Anna Maria Island offers a taste of the simple life on Florida's Gulf Coast

Anna Maria Island, a seven-mile stretch of silver sand on Florida's Gulf Coast, has built a devoted following despite the fact that it is located between the better-known and more touristy towns of Clearwater andSarasota.

The barrier island is free of high-rise developments and full of local businesses. Its three small towns are connected by a colorful hop-on, hop-off trolley bus and a desire to preserve the charm of "authentic Florida."

Visitors to the state are looking for turquoise water and velvet sand. I was happy to find that the descriptions in the brochure matched my experience in the area, which is south of the bay and includes Anna Maria Island.

Hurricane Ian hit Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm. I was told that Anna Maria Island was not as lucky as the other islands.

One of the most popular pastimes on the island is to sink beach chairs into the sand and watch the waves of the Gulf of Mexico. The kayakers are looking for lumbering manatees in the waterway. Some of the best beaches in the world are often visited by shell collectors. Shoppers are taken to the stores by golf carts.

They pile plates with grilled grouper, oysters raw and baked, mussels dripping in white wine and heaps of coconut shrimp when they're done eating. I visited a lot of restaurants that featured key lime pie.

There are a variety of dining options on or near Anna Maria Island. Close proximity to water is what all of them have in common. The area's "authentic Florida" vibe is reflected in many of the local businesses.

Oysters were sold at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar. The photo was taken by Barbara Redding.

There are some favorites.

There is an oyster bar on Anna Maria Island. After a dolphin-free cruise on the Intracoastal, we went to a dockside restaurant where the acrobatic mammals mostly evaded us until a single sea creature broke the surface. When we received plates of mussels, mango salads, grilled grouper, and coconut shrimp, we were very happy. The managing partner wanted us to try the signature oysters. We could not resist. The key lime pie was too much for us to order. There is a restaurant at the bridge street pier.

There is a beach cafe on Anna Maria Island. The all-you-can- eat breakfast of pancakes and sausage is available at this funky cafe. Live music often accompanies stunning sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico, and visitors and locals come back later in the day.

The MarVista Dockside Restaurant and Pub is located in MarVista. It is possible to cross the bridge from Anna Maria Island to the MarVista. Diners are offered an impressive farm-to-table and sea-to-table experience by The Chiles Group. Red snapper "wings" with buffalo sauce and pulled pork were part of my dinner. The executive chef didn't buy any organic California wines. Sheltered among palm trees on a sandy beach, the restaurant's views pair well with fresh, delicious dishes.

You need to have some souvenirs. Visitors can find island treasures and funky gifts at the Pineapple Marketplace. Anna Maria Rocks is a nearby shop that sells shark teeth charms. Kids can make their own necklaces.

There are many charming, laid-back hotels and resorts on or near the seven mile long island on Florida's Gulf Coast.

Local history is told at a couple of small museums. There isn't a lot to say. The Anna Maria Historical Society Museum is located in a building that was constructed in the 1920s. There are artifacts and maps that show the history of the island. The old city jail, which used to be a holding tank for drunks, is the most popular feature of the museum.

A shell collection amassed by a former commercial sea captain and some battered fishing boats that used to ply the waters around Cortez, one of the last remaining fishing villages on Florida's southwest coast, was displayed at the Florida Maritime Museum.

There is a commercial and charter boat fishing dock on the mainland across the bay from the island. Several men in work clothes repair the engine of a rusty trawler as pelicans and seagulls perch on tall pilings. A local artist pasted seashells over a metal sculpture while fishing nets and battered buoy littered the docks.

The picnic tables in front of Star Fish Company looked like they came from Florida to me. I would have liked to have had another day to order a grouper sandwich and a cold beer.

The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has more info.