Pretty US island is the locals’ best kept secret – with uncrowded beaches and dolphin tours
SKIP the Bahamas trip this year and stay on American soil with an uncrowded sandy beach.
Anna Maria Island off Florida's Gulf Coast was "once a best-kept secret" among locals.
The underrated island sitting between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay features white sandy beaches and emerald green waters.
While it no longer remains a secret, the island is located in a quiet business district, keeping it insulated.
Anna Maria stretches for over seven miles and is home to a population of about 1,000 in 2020, according to the US Census Bureau.
With an average age of 60 on the island, the quaint community consists mainly of families, children, and singles.
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Locals, who are committed to a vision of sustainability, signed the island as a partner for Leave No Trace, an environmental protection group, in 2023.
The island became the first Floridian destination to partner with the national organization.
Anna Maria Island was also named one of Travel + Leisure's 2024's top 50 places to travel in the world.
Visitors can sign up for community turtle and shorebird watching events every Tuesday, as well as wildlife and sea excursions.
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Operators Paradise Boat Tours and AMI Dolphin Tours arrange seven-day-a-week intimate group outings with a dolphin sighting guarantee.
"During the tour, through the stunning waters of Anna Maria Island, we will provide a fully narrated experience while we look for dolphins, manatees, fish, rays, and other wildlife," the Paradise Boat Tours site said.
Budget travelers can also sign up for free turtle and shorebird-watching events every Tuesday.
Foodies can expect to be pleasantly surprised by the Waterfront Restaurant, voted the top overall restaurant on the island by locals.
The Zagat-rated Beach Bistro, a culinary experience offering a four-course tasting menu, was nominated for a James Beard award for its innovative dishes, including Maple Leaf Farms duck.
Visitors can commute around the island by hopping on the free air-conditioned Island Trolley, which begins its loop route at 6 am.
According to its Chamber of Commerce, the island also boasts an annual average of 242 days of sunshine and a subtropical climate.
Visitors hoping for an empty beach should plan accordingly around the summer and winter seasons, which are the busiest on the island, thanks to school breaks.
Summer is also typically hurricane season, which officially lasts from June 1 to November 30.
The peak of the season, Florida's tourism site noted, lasts from mid-August through mid-October.
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The best time to visit then may be in the spring, from March through May.
With temperature highs ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-80s in the spring, the waters are also the perfect range for a dip, ranging from the mid-60s to the low-80s.
