Saying Goodbye to Anna Maria

We headed back on the road today.  The long drive to Macon GA gave us time to review the fun we had on Anna Maria Island.  We spent lots of time outside, even on cloudy days.  It was so inspiring to be in a more tropical environment and see all of the trees, shrubs, and flowers that bloom with abandon in Florida.

When we travel we eat out a lot (although I try to make sure I get the chance to cook, too).  We've eaten at lots of good restaurants - and Anna Maria has lots to choose from - and we've seen that restaurants can have good days and really good days.  For our last dinner on the island, we chose the Sign of the Mermaid and they must have been having a great day!  When we stepped in the door, we could smell garlic and butter - always a good start!  We had to walk past the pastry case that was displaying their award winning pies.  We saved room for dessert.

Because we decided to save room for dessert, we each chose an appetizer and soup, or in my case salad, so that we could enjoy dessert.  The menu was very imaginative.  I wanted to try all of the salads, but finally settled on the blue cheese walnut salad.  It was perfectly seasoned and the blue cheese was plentiful and scrumptious.  Our waiter brought bread to the table.  Instead of bringing olive oil separately, the bread was lightly toasted and sitting in a puddle of warm garlic oil with grated parmesan.  Yummy!  The bread was accompanied by a small plate of pickled veggies.  My three dining companions had the very delicious garlic onion soup au gratin.  I had shrimp and grits which did not look or taste like you would imagine.  The shrimp, plump and perfect, were cooked with bacon and sauced with a sherry cream sauce.  The grits were served as a small, square cake that was crisp and sprinkled with manchego or parmesan.  Dennis ordered steamed mussels and clams which were cooked to perfection.  That left us almost enough room to share a piece of pie.  Nancy and I shared chocolate, raisin, walnut pie (served warm with whipped cream) and Dennis and Gary shared a piece of key lime pie.  We all waddled out at the end of a sensational meal.  I definitely want to go back and sample more of their delightful menu!

We ate at more casual places, sampling burgers and breakfasts, and looking for those places that are frequented by locals.  Anna Maria is really just a small town with great beaches.  There are big fancy houses, pricey shops, and gourmet restaurants, but we did not visit those places.  We walked a lot and enjoyed the relaxed feeling of a beach resort that is unpretentious and fun.

We are driving back now and we are sad to leave the warmth and sun, but we are looking forward to our next travel adventures.