Pier-ing into the Past

It felt a little as if I were walking the plank, as we ventured out onto the Anna Maria City Pier. The structure became more rickety the farther out we went. And with no railings in sight and at just about a foot or two above the turquoise waters of Tampa Bay, it felt like someone could have tumbled off at any time. Luckily, I kept my footing, and I’m blessed with a kiddo who stayed a safe distance from the edge.
 

The pier dates from 1911 and originally welcomed visitors to Anna Maria Island who arrived by steamship. It was co-commissioned by Charles Roser, who’s credited by some for having developed the recipe or baking process for the Fig Newton cookie.

Today, you won’t see any paddlewheelers pulling up to the pier. Instead, it’s a prime spot for sightseeing and fishing. Those who make it to the end of the 776-foot-long protrusion are rewarded with sweeping views of Tampa Bay and of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge arching over the water. The white dome of Tropicana Field can be spotted in the distance, along with downtown St. Petersburg.

If staring at the vista works up an appetite, the City Pier Restaurant occupies prime real estate at the end of the pier. Not surprisingly, its menu features plenty of seafood dishes, from chowder and fish sandwiches to fried shrimp and blackened grouper.

If you’ve got a runaway toddler or a let-me-just-see-if-I-can-touch-the-water type of kid, the Anna Maria City Pier might lead to more anxiety than relaxation. But if you’ve got a safety-conscious kiddo, or one on which you can keep a firm grip, a stroll on the pier helps bring a little of the area’s past alive. And in looking at the view, it’s easy to understand why folks hopped aboard those steamships en route to the island.