Before we moved to Anna Maria Island, we frequently visited our friends for a beach day from Tampa. Beach day doesn’t just mean the sun and surf during the day, it also means staying for sunset and raising a toast to the beauty surrounding us!

Sunsets on AMI are a part of island culture for residents and visitors alike. Most have a favorite beach spot to relax with friends and neighbors as the sky changes color moment by moment until the orange disc disappears beyond the horizon. Clouds actually make sunsets even more beautiful, so even on cloudy days, the pilgrimage to the beach continues each evening.

Many gather at the Sandbar Restaurant where a contest is held each evening. The person who guesses the exact time of sunset wins a bottle of bubbly! Others ritualistically bring their chairs to the beach to put their toes in the sand on Bean Point or any gulf beach to experience the art that is the AMI sunset. The pier at the Rod & Reel is also lined with sunset watchers each evening.

Have you heard of the green flash? When the conditions are right, a distinct green spot is briefly visible above the upper rim of the Sun’s disk; the green appearance usually lasts for no more than a second or two. It is elusive!

Wherever it is that you choose to view an AMI sunset, you can be sure that you will be surrounded by laughter, smiles, and cameras attempting to capture that perfect sunset moment.