Today's Catch

Having walked almost the full length of the beach now, we can report excellent shelling in the stretch of shoreline from The Sandbar Restaurant south to Bali Hai in Holmes Beach. At other times I've noticed that shells are quite prolific down on Coquina Beach as well. Of course, I just found an enormous shark's tooth in the shell path at my house, so you never know where you'll find treasure! These olive shells, lightning whelks, scallops, and assorted mollusks were collected this morning.

Mountaintop View

Who knew that we have a real hill on Anna Maria Island? Visit Leffis Key and experience it for yourself! Located across the street from the public parking at Coquina Beach, Leffis Key is a nature preserve filled with boardwalks and informative signs explaining the various habitats found on a barrier island. Climb the hill (manmade from dredging deposits years ago) and get the best views on the island! Just be sure to use your bug spray; mom and I had mosquitos chasing us out of the preserve because we forgot ours!

Pelican Roost

We loved this flock of pelicans roosting on one of the groins jutting out into the water at Coquina Beach. Mom and I have noticed that the birds seem to naturally segregate themselves: pelicans on one groine, seagulls on another, herons on yet another.

Danger, Will Robinson!

Beach warning flags are useful things with which to familiarize ourselves. Thankfully, the beach has been almost perfect all summer long...no flags necessary!

Heading Out to Sea

While finishing our first section of beach walking (we're now walking the entire length of Anna Maria Island's 7 miles of beach), mom and I spotted this vessel heading out for a day of adventure.

The End of the Island

We made it all the way to the south end of the Island! Hard to believe we've walked every single street on the Island...and we're ready for more! Tomorrow we set out to walk the entire beach.

Harvey Memorial Community Church

Head north from Bridge Street down Church Street toward the Bradenton Beach Marina, and you'll find this charming little church tucked away near the end.

Marina Docks

Our friend Kathryn Sandberg joined us on this particular morning as we explored the marina.

Bradenton Beach Marina

Walking early in the morning makes it easier for us to explore places that would be crawling with "official" people during the day. We loved visiting the Bradenton Beach Marina, a place we always see from the Cortez Bridge but have never seen up close. It's a fun place, with lovely trompe l'oeil paintings on diesel tanks and walls, and docks with all sorts of vessels.

House Boat

Currently on shore, this house boat at Bradenton Beach Marina gives new depths to the "house" part of the moniker.

Moon Over Bradenton Beach

We've begun to notice that the days are getting shorter, as this full moon over the clock tower at the Bradenton Beach Pier attests. Ten minutes to seven in the morning, and the skies were dark and the moon was shining!

Fire in the Sky!

Wow! While mom and I were walking the streets of Bradenton Beach, we saw some lovely sunrises...but none so amazing as this one, taken while we walked out on the Bradenton Beach Pier.

Too Clever!

Why can't I ever think of these great names? This sign adorns a tiny cottage barely bigger than the sign itself!

Cute as a Button

Bradenton Beach features a wonderful assortment of tiny vintage cottages evoking images of a much simpler time. Hopefully there will always be plenty of owners who believe it's important to keep these marvelous examples of our sleepy beach heritage.

Soaring Box

You don't get a lot of space to work with in Bradenton Beach, so these owners did a clever job taking things up a notch by building their piece of the American Dream straight into the air!

Cottage Cute

Mom and I love the adorable pint-sized cottages in Bradenton Beach!

Peerless Piers

As the many bayfront piers attest, Bradenton Beach visitors have lots of options for getting out on the water without the benefit of a boat!

Mangrove Walk

One of the best things about walking every single part of the Island is that we get to see what's in back! Taking a stroll through the parking lots of all those condos lining Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach has revealed beautiful Bay views, most of them enhanced by piers stretching far out into the water. A sunrise excursion on boardwalks winding through mangrove forests is a sublime experience.