Word on the boat is we’re about to meet Anna Maria Island Sound’s biggest celebrity. Justin and Christina, who are our Paradise Boat Tours captain and first mate, are clapping and whooping in anticipation. “Woohoo! Here she comes,” yells Christina as the destination’s most famous dolphin, Big Shot, leaps from the water, carving a perfect arc in the hot and humid Floridian air before plunging into the depths of the bay just metres from the bow of our wildlife-watching boat. But she’s not alone – there are two calves flanking her, never more than a fin’s length away from their mother.

Our TTG Top 50 Champions’ eyes are wide and they’re grinning from ear to ear. This is the first time some of them have seen dolphins in the wild, and it’s clear the experience has exceeded expectations; we’ve seen more bottlenose dolphins in the space of an hour than we can count. Little do they know this activity is about to go from excellent to exceptional as they lay eyes on a manatee and then spy a spoonbill soaring over the Sound with a large fish wiggling in its beak. Who needs an aquarium when the ocean surrounding Anna Maria Island is a playground for marine and bird life? This is the message these travel agents take away with them.

Tried and tasted

Later we find ourselves drooling over the fruits of the same sea as we watch the salmon-pink sunset slowly fade into the night at Beach House Waterfront Restaurant. This isn’t just any beachside restaurant though. It’s owned by Ed Chiles, an ex-politician-turned-hospitality-chief with a devotion to sustainability, and all ingredients executive chef Thomas Villetto uses come from local farms and bakeries, and all fish and meat is responsibly sourced. Chiles’ own 26-acre Gamble Creek Farms is a leader in sustainable agriculture in Florida and supplies the Beach House Waterfront Restaurant with in-season fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Our bespoke evening tasting menu features cured wild boar (sourced from areas of the state where it’s an invasive species), Gamble Creek beetroot salad, mahi mahi, Petrichor mushroom risotto and much more. Every bite is a true treat, and the seafood is so mind-blowing even non-seafood-eaters in our group become fish fans.

Beachside dining is a popular pastime on Anna Maria Island and there’s an eatery for every occasion. We go from fine dining one day to a beach picnic the next, arranged by local Graze Street shop owners Heather and Jason. However, there are no sandy sandwiches on offer here – the duo’s spread of French baguettes, cold meats, cheeses, fresh fruits and orzo salad is rounded off with cookies and a Florida classic – key lime pie. We’re grateful for an afternoon spent swimming in the sea and playing beach games afterwards; all that eating is tiring work!

ATTRACTION-PACKED

ArrangeMy Escape’s Ryan Sowney recommends pairing a laid-back destination such as Anna Maria Island with something more lively. “I’d recommend twin-centre holidays, spending some time on the coast and then in Tampa, or the theme parks aren’t too far away,” he says. Our TTG Top 50 Champions Trip itinerary visits both Universal Orlando Resort and Tampa Bay with Anna Maria Island in between, which turns out to be the perfect combination of thrills and chill.

At Universal, agents are wowed by the VIP Private Tour. “It’s amazing and such a great experience,” says Josie Munt from Meon Valley Travel. “When you do the Men In Black: Alien Attack ride on a normal ticket you walk along the overhead walkway, but on the VIP tour we walked among the aliens and sat at the computers, so it was really cool. We also used back entrances and saw behind the scenes.”

Being led by chirpy tour guides Todd and Haylee, we easily tick off nine rides including The Jurassic World VelociCoaster, King Kong Encounter and E.T. Adventure, which opened in 1990 and is the oldest ride in the resort. We become temporary Potterheads in Diagon Alley and during the immersive Escape from Gringotts ride before tucking into the brilliantly unusual menu at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savoury Feast Kitchen. 

Don’t let diners leave here without trying one of the speciality milkshakes – we opted for the Confetti, which is piled high with buttercream, rainbow cake and sprinkles, and was almost too beautiful to eat. Tired from our days at Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, sister water park Volcano Bay and in a post-milkshake sugar stupor, the group is glad to hop on the water taxi back to our hotel, Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort. While this property doesn’t have a water taxi stop itself, it’s just across the road from Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, which does.

TAMPA TIME

Another Florida destination with a water taxi well worth encouraging clients to make the most of is Tampa Bay. The Gulf coast city’s Pirate Water Taxi runs the full length of the Tampa Riverwalk, providing easy access to Downtown’s best attractions including the Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa Bay History Center and Henry B Plant Museum, as well as two very trendy spots for grabbing a bite: Armature Works and Sparkman Wharf. Our group is using the $55 dollar one-day Tampa Riverwalk Attraction Pass, which not only grants visitors access to these top attractions and more, but also permits use of the water taxi between them.

Getting around Tampa on land is just as easy as it is on water, with the historic Teco Line Streetcar connecting Downtown Tampa with its most characterful district, Ybor City. This free-to-ride mode of transport from yesteryear is an experience in itself and runs all day seven days a week, with last departures as late as 2am at weekends for visitors and locals alike enjoying the glitz and glamour of 7th Avenue’s nightlife.

During the light of day Tampa native Max Herman can often be found leading history buffs along 7th Avenue, regaling them with stories of Ybor City’s once 12,000 tabaqueros (cigar rollers), Teddy Roosevelt, and Jose Marti, the leader of Cuban independence. The TTG Top 50 Champions are thrilled to learn Ybor City has a small urban park officially Cuban territory since 1956 in honour of the latter.

“Welcome to Cuba!” announces Max as he leads us inside the gated green, our final stop on his Ybor City Historic Walking Tour. He’s only momentarily interrupted by us cooing at the roosters gathered in the park’s shade, amazed these farmyard animals are protected and free to roam the district. However, they can’t detract from Max’s skill and knowledge as a historian and tour guide, with the Champions completely charmed. “Definitely book onto the walking tour with Max,” says Karen Marin-Reyes from La Vida Travel. “He was fun and informative, and visitors of all ages will love his stories!” Max may tell stories of Tampa’s celebrities throughout the years, but little does he know he’s become quite the Ybor City icon himself.