Get into our island culture with a visit to Anna Maria Island & Longboat Key — Florida’s Gulf Islands — and on the mainland, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch. Our island destination is a hidden gem nestled on Florida’s west coast and the Gulf of Mexico, between Tampa and Sarasota.

Life is simple on our coast. We search for seashells and sand dollars, turn the lights down for sea turtles and wear flip-flops to dinner. All you have to do is find us.

Anna Maria Island is a throwback to Old Florida and a time when people and things moved slower, and life was enjoyed. Here, we eat fresh local cuisine, fish on old wooden piers, know the shop owners by name, and surf until the sky turns ten shades of beautiful. Pastel-colored cottages and inns dot the sandy white beaches where visitors make their way up and down the intimate island on the free Manatee Trolley.

Longboat Key is Anna Maria’s sophisticated cousin, a barrier island with a high fashion shopping center anchoring its sugar-white stretches of beach. Here, we golf along the water’s edge, cruise atop aqua blue waters, and dine on international cuisine. Elegant hotels, inns and condos line the manicured streets, where bikers and joggers pass by regularly.

Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch are a melting pot of art, culture, world-class entertainment, attractions and shopping, each offering its own brand of downtown culture and main street character.

Bradenton is home to the walking arts community of Village of the Arts, a waterfront downtown, a historic fishing village, and the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Lakewood Ranch, an 8,500-acre master-planned community, combines world-class recreational facilities, fine dining and numerous shopping venues. The tree-lined promenade features art shows and special events throughout the year.

Visit our new official website at www.annamariaisland-longboatkey.com, where you can order a FREE visitors guide and begin planning your trip to our island destination.