Sandy Beaches and Ample Water Views Make This Tiny Florida City a Coveted Place to Live

January 13, 2023 Admin

Illustration:

Sanna Mander

About an hour southwest of Tampa, Fla., is Anna Maria Island, a 7-mile-long tropical oasis comprising three cities. On the island’s north end is the city of Anna Maria, the ZIP Code of which is 34216, Florida’s second-most expensive as ranked by median listing price, according to Realtor.com. (

News Corp,

owner of The Wall Street Journal, also operates Realtor.com under license from the National Association of Realtors.) The ZIP Code is topped only by Miami’s Fisher Island. The city of Anna Maria, only a handful of blocks wide, is home to just under 2,000 full-time and part-time residents who love the island’s old Florida charm. But the white sand beaches facing both the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay are the biggest draw for locals and visitors alike.

Noteable Stops and Shops

The view from the Anna Maria City Pier, which is at the end of Pine Avenue’s restaurant and shopping district

The Waterfront Restaurant

This restaurant with Tampa Bay views has a quaint cottage feel. Owners Jason and Leah Suzor oversee a menu that includes grouper tacos, kung pao calamari and a ‘cook your catch’ option for diners who supply their own freshly hooked fish.

Shiny Fish Emporium

Sand dollar painting is a popular activity for the whole family at this gift shop, which has a 1950s Florida beach-glam vibe. Owner and creative director Rebecca Preston curates an inventory that ranges from Jonathan Adler furniture to Florabella resort wear to mochi ice cream.

Hometown Desserts

Owner Cindy Tutterow opened this bakery in the city of Anna Maria in 2012. Pies, cheesecakes and brownies are on offer (and wedding cakes, too), but the Key lime coconut cake with coconut cream filling and frosting reigns supreme.

Sandbar Seafood & Spirits

Sit with your toes in the sand, on the covered deck or inside at this seafood restaurant, which has been owned since 1979 with partners including Ed Chiles, son of former Florida governor Lawton Chiles. In the evenings there is a contest to guess the exact time the sun will set into the Gulf of Mexico.

Anna Maria General Store

This store, which sells groceries and household basics, has been on the island since the 1970s, although it has changed locations and owners over time. Today it is owned by Brian Seymour, who has expanded its deli options (order the Cuban sandwich). Prepare to stand in line at Dips, the ice cream, candy and sports paraphernalia shop that is housed within the store.

Membership to have

The Key Royale Club is a private social and golf club located in Holmes Beach, about a 15- to 20-minute drive with traffic from the city of Anna Maria’s Pine Avenue commercial stretch. Its nine-hole course is the only golf course on the island.

The Key Royale Club’s nine-hole golf course, in Holmes Beach, is the only golf course on Anna Maria Island.

Event of the year

The annual fall Bayfest festival takes place on Pine Avenue and typically features local food and drinks, artisan booths and musical acts. It draws crowds from around the island.

“$16 Million”

— The most expensive property sold on Anna Maria Island in 2022. Located in the 34216 ZIP Code, the five-bedroom house with five full baths and one half-bath is 7,437 square feet and sits on the beach overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

Advice for the buyer

The water affects a buyer’s value algorithm: Can you see it from your house? How close are your toes to touching it? “Big blue makes a big difference,” says Erin Joy Leathem, a real-estate agent with the Anna Maria Sales Team of Island Real Estate. Ms. Leathem adds that the city of Anna Maria has the lowest population density of the three cities on the island and single family homes as the primary style of residence, a combination that helps with the home values.

On the MARKET

Beach Ave.

Chad Spencer/CMS Photography (3)

This 3,452-square-foot home on roughly 0.2 acre is just two houses away from the beach. It was built in 2016. The second floor is the living level, with a kitchen, dining room, great room, office, and two bedrooms. The primary suite encompasses the entire third floor. A wraparound deck is shaded by three Banyan trees. A four-car garage has room for a golf cart. An elevator and whole-house generator are additional amenities. Agent: Alan Galletto Team, Island Real Estate.

Oak Ave.

Ian Wenzel/Aware Media Company (3)

Built in 2007, this house was recently remodeled and redecorated. At 2,847 square feet, the quarter-acre property sits on a canal with easy access to Bimini Bay. The house has indoor-outdoor flow with two large decks and a roof deck. There are water views from the house’s front and back, and the roof deck has 360-degree views. The backyard has a pool, putting green and outdoor kitchen. Agent: Kathy Harman, Michael Saunders & Company.

Crescent Drive

The Hover Bureau (3)

This 2,290-square-foot residence was built in 2018. It has three levels. On the second floor, which is the living level, there are three en-suite bedrooms. The primary suite on the third floor has a loft-style reading room, a beverage station, and access to a rooftop deck. The 0.13 acre property also has a pool, covered outdoor area for entertaining, and canal access. Beaches and Pine Avenue’s entertainment district are a short walk away. Agent: April Green, Duncan Real Estate.