Situated on Florida's west coast, this is a barrier island between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. On the Gulf side, you'll find 7 miles of sugary white sand beach stretching along the coast. You might enjoy simply spending day after day soaking up rays and testing the warm water temperatures.

The island is crisscrossed with a canal network, so many of Anna Maria Island accommodations can provide easy boat access to all the waterways in the area. You can also travel easily among the island's three cities on the island trolley system.

When staying in Anna Maria Island lodging, you can start your day with a sunrise over Tampa Bay and end it with a glorious Gulf of Mexico sunset without ever leaving the island. In between, you can enjoy a day wonderfully free of crowds and locals whose laid-back lifestyle is contagious.

You can appreciate the feel of having practically your own private island while still enjoying easy access to anything you might need. You'll find a wonderful selection of boutiques, gift shops and galleries right here on the island, or you can take Longboat Key Bridge south to Sarasota and check out the shopping and dining at renowned St. Armand's Circle. You can get more information about it via various online resources.