Mainsail Beach Inn
Beach. Please.The great thing and the not-so-great thing about Anna Maria Island are the same: no hotels (for now – Waterline Marina Resort is slated to open in late 2017). The community is full of beach rentals, many of which have a minimum of a one-week stay, but Mainsail Beach Inn features two- and three-bedroom condos with two- or four-night minimums just off the beach, perfect for sharing with friends for a quick getaway. For the $279 starting room rate in mid-August and September, that's about $50 per bestie per night.
Two hours from Orlando, the sleepy gulf-side barrier island is lined with sugar-sand shores and dotted with art galleries and fun restaurants. Rent a bike and ride up and down the streets to find your favorite beach house, and stop at Two Scoops for artisan ice cream in a dipped waffle cone, covered in rainbow sprinkles. Hop back in the saddle and pedal to the beach for the rest of the day – you won't want to miss the sunset.
Mainsail Beach Inn condos and townhouses all have outdoor grills, so you might want to book a fishing excursion or just pole fish off the famous Rod & Reel Pier on the north end of the island for a small fee. Bring your catch back to your digs, YouTube how to clean a whole fish and throw it on the (well-oiled) grill stuffed with lemon and parsley.
In the a.m., head to the Donut Experiment for classic cake donuts topped with your choice of five icing flavors (chocolate, caramel, maple, vanilla or glaze) and toppings like sea salt and bacon. Visit their Instagram account @thedonutexperiment beforehand to get ideas for a personalized pastry. Try the sriracha donut to add "spicy" to the sweet-salty combo.
101 66th St., Holmes Beach, 888-849-2642, mainsailbeachinn.com
