Where the Gulf of Mexico Meets Tampa Bay: A Slice of Paradise with Caribbean Vibes on Florida’s Coast

Total serenity is what many vacationers dream of, and there are few places more tropically serene in the U.S. than Southwest Florida. As the Gulf of Mexico meets the shoreline cities of Florida’s west coast, some beautiful slivers of land offer amazing getaways. Among them is Anna Maria Island, a 7-mile-long barrier island with a taste of Old Florida that sits just west of Bradenton and south of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area. Though the island is just a bridge away, the feeling of seclusion here is unrivaled, with crystal blue waters and sugary white sand beaches reminiscent of the Caribbean.

Thanks to its inherent beauty and its locale in the Gulf waters, Anna Maria Island has become a popular beach day choice in Southwest Florida and a snowbird’s winter playground. It’s a destination that allows visitors to slow down compared to the pace of your average vacation, both literally and figuratively. This golf cart-centric community with beach access first came to popularity thanks to a man named Bean, and there’s a connection to a popular cookie that tells the story of the paradise that is Anna Maria Island, Florida.

Though the island’s first modern settler was Tampa mayor Madison Post, who named the island after his sister in-law Anna and his wife Maria, it was George Emerson Bean who was the first permanent resident. In 1892, Bean put down roots at the northern tip of the island, which is known to this day as Bean Point. When Bean passed away, he left the land to his son, who partnered with a man named Charles Roser to continue developing the island for future residents. Interestingly enough, Roser also became the creator of the Fig Newton cookie, which led to a financial windfall that further stimulated his ventures in the Sunshine State.

Today, Bean Point Beach is a cornerstone of any Anna Maria Island visit. The secluded beach is strewn with tiny dunes and bright white sand, which make for a picturesque setting. Facing west out to the Gulf, it provides a view of stunningly clear blue waters that rival the beaches of the Caribbean. Visitors claim this is one of the most beautiful and pristine beaches in the United States, but advise an early arrival if you’re trying to park beachside. Watch the waves close to the shore, as dolphins often dance by the beach and seagulls swoop down to water level for fresh fish meals. The eastern side of Anna Maria Island faces toward Tampa Bay, and here you’ll find the buzzier part of the island featuring the City Pier, where the shores often produce a variety of fish and sharks. Nearby are waterside restaurants, shops, and a Bayfront Park that offers views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on a clear day.