Across Bradenton, Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key and the Cortez Historic Fishing Village, travellers will find spirited artists’ communities, deep-rooted maritime traditions and a culinary scene that’s alive with ‘Floribbean’ flavours, powered by local growers and Gulf-fresh seafood. These same Gulf waters brim with wildlife. This is a destination where the pace of travel slows beautifully, and where the sense of community is palpable. You feel that spirit everywhere, whether you’re chatting with independent business owners along Anna Maria Island’s colourful (and eco-conscious) Pine Avenue or getting to know the dairy and fruit farmers who welcome you behind the scenes. Join us as we explore the Bradenton Area and discover Florida at its warmest and most authentic.
Explore further
Delve deeper into this gem of Florida’s Gulf Coast with our 100-page guide, covering everything from manatee conservation to sustainable cuisine.
Sun, sea and sustainability
The Bradenton Area is known for its turquoise seas and sugar-white sands, but its beaches and preserves teem with life, nurtured by local communities and sustained by conservation programmes
Into the blue
Anna Maria Island’s resident community of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins is the most closely studied in the world. Their sheltered coastal realm reveals the secrets of this extraordinary population
The making of a preserve
At this man-made preserve in an abundant sweep of mangroves and marshes, science and stewardship work hand in hand on Bradenton’s doorstep
Arts, culture and heritage
Creativity is thriving here. Anna Maria Island’s historic houses have had an eco-friendly makeover, Bradenton’s riverside provides a canvas for muralists, and a community of artists living and working in the Village of the Arts welcomes visitors into their home
Ed Chiles on the Greenest Little Main Street in America
Restaurateur and changemaker Ed Chiles, who helped pioneer Anna Maria Island’s sustainable design, explains the Florida island’s appeal
Art Lives here
In this creative neighbourhood, painters, potters and makers keep the Bradenton Area’s artistic spirit alive. We meet the locals who call it home
Culinary
Whether dining dockside on boat-fresh seafood, touring local farms and vineyards or unravelling the history of Floribbean cuisine, the Bradenton Area’s culinary highs keep on coming
Tides of tradition
The Cortez Historic Fishing Village has kept its maritime traditions alive for generations, and its waterside community works hard to sustain a rich way of life
Feeling inspired?
For more information on Florida’s West Coast, head over to the official Bradenton Area website.
