Anna Maria Island is a seven mile barrier island on Florida’s Gulf Coast with a string of stunning beaches.
We’ve already visited one of them, but will pop back for more, but now we’ve headed straight to the very tip of the Island to the little resort of Anna Maria city.
Full of olde world charm, this is the closest thing we’ve found to the laid back Florida charm that we’d been expecting since we arrived in the state.
Colourful houses are battered by the warm salty air and the wooden City Pier dates from 1911.
Sadly in 2017, the devastating Hurricane Irma almost completely demolished the historic pier and it had to be totally rebuilt.
As we explore the little town we start to spot some of the quaint little houses all done up in pastel and primary colours.
There’s wild sands to explore at Bean Point Beach which sits at the very top of the peninsula.
Its odd name is another bit of history, as it is the former location of the home of George Emerson Bean, the very first permanent resident of the island.
FINALLY, some typical Florida architecture and old cars.
You can’t help but smile at this glorious, almost, neon estate agent.
Pine Avenue is lined with shops, galleries and eateries and I’m snapping more cute houses before a tasty stop off for tacos at Poppo’s Taqueria.
I love the colourful golf buggies available to hire, although the locals are not as keen, as one Anna Maria resident was at pains to point out (at great length!)
The remains of the Anna Maria jail, built in 1927, where any villains suffered a night in an airless cell with a million mossies!!
The fear of being stuck in those conditions kept most people out of the city jail.
Serene riverside properties exude old Floridian charm. You won’t find high rise apartments or Holiday Inns here – it is all island houses and cottages.
The colourful Beach Bum Shack sells all sorts of seaside themed bits and bobs.
Stick with us as we head for some more stunning beaches and go searching for some prehistoric relics!