ANNA MARIE ISLAND FLORIDA BEACHES BY R.L.HUFFSTUTTER

The island has a number of beaches. There's Anna Maria beach, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, Coquina Beach, all on the Gulf (or west side); on the Tampa Bay side of the island, there's one long beach that boasts calmer and gentler waters; it's called "Three Piers" and features views of the Skyway bridge and Tampa's high rise building.

One of a number of watercolor paintings of

Anna Maria Island by Robert L. Huffstutter

THE BEACHES OF ANNA MARIE ISLAND

watercolor paintings by Robert L. Huffstutter

Until 2005, I had never been to Florida; I had always assumed the beaches of California were the only ones that mattered. Afterall, having studied elementary geography, I knew that Florida was flat, almost at sea-level, so there would be no dramatic cliffs or hairpin curves around the Gulf or Atlantic like the ones between Santa Barbara and San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway. Florida was flat; it still is flat. But I can't deny that many of its beaches are more beautiful than a few of the lesser beaches in California. One thing about the flatland around the beaches that's positive is that there are very few steep ravines where a high-speed vehicle could careen into if out of control. What I like best about Florida beaches is the water temperature. It is so much warmer than the Pacific waters around Santa Monica and Laguna. Oh, the palm trees are more diverse--and taller. Well, the palms around the Beverly Hills Hotel are taller, probably the tallest in the world, but there's a reason and that reason is the celebrities who out hang out around there would not settle for less. I have wondered if the palms there are super-injected with a tall growth hormone of some type. Hey, this makes no sense and has nothing to do with Florida. Yes, I love the Florida beaches because the waters are warmer. At least the Gulf in July is so warm that I do not have to take test runs and get my courage up. It's simple: go to one of the beaches on Anna Marie, plop down the towels and hydration kits, the shades, a chair or two, and head into the the water. From the first time I felt the warmth of the Gulf, I knew I would be spending time floating about, relaxing.

The only problem I have with the island is remembering the correct spelling. ANNA MARIA ISLAND