Holmes Beach

Holmes Beach, located on Anna Maria Island off the Bradenton coast, has successfully blended the business of tourism with the pleasure of living full time in a waterfront community. “A good thing about Holmes Beach is that the short-term rental housing is concentrated in one specific area. So you have nice neighborhoods throughout, where you can walk around and meet your neighbors,” says Jason Sato, a Realtor with Sato Real Estate who grew up in Holmes Beach.

The city of around 5,000 full-time residents is the largest of the three municipalities comprising Anna Maria Island. It’s located between the small cities of Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach and is connected to the Bradenton mainland by the Anna Maria Island Bridge. Its population is roughly five times that of either of its island sisters. Its status as a tourist haven ultimately has been a benefit to the residents who call the city home. “Growing up in Holmes Beach and living on Anna Maria Island now, from a resident standpoint, tourism has meant more shops, more restaurants and more activity.”

The city’s distinct residential identity is strengthened by the relative affordability of its housing. “Holmes Beach is probably best if you’re not looking for a home that you can rent out,” says Sato. “It’s the best bang for your buck on Anna Maria Island. You can find a nice home here for under $1 million. You can’t do that anywhere else on the island.” Single-family housing consists of cozy beach homes, traditional ranch-style homes, elevated coastal homes and waterfront estates. “There’s a wide range in prices,” says Sato. “From under $1 million to just over $10 million.” Condominiums, which are more prevalent in Holmes Beach than the other two cities, start in the $600,000 range.

Students can attend Anna Maria Elementary, an A-rated school in Holmes Beach, and mainland schools Martha B. King Middle and Manatee High, a B-rated institution that is the oldest public high school in Bradenton.

The water is the obvious center of recreational activity in the city, which features more beach than the other municipalities combined. Manatee Public Beach is a popular gathering spot along the Gulf of Mexico. The beach also features sand volleyball, children’s play areas and a gift shop for when the relatives come to visit. There are two boat ramps in the city, providing convenient access to the bays on the other side of town that connect to the open waters of the Gulf. Many of the residential streets are on fingers of land that create unique opportunities for boaters. “There’s more access to the beach and boating than the other areas,” says Sato. “Holmes Beach has the most boatable canals, so there are more options for boaters. There are also way more waterfront homes for the boaters.” A city park provides additional recreation, including courts for tennis and pickleball and a skating bowl. The Key Royale Club offers its members exclusive access to a 9-hole golf course, the only course on the island.

Retail and dining options are concentrated along Marina Drive, which features the Island Shopping Center and Duffy’s Tavern, an island institution known for its burgers. Residents also have access to a full-service Publix and an array of eateries throughout the city. Popular among the locals are Skinny’s, another established eatery offering warm food and cold beer, and The Ugly Grouper, a funky Old Florida restaurant with a 3,000-pound metal fish out front. If upscale waterfront dining is what you seek, you’ll find it at Beach Bistro.

“Holmes Beach offers a little bit of everything because it’s so much larger than the other cities on the island,” says Sato.