Anna Maria Island Among ‘50 Best Places To Travel In 2024’: List

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Anna Maria Island has been named a top global destination in a new list released by Travel + Leisure magazine Thursday.

Manatee County’s barrier island found itself among the “50 Best Places to Travel in 2024.”

The list broke down destinations by category, including “For Cultural Immersion,” “For Food and Drinks,” “For Big-City Thrills,” “For Moments on the Water,” “For Nature Lovers” and “For Adventurous Travelers.”

Anna Maria Island naturally landed in the “For Beach Vibes” category, alongside destinations like Coastal Campania, Italy; Costa Rica; Dominica; Hawai’i Island; Los Cabos, Mexico; and Mallorca, Spain.

“Compared to some brand-name Florida destinations, this island south of Tampa Bay is way under the radar. But it's cultivated a loyal following, thanks to its no-high-rises shoreline, incredible sunsets and small-town feel,” Travel + Leisure wrote about the barrier island. “Case in point: Anna Maria Island is a place where most people tool around by golf cart or beach cruiser, and almost all the sherbet-hued clapboard homes are vacation rentals.”

The island’s listing nodded to hotels Mello on the Beach and Joie Inn, as well as the cocktail bar Doctor’s Office and the planned restaurant Bohemian.