Anna Maria Island or another beach town in late January

Question

Looking for a low key walkable town in a beach town that is not overly developed. I was thinking of Ana Maria island or do you suggest somewhere else. I want to be less than an hour from the airport and if possible, I prefer not to rent a car. I dont like places with big high rises on the beach.Thanks!

Answer

Anna Maria Island is an excellent choice for what you're looking for: low-key, walkable, charming, and without the high-rise development common in other Florida beach towns. It has a very relaxed Old Florida feel, beautiful beaches, and a strong “park the car and forget it” vibe. That said, there are a few limitations—mainly transportation from the airport and getting around if you don’t rent a car.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of Anna Maria Island and a few other towns that meet your criteria, all within about an hour of a major airport and offering walkability, charm, and minimal high-rise development.

Anna Maria Island (near Sarasota–Bradenton Airport / Tampa Airport)

AMIs atmosphere fits your preferences very well: no chain hotels, no big condos, slow speed limits, quiet neighborhoods, and beautiful Gulf beaches. It’s one of Florida’s least developed beach destinations while still being full of character. However, public transportation from the airport is limited.

Pros: No high-rises, extremely walkable in the Anna Maria City and Holmes Beach areas, free island trolley, gorgeous calm beaches, plenty of small restaurants and local shops.
Cons: Hard to reach without a rental car. Uber/Lyft are available but can be expensive depending on time of day. Walkability depends heavily on which part of the island you stay in.
Airport distance: About 25–30 min from SRQ (Sarasota/Bradenton), about 1 hr from TPA (Tampa International).

Other Great Alternatives (All walkable, low-key, and NOT full of high-rises)

1. Pass-a-Grille (near St. Petersburg)

Pass-a-Grille is a quiet, charming historic beach town located at the southern tip of St. Pete Beach. Unlike the northern part of St. Pete Beach, Pass-a-Grille has virtually no high-rises, narrow streets, and a village-like feel. It’s extremely walkable.

Pros: Beautiful beach, highly walkable neighborhoods, small inns and boutique lodging, great sunsets, local shops and cafés.
Cons: Limited hotel inventory; books up early for January.
Airport distance: 35–40 min from Tampa International; 30 min from St. Pete–Clearwater Airport.

2. Dunedin (near Clearwater)

Dunedin is not directly on the beach but is minutes from Honeymoon Island State Park, one of Florida’s best natural beaches. The downtown is extremely walkable and charming, and you can avoid renting a car if you stay in the center and use rideshare to the beach.

Pros: One of the most walkable towns in Florida, great restaurants and breweries, no high-rise beach development, access to pristine beaches at Honeymoon Island via short rideshare or ferry.
Cons: Not directly beachfront unless you stay near the causeway.
Airport distance: 30 min from Tampa International.

3. Siesta Key Village (near Sarasota)

Siesta Key Village has a fun but still relaxed atmosphere, walkable streets, and no towering high-rise hotels. If you stay near the Village, you can walk to restaurants, the beach, and shops, and use the free trolleys for the rest of the island.

Pros: Very walkable if staying near the Village, no high-rises, free trolley service, beautiful white-sand beach.
Cons: More visitor traffic compared to Anna Maria or Pass-a-Grille.
Airport distance: 20–25 min from SRQ; 1 hr from TPA.

4. Neptune Beach / Atlantic Beach (near Jacksonville)

This area has a coastal small-town vibe with a very walkable main district full of boutique cafés and shops. The beaches are quiet, wide, and not lined with towers.

Pros: Highly walkable, local and laid-back, great food scene, minimal high-rises.
Cons: Cooler temperatures in January compared to Gulf Coast towns.
Airport distance: 35 min from Jacksonville International.

Best Recommendation Based on Your Criteria (No car + low-key + walkable + no high-rises)

Best overall fit: Pass-a-Grille — walkable, charming, quiet, low development, and closer to the airport than Anna Maria Island.
Best tropical-feeling and still mellow: Anna Maria Island — if you don’t mind paying for Uber from the airport.
Best non-beachfront but very walkable town with natural beaches nearby: Dunedin.
Best mix of walkability + amenities: Siesta Key Village.

If avoiding a rental car is your top priority, Pass-a-Grille or Siesta Key Village may be easier than Anna Maria. But if the vibe is the top priority, Anna Maria Island is absolutely one of the best low-key Florida Gulf Coast destinations, especially in late January.