Cortez Beach: with PHOTO GALLERIES

Cortez Beach is located on the southern part of Anna Maria Island just north of Coquina Beach. There are no lifeguards on duty and no facilities on the beach. But Cortez Beach is as good as it can get. The beach offers ample parking and easy access to the water. The white sands of the beach offer shelling, relaxing in the warm sun, or swimming in the emerald green water of the Gulf of Mexico. When the winds and waves kick up, Cortez Beach will be teaming with surfers catching the next big wave, and sea oats cover a protected dune project that runs the length of the beach.

This story was originally published August 17, 2010 at 12:00 AM.