Category: Bradenton Beach

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Activities Bradenton Beach Family Fun Out of Town Recreation Shopping The Things that Locals Know!

Farmer’s Markets On and Off Anna Maria Island

Coquina Beach Market on Anna Maria Island

Farmer’s Markets, who doesn’t love them? I know I sure do! Below you will find some great information on a few of our local Farmer’s Markets.

Anna Maria Island:

  • Bridge Street Market (107 Bridge St. in Bardenton Beach):
    The outdoor Bridge Street Market runs every Sunday, November – April, form 10AM – 3PM. This Bradenton beach tradition is a great place to find local artwork, jewelry, produce, and live music.
  • Coquina Beach Market (2650 Gulf Dr S, Bradenton Beach, Florida):
    The beach market at Coquina Beach takes place two days of the week, Sundays and Wednesdays. The Sunday market starts in November and is held every Sunday through July. While the Wednesday market takes place December – April or May. Both last from 10AM – 4PM. This is the only beach farmers market in the area, so don’t miss out. The Coquina Beach market is wheelchair and stroller accessible. Dogs are NOT allowed within Coquina Park. Stop by to find some great food, fresh produce, purses, pottery, and more!

Bradenton

  • Bradenton Farmers’ Market (Old Main Street/ 12th St W.):
    The Bradenton Farmers Market in Downtown Bradenton is hosted every Saturday in October through May, from 9AM – 2PM. This farmers market is very popular with the community and is a great way to start your Saturday. Fresh produce, live upbeat music, free activities for the family, etc. On the 3rd Saturday of each month during the farmers market season, they do “Mainly Art”, where local artists/craftsmen display and sell their work.
  • Red Barn Flea Market (1707 1st St.):
    At this market everyone in the family is sure to find something they want. The Red Barn Flea Market is located about 25-30 minutes away from Anna Maria Island. But the drive is worth it, and its bound to be a few hours of shopping and walking. This Market has over 600 vendors! Out of the 145,000 sq.ft area, 80,000 sq. ft. is indoor and air-conditioned. The indoor area includes shopping, fresh produce, entertainment, and a food court. Trust me, the Red Barn Flea Market is worth a visit while you’re in the area!

Sarasota:

  • Sarasota Farmers’ Market (Main St. & Lemon Ave.):
    Established in 1979, the Sarasota Farmers Market continues to carry the tradition of providing the community with plants, local produce, prepared foods, and artisans. With 80 vendors, there is quite a bit to check out here. Rain or shine, the Sarasota Farmers Market is open all year round, from 7AM – 1PM. This market is about 40-45 minutes away form AMI, though because this market is held earlier in the day, traffic shouldn’t be an issue.

 

Want more ideas on what to do in the local area, check out some of our other blogs, including; Big Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary, Myakka River State Park, and Fun Children Attractions near AMI .

 

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Activities Bradenton Beach Events

Bridge Street Market in Bradenton Beach

Anna Maria Bridge Street Market

Located in Bradenton Beach is the Bridge Street Market! This event takes place every Sunday in November through April, from 10AM – 3PM. It is a wonderful way to get out and see some great local vendors and their creations! Enjoy delicious food, listen to some great local musicians, and purchase some beautiful locally made jewelry, art, and more.

Bridge Street Market
107 Bridge Street
Bradenton Beach
For more information call: 215-906-0668

While you’re there, check out some of the awesome restaurants and shops located on Bridge Street, including: Bridge Street Bistro, Blue Marlin Grill, Bridge Street Bazaar, and many more!

 

 

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Anna Maria Bradenton Beach Family Fun Holmes Beach Kids Corner The Things that Locals Know!

Ice Cream Options on Anna Maria Island

There’s nothing better than treating yourself to some delicious, cold ice cream on a hot and humid Florida day. Which may be the reason why there is quite a selection of ice cream options on Anna Maria Island. Here are all the ice cream shops the Island has to offer, and which Island city they’re located in:

Anna Maria City:


Holmes Beach:


Bradenton Beach:

 

 

 

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Bradenton Beach Family Fun Kids Corner

Island Scoops – Bradenton Beach

Serving ice cream, gourmet sodas, baked goods, and much more is Island Scoops in Bradenton Beach. Island Scoops sells Big Olaf ice cream, which is hand mixed by local Amish craftsmen and absolutely to die for. Seriously, visitors return year after year for some of the best homemade ice cream Florida has to offer. With about 20 different flavors always on the menu, coming to your final decision may be a bit difficult.

Flavors Include:
Dutch Peanut Butter
Amaretto Almond
Butter Pecan
Kahlua Krunch
Coconut Almond Joy
Pistachio
Heath Bar
Chocolate Lovers
Etc.

Aside from ice cream, they also carry tons of assorted candy, baked goods, and retro gourmet sodas. Some baked good items include cupcakes, gourmet pies, cookies, etc. They have anything and everything sugary and sweet, except their sugar-free ice cream of course.

Island Scoops is open everyday, from 1PM – 10PM. Check out their full menu!

 

For more ice cream options, check out this blog that lists all the ice cream shops on Anna Maria Island.

 

 

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Activities Bradenton Beach Family Fun Kids Corner

Joe’s Eats & Sweets in Bradenton Beach

If the bright & fun colors of the building don’t get your attention, then the tasty treats inside sure will. Joe’s Eats & Sweets is an adorable stop in Bradenton Beach that will have your taste buds happy you stopped by.  Homemade ice cream, sundaes, and fudge is what they specialize in. The selection of ice cream flavors include classics like chocolate, strawberry, and mint chip, but they also have key lime cheesecake, cotton candy and nerds, pineapple coconut, and even almond turtle fudge. And the list goes on!

Sundae options include over 15 different, delicious concoctions. Two of my favorites are the Coffee Lovers Dream, which contains coffee ice cream, of course, topped with coffee syrup, whipped cream (the real stuff), and a cherry. My second favorite Brownie Sundae, mainly because it comes with a homemade walnut brownie.
End your evening out with a stop here after dinner on Bridge Street, or come over after a day at the beach.

 

Check out our blog, “Ice Cream Options on Anna Maria Island” for details on all the local ice cream shops.

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Activities Anna Maria Anna Maria Island Featured Blog Bradenton Beach Family Fun Fishing Restaurants Shopping The Things that Locals Know!

Sightseeing Anna Maria Island Piers

Sightseeing Anna Maria Island Piers is a great activity during your visit. All located on the bay side of the island, there are three different piers to see.

Sightseeing Anna Maria Island Piers
The Bradenton Beach Pier is great for Fishing and Sightseeing.

Sightseeing Anna Maria Island Piers

Each of the three island piers has a little something different to offer, but all have beautiful views. Enjoy a peaceful stroll along with a respite from time on the beach.

Rod & Reel Pier

The Rod & Reel Pier is the northern most of the three. Here you’ll enjoy views of Tampa Bay and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. At the end of the pier you’ll find the Rod & Reel Restaurant. The small downstairs bar is a great stop for a beer. Grab a drink and sit down on one of the outdoor benches. Upstairs you’ll find the dining room with both indoor and outdoor seating.

For a small fee you can fish off the pier too! This is a great place for family fun with a view. If you are looking for a taste of old Florida, you’re sure to find it on this pier.

Anna Maria City Pier

The Anna Maria City Pier is located just a few blocks south of Rod & Reel pier. Here you’ll also enjoy views of Tampa Bay and the Sunshine Skyway. The city pier is a historical site with an important past. This is where boats would drop off “Day Trippers” from the mainland before a bridge was built.

At the end of the city pier is a restaurant and small gift shop. The menu here offers a little of something for everyone. Find the city pier at the end of Pine Avenue. There are also some bay beaches to visit around the base of the pier.

Bradenton Beach City Pier

On the south end of the island you’ll find The Bradenton Beach city pier at the end of Bridge Street. The pier is in the location of what was the first bridge connecting the island to the main land.

Here you’ll enjoy views of Sarasota Bay and the old fishing Village of Cortez directly across the Intracoastal Waterway.

At the base of the pier is the Anna Maria Oyster Bar restaurant. The menu has great seafood in addition to chicken and burgers. Anna Maria Oyster bar offers a full service bar along with both indoor and outdoor seating.

The Bradenton Beach City Pier is a popular spot for fishing too. Bring your own pole, or rent one from the bait shop. You can also catch a dolphin watching boat tour here.

Be sure to enjoy a walk on one of the three island piers on your next visit to Anna Maria Island.

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Bradenton Beach Events

Blues Brews and BBQ in Bradenton Beach

Blues Brews and BBQ

Join the Bridge Street Merchants for their second annual Blues Brews and BBQ on Bridge Street May 21st from 3-9pm. Admission is $5 with children under 12 free. The gates open at 2pm, and patrons are welcome to bring blankets and chairs to set up their spot.

Blues Brews and BBQ

Gene “Sarasota Slim” Hardage will be headlining the event with Blues Pig and Mac McConnell as the opening acts.

Island Time Bar and Grill will be serving barbecue ribs and pulled pork platters along with Fire and Stone offering barbecue pizza. Bradenton’s Motorworks Brewery will have craft beers. There will also be a full liquor bar along with non alcoholic beverages.

Outside food, drinks and coolers will not be permitted through the gates; however, patrons may come and go from the event to explore all the shops and restaurants on Bridge Street.

For more information about the event head over to the Bridge Street Merchants website.

 

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Activities Bradenton Beach Family Fun Shopping

This Week at the Bridge Street Market Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Bridge Street Market

This week, the Bridge Street Market features a Chili Challenge on December 7th.  All proceeds to benefit the AMI Community Center. Chili makers should sign up in advance via www.BridgeStreetMerchants.com, while chili eaters should just show up 11-1:30 to taste the island’s best for only $8. The winner earns bragging rights plus a $100 Publix gift card. A macaroni and cheese challenge is set for January 4th, and a Chowder Challenge is set for February 1st, both benefiting local charities.

Market Hours

The weekly markets run 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday through the end of April at 111 Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach.  It is located on the south end of Anna Maria Island. Locals and visitors can find fresh produce, local art, chair massage, beach-style gifts, jewelry, clothes, home décor, food, fun and more. A limited amount of vendor space is still available in some categories.

Live Music

Live music this week is by Tangled Mangos, a funk-reggae-blues-bluegrassy duo that formed in Bradenton Beach. They started in 2012. Kyle Shell layers instrumental loops and sings lead.  “Barefoot” Dan Ryan adds to the grooves with the sounds of the Hammond B-3 organ. The duo has performed in a wide variety of venues. From the Orange Blossom Jamboree Festival two years in a row, to Ace’s Live Music in Bradenton and the State Theatre in St. Pete, to island-based tiki bars and restaurants. Their upbeat and feel-good songs get people dancing.

The Bridge Street Merchants, a 501c6, host the Sunday Markets, and provide year-round shopping, dining and entertainment on the south end of the island. Other merchant events such as Market Food Challenges and Christmas on Bridge Street support various local charities.

Free Trolley

For Sunday, consider taking the Free Island Trolley right to Bridge Street. Car parking options include:

  • The city lot behind the Bridge Street Bistro;
  • Up and down Bridge Street including by the city pier;
  • City Hall (permissible on Sundays) and along the beach just south of Bridge Street.

For more information on the Bridge Street Merchants or vendor space contact Market Manager, Melissa Enders.  MelissaEnders76@gmail.com or (215) 906-0668 or visit www.BridgeStreetMerchants.com.

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Anna Maria Bradenton Beach Holmes Beach Shopping

Souvenir Shops and Shopping on Anna Maria Island

Shopping on Anna Maria Island
Great Shopping on Anna Maria Island for anyone!

What is the one thing you want to find while shopping on Anna Maria Island? Find exactly what you are looking for or buy a local souvenir to remember your time on Anna Maria Island at some of the country’s cutest shops. We are all guilty of trying to take a little bit of this island paradise home with us!

The following list is to help you find the best places to get local goodies for yourself or a family member that didn’t get to come to Anna Maria to make then jealous of your trip.

Shopping on Anna Maria Island:

  1. Libby’s – 501 Pine Ave, Anna Maria, Florida 34217
  2. Sand Dollar – 5302 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217
  3. Shiny Fish Emporium – 306C Pine Avenue, Anna Maria, FL 34216
  4. Bridge Street Bazaar – 117 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
  5. The Back Alley Gift and Coffee Shop – 121 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
  6. Sun & Surf Beach Shop – 5418 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217
  7. Restless Natives – 5416 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217
  8. West Coast Surf Shop – 3902 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217
  9. Two Sides of Nature – 101 South Bay Boulevard, Anna Maria, FL 34216
  10. AMI Outfitters Coastal Gear & Apparel – 505 Pine Avenue, Anna Maria, FL 34216
  11. Island Cabana – 403C Pine Avenue, Anna Maria, FL 34216
  12. Island Bazaar – 3304 East Bay Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217
  13. Raders Reef – 5508 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217

Now this is a very short list, and there are a plethora of other places to find what you are shopping for on Anna Maria Island, but these are the best places for local souvenirs.   Make sure to tell these shops that Kacey from Island Real Estate sent you while on the island for your beach vacation.

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Bradenton Beach Shopping The Things that Locals Know!

Historic Bridge Street Bradenton Beach Merchants on Anna Maria Island

Bridge Street Bazaar and Shops

In 1922 the first bridge was opened from the Village of Cortez to Bridge Street Bradenton Beach, on Anna Maria Island.  Before this time visitors could only get to Anna Maria Island by boat.  This made Bridge Street the center of the bustling island community, as it remains today.  The old wooden bridge was saved, and turned in to the Bridge Street fishing pier.

Here is a list of all the restaurants, shops, galleries and activities.  Please click on the colored names below to take you to their web site for more information(not all the businesses have a web site).

Shops and Merchants on Bridge Street on Anna Maria Island:

Bridge Street Bistro – 111 Gulf Drive South Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

Art Attack(no website) – 119 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

Back Alley Gifts – 108 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

Island Fresh(no website) – 110 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

Sea-renity Beach Spa & Eco Boutique – 112 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

Bridge Street Interiors – 114 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

Blue Marlin Grill – 121 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

Bridge Tender Inn – 135 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

Bridge Street Jewelers – 129 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

Island Creperie – 127 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

The Hive Gifts & Art – 119 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

Bridge Street Bazaar – 115 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

The Fish Hole Adventure Golf – 115 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

CostaVille Pizza Grill – 200 Gulf Drive South Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

The Bridge Street Merchants have coined the phrase “SHOP*DINE*PLAY from Beach to Bay”.  This is such a fitting description of exactly what you can do from end to end.  There are so many things to do you will need more than a day to enjoy them all.  Shop – There are a variety of boutiques, galleries, local art and fine jewelry shops.  Dine – Grab a burger on the Bay, enjoy delicious fresh Florida cuisine or sunset dinners.  Play – Go fishing, play adventure golf, go on a Segway tour or relax with yoga or massage.  I have to say from beach to bay Bridge Street has it all.