Citing the sugary sand beaches, a popular avenue for dining and shopping as well as a historic pier, Travel + Leisure magazine recently named Anna Maria Island one of “The Most Charming Small Towns in Florida.”
Palm Beach, Cedar Key, Mount Dora, Florida Keys, Micanopy, Sanibel, Cypress Gardens, Cape Canaveral and Fernandina Beach were the other places on the magazine's list of “10 of the best small towns in Florida with populations of 15,000 or less.”
“Considered one of the state’s best-kept secrets, Anna Maria Island is home to wide white-sand beaches lapped by emerald and sapphire seas,” reads the Travel + Leisure article published May 20. “While the Gulf Coast barrier island’s shores are wild, natural, and picture-perfect, visitors also love strolling Pine Avenue to check out the shops, galleries, and restaurants. The wooden Rod and Reel Pier, dating back to 1947, is another Instagram-worthy spot to visit.