An Anna Maria Island Thanksgiving is just like any other. Just like most, we take time to give thanks so we thought we would take a few minutes to do that here. Here are some of the things for which we are thankful:

One of our biggest and most popular holiday traditions is the Anna Maria Island Christmas Parade. There is something so unique about this parade. Maybe the huge pirate ship is normal; after all, the parade is organized by the AMI Privateers. It may also be that the temperature is about 75-80 degrees so shorts and flip flops are normal. If these don’t peak your interest, then it must be all the local businesses, residents and visitors (yes, visitors) participating in the long line of vehicles, floats and boats parading from one of the island to the other end.

It’s official! Sage Biscuit Café is a chain with two locations! There is no better way to start the day than after a good meal. If you don’t mind driving over one of the bridges, the Sage Biscuit Café has one of the best breakfasts or brunches within 10 miles of the island.

For families visiting Anna Maria Island or any other parts of the area, the Bradenton Riverwalk is a must-see stop during vacation. It was designed and built in 2012 to make downtown Bradenton more a bigger draw.

If you are like a lot of us, you may not know that the remains of a Bradenton Beach shipwreck sit on the floor of the Gulf of Mexico only about 20 feet offshore. It makes for a great Anna Maria Island dive for anyone who enjoys exploring shipwrecks.

Anna Maria Island beaches are truly incredible, beautiful and unique, and one of the best reasons to plan a family vacation there.

A family vacation to Anna Maria Island wouldn’t be complete without a local tour. Luckily for all, there’s an Anna Maria Island Trolley offering them in abundance.