Anna Maria Island

A Facebook friend recommended Anna Maria Island as a great place for beaches. I have to say that I agree!

What a beautiful beach!

Beauty to the right of me!

Beauty to the left of me!

Even the birds were enjoying the beach.

As the gentle waves came in, I noticed something I had never seen before. Small shells were uncovered by the surf. I looked down at them and, before my eyes, they burrowed themselves back into the sand!

I tried to take a video of this miracle, but I was a little leery of getting phone wet. If you ever get to the shore, take the time to look closely at the activity by the edge of the water.

The first beach I visited was a city beach that is located on the gulf side near the north end of the island. The entrance to the beach was lovely, too. The street side was lined with these great trees. They look like pines, but they aren’t like any pines I know.

The needles are long and seem like they are scaled.

The cones are interesting, too. They are barrel shaped, and don’t have the overlapping petal-like structures I am familiar with on pine cones.

As I was looking around, I noticed this light pole with a sign on it.

I couldn’t quite make it out, so I got closer.

How cool is that?

I stopped for a snack and then headed to another beach. Two in one day! I think the second one I visited was at Holmes Beach. I just had to see the sunset!

What a glorious day!

On the way back, I tried to have dinner at a restaurant recommended by another friend. I did manage to find it.

Woody’s River Roo in Ellenton.

I got settled in the parking lot and checked out the menu. It looked good enough, but I realized that I had some of my own chili back in the trailer. So, I got back on the road and had dinner there.