Discover Holmes Beach

Residing in the central portion of Anna Maria Island, Holmes beach is a small city surrounded by white sand beaches, Tampa Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico. With roughly 4,000 residents in the community, Holmes Beach is the largest of the three cities on Anna Maria Island. The properties in this city are a mix of vacation rentals and permanent residences, but there are no high-rise buildings to block the sweeping views of the Gulf and the Bay. In fact, no buildings higher than three stories are permitted in Holmes Beach or anywhere on Anna Maria Island. This gives the community classic old-Florida charm and serenity.

There are two beaches near the city of Holmes Beach: Holmes Beach and Manatee Public Beach. Holmes Beach is more secluded than Manatee Public Beach, with a few restaurants dotted along its soft, sandy shores. Manatee Public Beach is lifeguarded, and features an array of facilities such as free parking, concessions, washrooms and change rooms, picnic tables, an outdoor patio, a volleyball court, and a children’s playground. Both of these beaches are so close to the city of Holmes Beach that residents can easily walk or bike to them. Indeed, having your choice of beautiful beaches just steps from your door is, for many, the number one draw to visit or live in Holmes Beach.

More of what draws homebuyers to Holmes Beach can be found in its history and its low-key, friendly atmosphere. Before it was developed, Holmes Beach was covered in dense, tropical jungle, which early residents left mostly untouched. Remnants of this lush foliage remain mixed with the island’s current buildings and beaches.