Anna Maria Island used to be the kind of place you had to hear about from someone else. People found it by accident, or through a friend, and they kept coming back.
The Old Florida pace is part of the attraction. It is what brings people back year after year. And it is what sets this island apart from the more polished beach spots along the coast.
If you are coming to Anna Maria Island for the first time, or finding your way back, that charm is still here. Let’s take a closer look.
How AMI Has Changed and How it Hasn’t
The most visible change on Anna Maria Island is the money. Property values climbed, and rental rates followed. The caliber of the homes pushed the whole market upward.
What did not change is the culture of the people who choose to come here.
The contrast has always been clear:
- Places like Palm Beach feel polished and expected
- Anna Maria Island feels relaxed and lived-in
AMI draws a different kind of visitor. The CEO is in a worn fishing shirt. The founder who wears the same clothes for three days comes back with sandy feet and calls it a perfect trip.
That is Old Florida. It has taken the growth, taken the change, and still feels like itself.
The Golf Cart Culture Tells You Everything About AMI Life
Nothing on Anna Maria Island shows that mix of change and continuity quite like the golf cart culture.
Twenty years ago, the first calls came in one at a time. Someone had rented a cart on Hilton Head. Could they do that here? Back then, the answer was no. Enough calls came in, and the answer changed.
Now there are plenty of street-legal golf carts moving through the island. And here is the part that matters. They do not exceed 25 miles per hour. That is the law, under Florida’s LSV statutes. It also matches the island’s pace.
The carts have no doors and no windows; you feel the air flowing through. You pull up to an ice cream shop, step out feeling easy, and walk over. That’s more Florida than anything polished.
Fun And More Rentals leans into that, delivering each cart straight to your rental home and walking you through it in person.
We have been doing it long enough to know that the small things matter. The golf cart laws across Anna Maria Island cover details like passengers, seating, and where you can drive. A quick walkthrough at delivery means you spend the week relaxed, not second-guessing anything.
“The wind is blowing in your face, and it’s humid here, and it’s sticky, but that’s the fun and the flavor. You’re experiencing old Florida with all your senses.” – Duane Gartman, Fun And More Rentals
Not sure what size cart fits your group or how delivery works for your rental property? See how delivery and pickup work before your trip so everything is ready when you arrive.
What the Island Asks of You
The transition most visitors go through is easy to spot. They arrive tense, feeling the heat in the air. They’re hungry, tired, and thinking about the beach since before they left home.
After a day, sometimes two, something shifts:
- The salt air settles in
- The golf cart is waiting
- The beach is a few blocks away
- The only real plan is sunset
The person who showed up wound tight is now rolling past the shop, waving, taking it easy. AMI does not perform for you because it does not need to. It just keeps being itself until you slow down enough to meet it there.
The people who come back every year understand that rhythm. The regulars who have ordered the same bikes and kayaks for years. They are not looking for something new. They are coming back for what they already found.
The Old Florida Business That Matched the Island
The business behind Fun And More Rentals started the way the island used to be: small, organic, built from nothing. We had one bicycle and free furniture pulled off the curb on Sunday mornings. A delivery model built on bringing everything to the rental home and picking it up when you leave, because that is what actually served the people coming here.
That model became the island standard. The island changed around it. The bungalows became mansions. The demand grew. The donut shop now has 50 people out the door at 7 in the morning.
The values that built the business align directly with those that make AMI worth visiting. People who genuinely care show up for the person in front of them, not because a script demands it but because that is how they are built.
“We started with one bicycle, stories of free furniture, grills that we pick up off the side of the road. We’re as organic as you can get. And maybe part of the success has been that we’ve kind of cared, and I like to believe that we are just genuine people.” – Duane Gartman, Fun And More Rentals
That is the same spirit that drives someone to give a family stuck on the island a ride in their truck. Not as a policy. Just because it was the right thing to do, and the truck was heading that way anyway.
What to Know Before You Arrive
Planning matters more than most first-timers expect. Anna Maria Island is small, and during peak weeks, parking and road access can slow things down fast. Getting your gear sorted before you arrive makes the whole first day feel easy.
A few things worth knowing:
- Golf carts are low-speed vehicles (LSVs) under Florida law. They are street-legal on roads posted at 35 mph or lower, which covers most of the island.
- Summer afternoons bring quick storms. They roll in fast, rain hard, and move on. Mornings stay calm, and the sunsets after those storms are some of the best you will see anywhere.
- Booking early makes a difference. Spring break and peak summer weeks fill up quickly, especially for larger groups needing multiple carts or extra gear.
See the full range of rental options and get it squared away before you arrive.
Answers to Common Questions
Are golf carts street-legal on Anna Maria Island?
Yes. Street-legal golf carts (LSVs) are allowed on most island roads and are capped at 25 mph under Florida law.
Do golf carts get delivered to your rental home?
Yes. The team from Fun and More Rentals delivers directly to your property and picks up at the end of your stay.
What is the speed limit for golf carts on AMI?
The speed limit is 25 mph. That slower pace is part of the island’s character.
Can a golf cart fit a full family?
Yes. Options range from small carts to models that seat up to eight passengers.
What other gear can you rent on AMI?
Bikes, kayaks, paddleboards, and beach gear are commonly available. You can also add kayak rentals or paddleboards to your plans.
Is Anna Maria Island good for first-time visitors?
Yes. It is small, easy to get around, and built around a relaxed pace rather than big resorts.
What is the best time of year to visit AMI?
Spring and fall are quieter. Winter is calm and scenic. Summer is lively, with quick afternoon storms and strong sunsets.
The Version of AMI That Keeps People Coming Back
Anna Maria Island is no longer a secret. The word got out. The money followed. The traffic came after it.
But what made the island worth finding is still here. Visitors still enjoy the slow pace and unpretentious feel. The wildlife still shows up every morning, whether anyone is watching or not.
Plan ahead, get your gear sorted before you arrive, and let the island take it from there. To set up delivery for a street-legal golf cart before your arrival date, contact Fun And More Rentals and get it on the calendar.
Duane Gartman is the owner of Fun And More Rentals, the largest vacation equipment rental company on Anna Maria Island. With nearly 20 years in business, Duane started with just two bicycles and built a fleet that now serves thousands of families each year. Fun And More Rentals is known for its free delivery and pickup service, Best Price Guarantee, and a focus on making island vacations effortless from arrival to departure.