose the icing and toppings. And what better way to cool off than a cool ice cream cone? The Island Ice Cream Shop, located within Anna Maria Island Beach Café, is the best place for ice cream, milkshakes, root beer floats, and SnoCones. 

Be Our Guest

To make your romantic vacation truly perfect, plan your stay at Anna Maria Beach Resort. It is the newest Anna Maria hotel, having only opened its doors in 2019. Newly renovated, it offers luxurious yet cozy accommodations to couples. 

Choose from among 31 stylish resort rooms on the first or second floor. The beach is just a short walk away. The location and stylish renovations make this Anna Maria Island hotel by the beach stand out from any other, the ideal place for you to spend some quality time with your loved one.