When you need gifts, décor, clothes and other trinkets that can't be found anywhere else, the place to go is Bridge Street on Anna Maria Island.
Just south of the Cortez Road bridge to the island, Bridge Street is lined with locally owned shops of all colors: boutiques, clothing stores, art galleries, souvenir shops, eateries and bars. There's even a miniature golf course, The Fish Hole.
For beach-style gifts, try Bridge Street Bazaar, which offers beachy tees, swim suits, souvenirs and more at reasonable prices. The Sailor's Knot has breezy clothing, jewelry and accessories to get you in the island mood. Both stores were voted as the best places to shop on the island by Southern Living.
If you want something more off-beat, browse The Back Alley or The Hive Creations. The Back Alley has a small coffee shop that also sells wine and beer, as well as funky gifts from more than 150 local artists. The Hive sells a mish-mash of handcrafted items, from unique clothing and exotic décor to jewelry and paintings.
Entertainment options include the above-mentioned Fish Hole, as well as Segs by the Sea (Segway tours and rentals) and Drift In, a great spot to watch the game and down a few cold ones.
Once you've worked up an appetite, you have several dining options on Bridge Street. Rotten Ralph's (breakfast, seafood) and CostaVille Pizza and Grinders (pizza, wings, hot grinders) offer super-casual munchies. The Beachhouse on the Gulf side and the Bridgetender Inn and Dockside Bar on the bay side have great views of the water. You can dine outside on a third-floor terrace at the Bridge Street Bistro, which is as fancy as you'll get around here. The menu has some refined selections, but the attire is still resort casual.
Don't forget to venture out on Sundays for the Bridge Street Sunday Market. From November through April, this open-air market offers a huge range of goods from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You'll find jewelry, art, produce, gifts, baby items, plants and more farmers' market-style vendors.
Shop a lot on Bridge Street and you can get some of that money back. Certain merchants participate in Bridge Street Bucks, a program that allows you to redeem accumulated bucks at your favorite stores.
One very “island” thing to do is get a massage on the beach by Sea-renity Spa. Inside a private tiki hut, you'll be lulled by the sound of the Gulf waves and beach breeze. Indoor massages are available as well. If you need a little Zen in your life, Sea-renity can hook you up with instructors who do free beach yoga on Sundays and Wednesdays. Ommmm.
If you fall in love with Bridge Street, you can even make it your home base. Bridge Walk, A Landmark Resort on Bridge Street proper is excellent for larger parties and families, as it offers several two-story town homes with full kitchens.
Don't let our list limit you, though. There are plenty of other shops on Bridge Street to explore to get all of your shopping done in one area. Now that's what I call convenient!
