Florida’s Bradenton Beach is a beautiful city and an amazing tourist spot for spending a relaxing vacation throughout the year. Being a city in Manatee County, this place boasts tropical climate and sunshine throughout the year. Located on the Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach is the center for boating enthusiasts, nature-lovers and beach-goers. History lovers can pay a visit to the Manatee Village Historical Park, where they can explore the venue featuring many artifacts and photographs of the Manatee County region. Travelers can also have a look at the prehistoric collections, ecological exhibits, historical artifacts, and fossils of mammals in the South Florida Museum. Families with children can unwind at the Palma Solo Botanical Park, amidst the lakes and the gardens filled with trees, palms and subtropical plants. Tourists can relax and unwind on the pristine beaches, or visit the shops and restaurants lining the streets. Book the best Vrbo vacation rentals for your trip and Have a look at some exciting and fun things to do in Bradenton Beach, Florida.
1. Relax on the white sugar sands of Bradenton Beach
Located only a few miles away from Sarasota and Bradenton, this beach is the ideal spot for beach lovers. Featuring fishing piers, a quaint strip of shops, restaurants, and family-owned businesses, tourists can relax and rejuvenate over this beach in Bradenton, Florida. Plan a picnic with family on the beaches, where you can doze or bask in the sun. Kids can enjoy swimming and build sand castles on the beach!
2. Speed about on a Segway with Segs by the Sea
Cruise through the coastal communities with Segs by the Sea. Take a tour of the Longboat Key Bridge and the Coquina Trail, where you can admire the stunning sunsets and the mesmerizing picturesque landscape. Climb on the self-balancing transportation device and discover something new while you pass by amazing gulf water views, wildlife, elegant vacation homes, beachfront inns, fishing piers, museums, restaurants, and quaint shops.
Segs By The Sea
Address: 102 Bridge St, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, USA
Website: Segs By The Sea
Opening hours: 9am – 5pm (daily)
3. Snack on seafood at the ocean-side Bridge Tender Inn & Dockside Bar
Head to The Bridge Tender Inn & Dockside Bar, which is a lively American bar and eatery. Established in 1989, this lively place serves fresh seafood, great appetizers, and some of the best entrees, munchies, and sandwiches. Being a popular eatery, tourists, as well as locals come by to dig into the amazing fare offered at Bridge Tender Inn. Unfold a true hidden treasure on the dockside and enjoy occasional live music while downing some drinks.
The Bridge Tender Inn & Dockside Bar
Address: 135 Bridge St, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, USA
Website: The Bridge Tender Inn & Dockside Bar
Opening hours: Sun – Thu: 11am – 12am; Fri – Sat: 11am – 1am
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4. Pamper yourself with a massage on the beach at Sea-renity Beach Spa
Pamper yourself with an authentic island-style relaxation and stress relief at Sea-renity Beach Spa & Bou-tiki. Boasting a truly serene ambiance, this spa welcomes locals, snowbirds, day-trippers, and visitors for professional skin care and massage therapy. With a variety of massage techniques and modalities, this Bradenton Beach activity uses a Swedish foundation and a special bodywork blend to achieve the pressure and results you want. Apart from that, tourists can also browse through jewelry, all-cotton clothing, wellness items, and gulf-inspired gifts in the Bou-tiki shop.
Sea-renity Beach Spa & Bou-tiki
Address: 112 Bridge St, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, USA
Website: Sea-renity Beach Spa & Bou-tiki
Opening hours: 8am – 8pm (daily)
5. Indulge in tropical-flavored ice cream at Island Scoops
Satiate your sweet tooth at Island Scoops where you can find various interesting items like Big Olaf and Lickity Splits Ice Cream, Gourmet Sodas, Candy, Hometown Desserts, and Caribbean Pie Company Bakery products. Try the Big Olaf Ice Creams which are hand-mixed by local Amish craftsmen and churned in batch freezers. Or, you can taste the Lickity Splits Ice Cream and Mateo’s Italian Ices, which are naturally made from local ingredients. Take your children along so that they can order their favorite scoops in a cone or a dish.
Island Scoops
Address: 103B Gulf Dr N, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, USA
Website: Island Scoops
Opening hours: 12pm – 10pm (daily)
6. Get a hearty country breakfast at the Gulf Drive Cafe
If you are looking for a casual eatery which offers both indoor and outdoor seating, Gulf Drive Cafe would be the right place to crash. Serving breakfast and Florida seafood, tourists or locals can head to this beachfront joint offering turquoise-emerald views of the Gulf of Mexico. Established in 1981, this restaurant and bar overlooks the waterfront. Relish the shimmering Gulf and multi-colored sunset backdrop while trying their specialties and cocktails.
Gulf Drive Cafe
Address: 900 Gulf Dr N, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, USA
Website: Gulf Drive Cafe
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 7am - 9pm; Fri - Sun: 7am - 9:30pm
7. Fish offshore with Snapper Addict Fishing Charter
Snapper Addict Fishing Charter is an ideal experience for adventure lovers as they can go fishing with a group of friends and family on a fun afternoon. From a first-time fisherman to a seasoned angler, this company customizes the perfect trip according to your abilities. Expect a smooth ride with twin Chevy 350 inboards as you chase the monsters, and enjoy fishing 360 degrees around the boat. Relax under the shaded seating area or take a nap in the cabin until you are called to get ready for the next big catch.
Snapper Addict Fishing Charter
Address: 2504 88th St Ct NW, Bradenton, FL 34209
Website: Snapper Addict Fishing Charter
8. Jet ski across the Gulf of Mexico with Coastal Watersports
A family-owned and operated recreational water sports facility, Coastal Watersports is located directly on the Gulf Coast beaches of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, Florida. Tourists can rent the Yamaha VX110 Wave runners and enjoy jet skiing across the Gulf of Mexico. Apart from that, surf the waves on paddle boards or just paddle around to view the wildlife. You can just go sailing the open waters on a catamaran, or have fun kayaking with the manatees.
Coastal Watersports
Address: 1301 Gulf Dr N, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, USA
Website: Coastal Watersports
Opening hours: 9:30am – 5:30pm (daily)
9. Take a dolphin-watching tour with Captain Fin's Sightseeing and Boat Tours
Captain Fin’s Sightseeing and Boat Tours offers various tours in the surrounding waters of Sarasota Bay. Dolphin tours are the most popular among tourists, as they can enjoy dolphin watching, bird watching, sandbar hop, and can also hunt shells while taking a tour of the intercoastal waterways of Anna Maria. Apart from that, visitors can opt for sunset cruises where they can watch the blue sky turn to beautiful shades of orange, red, violet, and purple as the sun descends into the water.
Captain Fin's Sightseeing and Boat Tours
Address: 1325 Gulf Dr S, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, USA
Website: Captain Fin’s Sightseeing and Boat Tours
Opening hours: 7am – 9pm (daily)
10. Parasail above the waters with YOLO Adventures
A parasailing and sightseeing company, YOLO Parasailing & Adventures offers activities seven days a week if the weather permits. Experience the thrill of a lifetime as you soar above the Anna Maria Island and Gulf Coast while parasailing. With gentle take-offs, water dips, and smooth landings, this Bradenton Beach attraction provides a fun and safe family activity for all ages, that you will remember for a lifetime.
YOLO Parasailing & Adventures
Address: 135 Bridge St, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, USA
Website: YOLO Parasailing & Adventures
Opening hours: 8am – 7pm (daily)
11. Do yoga atop a paddle board with Salty Buddha Paddle & Yoga Co
Make the most of your time on the water with Salty Buddha Paddle & Yoga Co, which offers custom paddle lessons and excursions. Tourists can enjoy stand-up yoga on a paddle board on the beautiful waters of Anna Maria Island. Climb on the paddle board, which will float on the water, and you can perform floating yoga poses. Immerse yourself completely in nature while connecting the body and mind in absolute harmony and peace.
Salty Buddha Paddle & Yoga Co
Address: 2219 Gulf Dr N, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, USA
Website: Salty Buddha Paddle & Yoga Co
Opening hours: 9am – 6pm (daily)
12. Browse the quirky craft stores of Beach Market at Coquina Beach
If you are looking for a place to browse the quirky craft stores, Beach Market at Coquina Beach would be the perfect place to visit. Lined with shops, eateries, and bars, you can find items from local artists, crafts and artworks, a huge jewelry collection, plants, pottery, apparel, purses, collectibles, and health and beauty items. Tourists can also pay a visit to the souvenir shops. Enjoy the beautiful white sand beach after shopping and relax on the deck overlooking the Gulf at Coquina Cafe.
Beach Market at Coquina Beach
Address: 2650 Gulf Dr S, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, USA
Website: Beach Market at Coquina Beach
Opening hours: Wed, Sun: 10am – 4pm (closed from Mon - Tue & Thu - Sat)
13. Golf among lush koi ponds at Fish Hole Miniature Golf
Plan a day out with family at this family-focused waterfront mini-golf hotspot, where you can come across unique attractions, a 3,000-gallon (11,356.2-liter) pond filled with koi fish and native Florida plants. With cooling mist devices and lush green landscapes, Fish Hole Miniature Golf attracts thousands of tourists throughout the year. Take the edge of the Florida sun around the misters, or try to identify the 50 species of plants occupying the grounds, or feed the fish and turtles in the pond.
The Fish Hole Miniature Golf
Address: 115 Bridge St, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, USA
Website: The Fish Hole Miniature Golf
Opening hours: 9am – 9:30pm (daily)
14. Gorge on fresh oysters at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Pier
Relish on fresh oysters at Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Pier, which is a casual and kid-friendly restaurant. Boasting funky nautical accents and outdoor seating on the water, tourists often head to this family-friendly ambiance and try on their award-winning seafood. From fresh seafood, lobster, crab, steaks, and chicken, to pasta dishes, hearty soups, fresh salads, and Gulf-fresh fish specials, this amazing destination offers great service at a great value.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Pier
Address: 200 Bridge St, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, USA
Website: Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Pier
Opening hours: Sun – Thu: 11am – 10pm; Fri – Sat: 11am – 11pm
15. Hunt for ornamental shells at the One Stop Shell Shop
One Stop Shell Shop is a perfect souvenir shop to stop by on your trip to Bradenton Beach, as it sells clothing, jewelry items, and shot glasses. Hunt down the ornamental shells and the cheap bracelets made with embroidery floss and shell parts to buy them for friends and family back home. With homemade and authentic pieces of goods, this place allows tourists to browse through the store featuring a huge collection of shell art and souvenir items.
One Stop Shell Shop
Address: 101 Gulf Dr N, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, USA
Website: [One Stop Shell Shop](https://one-stop-shell-shop.edan.io/
Opening hours: 9am – 10pm (daily)
16. Go sea turtle watching with the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Seabird Monitoring
Make a difference by adopting a sea turtle nest on the beach and watch them with the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Seabird Monitoring. Gather here with friends and family. The volunteers will take you walking on the beaches as they survey nesting turtles. Learn about the fun stories and take lots of videos and pictures during this 30-minute program. Tourists can also enjoy watching and feeding birds like Red Knots, Sandwich Terns, Royal Terns, Forester’s Tern, and Semipalmated Plovers as they come for resting on the shores.
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch
Address: 8605 Gulf Dr, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, USA
Website: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch
17. Sip on handcrafted margaritas at the Wicked Cantina
A modern and laid-back restaurant, Wicked Cantina Bradenton Beach serves Mexican grub, beer, and margaritas. Offering homemade delicacies, tourists often head here to relish on their Austin style Tex-Mex, as well as tasty American classics along with handcrafted margaritas. From tacos, enchiladas, to fajitas and all-Angus burgers, this place offers an extensive selection of appetizers.
Wicked Cantina Bradenton Beach
Address: 101 7th St N, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, USA
Website: Wicked Cantina Bradenton Beach
Opening hours: 7:30am – 10pm (daily)
Enjoy a relaxing vacation in Bradenton Beach
With several historic buildings, coastal attractions along the Gulf and the downtown area featuring many cultural activities, Bradenton Beach attracts tourists from all around the globe. From Anna Maria Island Historical Museum, Artspace Studios and Gallery, to Anna Maria Accommodations and Beach Bums, Bradenton Beach has it all!