Yesterday we rode the free trolley service down to the southern tip of Anna Maria Island and then picked up a connecting trolley down through the next island south, ending up in the world famous St Armands Circle. An exotic circular fusion of luxury boutiques, restaurants and galleries that rivals Rodeo Drive on a smaller more elegant level. It was not a shopping trip, we intended to have lunch at one of the elegant Columbia Restaurantand a glass or two of Californian wine. Dessert is just a short walk around to the ice cream parlour and there is plenty of hand made fudge, chocolates and candy for the dedicated chocoholic. Definitely not a diet day.

Anna Maria Vacations has some utterly gorgeous vacation properties on the Gulf Coast's Anna Maria Island and a trip to St Armands Circle is just one of the many great trips you can take if you have time in between visits to the white sand beaches and relaxing by your own private swimming pool.