Leaving for Anna Maria next Wednesday. Where are some good places to go by boat in the area? Looking for restaurants, snorkling places or any other good places to go by boat. We will be there for a week.

If you go south you have some nice place in Boca Grande Cabbage Key and South Seas Plantaion. Sarasota New Pass area. and north of you is Johns Pass, and further northof that is Shepard in Clearwater. Go under the Skyway Bridge and head towards downtown St. Pete. Im not sure about snorkling. but Egg Mont is right across the way their.

How far are these places?

Any events going on in the area that week?

The channels are real narrow there in the bay side. You will find a few sand beaches some hang out. I'm sure some more local will help. I would suggest going out the Gulf and heading for a remote island between there & Tampa Bay, Egmont State Park. A neat place for a day trip. We also road down to just above Port Charlotte. Nice area down there. You will have Fun

Which end of Egmont is that on, the North or South? Are the chanels easy to follow?

We're heading down to Anna Maria Island at Christmas for a week. I was wondering if anyone knew of a local boat rental place. I was thinking of renting a Deck Boat for a day.

End of Cortez road just before the bridge to the island.

You have Rotten Ralph's on Anna Maria you can dock at. Also just across the mouth of the bay at Pass A Grille you have Sea Critters and The Warf. A nice trip not far is to go up the bay by Gandy Bridge for Hula Bay...AWESOME food and docks...or go up the Manatee River (very very wide) to Mango's inside Riviera Dunes.