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Bradenton is a city of about 57,000 people on the south bank of the Manatee River near Tampa Bay, on Florida's Gulf Coast. It grew from the 1840s settlement of Manatee and was named after Dr. Joseph Braden, whose fortified plantation house sheltered settlers. The Gamble Plantation, one of the last antebellum mansions in South Florida, stands just across the river in Ellenton.
Downtown Bradenton's Riverwalk follows the Manatee River for about 1.5 miles, with a beach, a skate park, a performance pavilion and views of the Green Bridge. Old Main Street has historic buildings, restaurants and a Saturday farmers market, and the Village of the Arts is a colorful neighborhood of artists' homes, galleries and cafés in old bungalows.
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature has a planetarium and a manatee rehabilitation habitat, and De Soto National Memorial marks the 1539 landing of Hernando de Soto. Anna Maria Island and its white-sand Gulf beaches, along with Robinson Preserve, are about 20 minutes west.
WiserMap travel guideBradenton Florida Riverwalk and Anna Maria Island BeachesPlan a Bradenton trip with the Manatee River Riverwalk, the Bishop Museum, Village of the Arts, De Soto National Memorial, Anna Maria Island beaches and more.Read the guide
A 1.5-mile waterfront park along the Manatee River downtown, with a paved path, splash pad, playgrounds, a skate park, fishing piers, an amphitheater and shaded swings. It hosts concerts and festivals and is lovely at sunset. Parking is available in nearby garages, and the path connects to Old Main Street.
The historic heart of downtown Bradenton, a few blocks of older buildings with restaurants, bars, coffee shops and boutiques leading down to the Manatee River. A popular farmers market runs here on Saturdays in the cooler months. It is walkable and pairs well with the Riverwalk and the science museum.
A Neoclassical courthouse built in 1913 with tall columns and a domed roof, at the center of downtown Bradenton's civic district. It is still used by the county, so interior access depends on business hours and security. Admire it from the lawn and combine with a walk to the river and Old Main Street.
A science and natural history museum on the Riverwalk with exhibits on Florida's fossils and history, a planetarium, and a rehabilitation habitat for manatees where you can watch them up close. It is great for families. Allow two to three hours, and check the planetarium show times when you arrive.
A colorful neighborhood of small cottages painted in bright colors where artists live and work, with galleries, studios, cafes and shops. Many studios open on weekends and during the monthly Artwalk, the best time to visit. It is south of downtown; park on the street and wander the lanes on foot.
An open-air history museum with restored buildings from early Manatee County, including an 1860 courthouse, a church, a one-room schoolhouse, a general store, a farmhouse and a cracker gothic home. Guides explain pioneer life in Florida. Admission is free; check the hours, as it closes on some days.
A national park site on the Manatee River commemorating the 1539 landing of Hernando de Soto's expedition, with a visitor center, a film, a nature trail through mangroves and a beach on Tampa Bay. Living history demonstrations run in the winter season. Entry is free; it is quiet and good at sunset.
The only surviving antebellum plantation house in south Florida, a tabby-walled mansion from the 1840s with wide verandas, set in a small state park in nearby Ellenton. Guided tours explain the sugar plantation and the enslaved people who worked it. Check the tour times, which are offered on set days.
A large coastal preserve in northwest Bradenton with mangrove tunnels, paddling trails, walking and biking paths, a tall observation tower and a nature center. It is a top spot for kayaking and birdwatching, with herons, spoonbills and ospreys. Kayak rentals are available; come early on weekends.
A free botanical park in west Bradenton with ten acres of tropical and subtropical plants, palms, flowering trees, a lake and gazebos. It is quiet and good for a peaceful walk or picnic. The park hosts plant sales and events, and its paths are flat and easy for all ages. Check the opening hours.
A historic ballpark from 1923 that is the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and hosts the minor league Bradenton Marauders in summer. Its Spanish-style facade and boardwalk seating give it a classic feel. Spring training tickets sell quickly, so buy early, and bring sunscreen for day games.
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