I cycled down to Longboat Key to visit friends. Passing through sandy Coquina Beach on the southern tip of Anna Maria Island I stopped and walked out onto Leffis Key. This a nature reserve area with a series of board walks and trails that meander through mangroves and out to the water overlooking a tiny island named Sister Key.

Florida Hikes says "A unspoiled sliver between the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay, Leffis Key sits between Bradenton Beach and Longboat Key. Although the entire trail system is less than a mile, it’s fun to explore. After you walk across the broad entrance boardwalk, you have your choice of directions to take. Head left to check out the boardwalks through mangrove tunnels, with overlooks on the bay. Turn right to walk out to a crystal-clear cove where interpretive signs point out the sea squirts and sponges. In the center of the island, a tall spoil pile provides a sweeping view of the sea, the bay, and the northern rim of Longboat Key."

This is a pretty apt description, however I would add that the view from the bay is one of the most stunning in the whole of Florida.

Loved the new revamped website http://www.1annamaria.com/ take a look, its full of great info on Anna Maria Island