Dads teach you valuable lessons on how to tie a tie, ride a bike, or make the perfect barbecue. Admittedly, life wouldn’t be the same without them. This Father’s Day, how about some quality time with your old man far away from the hustle and bustle of the suburbs? If you’re unsure where to go, The Sunshine State offers plenty of fun that your dad will enjoy. Here’s what to expect on your Father’s Day Anna Maria Island vacation.
Beautiful Beaches
Florida has a reputation for hosting some of the world’s most pristine beaches. Anna Maria Island features Anna Maria Beach, which extends around the island’s northern tip. The beach is an excellent place to stroll with your old man or relax on the soft white sands as you take in the lovely views of the Mexican Gulf. If your dad prefers a beach with facilities, Anna Maria Bayfront Park offers plenty of space to set up a chair or towel and unwind along the seashore. The park features a sweeping view of Tampa Bay, with Anna Maria City Pier offering the best vantage point. Here, you and your dad can enjoy a cool drink and a sandwich as you watch fishermen reel in their catches or spot manatees and dolphins. The park’s amenities include grills, picnic tables, benches, pavilions, a restroom, a shower, water fountains, recycling containers, and trash receptacles. There’s also free parking, and operating hours are from 6 a.m. to midnight, giving you and your dad plenty of time to enjoy the picturesque Floridian views.
Epic Water Activities
Anna Maria Island sits next to the turquoise waters of the Pacific, offering vacationers tons of water-based activities. If your dad wants to take an on-water excursion, single-person kayak rentals are a great way to explore the stunning waters of the gulf. There are half-day or full-day rental options with differently-sized kayaks to suit your dad’s needs. If you prefer exploring the Gulf together, two-person kayaks are available, offering quality bonding time. If you’ve traveled as a family, the group can hire a party barge float and enjoy time together on the water. For a more adrenaline-pumping session, you can take your dad parasailing and enjoy lovely views from 200 feet above the Gulf’s surface. Jet ski rentals are perfect if your dad wants an epic gas-powered way to traverse the waters.
Exquisite Restaurants
Father’s Day wouldn’t be complete without a sumptuous meal with your beloved dad. Anna Maria Island features numerous restaurants where you and your old man can grab a lovely Father’s Day meal. For some of Anna Maria Island’s best breakfasts, Gulf Drive Cafe offers an impressive menu featuring options such as corned beef hash & eggs, breakfast sandwiches, smoked salmon bagels, smoked salmon benedict, Belgian waffles, buttermilk pancakes, and five omelet varieties. If your dad loves tacos, look no further than Poppo’s Taqueria. This locally-owned eatery offers tasty tacos and burritos with a unique blend of ingredients and toppings. One of the best things about Poppo’s Taqueria is your dad can build his custom taco by picking his favorite ingredients. The Sandbar is an Anna Maria mainstay and offers a tasty menu of shellfish freshly farmed in Tampa Bay. The main menu features whole fish, New York strip, gulf fried shrimp, and whole fish, while the raw bar offers oysters, peel & eat shrimp, and aguachile ceviche. There’s also a wide selection of salads, handhelds, and sides your dad can pick from.
Breathtaking Aquariums
There’s something captivating about undersea life, and if your dad is a marine enthusiast, Anna Maria offers access to some of Florida’s best aquariums. Just 28 minutes from Anna Maria Island lies Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, an independent non-profit research institution offering several exhibits. There’s a shark zone with bonnethead sharks and stingrays, and the Shark Habitat also features the world’s largest grouper species and other renowned Floridian game fishes. At the Megalodon Jaw & Fossil Creek, your dad can enjoy playing marine paleontologist by sifting out actual fossilized shark teeth from different species, including hammerheads, great whites, tigers, and makos. The aquarium also offers a virtual reality experience where your dad can dive into an epic virtual reality adventure and swim with the humpbacks and sharks or go on underwater dive for incredible views of deep-sea creatures.
Book Your Anna Maria Island Vacation Rental Today
Anna Maria Island is a scenic getaway offering the ideal Father’s Day vacation. As you plan that holiday for your dad, Anna Maria Life Vacation Rentals offers beautiful rentals ranging from one-bedroom to six-bedroom units, making them ideal for large families of up to 14 people. Our Anna Maria Island villas feature several amenities such as Wi-Fi, parking, washers & dryers, and spacious living rooms to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Contact us today for the best Anna Maria Father’s Day rentals.
