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Five Ways to Explore Anna Maria Island, Florida, Without a Car

Upon arriving at my vacation rental cottage at Tropical Breeze, I began flipping through brochures of the island’s activities and adventures. Most of the activities I discovered are not far from my cottage. One of the most popular things both visitors and residents do here is leave the car in the driveway and grab a different mode of transportation to explore the island. That is one of the reasons I came to Anna Maria — five days of no traffic jams, crazy drivers, or stressful commutes.

Wet and Wild Springtime Sightings at Stump Pass State Park, Florida

Forget crowded beaches, hike undeveloped coastline. Enjoy the feeling of seclusion and chances of spectacular sightings. Dolphins, manatees, black skimmers, pelicans flying in “V” formation, and herons or egrets begging fishermen for a free lunch are just a few. And with a bit of luck, the greens.

New Orleans’ Oceana Grill

“Eat Oysters, Get Lucky,” screams the multicolored neon sign over the bar. Oceana Grill is located in a 200-year-old house and serves contemporary Louisiana fare with an emphasis on the bounty of the Gulf, including those oysters you’ll need to “get lucky” — fresh, chargrilled, or Rockefeller.

Looking for a Slice of the Real New Orleans?

“Summer Rain” had me at hello. Offering a stunning image of Jackson Square, the photograph immediately drew me in with its spell of New Orleans timelessness and mystery that I hadn’t experienced — or even imagined — before.

Tall Ships and Baggywrinkles

Every spring, the stop in Coos Bay brings the Lady Washington and her sister ship, the Hawaiian Chieftain, through tribal waters and includes a reenactment of the ceremony of reconciliation between the local Indian tribes and the foreign intruders.

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