| BRADENTON: Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, and the Bradenton beaches are a glorious throwback to old Florida, when charming little beach towns graced the shores, secluded from the outside world. For sheer natural beauty, it is one of Florida’s most scenic locales. Blooming bougainvillea, alamanda, and jacaranda paint a lush and colorful frame to the deep emerald Gulf waters. |
OTHER PLACES Boca Raton Bonita Springs Bradenton Brooksville Clearwater Captiva Island Charlotte Harbor Cocoa Beach Daytona Beach Daytona Beach Shores DeLand Destin Emerald Coast Everglades Ft Lauderdale Flagler Beach Fort Myers Fort Myers Beach Fort Pierce Fort Walton Beach Gainesville Gulf Islands Hollywood Jacksonville Key Largo Key West Kissimmee Lake Buena Vista Lake City Lakeland Marco Island Marianna Melbourne Miami Miami Beach Naples Ocala Orlando Ormond Beach Panama City Pensacola Plantation Pompano Beach Punta Gorda Sanibel Sarasota Sebring Siesta Key Space Coast South Walton Beaches St Augustine St Petersburg Tallahassee Tampa Titusville Vero Beach West Palm Beach |
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Historic landmarks, breathtaking views of the Manatee River, and a wide variety of pleasing accommodations and restaurants provide one-of-a-kind vacations for any kind of visitor. Each area has its own personality and intriguing story to tell. Bradenton is home to the Village of the Arts, a delightfully quirky section of town where a growing collection of bungalows have been converted to art galleries. The downtown area features antique shops, restaurants and a waterfront district with walking paths and amphitheater. Venture to Anna Maria Island to explore a lush tropical setting where pastel-colored cottages and inns dot stretches of sandy white beaches. Visitors can make their way up and down the island on the Manatee Trolley which shuttles passengers around at no more than 25 mph – the highest speed posted on the island. Crossing the bridge down to Longboat Key transports visitors to a world of posh hotels, family style inns, and world-class dining set in a distinct barrier island atmosphere. Florida's Gulf Islands are home to more than 20 golf courses (for additional play, nearby Sarasota has 25 more courses available) and there are abundant year-round salt and freshwater fishing opportunities. Drop a line and you’re likely to catch albacore, black sea bass, red snapper and spotted sea trout, just to list a few. Fishing licenses are required, except on charter trips and public piers. Shopaholics can indulge in an excursion to nearby Ellenton, home of the Prime Outlets with over 135 brand name stores. After bargain hunting, visitors will enjoy wandering about the island boutiques and galleries on Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key. Other stylish shops are located along St. Armand’s Circle in Sarasota. Fostering the likes of tennis greats Maria Sharapova, Monica Seles and Andre Agassi, IMG’s Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton is a magnet for tennis enthusiasts. The academy boasts 10 clay, 35 hard, and six indoor courts on-site, with an additional 21 courts at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Centre. Visitors are welcome to play at the academy for a day, a week, or by the month. IMG Academies also include soccer, baseball, and basketball academies, as well as the International Performance Institute. There is something for every beach lover, from total seclusion to beaches with tons of amenities. A simple stroll along the shore provides more than spectacular views. A careful eye is rewarded with such natural treasures such as the horse conch (Florida State Shell), Calico Scallop, Lightning Whelk, Rock Snail, Keyhole Limpet and other seashells. Nature lovers are smitten with Emerson Point Conservation Reserve, a 200-acre state park. Crisscrossed with winding trails and wooden boardwalks, allows visitors to take in the landscape at their own pace. Birdwatchers should keep an eye out for ibis, snowy egret, sanderling sandpipers, brown pelicans and flamingoes. Lake Manatee State Park In Bradenton is another pristine park with a recreation showcase of more than 556 acres extending along the natural beauty of Lake Manatee. Coquina Baywalk at Leffis Key is yet another natural wonder, where footbridges and boardwalks allow visitors to explore shallow tidal lagoons. The Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site leads would-be archaeologists to a flat-topped temple or ceremonial ground, composed of sand, shell and village debris. To see the oldest manatee living happily in captivity, swing by the South Florida Museum/Mary Louise Parker Manatee Aquarium in Bradenton and visit Snooty™. History buffs enjoy the Desoto National Memorial which commemorates Hernando Desoto’s historic landing in Florida and the major significance his expedition holds to the history of North America. At the Family Heritage House, visitors can get a unique glimpse into the significant influence of the area’s rich African American heritage. The site includes a gallery and resource center for the study of African-American achievements. At the Manatee Village Historic Park in Bradenton visitors will find nine restored buildings from the county’s pioneer ere (1860 – 1918) including a general store, church, courthouse, and school. Or they can sit back and take it all in during a 90-minute train ride through old Manatee County aboard vintage railroad equipment at the Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum in Parrish. The Gamble Plantation State Historic Park, Ellenton, is an original plantation and the only surviving antebellum plantation house in Florida. Visitors can also explore the Salvador Dali Museum in downtown St. Petersburg, or, just minutes away in Sarasota, the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Mote Aquarium and Sarasota Jungle Gardens.  BRADENTON |
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Places, Cities and Towns of Florida / Features and Articles About Florida / Annual Events and Festivals in Florida / Florida Hotels and Resorts / Florida Spas and Wellness Oriented Destinations /4 and 5 Diamond Hotels / Pet Friendly Hotels / Florida Beaches / Florida Theme Parks and Family Oriented Destinations / Waterparks / Zoos / Florida Parks / Wildlife in the Sunshine State / Florida Trails / National Historical Landmarks / Florida Museums / Golf in Florida / Fishing in Florida / Shopping in the Sunshine State / Dining in Florida all images provided by VISIT FLORIDA |
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| About Us: Travel Tidings Florida features vacation travel information for the cities and regions of Pensacola, Destin/Ft Walton Beach, Seaside/Beaches of South Walton , Panama City Beach , Marianna , Apalachicola/Port St. Joe , Tallahassee , Live Oak/Lake City , Cedar Key/Steinhatchee, Jacksonville/Amelia Island, Gainesville, St. Augustine, Flagler Beach/Palm Coast, Crystal River, St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Tampa, Ocala, Orlando/Kissimmee, Lakeland,Daytona Beach/New Smyrna Beach, Cocoa Beach, Fort Pierce/Vero Beach, Sarasota/Bradenton, Charlotte Harbor, Fort Myers/Sanibel, Naples/Marco Island, Sebring/Arcadia, Florida Keys & Key West, Fort Lauderdale, Lake Okeechobee, Miami, and Palm Beach and more than 500 destinations throughout the state of Florida. Activities, entertainment and speciality interestes include everything from romantic getaways, spas and secluded parks to family themeparks and holiday resorts, busy places popular for adventure, sports and surfing. General topics covered include dining, lodging, shopping, travel accommodations, attractions, hotels and more. Do not hesitate to contact us for further information at info@traveltidingsflorida.com! |
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