Tammy's Tidbits

This post has been long overdue, but I finally have a moment to share our amazing July vacation! What started as a quick two-hour flight to Clearwater/St. Pete turned into nine unforgettable days of sun, sand, sunsets, live music, and exploring new cities.

Day 1: Arrival at Anna Maria Island

We landed in Clearwater/St. Pete on a Thursday, rented a car, and drove to Anna Maria Island. Our hotel, Mello on the Beach, is a charming boutique spot right on the Gulf, with cozy and well-appointed rooms. After checking in, we headed across the street to Skinny’s for dinner. I can confidently say I had the best BLT of my life. We capped the night with our first Anna Maria Island sunset—absolutely breathtaking!

Day 2: Beach Day & Scenic Drives

Day two was all about relaxing. We soaked up the sun on the beach and enjoyed the perfect clear water. After a walk along the shore, we spent some time at the hotel pool before showering and then heading to dinner at The Sandbar. The shrimp and grits and grilled shrimp tacos were incredible. After dinner, we took a scenic drive through Bradenton Beach, Cortez, Coquina, Longboat Key, Lido Key, and ended with a stroll around St. Armands Circle. Another stunning Gulf sunset wrapped up the day.

Day 3: Birthday & Anniversary Celebrations

Day three was extra special—it was my birthday and our anniversary! After too much sun the day before, we chose to skip the beach and went on a driving tour of neighborhoods in Bradenton, Palmetto, Parrish, Sun City Center, Apollo Beach, and Riverview. Dinner was at The Beach House, and of course, we ended the day with another beautiful sunset over the Gulf.

Day 4: Exploring Further South

We decided to explore further south on day four, visiting Port Charlotte, Fort Myers, and Cape Coral. We stopped for a late lunch/early dinner at The Boat House—the Cuban sandwich was outstanding. Returning to Anna Maria Island, we once again caught a gorgeous sunset from our beachside hotel.

Day 5: TikTok-Inspired Adventures

Day five was inspired by TikTok (all those FYP vacation videos paid off!). We started with coffee at North Shore Cafe, only to discover it was closed that day, so we pivoted to The Donut Experiment for coffee and donuts. Patrick grabbed a few t-shirts at a typical beach souvenir shop, and then we went to West Coast Surf Shop (conveniently located right next to our hotel). I found a comfy FreePeople romper, cute pants, and a necklace. We loved chatting with the owner’s daughter, Brandi, a super mom of two pro surfers, and hearing about the shop’s iconic family-run history since 1964.

Lunch was back at Skinny’s (because… BLTs), followed by pool and beach relaxation. Dinner was at The Ugly Grouper, where the pesto shrimp cavatappi and island chicken sandwich were delicious, and we enjoyed live music. Post-dinner, we found the famous Bean Point Beach, grabbed ice cream, and enjoyed more live music at Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe, finishing with yet another epic sunset.

Day 6: Soaking It All In

Our last full day was pure relaxation. We lounged on the beach, reflecting on everything we had done. It honestly felt like the honeymoon we never had. Dinner was at Cortez Kitchen, and the Wednesday snow crab special was well worth it. An early evening storm kept the sunset subdued, but it was still breathtaking in its own way.

Day 7: Farewell AMI & Hello Nashville

We said goodbye to Anna Maria Island in the morning and headed to Dunedin, exploring Honeymoon Island before grabbing a bite at Kookie Krums. Then, it was off to the airport for our next adventure: Nashville! Flight delays put us in Homewood Suites by Hilton-Downtown much later than planned, and after pizza at 1 a.m., we called it a night.

Day 8: Broadway & Blackberry Smoke

We started the morning with breakfast in the hotel lobby (I’m a sucker for hotel breakfasts!) and walked to Broadway. By 10 a.m., the streets were already buzzing with music and crowds. We stopped at Legends, toured the Country Music Hall of Fame (fun fact: Patrick’s dad was inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 2007), and grabbed a bite at Jelly Roll’s Goodnight Nashville.

That evening was the reason we fit Nashville into our vacation – the Blackberry Smoke concert at The Ryman. As always, it was phenomenal, and the iconic venue did not disappoint. Afterwards, we walked back to Broadway to see it lit up at night—the sheer number of people was insane!

Day 9: Drive Home & Nashville To-Do List

The next morning, we rented a car for our drive home and lucked out with an Uber driver from the hotel to the car rental office who was super knowledgeable about Nashville. Based on his recommendations, we started compiling a to-do list for our next trip back, because one visit is definitely not enough! Highlights already on our list:

• Robert’s for a recession special: a fried bologna sandwich piled high, served with chips, a MoonPie, and an ice-cold PBR for just $6.
• The Station Inn at The Gulch to catch our favorite live music—bluegrass and classic country.
• A trip to The Grand Ole Opry, because Nashville just isn’t complete without it!

We can’t wait to go back and check these off. Nashville has so much more to explore, and now we have the beginning of our roadmap for next time.

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This trip reminded us how much fun it is to explore, unwind, and make memories together. From the pristine beaches of Anna Maria Island to the vibrant music scene of Nashville, it was a perfect mix of relaxation and adventure.