Day Trips 🗺️

Just 10 minutes off the island in Bradenton, Clancy's Irish Pub & Grill is one of the most beloved local bars in the area. Since 2000, it's been the heart of the Bradenton bar scene — an Irish pub meets Florida tiki bar hybrid with a packed weekly events calendar and a loyal local following. The Freaki Tiki outdoor bar is the centerpiece — a sprawling open-air tiki bar with live music Thursday through Sunday, karaoke Friday and Saturday nights, and a stage that's hosted hundreds of local and regional bands. Inside, the bar is equally lively with trivia on Mondays, bar poker on Tuesdays, bingo on Wednesdays, and tournament darts. The food is solid pub fare — the French dip and Reuben are local favorites, and Fish Fry Fridays (beer-battered haddock with coleslaw, fries & hush puppies) draw a crowd. With 4.4 stars across 1,685 Google reviews, it's not just a bar — it's a Bradenton institution.

🌐 Clancy's Events & Menu →

Just across the Cortez Bridge from Anna Maria Island lies one of the most remarkable places in all of Florida: the Village of Cortez, a working commercial fishing village that has survived virtually unchanged since 1880. Cortez was settled by fishing families from Carteret County, North Carolina — mullet fishermen who followed the fish south and never left. Many of their descendants still live and fish there today. The village is home to A.P. Bell Fish Company, one of the oldest commercial fishing operations in Florida — a historic wholesale fish house that has supplied restaurants and markets across the region for generations. The Florida Maritime Museum preserves the village's 140+ year history. Every February, Cortez hosts its annual Commercial Fishing Festival with live music, fresh local seafood right off the boat, nautical crafts, and educational Dock Talks from the fishermen themselves.

🌐 Cortez Village History →

Downtown Bradenton is one of Florida's most underrated day trips — and at just 25 minutes from AMI, it's an easy half-day escape. The Bradenton Riverwalk stretches 1.5 miles along the Manatee River with stunning water views, a splash pad, skatepark, fishing pier, and free public art installations. It's one of the best urban waterfront parks on Florida's Gulf Coast. The Village of the Arts is a 10-block neighborhood of colorful artist-owned cottages where painters, sculptors, ceramicists, and jewelers live and work. Studios open to the public most weekends — it's one of the most vibrant and walkable arts districts in the state. First Friday Art Walk draws crowds every month. The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature is a world-class natural history museum with a working planetarium, Florida wildlife exhibits, and the Mosaic Science Center — great for families.

🌐 Visit Bradenton →

Sarasota is the cultural capital of Florida's Gulf Coast — a city that punches well above its weight with world-class museums, a vibrant arts scene, and a stunning bayfront. The Ringling Museum complex alone is worth the drive: John Ringling's Venetian Gothic mansion, the Museum of Art with its Rubens collection, and the Circus Museum. St. Armands Circle offers upscale shopping and dining on a beautiful roundabout island. The Sarasota Bayfront park is perfect for a sunset walk.

🌐 Visit Sarasota →

Siesta Key Beach is consistently ranked the #1 beach in the United States — and for good reason. The sand is 99% pure quartz crystal, which means it stays cool even in the blazing Florida sun and has a powdery, almost flour-like texture unlike any other beach. Siesta Village is a charming walkable area with restaurants, bars, and shops just steps from the beach. The Sunday Drum Circle at sunset is a beloved local tradition that draws hundreds of people.

🌐 Explore Siesta Key →

Mote's brand-new Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) opened October 2025 at University Town Center — a stunning 146,000 sq ft facility that replaced the original Ken Thompson Pkwy location. See sharks, rays, sea turtles, and immersive marine exhibits up close. Mote's researchers are on the front lines of red tide research, coral reef restoration, and sea turtle rehabilitation. The aquarium is both entertaining and genuinely educational. Touch tanks and interactive exhibits are highlights for all ages.

🌐 Visit Mote Marine →

John Ringling — the circus magnate — built one of the most extraordinary museum complexes in America on Sarasota Bay. The Museum of Art houses one of the finest collections of Peter Paul Rubens paintings outside Europe. Ca' d'Zan, his Venetian Gothic mansion, is a jaw-dropping glimpse into Gilded Age excess. The Circus Museum tells the full story of the American circus with original wagons, costumes, and the world's largest miniature circus. The grounds themselves are stunning — 66 acres of bayfront gardens, banyan trees, and classical sculpture.

🌐 Visit The Ringling →

Egmont Key is a small uninhabited barrier island at the mouth of Tampa Bay — accessible only by boat or ferry. It's a National Wildlife Refuge and State Park with pristine shelling beaches, loggerhead sea turtle nesting grounds, and the ruins of Fort Dade, a Spanish-American War fortification. The island has no facilities, no crowds, and no development — just white sand, turquoise water, gopher tortoises wandering the ruins, and some of the best shelling in the region. Several AMI tour operators run day trips to Egmont Key.

🌐 Egmont Key Info →

Tampa is a full day trip with something for everyone. The Florida Aquarium downtown is excellent — one of the best in the Southeast, with a coral reef exhibit, otters, and a penguin colony. Ybor City, Tampa's historic Cuban district, is a National Historic Landmark with incredible Cuban food, craft beer, and nightlife. Busch Gardens is a full theme park with roller coasters and a zoo-quality animal collection. The Tampa Riverwalk connects downtown attractions along the Hillsborough River.

🌐 Visit Tampa →

Orlando is a full-day or overnight trip — 2 hours from AMI. Walt Disney World (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom) and Universal Orlando (including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter) are the big draws. For a shorter Orlando day, LEGOLAND in Winter Haven is only 1.5 hours away and great for younger kids. SeaWorld Orlando is 2 hours. Buy tickets online well in advance — especially for Disney and Universal.

🌐 Plan Orlando Trip →

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is one of Florida's best theme parks — a rare combination of thrill rides and a genuine zoo-quality animal experience. The park is home to over 12,000 animals including giraffes, rhinos, hippos, and cheetahs, all visible from rides and walking trails. On the coaster side, Busch Gardens consistently ranks among the top parks in the Southeast: Iron Gwazi (steel hybrid), Cheetah Hunt, Montu, Kumba, and Tigris are all world-class. The Serengeti Plain offers a free-roaming safari experience. Sesame Street Safari of Fun is perfect for younger kids.

🌐 Busch Gardens Tampa →

Adventure Island is SeaWorld's outdoor water park located directly across the street from Busch Gardens Tampa — making it the perfect add-on to a Busch Gardens day. The park features 30 acres of water slides, a wave pool, lazy river, and a 17,000 sq ft wave pool. Top attractions include Vanish Point (a near-vertical drop slide), Gulf Scream (a high-speed body slide), and Colossal Curl (a massive enclosed family raft ride). The Rambling Bayou lazy river is perfect for a relaxing float. Combo tickets with Busch Gardens offer significant savings.

🌐 Adventure Island Tampa →

Sarasota Jungle Gardens has been delighting families since 1939 — one of Florida's oldest continuously operating attractions. Set on 10 lush acres in the heart of Sarasota, the gardens are home to hundreds of animals including a famous flock of Chilean flamingos you can walk right up to and feed. Four live animal shows run daily: the Wildlife Wonder Show, Jungle Bird Show, and Reptile Show feature trained birds of prey, exotic parrots, alligators, and snakes. The petting zoo is a hit with toddlers. The tropical botanical gardens are genuinely beautiful — towering palms, koi ponds, and winding paths through native Florida flora.

🌐 Sarasota Jungle Gardens →

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park (JFI Park) is Sarasota's premier indoor inflatable adventure park — 15,000 square feet of non-stop fun with nearly 20 attractions. The centerpiece is the 250-ft AirRider Zip-Rail Coaster, but there's also a Moon Bounce, Cliff Jump, Battle Beam, Wrecking Ball, Ninja Wall, Dodge Ball Xtreme, and a full obstacle course. Perfect for rainy days or when the kids need to burn off energy. Toddler Time runs Sunday mornings 9–11am for the little ones. Birthday party packages are a specialty — they've hosted over 5,000 parties. All participants need Jumpin Fun socks ($4/pair) and a signed waiver (fill out online before you go to save time).

🌐 JFI Park Tickets & Hours →