Laid-back and natural, Anna Maria Island awaits – a mere 20 minutes from Bradenton. A seven-mile strip of beautiful white-sand beaches lines the barrier island of Anna Maria Island between the turquoise Gulf of Mexico and peninsular Florida. Strict regulations govern the type of buildings and businesses allowed on Anna Maria Island, giving it an old-time feel. Come visit – you well might feel as though you have journeyed to an elegant past.