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Southern Living, Aug 1999

Ever wonder where all the good old beaches have gone, the places we loved before high-rises, fast food, and traffic took over? One answer is Anna Maria Island (see "Time Traveler," on page 68). Located at the mouth of Florida's Tampa Bay, it reflects an earlier era. Beaches: Seven miles of wide, white, Gulf Coast sand are the main attraction. Pluck unbroken shells from the tide line on Coquina Beach and Holmes Beach.

Piers: Three old-fashioned bayside fishing piers are daily destinations for vacationers and residents. The 1947 Rod & Reel Pier, the 1910 Anna Maria City Pier, and the 1921 Bradenton Beach Pier sport casual seafood diners, tackle shops, and unforgettable views.

Watersports: You needn't look far to find marina-based outfitters offering adventures by fishing boat, airboat, water skis, sailboat, parasail, canoe, scuba, and more.

Nature: Spot shorebirds and breaching dolphins from anywhere on the beach. Coquina Beach extends to the island's southern end. At Leffis Key Nature Preserve, one high dune allows views over a maritime forest to the bay and the gulf.

Dining: Casual and affordable are the rule. Favorites for simple breakfasts, lunches, and dinners include City Pier's Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Rod & Reel Pier's Upper Deck, and Bradenton Beach Pier's Bridge Street Cafe. At Cafe On The Beach, cooks flip countless pancakes for the daily allyou-can-eat $4.25 bargain. Other waterfront gems include Sandbar Seafood & Spirits, Beachhouse Restaurant, Gulf Drive Cafe, and the Bridge Tender Inn's Dockside Bar. For dessert head to Cafe Berlin.

Lodging: Cottages and motels dominate, and with rates that seem set in the past too. Pelican Post Motel, Palm Tree Villas, and Silver Surf Motel are worthy independents in the area's respected Superior Small Lodgings program. The Harrington House Beachfront Bed & Breakfast is a pocket of tranquillity. Wagner Realty is a good source for rental cottages.

For information: Contact the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, (941) 729-9177 or 1-800-462-6283. For lodging call Pelican Post Motel, (941) 7782833; Palm Tree Villas, (941) 7780910; Silver Surf Motel, (941) 778-6626; Harrington House Beachfront Bed & Breakfast, (941) 778-5444; or Wagner Realty for cottages, (941) 778-2246.