Fall leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, and cool weather. This image characterizes Thanksgiving, and it may be hard to imagine the holiday any other way. But what better way to express your thankfulness than to be surrounded by family and good food while also relaxing in the sun and sand? This year, consider spending your holiday on the picturesque white sand in your own Anna Maria Island vacation rental.
AMI Weather
In fall, things start to cool off on Anna Maria Island. However, you can still expect perfect beach weather most of the time. In the mornings and evenings, there might be slightly cooler weather, but average high temperatures tend to stay in the 70s. September tends to be a fairly wet month, but conditions dry out by the time October comes around.
Since summer tends to be the height of both temperatures and tourist season, you can avoid both by coming during the fall months. This is another perk to coming during the fall season!
Enjoy Thanksgiving on the Beach
During your vacation, you’ll be nice and busy participating in AMI’s family-centered activities. And what is Thanksgiving really about, if not family? You’ll have plenty of time to bond and build lifelong memories together. On Thanksgiving Day, wake up to a stunning Gulf sunrise and take a stroll on the beach together.
When it comes to food, if you have any unique family traditions you wouldn’t want to break, each of our Anna Maria Island vacation rentals provides a fully equipped kitchen so that you can make a meal suited to your preferences. However, if you’d prefer to avoid all the hassle of shopping, cooking, and cleaning, you can simply eat out or order food for a beach picnic! Many Anna Maria Island restaurants offer unique Thanksgiving options. The food on AMI is truly a delight, and you can spruce up your regular Thanksgiving traditions with some seaside flare.
Family-Friendly Activities for Everyone
No matter the time of year, Anna Maria Island is full of activities for the whole family to enjoy. A family favorite is dolphin tours. These fun and friendly creatures swim along the coastline, and you are almost guaranteed to spot them while cruising along the shore. Many boat rental shops offer guided dolphin tours that bring you to the best locations and are also educational, with knowledgeable guides sharing information about the local ecosystems. If you’re lucky, you may even spot manatees! Tours tend to be quite flexible and may provide discounts for group or family tours.
Children will also find delight in the many unique boutiques and stores. Across the island, many souvenir shops sell locally made crafts, beach attire, and interactive toys. Any of these items would make great keepsakes to bring back home!
There are also plenty of souvenirs on this island that don’t require purchase. All along Anna Maria Island’s beautiful sandy beaches, you will find colorful seashells, many of which are still perfectly intact. The whole family can have fun combing the beaches together. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a sand dollar or shark tooth! The best places to look are along Manatee Public Beach, Palmetto Avenue Beach, Bayfront Park, Bean Point, or Coquina Public Beach.
For a more active family adventure, try zip lining at TreeUmph Adventure Course. It’s just a 45-minute drive from AMI and offers a 14-acre self-guided ziplining adventure that will entertain the family for the entire day! You can move at your own pace, and you’ll be trained by staff beforehand on using safety harnesses before getting started. At the end of the course, you’ll be rewarded with a 650-foot zip line that flies through the trees. You won’t forget this experience anytime soon!
Stay with Anna Maria Vacations!
For the best vacation rentals on Anna Maria Island, explore our wide array of rental options. We provide condos, houses, rentals with beachfront and oceanside views, and even pet-friendly rentals so that your furriest member of the family can spend the holidays by your side!
Our rentals provide everything you need to make your vacation as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. If you need assistance organizing the details of your holiday, our friendly and professional staff are ready and willing to assist. We want your Thanksgiving on Anna Maria Island to exceed all your expectations!