Anna Maria Island, Florida - Seven Best Ice Cream and Candy Shops

Anna Maria Island is a favorite Florida escape for thousands of travelers around the world. The island is beloved for its embrace of the classic American beach getaway without the big corporate resorts or chain restaurants. One of the great treats of AMI is the opportunity to tickle your sweet tooth with some of the best ice cream and candy shops in the state. With dozens of cream cone and candy shops on the island, why not try a new one for every day of the week?

Here is one week's worth of incredible sweet stops on Anna Maria Island:

Joe's Sweets & Treats: Joe's pink, yellow and blue stripped building is impossible to miss from Gulf Dr. in Bradenton Beach. Inside awaits a sugar bonanza. Joe's has more than one hundred flavors of homemade ice cream and candies. They also sell chocolate-covered wedding cake, cheese cake, lollipops and many other scrumptious deserts.

Holy Cow Ice Cream: Holy Cow Ice Cream sits quietly on the Walgreen's Plaza strip mall. The great thing about Holy Cow is their variety of sweets. You can get soft serve ice cream, scooped waffle cones, and a myriad of malts and shakes. Holy Cow also sells artisan chocolates and lots of hard candy.

Two Scoops: You'll find Two Scoops at the intersection of Pine Ave. and Bay Dr. Inside you'll find the sort of sweets haven that had children buzzing throughout the 20th century. Cream cones, candies and sodas, oh my!

Dips: Dips is a small ice-cream shop on Gulf Dr. just a couple of block south of Pine Ave. They serve ice cream and frozen yogurt with a variety of fruit toppings. Dips also sells many types of candies and chocolates.

Big Olaf's Homemade Creamery: Big Olaf's sells the richest, creamiest Amish ice cream anywhere around. You'll find their shop on Gulf Dr. in Bradenton Beach.

Beach Caf: The Manatee County Beach, at the intersection of Gulf Drive and US 64 HWY is easily the most heavily trafficked beach on Anna Maria Island. The Beach Caf has outdoor windows for food service; however you can also go inside to cool of with a delicious waffle cone or fudge bar.

Tyler's Ice Cream: Tyler's old fashion ice cream is made fresh each day. Although their primary location is just over the Cortez Bridge, you can also purchase Tyler's frozen treat at the Anna Maria General Store on Pine Ave. Grab a pint and enjoy it on the beach or while chilling out in your hotel room.