Coquina Beach, Anna Maria Island
Photo from MyManatee.org
Coquina Beach at the southern tip of Anna Maria Island is just north of the bridge that connects Long Boat Key and Anna Maria Island. The beach extends a long way north
Coquina Beach at the southern tip of Anna Maria Island is just north of the bridge that connects Long Boat Key and Anna Maria Island. The beach extends a long way north
up the island where it narrows as it joins up to Bradenton Beach at the South Pier. Coquina Beach is open from sunrise to 10 pm. There is a good deal of parking, but being popular it fills up fast in the morning.
Image from TheWaterfrontRestaurant.net
Australian pines line length of the beach providing shade. The beach is named after its tiny clam-like coquina shells. Coquina Beach is a scenic half-hour drive up Longboat Key
from downtown Sarasota. The pine trees cover a long pathway that runs parallel to the beach. Along it are picnic tables and a tiki hut/restaurant right on the beach making it an ideal beach destination. Neither dogs nor alcohol
are allowed. The nearby Palma Sola Causeway does allow dogs and has a dock, grills, sheltered picnic tables, public rest rooms and water fountains.
Parking can get tight, even with the many lots, so coming in the morning is advised. In the beginning of this website, there is information about using the Longboat Key Trolley which runs back and forth hourly from Coquina Beach to downtown Sarasota. Once at Coquina, the AMI Trolley goes every ~20 minutes up and down the island. They are easy to use, see the section on Getting Around for details.
Parking can get tight, even with the many lots, so coming in the morning is advised. In the beginning of this website, there is information about using the Longboat Key Trolley which runs back and forth hourly from Coquina Beach to downtown Sarasota. Once at Coquina, the AMI Trolley goes every ~20 minutes up and down the island. They are easy to use, see the section on Getting Around for details.
Things to Do
There is a lot to do at this beach:
• Visit Anna Maria by trolley
• Eat/drink at the Coquina Cafe
• Use the changing rooms
• Eat/drink at the Coquina Cafe
• Use the changing rooms
• Use the volleyball courts
• Enjoy the playground
• Barbecue at the grills
• Enjoy the playground
• Barbecue at the grills
• Walk the shaded trail along the beaches
• Cross the street & visit Lefts Key Preserve on the Bayfront
• Cross the street & visit Lefts Key Preserve on the Bayfront
There is a long path paralleling the beach, between it and the
…Photo by Terri T. 11/1/23 on Yelp
parking lots. The path provides easy access to the beaches and the Australian Pines along its length shade the path and picnic areas. The path is part of the 2-mile long Coquina Beach Trail which is an easy, flat walk that leads you up to Bradenton Beach. Along this path is where the Coquina Beach Market sets up booths three days per week during the season.
Here’s a picture showing the picnic tables under the trees with the Beach Trail to the left side. The south end of Coquina Beach and the beach front cafe are open.
Photo from Anna Maria Island update YouTube video by Tampa Aerial Media
Leffis Key Baywalk
Across the street from the beach is the 2.8-mile long Coquina Baywalk, (no dogs) on Leffis Key Preserve, which involves trails and boardwalks that wind among mangroves, giant sea grapes and over water inlets.
Leffis Key is a bulge out into the bay. It has a circular foot path with a 26-foot high hill in the center offering a 360°
view of Sarasota Bay. No dogs are permitted due to the wildlife. It did suffer storm damage so call (941-748-4501) to make sure it’s open, or just walk over an look if you are at Coquina Beach
Photo from MyManatee.org
You can see rays, fish and shore birds along the way. An easy walk over the mostly flat terrain (16 foot variation in height) it takes about an hour to traverse it. Considered wheelchair friendly since it is paved the whole way. AllTrails.com has a lot of information.
On the map below, you can easily see the Preserve bulging into the bay. The circular trails is also evident, for perspective. The map shows the bridge to Longboat Key. The other photos below show the boardwalk.
Photo from FloridaBirdingTrail.com
Photo from FloridaBirdingTrail.com
Coquina Beach Market
At the extreme southern tip of Coquina Beach is the “upscale” Coquina Beach Market which opens on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 10am–2pm. Get details at their Facebook page. Parking is tight on market days, so you might want to use the Longboat Trolley to get there.
Photo from MyManatee.org
Travel Anna Maria Island by Trolley
The air-conditioned Anna Maria Trolley will take you to the tip of Anna Maria Island. With the piers closed for storm damage repair, there’s not much to see other than Bayfront Park. Remember, there is no village. Holmes Beach has nothing other than beaches, as well, but you might run into Garth Brooks! Getting off the trolley at Bradenton Beach to wander the village for a bit is worthwhile.
You won’t get stuck as the trolley runs from 6am to 10:30pm daily, at 20-minute intervals until 9:00pm and then at 30-minute intervals until 10:30. Find schedules at the link above, or you can download the mpStop app at Apple or Google App stores and know exactly how far it is from you at any time.
We’re ready to travel south to the next barrier reef island – Longboat Key – in the next section.
