Bradenton, FL

It’s only appropriate that I show you around my hometown – Bradenton. If you haven’t heard of it, maybe you’ve heard of Sarasota or Tampa? It’s in that general area. I would say Bradenton is most known for its beaches. Although most people think of Miami or Orlando when they hear Florida, those places aren’t where you want to go if you’re visiting for the beaches. The central west coast of Florida, where Bradenton is, really has some of the most beautiful beaches.

I would recommend checking out Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach or my favorite, Holmes Beach. You could actually go to all of these in one day since they’re all clumped together. Just a tip – get there early! Parking can fill up quickly.

If you find yourself getting hungry, there are little places to eat along the beaches, but you’ll definitely find more in the main part of town. My favorite lunch spot is Fresh Kitchen. They serve up healthy bowls where you can pick your bases like rice, salad or sweet potato noodles, then you pick a veggie, a protein and a sauce. They have lots of add-ons and you can really customize your order however you’d like. Fresh Kitchen makes delicious cold pressed juices, zucchini brownies and paleo chocolate chip cookies, too!

If shopping is your thing, you’re in the right area near Fresh Kitchen. The University Town Center mall is right across the street, and there are tons of shops you can walk to right in the same plaza where Fresh Kitchen is (lots of other restaurants, too). This area is what I consider the center of town, even though it really isn’t when you look at a map. But everything you would want or need is right here!

Speaking of restaurants, my favorite dinner spot is Riverhouse Reef and Grill. They have a menu that offers something for everyone, and this place has the best location of any restaurant in town in my opinion. Be sure to sit outside – you’ll be right on the water and you’ll have a great view to watch the sunset and relax.

There’s still plenty to do outdoors! Head to Robinson Preserve to walk the miles of trails or go kayaking, canoeing or paddleboarding. The park is what I consider “Old Florida.” It’s very primitive looking and has lots of open space. Just bring lots of sunscreen – it gets really hot here because there’s very little shade!

Not too far from Robinson Preserve, you’ll find De Soto National Memorial. This is actually my favorite “beach” type area to go to because it’s typically less crowded and feels like you have your own private beach. It’s a historical site where you can learn about Hernando De Soto, who first settled Florida, and you can also picnic, walk the trail or just hang out on the beach.

There’s one more park in town that you have to see! G.T. Bray park is a county park, and I actually went there every day after school when I was in high school on the cross country team. We held our practices here, and the nice thing about it is that there are tons of old oak trees that give a lot of shade. And it’s really beautiful! It’s a great place to walk around or bring a picnic.

Well, that covers it for all my favorite places in Bradenton! I highly recommend checking out some or all of these if you’re ever in the area. And if you have any questions or want any other info, feel free to reach out to me!