Anna Maria is, by all definitions a small
town. Though it hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, there are
fewer than two thousand year-round residents.
But, just because a town is small, it
doesn’t mean it can’t accomplish big things. Anna Maria proves that every day
by being a stellar example of green living. The commitment of the residents and
business community to sustainability is nothing short of remarkable, and it’s a
big reason why I find myself returning to vacation there again and again.
The heart of Anna Maria is Historic Pine
Avenue, which has been called the Greenest Little Main Street in America. Not
only is it home to several green businesses, it also boasts one of the most
exceptional retail campuses in the world. The Anna Maria Island Historic Green
Village is a collection of historic buildings (some of which were rescued
and relocated from elsewhere on the Island) and new construction, all of it
kitted out with state of the art green technology. The two flagship buildings
in the Green Village have achieved the coveted (and difficult to achieve)
Platinum LEED-Certification status.
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Historic Green Village
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It’s not just the village itself that is
green; many of the businesses within it promote eco-friendliness as well. AMI Outfitters sells outdoor
gear and clothing, much of it from sustainable companies. Relish Café next door sources
as much local, fresh produce as possible to prepare their tasty southern
cuisine. They even have a cute retail area full of eco-conscious upcycled items
by local artisans. The café deck is a great place to grab a solitary cup of
coffee in the morning, or enjoy a family-friendly lunch thanks to their
affordable and inventive kids’ menu.
At the other end of Pine Avenue, Poppo’s Taqueria serves up a
fun and fresh take on Tex Mex in a groovy little atmosphere. Much of the décor
is handcrafted by the owners from reclaimed wood, and much of the food and
toppings are created from local produce. Bison chili, house-made pineapple hot
sauce, sweet and sour pickled red onions – what’s not to love? Even this picky
Texas-born gal can vouch for it.
Anna Maria’s green businesses aren’t
restricted to Pine Avenue, either. The Waterfront Restaurant was way ahead of its time when it came to the
whole green thing. The restaurant has been serving up sustainable, local food
for nearly a decade. Even the drinks in
their new craft bar are handmade to order with fresh herbs, produce and
housemade simple syrups. You can’t get much fresher than that.
Now, I’m lucky: I live close enough to Anna
Maria that I could just make a day trip out there. But there are times when I
want to stay a few days. After all, there’s only so much delicious food a girl
can eat in a day and it’s awfully nice to be within walking distance of all
those tasty craft cocktails. So I’m always happy to stay in one of the
eco-friendly solar-powered villas that are part of the Pineapplefish
family.
In fact, it’s been a while since I booked a
stay. Earth Day is coming up soon: seems
like a great time to start planning an eco-friendly vacation!