  | Anna Maria is an island, but only just. Cradled in the temperate waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it clings to the coast of Western Florida by a few bridges and a long spit of keys that stretch past Grassy Point Bayou to Sarasota Bay. The central regions of the island are completely taken up by residential neighbourhoods, generally single family or semi-detached homes, many of which are rented to visitors for much of the year. You will not find any skyscraper condos or hotels on Anna Maria Island. Through the constant efforts of its permanent residents and Historical Society, the city has navigated the stormy waters of modernization to rest quietly somewhere between the turn of the (2oth) century and the Age of Aquarius. Once you’ve arrived at your cottage of choice, you can enjoy your stay fully without ever getting back in the car. From almost any location, the beaches that encircle the island are within walking distance. So too are several cafés, boutiques, and diminutive general stores, as well as surf shops where you can procure anything you might be missing for seaside amusement – sand-buckets, parasols, windbreakers, and especially flip flops. Flip flops are Anna Maria’s signature, probably because they’re almost all you need to appreciate this little slice of paradise. |
FLORIDA, USA
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