Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach on Beautiful Anna Maria Island is a large public beach with free parking, lifeguards, restrooms, picnic tables, showers and Cafe-on-The-Beach where one can get anything from a snack to a full lunch or dinner right on the beach!  Discover the charm of Old Florida.  One can walk the entire 7.5 mile long Anna Maria Island Beach without ever leaving the waters edge!  Travel West on Manatee Avenue all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

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Recreational area located on Palma Sola Bay Causeway, Bradenton, FL. Enjoy sailing, wind surfing, jet skiing, fishing, and picnicking. Dogs are allowed on a leash, canoeing, swimming, kayaking, covered pavilion, charcoal grills are provided, there's free parking, a boat launch and restrooms.  Occasionally visitors bring their horses to ride in the surf others bring their BBQ grills, a canopy and friends for a waterside party!

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Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach, FL. located on the south end of Anna Maria Island, is one of the largest beaches in the area with all of the amenities. Plenty of free parking, often under shade trees. Lifeguards, concessions, picnic tables, playground, restrooms and showers are all available. A boat launch, on the bay side, is across the street from the beach. Plenty of parking there too, sunshine and breathtaking sunsets that Florida is famous for!

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Casperson Beach, Venice, FL. located at the southern tip of Venice Island, is a quiet beach with free parking, lifeguards, concessions, picnic tables, showers and restrooms. This is the best location for finding prehistoric sharks' teeth. Plenty of free parking...but it is best to get there early on weekends and holidays! Boardwalks stretch from the free parking areas along the coast. There are literally miles of unspoiled and uncrowded beaches and, of course, spectacular Florida West Coast sunsets. 

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Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg, FL. was named America’s Top Beach for the second consecutive year by TripAdvisor, the world's largest online travel community, citing a “spectacular combination of soft white sand, calm, clear water and a laid-back atmosphere.” This is the second time in three years the perfect Pinellas County beach has received top honors on an annual “best-of” list.  Fort Desoto Beach is just a half hour north of Bradenton in St. Petersburg.   

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Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL. Explore the secrets of the sea with touch pools, shark, dolphin, manatee and sea turtle exhibits and over 100 other species of marine life. Viewable-working labs and high-tech interactive exhibits showcase the world-renowned research of Mote Marine Laboratory.  Mote Marine also offers sepcialized tours and educational events geared to children from 2 to 18 as well as college and adult lectures and expeditions. 

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Deep Sea Fishing off Anna Maria Island, FL!  Whether fishing from a boat, the beach, piers or bridges, enthusiasts have the opportunity reel in black drum, snook, redfish, trout, Spanish mackerel, amberjack and tarpon or at least have a good story to tell.  Charter day trip cruises are also available.   If you prefer to launch your own boat, there is a launch ramp available at Kingfish Ramp, on Manatee Avenue in Holmes Beach or on the Manatee Avenue causeway leading to Anna Maria Island. 

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Robinson Preserve, Bradenton, FL. is one of the newest public parks in the Bradenton area and features boardwalks, a 40 foot tall observation tower, and a Vistors Center. You can explore a native salt marsh habitat and there is camping, canoeing, fishing, hiking and nature trails plus a nature interpretive center.  You'll aslo fine swimming, snorkeling, occasional wildlife siteings, kayaking, bicycle trails, a nature preserve, birding, and water recreation.  There is free parking, interpretive displays as well as guided tours. Pets on a leash are allowed, and customized tours are available with advance reservations. 

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Palma Sola Botanical Park, Bradenton, FL. provides the Bradenton area with a unique opportunity to enjoy educational programs, passive recreation and public events in the midst of 10 acres of natural beauty. The Park is located in the Old Palma Sola section of northwest Bradenton. The site is an unusually warm microclimate and a protected parcel of land, and, fortunately it is frost-free. Because of these environmental conditions, the Park showcases collections of rare palms, fruits, and flowering trees. Other subtropical plants can be safely grown in the protective environment. The Park contains lush tranquil gardens and three lakes for enjoyment. It is also a populare location for weddings! 
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The Bishop Planetarium, Bradenton, FL is a multipurpose, “state of the art” domed theater, boasting one of the most advanced all-digital projection systems in the world. It incorporates stadium style seating, high definition DVD, TV, and PowerPoint projection, and a digital 25,000 watt Dolby 5.1 surround sound system.  The Bishop Planetarium is capable of accommodating a wide range of programs. It is a remarkable astronomy education resource, allowing visitors to explore their universe through traditional live star talks and immersive virtual journeys to the far reaches of the universe.

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The South Florida Museum, Bradenton, FL. interprets the region from the Pleistocene to the present with stunning life-size dioramas and dramatic exhibits based on its extensive collections of anthropological artifacts, paleontological specimens and objects of cultural interest. The South Florida Museum maintains it's tradition of excellence in education, care of collections, interesting exhibits with programs for visitors and students appropriate for all ages.
 

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Parker Manatee Aquarium, Bradenton, FL. is the permanent home to Manatee County's most famous resident and official mascot, ‘Snooty’, the manatee.  The Aquarium, designed to house three adult manatees, holds nearly 60,000 gallons of water, including a medication pool.  The pool offers both deep and shallow water, allowing the manatees to maintain natural feeding behaviors.  An exhibit area within the facility allows the public to view manatees above and below water.   The facility is like a half way house for injured Manatees.  They continue recovering here after receiving critical care at Lowry Park Zoo prior to being released back into the wild.

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Parasailing off Anna Maria Island, FL!  Gently floating high above the clear, blue water of the Gulf of Mexico, you'll see dolphins, turtles, rays, fish and stunning views of Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key and Lido Key. Parasailing may be the most exciting thing you do all year! One to three persons can fly together side by side. You'll have a dry take off from the back deck of the boat and return to the back deck, so you never get wet unless of course, you ask the Captain to  dip your feet in the water as you return to the deck.  Anyone can parasail!

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The Tampa Bay Devil Rays is the areas Major League Baseball which plays at Tropicana Field's 1.1 million square foot indoor, fully air conditioned stadium which includes unique design features and fan amenities found nowhere else in the Major Leagues.  It's a great opportunity to watch a major league baseball team possibly playing your home town team in indoor air conditioned comfort!

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Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL. is the bay area’s No. 1 tourist destination, where wildlife and wild rides come together in an unparalleled combination of shows, a top notch zoo with more than 2,500 exotic and endangered animals and more extraordinary roller coasters than any destination in Florida. Busch Gardens in Tampa is about an hours drive north of Bradenton.

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Disney World The Magic Kingdom, Orlando, FL. theme park, one of 4 Theme Parks in Walt Disney World Resort, creates the enchantment of fairy tales with exciting entertainment, renouned attractions, and all those Disney Characters. Designed like a wheel with the hub in front of Cinderella Castle, pathways spoke out across the 107 acres of Magic Kingdom theme park and lead to 7 whimsical lands.  Get caught up in the spectacle of colorful parades and fireworks shows at night.  Dreams come true for children of all ages.  

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Universal Orlando® Resort, Orlando, FL. theme park. is a terrific location for action and thrills featuring two theme parks in Orlando about a 2 hour drive from Bradenton. At both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure there’s unforgettable experiences for the entire family. Find adventure, have fun with your kids, envigorate yourself, have a romantic dinner, challenge yourself on incredible theme park rides, and relax by a tropical pool in a beautiful Florida setting.

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The Village of the Arts, Bradenton, FL. is a unique and exciting community of artists living and working together in Bradenton, Florida. With over forty artists, the Village is Florida’s largest art community. Stop in their galleries or enjoy the monthly art walks that fill the streets with art lovers looking for affordable fine art, jewelry, ceramics, designer wear and collectibles of all kinds. You'll also find inviting bookstores, eclectic gourmet cafes and many special events free to the public.

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Myakka River State Park is one of Florida's oldest and largest state parks. The Scenic Myakka River flows through 57 square miles of wetlands, prairies and woodlands. Go for hiking, fishing, camping, and wildlife observation for a day, weekend or extended camping excursion.  View wildlife in their natural habitat, great for birders too! 


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The sponge Industry helped build a Greek Community In Tarpon Springs that is now famous not only for sponges, but for authentic Greek restaurants and bakeries, sponge diving, sightseeing cruises,  lots of shopping, art galleries an aquarium, hand rolled cigars, and live entertainment.  Just a hour and 10 minute drive north of Bradenton.  Try Gyros like you've never tasted before or flaming Saganaki and ouzo!

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Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo is today ranked the number-one family-friendly zoo in the U.S. (Child magazine) and recognized by the State of Florida as a center for Florida wildlife conservation and biodiversity. It’s about 50 miles and one hour north of Bradenton. Natural outdoor exhibits for more than 2,000 animals from Florida and similar habitats include a Native Florida Wildlife Center and manatee hospital, Asian Gardens, Primate World, Free-Flight Aviaries, Wallaroo Station children's zoo, and Safari Africa. It's the perfect place for a family outing since the Zoo also features rides, shows and hands-on interactive exhibits designed to give you an unusual, exciting and entertaining experience. 
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The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, about an hour north of Bradenton, features a dolphin show, otter presentations, educational movies, and an interactive stingray exhibit, to name a few of the delightfully entertaining presentations.  They are also a working animal hospital that rescues and rehabs sea creatures unfit to survive on their own in the wild. The dolphin performance is a major highlight at the Aquarium, but there are other events going on throughout the day. Visit the shallow stingray pool, where you can dip your hand in the water and pet the stingrays. Don't worry; the stingers have all been removed.  A perfect family outing destination!   

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The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), about an hour north of Bradenton, is a “hands-on” location for all ages. Pedal a bicycle balanced on a 1-inch steel cable suspended 30 feet above the ground, see one of the largest moving dinosaurs ever discovered and experience the impact of 74 mph hurricane force winds. Visit the IMAX® Dome Theatre for the ultimate movie-going experience. Then go to The Saunders Planetarium  featureing a state-of-the-art star projector capable of recreating the night sky from any time and anywhere on the planet, and can play ultra 3D graphics and live videos from NASA. The Children's Science Center is for children twelve and under and is based on cutting-edge theories about learning and skill building. Plan to spend an exciting day exploring and discovering!   Learn more here  

Asolo Repertory Theatre, Sarasota, FL performs primarily in a rotating repertory with a resident company, to attract regional, national and international audiences and to provide a training ground for FSU graduate students.

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Circus Sarasota continues the legacy and broadens the artistic contribution of circus. Circus Sarasota presents professional family entertainment in a summer theatre show, winter performances under the big-top and special events and classes throughout the year.  Learn more here.

Sarasota Orchestra is the oldest continuing orchestra in the state of Florida, and has twice been ranked first among all major Florida musical organizations by the Florida Arts Council's Cultural Institutions program.  The Orchestra has played at various venues since 1949.

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Island Players is a small, quaint theater in Anna Maria is in its fifty nineth year of providing wonderful theatrical entertainment in a delightful setting.

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Manatee Players is a National Award-Winning Theatrical Group, the cultural jewel on the waterfront in downtown Bradenton!   From classics like Hello Dolly and Gypsy to favorites such as Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Nunsense and Crazy For You, you’re sure to find something you’ll love.  Learn more here.

McCurdys Comedy Theater, Sarasota, FL.  Over the past 16 years, comedians who have performed at MCCurdy's Comedy Theater read like a Who's Who list of the greatest names in comedy.  Enjoy comedy in a nightclub like setting with tables, snacks and cocktails!

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Sarasota Ballet of Florida has the honor of being voted Sarasota's Best Performing Arts Group for eight consecutive years and has gained in stature and regional prominence over the course of its ten-year history.  Members of the Sarasota Ballet Association volunteer their time and talent to produce activities and events which help to support the Sarasota Ballet.

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Sarasota Opera is an internationally respected producer of the highest quality professional opera.  The Sarasota Opera House is an intimate venue similar in size to European opera houses with less than 1,200 seats. The acoustics in the theater are superb.   It's small size allows the audience to be closer and more a part of the action than in a larger venue.

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The Jazz Club of Sarasota is the most active jazz club in the United States, with over 80 concerts and lectures each year. The club has about 750 members and sponsors, with the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, the Sarasota Jazz Festival, one of the major US jazz festivals, The Venice Jazz Festival in Venice Florida and the Gulf Coast High School Jazz Festival in Sarasota.

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Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Set along Sarasota's beautiful bayfront, the Van Wezel has been presenting audiences with a variety of music, dance, theater and comedy for more than 33 years.  This is the premier theatre in Sarasota for the biggest names in entertainment.  You can even enjoy a fabulous buffet dinner by Sarasota's Michael's On East and relax without having to worry about being late for the show.

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St. Armands Circle - an island shopping center reached by two bridges over Sarasota Bay. Set in a tropical paradise, St. Armands is a circle of fine shops and gourmet restaurants. Renowned as a market place with a continental flavor and lush tropical plantings, courtyards and patios, antique statuary and contemporary architecture. Relax in the restaurants, explore the shops - from trinkets to treasures, gourmet snacks to a candlelight repast, you'll find it on St. Armands Circle.

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Main Street At Lakewood Ranch is an outdoor venue offering more than 30 fashion boutiques, several international restaurants, and the Lakewood Ranch Cinemas all in an intimate small-town atmosphere.  Famous names and specialty shops line the streets. The open-air environment provides a unique plaza for strolling and shopping and often offers evening, free music concerts overlooking Lake Uihlein.   

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Prime Outlets Ellenton, just east of Bradenton, showcases luxury outdoor factory outlet shopping with over 130 designer and top-name stores including COACH Factory, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store and Dooney & Bourke. The center offers a delightful setting as you stroll outdoors under covered walkways from store to store while enjoying Florida's beautiful weather and tropical surroundings. 

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DeSoto Square Mall in Bradenton makes shopping easy and convenient. Favorite department stores include Macy's, JC Penney, Sears and more than 100 specialty stores and a food court.  There is always plenty of free parking! 

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