Author of My Adventure

Girls just want to have fun… And we chose Anna Maria to be our Adventure. 

How we Arrive to the Island

  Our flight landed in Tampa and rented a car to drive into Anna Maria. 

Accommodations

A few years ago, my friends and I discovered that renting an airbnb was cheaper in some cases than staying at a decent hotel. When you go on the site you can click the heart to mark ‘as a favorite’ and share it with others within your group. That way it is easier to all agree on the accommodations. In Anna Maria, we knew we wanted a place that had either beach access or one within walking distance and a place with good reviews. We ALWAYS read the reviews to see what other people think of the location, the commendations, and the host too. Between the three of us, we found an adorable apartment at the Gulf View Townhouses with two bedrooms, three beds, three bathrooms, a full updated kitchen, a darling living room, and a perfect size porch.  There was also a pool at our disposal and a shed filled with beach gear such as chairs, a wagon, and an umbrella. The host also provided beach towels which made it one less thing we need to worry about packing. 

Places To Eat Or Grab A Drink

Flying in on an early morning flight and followed by a car ride can leave travelers feeling starved especially when you skip breakfast. Thank goodness we found a barbecue restaurant called Smoqu House. It was so tasty and just a darling stop to grab a bite. Another amazing place we ate at during our stay was at the Ugly Grouper. For a freshly baked treat, The Cheesecake Cutie and Cafe is definitely worth stopping by. The Back Alley Wild Treasures for Funky Souls, one of the cutest shops on Historic BridgeStreet, has coffee, smoothies, and the most amazing hard lemonade!

Activities

It has been on my bucket list to go parasailing. Both Anne and Kathy had already tried it and were more that happy to take pictures of my experience as the relaxed on the beach. So I went through Yolo Adventures and went with a group while the other two relaxed on the beach graciously capturing the moment on a digital photo for me. IT WAS AMAZING!!!! I went up by myself and I would do it again in a heartbeat and in fact I was a little disappointed when my time was up. I would describe it as a relaxing, zenful glide through the air.

We also went on a sand dune hop off tour. The boat ride was quite enjoyable along with exploring the sandy dunes. We stopped off at Greer Island, Manatee County Parks and Natural Resource Department Town of Longboat Key, and walked along the shore enjoying the view. 

Coquina Beach, a public beach, has an outdoor market that was quite enjoyable with a wide variety of booths. It is definitely worth stopping by to check out. Plus, there is also a fantastic walking trail located there too. I walked the trail before I went to the market and the market was actually right on the trail so it worked out great.

There is something just so peaceful about being on the water and the excitement of stopping dolphins as they swim by us.

A fun way to get your zen on at the beach is to join yoga class at dusk. It really was an enjoyable and relaxing time with a breathtaking view. Find out if it is offered during your stay. If it is, bring your beach towel, which is what we used, or a yoga mat. 

Personally, reading on the beach is a must for us. It is literally one of our favorite summer girl trip moments. In fact all our birthdays are in the summer, so one of us always tends to buy books as gifts to read on the trip. Since we always plan a day with our noses in books, we tend to pack the same type of picnic which is my favorite beach food. Salami, variety of cheese, and assortment of crackers, fruit, chocolates, and drinks… especially water. Just so you are aware, alcohol is not permitted on the beach. 

For your next girl’s trip, you just may want to head to Anna Maria.