Looking for the most exciting shops to peruse while you’re staying in one of the gorgeous rentals on Anna Maria Island? AMI has no shortage of shops to choose from. Up and down the island, you will find a diverse array of shops geared toward tourists but that the locals love too.
Here are some of the shops you simply should not pass by on Anna Maria Island.
Ginny’s & Jane E’s
Want a taste of “Old Florida”?
Located at 9807 Gulf Drive in historic Anna Maria, Ginny’s & Jane E’s is open every day from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. This shop boasts a wide selection of antiques, locally crafted art, and, of course, all the beach supplies you could possibly need.
The extra cool thing about this store is that it is also a bakery and café! You can order cinnamon rolls, strawberry pie, feta tomato spinach quiche, or a variety of flavored scones.
Naturally, you might wish to add to your order a drink from the café. There is a full hot drink menu that offers dairy and non-dairy milk options as well as a ton of flavors you can combine. Hot tea is available as well as delicious fresh ground French roast and house decaf coffees. Don’t like hot drinks? Iced drinks are on the menu too!
Oh, and coffee refills are on-the-house. What a bonus!
The Sand Dollar Gift Shop
One of the most popular shops on AMI is The Sand Dollar Gift Shop, conveniently located at 5302 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach. This shop has some truly unique gift items for the entire family. Candles, baby clothing, jewelry… It’s all here.
Wanting to pick up something funky and eclectic to take home and decorate with? You can get it here. The only thing is that the store doesn’t currently have a website to order off of, so you have to buy in-person.
Anna Maria Rocks
If you are a collector of rocks, gems, and geodes, then you have to pay a visit to Anna Maria Rocks. You’ll find this nifty little shop at 9908 Gulf Drive, Suite G, in Anna Maria. It has fossils, shark teeth, dinosaur teeth, a plethora of rock ‘n roll items, and beautiful hand-crafted obsidian knives. Your kids can even make their own necklaces.
Not only are the prices great, but you will be treated to excellent customer service from Bill, who warmly welcomes everyone into his shop. Bill is your go-to guy for anything rock-related – both rock ‘n roll and actual rocks!
This shop is open seven days per week, so there is plenty of time to stop in and see what Bill has on his shelves.
Bridge Street Bazaar
Since Bradenton Beach’s Bridge Street is a total ‘must-see’ attraction on AMI, its shops also require a visit. And no shop is so deserving of your patronage as Bridge Street Bazaar. This shop is loaded with all of the things you will need for the beach: sandals, sunglasses, straw hats, beach toys, and sunscreen.
Beach Market at Coquina Beach
Plan on visiting the Beach Market in Coquina Beach on a Sunday or Wednesday because it’s your chance to meet and buy from a number of local vendors you might not otherwise find. The market is open from 10 am to 4 pm on Sundays from November to July and the same hours on Wednesdays from December through May.
Plan Your Next Visit
All of these shops are worth checking out, and there are plenty more to see as well. Anna Maria Island rentals are all located at convenient distances from the shops. If you can’t walk it, you can catch the free trolley that runs the course of the island. You can always get where you need to go on AMI, and the shops listed above are all ones that you need to see.
On any given market day, you will find a great selection of hand-made art, jewelry, clothing, and other one-of-a-kind items. You can snack on some popcorn or roasted nuts as you peruse the vendors’ wares. Some of the locals find and collect items from the beach to use in their crafts, so you can claim that what you get is truly from Anna Maria Island.