Bayfront Park — Attraction in Anna Maria island

I happened to find this place in the middle of the night. What caught my attention was all the people walking around with fishing poles. I got out of my car to investigate and much to my surprise discovered the world of night fishing. There must have been 30 people coming and going during my time there. I talked to lots of people and saw firsthand that fishing enthusiasts come in all shapes, sizes, age and colors, just like the fish they catch. It is amazing to think this place is so lively all night long! One guy, a young man with the sheriff's department, caught a 4 foot shark which he promptly flayed and shared with some other people there. I learned such a lot about fishing that night and came away with a new found respect for people who love to fish. The area is beautiful and a great family destination. There are plenty of picnic tables on the shore and a restaurant on the pier. It was closed when I was there, but would be a great place to visit in daytime overlooking the water. The pier has been reconstructed in recent years and each plank that makes up the over 600 foot pier, is etched with someones name. As you can see from my photos, it is really beautiful and well lit at night. I felt very safe there on my own in the middle...

This is a great beach access for those with limited mobility. You can park in front of the bathrooms, there are several shelters within a few feet apart, the distance to the water is very short. We went in June 2025, the water seemed deep, There was no shallow area like in other beaches. The water quickly came close to chest level. However, the calm bay waters were safe enough for a non-swimmer to enjoy a fun day under the sun. The water was so clear that we enjoyed the little fish swimming up to our feet. I saw several other people snorkeling. We got there on a Thursday around 12:30 pm and was able to find a parking spot. My family and I would love to go...

Nice little beach. The waters not as clear as the other side, but it's definitely calmer. We bring our 1 year old and feel pretty safe getting in the water, I'm not afraid of getting knocked over by a huge wave. The beach area is smaller so there's not a lot of room. The bathrooms are always kinda dirty, but there's bathrooms and they're pretty close. There's showers but sometimes there's a pretty big line. Last time we went there was a couple of people actually showering, like with soap and shampoo, they took FOREVER and were pretty rude about letting other people have use of it. But all in all we come here a lot...