Location: Bradenton
Top Things to do in Bradenton
10 Free Things to do in Bradenton That You Shouldn't Miss
Visitors find the perfect blend of culture and fun in Bradenton. Discover Florida’s Spanish heritage at the De Soto National Memorial, go for a bike tour of the beautiful Robinson Preserve, and explore an authentic fishing village at Cortez. Be sure to visit the South Florida Museum and catch a Pittsburgh Pirates spring training game — and don’t miss vibrant downtown Bradenton, the picturesque Riverwalk, and the working artists’ community at the Village of the Arts.
Restaurants in Bradenton
1. Manatee Village Historical Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 162 reviews
Manatee Village Historical Park is an outdoor museum in Bradenton, FL, with historical buildings and artifacts.
Reviewed By DGW49 - Port Clinton, United States
There is a general store and displays of artifacts. There is a cracker house that is a complete reproduction of a way of living back in the day. An old train (steam) and a boat works. It's free.
2. De Soto National Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 749 reviews
Reviewed By DOOR_COUNTY_FANS2015 - Brazil, United States
We've visitied the Memorial a couple of times, walking the trails through the mangroves and watching the short movie about DeSoto's travails after landing here in the early 1500's. Good for families.
3. Robinson Nature Preserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,260 reviews
Reviewed By armandarce - Rising Sun, United States
This is a really beautiful preserve with great views and sites. We saw a pair of osprey taking care of business in the nest. Great trails and beautiful vegetation.
4. Riverwalk
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 658 reviews
Reviewed By audreyf556
So much has been done along the Riverwalk to educate people about tides, estuaries and sea life and all the while you are enjoying breathtaking views of the river. The “living room” has cement, yes cement lounge chairs. There are swings to sit and relax in and watch the world go by. There also is a Water splash pad and colorful playground with lots of new equipment. Congratulations to the designers of this walkway.
5. Palma Sola Botanical Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 147 reviews
Palma Sola Botanical Park is a lush, quiet and tranquil 10 acre park located in NW Bradenton, Florida. Planted with native and exotic flowers, trees and bushes, and rare fruit trees, the Park is full of local birds and butterflies, turtles, fish and pond life. Nature photographers and painters are welcome, as well as, visitors who enjoy wandering the shell paths as they discover plants familiar and new to them. The Park grounds are open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk, admission to the Park is free. The Park Office is open M-F 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Reviewed By 734sarajm - Valdosta, United States
I enjoyed walking around and taking pictures of flowers and lizards. Most were labeled with scientific and common names. I wasn't expecting to see the fruit tree garden. Never saw bananas on a tree in real before. Several places to stop and rest. Restrooms on site. Office was closed. Two other groups of visitors while I was there, so not busy if you are looking for less traveled destinations. Closed swing by water was nice too.
6. Retro Rosie and Cobweb's
7. Art Center Manatee
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 48 reviews
Founded in 1937, ArtCenter Manatee is located in downtown Bradenton at the intersection of arts and culture. ArtCenter Manatee is the premier center for art, art education and unique gifts in Manatee County. The nearly 10,000 sq. ft. building in downtown Bradenton features three galleries with exhibits that change monthly, five classrooms that hold over 3,000 students every year, an Artists’ Market gift shop and an art library featuring over 3,000 art volumes. ArtCenter Manatee has repeatedly been voted the best art gallery by the Herald Tribune and Bradenton Herald. Over 400 day, evening and weekend art classes and workshops for adults are offered year round in painting, drawing, pastels, pottery, jewelry design, photography and more. Our KidsArt Summer Camps and After School Programs give students 4-15 the opportunity to express their creativity while they learn valuable skills, have fun and make new friends in over 35 classes designed just for them. We partner with the School Dist
Reviewed By DavidMRobinson15 - Griffin, United States
We thoroughly enjoyed the Art Center. Directly across the street from our hotel, this place had two juried shows being exibited and every piece of wonderful art was for sale. There were some very talented artists being shown and in the back, there were class in painting, clay, and other media being given. If we lived nearby, we would definitely use this facility often.
8. G.T. Bray Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 69 reviews
Reviewed By justbeachy777 - Sarasota, United States
Lots of variety here. They have pavilions, you can take a walk through the park trails, play at the playground, has a fitness center, olympic-sized pool, kiddie pool and splash pad, teen center, hard and clay tennis courts, racquetball, pickle-ball, also a gym to play basketball, volleyball, badminton, and corn-hole.
9. Tom Bennett Park
10. Perico Preserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 37 reviews
Reviewed By marlenemJ6033XO - Louisville, United States
What a special treat to be staying within walking distance of Perico Preserve this year!We love this walking trail. You’re able to get up close to nature by viewing birds in their natural habitat at the Blind. There’s a segment that has these old trees with huge limbs touching the ground as well as vines and beautiful Spanish Moss hanging all over the trees that glistens in the sunlight. There are three bridges and one walkout dock that allows you to overlook a large area of water. When the tide goes out, occasionally you can catch hundreds of birds including pink flamingos, Egrets, Blue Herons, White Pelicans, White Ibis, Anhinga, to name just a few gathered on the low water, absolutely nature at its best! This preserve seems to be very well maintained. I feel certain we’ll make the most of Perico Preserve throughout our entire visit this year!
