Summers on Anna Maria Island can be toasty and steamy, but if you know the secrets to keeping cool, it can be the best time to visit. Because we at Anna Maria Life Vacation Rentals want to ensure that our guests have the best summer adventure, we are offering some hints and tips on how to stay cool in addition to giving you ideas for activities that will help you stay comfortable as the mercury rises. This guide to mid-summer activities on Anna Maria Island that will keep you cool can also be considered your guide to living your best life during your summer vacation in Florida!
Stay Close to the Water
Of course, you are going to want to spend as much time as you can on our white sand beaches, soaking in sun and serenity while splashing in the surf, but that isn’t your only source of water to play in. The Manatee River runs through nearby Bradenton, although due to its alligator population, we don’t recommend swimming in it. It can still be cooler near water’s edge as you watch for bottlenosed dolphins and manatees on a warm summer’s day. And if you have had enough of wildlife for the day, there will usually be a crystal-clear swimming pool waiting for you do slide into its cool waters and revel in the feel of weightlessness as you float on a raft and pat yourself on the back for choosing the best vacation spot in the world.
Summer pro tip #1: If you rent one of our vacation homes with a private pool, nighttime swims will lower your core body temperature enough to ensure a restful and cool night’s sleep.
History Can Be Really Cool
Air conditioning can be your best friend, and if you have a couple of hours to fill, a visit to the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum, located at 402 Pine Avenue, can be your ticket to cool. Offering a fascinating peak into the past, it isn’t a large building so it won’t take much to see it all. If you are willing to venture out into the heat, the Anna Maria Island Jail is a fun step back in time, as is a visit to the Belle Haven Cottage, which has experienced many transformations over the years, starting with its stint as a fish packing plant on the pier and almost ending as an artificial reef after falling into Tampa Bay!
Summer pro tip #2: Choose to participate in outdoor activities on Anna Maria Island in the morning hours, holing up in air conditioned comfort during the hotter afternoon hours.
The Family That Bowls Together
Over the years we have learned that in the summer months, the family that bowls together stays a heck of a lot cooler, and Bowlero Bradenton (4208 Cortez Road in Bradenton) is where we like to play! Yes, you have to go off island to participate in this activity, but your rental car will have air conditioning, and Bowlero is only about 15 minutes away. Offering 64 bowling lanes, an arcade, and a billiards room, your kids will soon discover that bowling IRL is much more fun than bowling on Wii, and mom and dad will appreciate the lounge with its ice-cold beer.
Summer pro tip #3: Staying hydrated in the summer is vital, and if your hydration methods are intermingled with some ice-cold beers or frothy tropical drinks, even better!
Chill on the Water with a Sunset Dolphin Tour
Although it can still be pretty warm on the water in the late afternoon, Anna Maria Island Dolphin Tours offers a canopied open-air tour experience that will still give you a fantastic boating experience as it keeps most of the sun’s rays off your body. Their sunset cruises last about two hours, and as you go where the dolphins play to watch Mother Nature’s greatest show, sea breezes and the light misting of the water as the boat cuts through the waves will aid in keeping you cool. Sunset tour costs start at $45.
Summer pro tip #4: Temperatures drop substantially in the evening hours, especially after a storm has passed through the area, so plan on many evening activities as well.
Pro Summer Tip #5: All the Cool Kids Choose Anna Maria Life Vacation Rentals for Their Summer Sanctuaries!
Offering the little luxuries that make life more beautiful, including air conditioning, your Florida vacation spent in our seasonal sanctuaries is going to be an experience you will never forget. Watch summer storms from screened-in lanais and balconies, play board games while sitting round dining room tables, and engage in movie nights while sitting under ceiling fans that circulate the air to keep everyone even cooler. Reserve your favorite escape today!
