The 38 best things to do with kids in Bradenton

It amazing place to ride bikes and take pics. There is a playground for the kids and watching all the boat going up and down the river. Love this place

Visited the Bradenton Riverwalk recently. I would’ve loved to spend more time there, but the heat and humidity quickly became overwhelming. My goal was to capture photos and videos throughout the entire park, but I only managed to scratch the surface of this beautiful walkway that runs along the Manatee River in downtown Bradenton. The Riverwalk offers lush vegetation, mature trees lining the wide sidewalks, children laughing in the splash park, perfectly manicured lawns, and historical markers placed thoughtfully along the trail—all contributing to a peaceful and scenic environment. While there weren’t many people out that day (understandably, due to the heat), it’s clear that the City of Bradenton is doing an excellent job maintaining this gorgeous public space. I fully intend to return during a cooler season to experience the Riverwalk in its entirety. For anyone visiting the area, this stretch of downtown is definitely worth the stop—a subtropical oasis nestled along the expansive Manatee River. Yes, I’ll surely be back to complete the excursion.

What a wonderful experience it is to go for a walk in this place, listening to the sea and admiring the landscape of the region. Thank you to the city hall for the beautiful place for a night walk.

What an excellent, well thought out community boardwalk! My wife really enjoyed it. It was the icing on the cake for our vacation.

So clean and engaging! I love all the signage, the spots to rest, or play, or just be in nature. A very special place.

Driving up from Sarasota to get to Bradenton to take a stroll on the Riverwalk was definitely worth the drive and I came here during the evening and the scenery was beautiful!

I’ve been coming here my whole life and they have continuously made small improvements. Water park for kids is running all the time. Free and it can make long term memories.

This Natural History Museum is focused on Florida and is especially great for kids (and even has a dedicated play area for younger ones). You can spend around 2-3 hours here or more if you plan to see multiple planetarium shows. The Planetarium is great with a variety of programs and videos scheduled throughout the day. It is great that the shows are included in the price of an admission ticket. On top of fossils and human artifacts, there is also a live Manatee aquarium with a couple rescue manatees that they release back into the wild when ready. They do offer student discounts. Street parking is limited but there is a large parking structure across the street.

The Bishop Museum has a great history of the history of this area of Florida. The museum also houses a manatee rehab, which currently (7/19) has 3 manatees. There is a section of the different types of habitats of the area and the animals you may be able to find in them. There is also a planetarium that shows different movies throughout the day.

First laser light show here since the 80's. We went to see Pink Floyd the wall 🧱. I was having a phone issue and didn't get to buy the ticket ahead of time and they were nice enough to get me in anyway. We all enjoyed the show for sure. I thought the did a great job, I could only ask for a couple more songs to be included. I definitely will be back with a variety of different friends for the variety of different musical selections they offer. I recommend this experience for all and I am thankful we have this museum, planetarium and laser shows available.

Went here on a Saturday. Caught a planetarium show narrated by tom hanks. Spent prob 30 mins or so walking around and seeing the exhibits. Def a fun time. Seeing the manatees was really cool. Bought tickets right at the door. Free parking garage is super close.

Lots of displays with the history of Florida. A great play area for children. The planetarium runs several shows throughout the day. Another area changes it's theme periodically and there are interactive areas.

Excellent place for learning. All the staff were very nice and welcoming. Perfect for homeschool field trips. Clean. Shows are worth watching.

We couldn’t have asked for a better venue for our wedding on May 4th, 2025! The entire experience was incredible from start to finish. Danielle was wonderful to work with, and the entire team went above and beyond to make our day truly special. While we were a little disappointed that the manatees had been released before our wedding and we didn’t get photos with them, we were thrilled knowing they went home happy and healthy. An unforgettable place to start our new chapter together!

De Soto National Memorial: A Historically Rich Visit, Awaiting Full Restoration My recent visit to the De Soto National Memorial was a truly insightful experience, offering a fascinating glimpse into the history of the area. It was a great place to visit and learn about the history of the first European contact in Florida, with informative exhibits and beautiful natural surroundings. The historical reenactments and interpretive signs provided a vivid understanding of the past. An added bonus is that the memorial is also dog friendly, making it a great outing for the whole family, including your furry companions. However, it was clear that the memorial is still recovering from recent events. The place still shows the damaged caused by the hurricane from 2024. While efforts have clearly been made, there were visible signs of impact, which understandably affected the overall presentation of some areas. Despite the lingering effects of the hurricane, the educational value and the natural beauty of the memorial still shone through. I genuinely enjoyed my time there and the opportunity to connect with such a significant piece of history. I sincerely hope to go again once the place has been restored to its full glory. With its historical importance and scenic setting, a fully restored De Soto National Memorial would undoubtedly be an even more enriching experience. I look forward to seeing it brought back to its pristine condition.

I absolutely love the trail, relaxing and for me peaceful. I will definitely come back again with more time. Bring comfortable shoes put your sun block and dont forget your water bottle and bug repellent. My favorite trail this far. 👍🏽👍🏽

This was an awesome trail. One area is closed but you can still do the trail from different areas within the park. One of the monuments have been knocked over. Nice beach area. Recommend!

Lovely water side and elecated mangrove trail on an untouched end of a road. Visitors centre closed due to hurricane damage but there were still enough information boards providing information on the historical significance and local floral and fauna.

What a great day trip! Our daughters earned another Junior Ranger badge and we had the best walk! It was stunning views around each bend. There are a ton of picnic tables, so we packed a lunch and soaked in the view. There was a breeze coming off the ocean which made for a perfect experience. This is a dog friendly national park, so next time we plan on bringing our fur kiddo too. Most people go here for the beach we found out but the trails are totally worth it. They were easy enough for my 7 and 3 year old daughters and my senior parents. Very well maintained! The kids programs were not going on the day we were there, you have to check their schedule online to see the historic areas, but it gives us a reason to come back! Highly recommend!

During the summer they hold free ranger led kayak tours. This year they are at Robinson preserve due to construction but typically they are held onsite. During seasonal months they have living history museum and short historic trails. Lovely place. People go fishing and swimming and kayaking here. Definitely visit this national park. Free entrance.

Great place to go for a walk. Partially shaded trails and beautiful water views. Trails are not too long and well maintained. Also, dog friendly. Visitors are respectful and observe the dog and liter policies posted. Markers along the trail explain the historical significance of the area. Great place to bring family and friends who are visiting.

New to us-very quiet and green. Oasis like. Free entry. 20 acres of Floridian botanicals. Plants are in Hurricane recovery. Lots of birds and animals. Great restroooms. Picnic on the porch. Parking easy. Sculptures add interest. Thank you!

Beautiful small botanical gardens with discretionary entrance fee. The exotic fruit varieties were really interesting.

It's a few nature park that takes donations. It said there was a cafe onsite that we would have liked to check out but our dog was too hot to spend more than 45 minutes here. Idk if I was supposed to take it but I found this really randomly beautiful piece of art in the notch of a tree. It is the most awesome thing I've ever found. I should try a Google image search to try to find the artist...

Nice place to walk around for an afternoon. Not too crowded, laid out well. Hard for people with walkers or wheelchairs, online pictures make trail look like it’s concrete, it is however shell.

We stopped in for a quick visit (we had just learned about this place). The office/gift shop was closed (Sunday) but parking was easy, trails were open and the plants were thriving. We started near the Butterfly Garden area-very nice, lots of milkweed and other appropriate foliage. Moving along toward the fruit trees, we were joined by Michael-he was a wealth of knowledge of the fruit trees. Gave us a great education about each of them. He pointed out trees across the pond and gave us some fun details about them. The Hibiscus Island is full of many different colors of Hibiscus flowers--so pretty. The aloe plants are huge. Ducklings in the pond, turtles in another pond--life is quite abundant. Lots of benches for resting or just enjoying the scenery. Excellent for nature photography. Free to wander about, donations are suggested and welcomed.

It was great, small place, but a great place for kids. Bring the kids to the outdoors, this is a great place to take pictures, many fruit trees and great area to have lunch with the kids. (Bring your food ). The access if free. Make sure to keep it beautiful by placing the garbage in the container.

This was a nice well kept garden. Nice pavilion n cute little gazebo by the big lake, which was relaxing to sit by. Very nice little walking trails along the way. They had a small trail that had all different kinds of fruit trees which was neat. They may have a little gift shop or café but it was not open when I was there. Nice to just relax n stroll around. When you do go it is free although they ask for Donations to help maintain the park.

Robinson Preserve: A Nature Lover's Paradise (and Dog-Friendly Too!) Robinson Preserve is an absolute treasure and a truly fantastic destination for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors. It's a great place to go with your dog, offering ample space for them to explore alongside you. This preserve is perfect for those who love to exercise and enjoy nature. With its extensive network of trails, you can walk, run, or bike through diverse ecosystems, from mangroves to open fields. It's incredibly well-maintained and quiet, providing a serene escape from the hustle and bustle. The paths are clear, and the natural beauty is preserved, making for a truly pleasant experience. One of the absolute highlights is the view from the observation tower, which is beautiful. Climbing to the top rewards you with panoramic vistas of the preserve, the surrounding waterways, and even the distant skyline. It's a breathtaking sight that truly showcases the natural splendor of the area. Whether you're seeking a peaceful walk with your canine companion, a vigorous workout amidst stunning scenery, or simply a quiet moment to connect with nature, Robinson Preserve delivers. It's a meticulously cared-for natural haven that offers something for everyone. Highly recommended!

This place has a little something for everyone! The main trails are well maintained, but some of the side paths can be a bit less so. Regardless, the environment and variety of activities are second to none in the area. Just be warned, if you stay past sunset you will be chased out of the park.

Beautiful big park — great playground for kids of all ages (even adults!), awesome lookout tower, unique wildlife, a pretty long trail, and it’s not crowded even on a Saturday… perfect spot for a family adventure! Downsides… it’s a bit run down. Loose wires, rusty bolts, railings coming apart — clearly keeping this place in shape is not a priority... ...it’s sad how much trash people just leave lying around — empty cans, bottles, snack wrappers... like a weekend activists just rolled through the playground. Who does that? Dumping garbage where kids play… seriously, shame on them.

This place is one of my absolute favorites. It is so large and has a variety of landscapes. My favorite time to go is right before sunset to avoid the heat. There are restrooms and plenty of parking at the kayak drop off site. This is one of my favorite places to take people.

Great find! Boardwalk wasn't open, but still had plenty of trails to explore. The scenery was breathtaking, didn't see much wildlife but it was really hot. Hopefully next time!

One of my favorite preserves in Florida. So many amazing trails. Super kid friendly. Has the ropes course thing for kids that’s super cute and fun! I love this place.

Very neat place for a walk! There are several parking lots and the one by the canopy building seems like the easiest way to get to the walk amongst the mangroves. We walked the long way and it was a nice gravel path with little shade. Got super hot quick! Bring water if you plan to spend a lot of time there. The canopy is SUPER cool. Nice free activity for the kids to run around.

I had an excellent time visiting this old ballpark. Definitely has an old school charm about it. The outfield has a boardwalk with plenty of food vendors and fun. My only complaint was sitting in the lower right field area because the scoreboard is too low and a portion of it was not viewable. I think it's a great park for kids and fans to gather autographs because of how the gates are located with a few places that make it easy for the players and fans to safely interact. Surrounding parking was affordable around 10.00 dollars. I found the staff to be very friendly and accommodating. Would definitely return and recommend you visit this park at least once if you're a baseball fan!

A classic old Spring Training venue - the oldest, actually - with good food, cold beer and pretty good baseball (though it's easy to forget that they don't go to extra innings when there's a tie after the 9th...). The only problematic part is the parking, which you can reserve/purchase in advance, so we (over)paid ($25) to park right across the street. Otherwise, a quite enjoyable experience....

Very cool ballpark in the centre of Bradenton. Friendly staff and great vibe! Abundant parking around the stadium if you can't get into the official stadium parking. We paid $15 which isn't bad.

I attended my first Minor League Baseball game here when I watched the Bradenton Marauders play. Parking was only $5 in the stadium lot. I love the intimacy of small ballparks like this one. This stadium is also the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

It's a really nice ball park for a baseball game. A walk around deck. All kinds of food and drink choices. Friendly staff and plenty of security. Church park blocks away for $10.

Wonderful ballpark. Great parking options. Right across the street for $5 (get there early though...) Went on Thirsty Thursday when they had $2 hot dogs and $2 Busch Light cans. The team got whooped, but I had a great time nonetheless.

Very nice ball park... and like all PARKS food and drinks WAY over priced. Guess that is to be expected... Went back 8/2/2025... ridiculous prices for food and drink... the alcohol was even worse... this place is in the worst part of town. You are watching 1 step above college baseball - but less exciting... the park itself is actually the nicest place in the area... without it - no one would even be in the area... guess that is why it is there!! Check out the pics and look at the prices very carefully... then figure out somewhere else to go!!!

Lovely, small historic park with the oldest still standing courthouse in Florida from 1860. One can visit a well preserved house from 1912, a church from 1887, a store, and an old schoolhouse with signs that provide explanation on the history of each building. Upstairs are a few exhibitions. The park has picnic tables as well as clean restrooms. Friendly and helpful staff. Free entrance, but donations gladly accepted. Recommended!

Manatee Village Historical Park is a thoughtful and beautifully preserved window into early Florida life. Walking these grounds feels like stepping through a quiet chapter of local history, simple and beautiful old Florida wooden structures, pioneer craftsmanship, boatmaking tools, and the old courthouse that once shaped civic decisions. It’s peaceful, educational, and grounded in the story of place. Slow travel isn’t only for distant countries. Knowing your history, honoring the presence of place, and connecting with the roots beneath your feet is part of remembering who we are. Step inside the church and schoolhouse and notice the wooden floors worn smooth by generations, the pews and desks shaped by hands long gone. You can feel the everyday rhythm of ancestors here — their labor, devotion, struggle, and resilience — still humming gently in the Florida light. Manatee Village Historical Park is perfect for families, school groups, photographers, historians, and anyone exploring like a tourist in their own backyard. Entry is free, ( small donation is nice), signage is excellent, and the staff keep everything beautifully maintained. Life continues. Stories remain. Know your history. ~Jana Shakti Travels Located off 7th Ave E & 15th St E in downtown Bradenton

Awesome spot with historical buildings. Nice gift shop. Small and walkable, but lots to see. Ample parking. Free. It's similar to Heritage Village in Largo, FL.

Such an amazing place to remind us of the beautiful history and people that paved the way for us all! Preservation of history is so important and I am thankful for the opportunity to visit Manatee Village Historical Park!

I enjoyed this historical park and it’s free!Very informative of Florida way back to the 1800’s and some establishments in Bradenton ,FL itself!It was amazing to see the history behind Bradenton and how the lifestyle was back then.

It's free and educational. We went with our 3 year old and she had fun. There was a treasure hunt to find little cutout chickens around the property- that kept it fun to all of us and a little bonus gift at the end -brought even more joy. + there are actual live chickens walking around 🐔 with permission we took pictures with one

Was a good time! My girlfriend and I walked around the whole property, including the cemetery and really enjoyed it. Don’t get to see much history being preserved these days, and they offer it for completely free.

While the museum itself is not open yet, still undergoing construction from last year's hurricane season, the staff are still there holding workshops on the covered deck. I was really impressed with the friendliness of the staff as well as the knowledge. The workshop I attended was called 'Saving Your Stuff.' It was a lot of great information, and they even encouraged us to put on gloves and try to save some materials they had intentionally 'destroyed'.

Finally went to the Florida Maritime Museum in Cortez Fishing Village, another neighborhood treasure! This was Wednesday of this week 💙🤍⛵🛶🤿 FYI - This is a FREE attraction that is an amazing window into the past, present and future of our little slice of heaven. Everyone should check it out!

Fantastic little museum chronicles local fishing legacy as well as hurricane impacts. Very nice exhibits. Kid friendly with lots of activities. Free! Closes for lunch noon to 1:00.

Interesting place to visit. Really gives you a nostalgic feeling of Cortez. Some of the shells they have are beautiful.

This was a family friendly small museum with beautiful grounds. Very beautiful Pulmeria Flowers were in full bloom. An inexpensive museum asking for small donation or low cost entrance fee. This Museum is very close to the beaches and some restaurants.

A great museum to learn about marine life and the history of Cortez village. Lots of hands on activities for children. Free admission!

Good stop in Cortez for some local history and info about the centuries of fishing in the area. Many examples of sea life and related artifacts. Free admission and clean restrooms make it all the better. Small gift shop has some books and items geared toward kids.

Such a great "mom and pop" type Fruit Farm and tour. Was a wonderful hour or 2 excursion. Wildlife and a little bit of knowledge about the farm really make it a great day trip for kids! They get to pet and hold some reptiles and animals, while also getting some history about how Oranges originated in Florida. Ice cream after the tour was a nice end to the tour, while the gift shop has a little bit of something for everyone at great prices. Nabbed myself a perfect hat! If you are within driving distance, it is definitely worth a visit!

The Mixon store is all about oranges and citrus. Fresh oranges, fresh grapefruits, orange juice, orange ice cream, orange wine and much more. The great thing is, you can taste everything before you decide to buy. Souvenir hunters also get their money's worth. In the small cafeteria there is of course, how could it be otherwise, orange juice, orange muffins and other snacks. Everything sparkling clean and friendly staff everywhere. Thank you very much. 👍😎 Let's get to the “Orange Blossom Tram Tours” !!! VERY HONEST: WE ARE DISAPPOINTED AND HAVE PROMISED MORE OF THIS !!! 👎 A ride through measly citrus plants, NONE AND WIDE OF THE BEAUTIFUL ORANGE PLANTATIONS that we actually expected !!! 🧐 The only positive thing was the stop at the animals, where a ranger reports a lot of interesting facts about the local animals. It was really nice to get to know the baby alligator lady "AMI". And to feel such an animal and hold it in your hands. This was a great experience for young and old children. 👍 Otherwise, for $ 10.00 per person, this ride was an absolute botanical letdown. We recommend investing this money in fine oranges! The shop therefore gets 5 stars, the tram only 1 star, TOTAL ERGO 3 stars for everything !!!

This is a great place! They have a self guided factory tour where you can see the oranges being reviewed and sorted. The gift shop is large with wonderful samples and their ice cream is delicious! The tram tour is a must - it takes you through the groves and they tell you the various tree types but the best part is the rescue animal area where you see and can touch turtles, snakes and baby alligators. Our whole family enjoyed it (ages 3 to 65). I rarely give anyone 4 stars rather than 5 and the only reason I did is because when we visited to see if we wanted to take our whole family there the tram had problems starting. We assumed it was a fluke but sure enough when we took our family the tram wouldn't start... it took an entire hour to fix but we then had our tram tour. They need to replace the engine! Besides that, everything was wonderful.

Even though my family visited outside of citrus season, we had a terrific visit. The tram tour is a “must do.” The tram guide provided a lot of history and facts we would otherwise never know. My children especially enjoyed seeing the rehab wildlife. The gentleman there knew exactly how to address his audience and provided an unbelievable wealth of information. Please donate to this organization! Once we finished the tram tour, we scoped out the wedding pavilion area, the maze garden (which was simple, but still neat as it was like a little secret garden), and also walked to the koi pond. We finished our visit by ordering lunch from the cafe—the ladies that run it were very friendly and the food was mighty tasty. My dad raved about the Cuban sandwich. I seriously was wowed by my hot dog. We polished off our meal with swirl ice cream…save room…the portion size is huge! Mrs. Mixon, unbeknownst to us, was also greeting diners during lunch and was very friendly and down to Earth. All in all, I would rate Mixon Fruit Farms a “must do” for those visiting FL, or for those wanting a taste of “old Florida.” We hope to visit again when citrus is in season to see all the machinery in action, too.

Maybe the best citrus farm to visit in west-central Florida! A large and diverse shop area, they have fresh citrus depending on what’s in season, tasty orange ice cream, wine tasting area, free samples of citrus drinks, and other market type food options. You can do a self-guided tour of their citrus packaging operations also. The other part is their wildlife tour, which is on the back of the property and you ride on the tram. It’s kind of a long tour, slightly boring, you get to see a few regional animals and hear lots of info about them. Kids get to touch a small gator. Maybe fun to do once, but the shop itself is nice enough to explore, sample, and shop if your need to save a little money.

The actual tour of the fruit farm at Mixon Farm is quite minimal and we were rather disappointed at the limited tour of the farm itself. It basically consists of a short ride along one side of a short orchard, then down along the side of another and then the tour stops at the wildlife refuge. The Wildlife Refuge was really the highlight of the tour for us, as Damen, the wildlife expert, was extremely knowledgeable and engaging regarding all the animals that have been rescued and reside there. He is fantastic at imparting all of his knowledge about each species and is focused on important ecological and environmental issues as well, which was very informative. People also get to hold a small alligator if they choose to and pet one of the tortoises, which the children and adults both enjoyed! After the wildlife presentation was over we got back on the tram and went back behind the buildings and the tour was over. We thought we would go see more of the orchards, but we didn’t. The gift shop that is located at the farm is a very nice gift shop and contains a wide variety of items that were fairly reasonably priced. They also have orange ice cream, which was very good. We preferred the twist, which was vanillla and orange combined. The lady that was serving the ice cream was quite rude and unfriendly, which was unpleasant to deal with. She was an elderly woman and didn’t appear to appreciate having to deal with the public in general. We had purchased a Groupon before going to the farm, which saved us over half off, which made the tour much more reasonably priced. I would recommend others to do the same if they are considering going, as it includes free ice cream also. Overall, I would not recommend the tour to others, even though the wildlife presentation was excellent. I would probably just go to the store itself and purchase some of the local items that they sell there.

A few months after moving to Florida, we found a Groupon and ventured to Mixon Fruit Farms just for something to do. We had no idea how much they offered. We were expecting a tour of Apple trees and pumpkins but received a mini wildlife experience. My husband and I were just as entertained and amazed as our [then] three-year-old daughter. We are more than excited to return when out of town family come to visit. Definitely a great family experience.

We love Coquina Beach because the distance between the parking area and the water is very short, which is handy for our family, especially with our son with special needs. There is a snack bar available if needed. The restrooms were destroyed in hurricane Milton last year - they have portable toilets, but the changing restrooms and cubicles they used to have were great - hoping they rebuild those. It is very busy at peak times, but there is a generous amount of parking all the way along the public beach area - but it is advantageous to come early. The beach is very shallow out to the buoys - maybe 12 feet or so at max. And there are lifeguards right there. The sand is great, but not quite as fine and white as Siesta Key, but it is still a beautiful beach.

Great beach, not very busy. Amenities are ok. Plenty of parking! Sand isn’t as clean as other beaches close by.

As someone who is from the UK, believe me when I say that this beach is an absolute sight to behold. Me and my now wife got married here on the beach a couple of weeks ago and it couldn't have been any more picturesque. That sunset is mesmerising. Counting down the days till we can go back there.

Soft white sand beautiful water, plenty of lifeguards and patrols on side by sides. The small tiki bar and very small gift shop is perfect and the parking area is huge.

One of the most beautiful beaches in the Sarasota area. Many parking spots but fills up fast on weekends and tourist season. Very peaceful, many bathrooms.

Coquina beach is perfection! The location was wonderful, the beach was well kept, clean bathrooms and ample parking. There are waves. The sunset viewing opportunity was amazing. Also, near downtown restaurants. Perfect beach!

Beautiful beach - The picnic tables and grill area were a huge plus for us! We cooked hot dogs and hamburgers, picnic table and trash can are right next to the grill. Parking was very close so we didn’t have to carry everything very far. Water temp- It’s the beginning of June. Extremely hot outside but the water felt great. There are a lot of choppy waves that my kids and mom found difficult to stay a float comfortably. Besides that 100% recommend!

I absolutely LOVE Earth’s Finest booth #619! Rob is always smiling & creates such a warm environment! They sell such beautiful crystals and jewelry for the whole family. I go there pretty regularly because they are just awesome people working at that booth. The calming music, warm atmosphere, & beautiful creations they make. I recommend Earths Finest to everyone!

A lot of these reviews are spot on as you could have many views of the market. Yes, the outside areas, in parts, have the feel of a glorified yard sale. That being said, there are many items and areas worth checking out. The inside area has the permanent shops along with a small food court. There are many interesting items. I am sure you’ll find things you like and things you are not interested in. All in all, a well spent 3 hours for us checking things out and buying a few items. Definitely worth a visit in my opinion. I’ll be back.

Maybe because we went on a Wednesday, they didn’t offer much of a produce selection?? That’s what I was looking forward to, so I was a bit disappointed to see only one produce vendor. Maybe the weekends is where it’s at. I don’t know….but we were down for vacation so we didn’t get to come back. Other than that though, parking was free—which was nice and there were a lot of other vendors with an assortment of products to sell.

My husband and I come to the Red Barn almost every weekend. One of our favorite booths to visit is Earth's finest at both 619! Rob and Claudia always have smiles and exude a radiant positivity that makes the Barn feel like home.

Right inside there is a food spot. I got tacos! They were soooo goooodddd! Carnitas. The green sauce was perfect. It’s a cute little flea market. I walked around a bit.

Red Barn Flea Market is a hidden gem! It has an amazing variety of vendors offering everything from fresh produce and unique antiques to handmade crafts and delicious food. The atmosphere is lively and welcoming, and there’s always something new to discover. It’s the perfect spot to spend a weekend morning browsing and finding great deals. Highly recommend for anyone who loves shopping local

The Earth's Finest store has a great selection of gemstones. The people there are very knowledgeable about each stone and the uses for it. They have a great selection of jewelry. They're always willing to custom make a piece for you. They are very kind people in explaining things to you. I love going there!! Store 619.

The tour is pretty cheap, but worth it if you show up at tour times. You'll learn about hushpuppies and why the ceilings are so high. The guide was knowledgeable and was able to answer the other patrons' questions.

This park was small but the grounds were clean, and well kept. My family and I showed up on a Saturday at 3pm and stayed until after 4pm. The visitor center was closed due to another tour happening. My family along with another family were the only ones there. There was no tour happening. We waited until after 4pm for any employee to show up and none did. Only when we were in our car, leaving the park did a park ranger show up. We were disappointed as we've always wanted visit the park and experience the full tour.

Amazing History! Make sure to go outside and see the monument. Car shows twice a year (April & November).

Guided tour was very informative and reasonably priced. Air conditioned visitors center with several displays dealing with the plantation. Was able to hangout in visitors center until guided tour started.

Grounds are beautiful! However the staff disappeared at break time and didn't come back for scheduled tour. Not sure if the hours changed after COVID and they never changed the signs or website. Would have loved to learn more on a tour :(

We enjoyed our visit today to Gamble Plantation. The location was educating and fun. We walked around and explored the property. We did not go in as tours aren't open Sunday. We still had fun. Very pretty location. Thank you.

Beautiful historical place, the only surviving plantation house in South Florida. The tour was great, we learned a lot and It is only $6. The house is beautiful, the yard is so green and well maintained. The museum is at the entrance, very interesting. Nice place to walk around...

It is said that the east coast of Florida sees the sunrise and the west coast of the sunset. It’s really beautiful. Although there are some clouds today. The sand here is very thick, and the shells are broken a lot. The parking fee is ten dollars per hour. It‘s quite expensive.

Tony and I shared our "Last Day" at the Beach at Cortez Beach on Anna Maria Island. The waves were very high today and strong. Much stronger than rest of week! The sand was wet like "Sand Castle making" feel to it! The water was clear but there was a lot of seaweed rolling in! We had a nice 2.5 hrs Going to miss this area but we Def have a new place to venture too! Cortez has lifeguards no drinking no pets no smoking rules it also hasno bathrooms no showers or changing rooms! But it does have free parking! Lots of shells!

Cortez Beach is absolutely beautiful—clean, peaceful, and a great spot to enjoy the ocean. The water and sand were gorgeous, and the overall atmosphere made for a relaxing day. The only downside was the parking, which was a bit expensive. Other than that, it’s a wonderful beach to visit and worth the trip!

Nice beach the piers are great for fishing while the kids are in the water it's not as crowded as Coquina you do have to go further down for showeres or bathrooms but you won't get stuck in traffic as bad park is ok depending on the day but most of the time I go it's not crowded

Beautiful water!! Beach is small. Nice piers, for fishing off, or jumping. Barnacles and other sea life live underneath. Tiny sea snails, pencil fish, and crabs!’ You can catch so many. I had a great experience at this beach. We had to drive down to another to use showers and restrooms though.

My family's favorite beach: a peaceful and tranquil place, with a beautiful alley of pine trees planted along the shore providing shade on hot days. Convenient parking and accessible spots for rinsing your feet before getting into the car

Beautiful waters and not over crowded!!

Smuggler’s Cove in Bradenton is a fantastic place for family fun and a little friendly competition. The pirate theme is done really well, and the course is both creative and challenging enough to keep everyone engaged. Each hole feels unique, and the overall setting is well kept and enjoyable to walk through. A big highlight is the live alligators, getting to feed them adds a special touch you don’t find at most mini golf spots. The staff is always welcoming and makes sure guests have a great experience from start to finish. It’s the kind of spot that works equally well for kids, adults, or even a date night. A Bradenton gem that’s always worth a visit!

Great golfing experience and great course the employee was very nice. The shop was pretty cool aswell

Sweet staff and interesting decor. It was during the day so maybe that is why the water falls and such were not on. Poor alligators looked hot but it was fun to feed them

I like the theme, not the price. By far the most expensive mini golf i ever played. But my wife and i had fun

Wonderful Place That Was Really Cool. The Alligators Were Cool To Look At And The Employee Was Super Nice. Five Stars

Terrible Experience – Waste of Time and Money My family loves putt putt and we were excited to try this course, even driving over an hour to get there. Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. We spent over $100, and it felt like a complete waste. The entire course smelled like feces, which made the experience unpleasant from the start. There was absolutely no shade, so playing under the sun was miserable. They also advertised alligators as part of the attraction, but there weren’t any. Overall, it was a letdown on every level. Save your money and go somewhere else. We won’t be back.

Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf has been a favorite of mine since childhood, and I’m happy to see it’s still thriving! It’s a great spot for family fun, a date night, or just hanging out with friends. The courses are well-maintained and full of character, with plenty of challenges to keep it interesting. Parking can be limited, so plan ahead, and if you’re visiting in summer, bring water and sunscreen because it gets hot out there. Always a fun time!

This ice cream shop has a lot to offer! The layout includes cozy small tables inside and tall chairs outside, providing a nice range of seating options. The staff, consisting of friendly teenagers, is attentive and enhances the overall experience. They offer an impressive selection of delicious flavors and three types of cones, with the waffle cone standing out as a favorite for many. Personally, I love the butter pecan and toasted coconut flavors. Additionally, the shop provides chocolate shakes and even offers breakfast items, along with a variety of souvenirs and snacks. Overall, it's a fantastic spot with something for everyone!

We got here late at night and the staff was quick and helpful. I will tell you that the best flavor is black raspberry! Don't try anything else! This is the best flavor ever! After a long day at the beach, it was perfect for what we needed! I can't wait to come back

We stopped in to Two Scoops for a quick scoop after the beach. They had a wide variety of flavors to offer. I went with the Cookie Monster, which was blue vanilla ice cream with oreo and cookie dough chunks. Delicious & great prices too!

If you like ice cream and want a simple experience then this is the place for you. The staff were extremely friendly and expedient (the wait time was under two minutes with a full line). The ice cream was a hard ice cream and with a multitude of flavors to choose from. The prices were reasonable, for a tourist destination. Parking is somewhat slim. It is a good locale to take a family to. I highly recommend.

They have amazing rye bread, toasted sandwiches, chili dogs, and the most wonderful ice cream! They do stop serving food at 6:30 and only serve milkshakes and ice cream.

We stopped here after a long drive to wait until our rental was ready. I got an iced coffee which was delicious. My husband and boys got ice cream and they loved it. Big scoops, even if you just get 1. The guy at the counter that helped was nice and didn’t rush us at all.

The ice cream here is always fantastic! The employees are always super nice and friendly! This trip we had the banana split which was perfect. They also have great gift ideas and foods you can buy…specialty things that you can’t find anywhere else.

So.... BE ADVISED, take your hard earned money and vacation time where you get much more bang for it... EVERYTHING in Anna Maria Island is in RUINS and the municipality is DRAGGING their feet to redo it... Not fix it(its gone with the wind/HURRICANES) Now then, the spaces for parking are extremely limited and if you step out of their line you get a (drummer roll pls) A TICKET, $50.00 and after a few days it creeps up to $65.00 and then $150.00😳areas shown in tbe photos are areas that could it been turn into parking spaces but they decided not too. There's also nice places like Caladesi(plenty of parking for a nominal small fee all day) and from there you can take the small ferry and jump to Honey moon Island, and thats a better area and no traffic ENFORCERS playing ninja behind a tree watching you🤔🤣

This was the perfect spot to chill out and enjoy a bite to eat. You feel as if you are on private Island . Because of the location and the open structure of the venue. They also had karaoke. It was a great experience.

The pier is no longer there because of the hurricane. Standing at the shore and looking out to where it had been, was a beautiful memorial.

One of the highlights of our trip. Amazing pier walk to the restaurant (we saw a fever of stingrays on our second visit and several up close pelican experiences). Grouper bites were delicious and they have the most amazing Hibiscus Iced Tea. Cashier on 4/18 was so nice and friendly (cashier on return visit [blonde female] was sitting down and acted like I was bothering her with my order). Servers were extremely friendly. There was a local artist playing guitar and singing that just sealed the deal on making an AMAZING atmosphere.

At first, I was skeptical because there is just a fast food order station and no restaurant and limited beer/wine options. However, if you are looking for SIMPLE, the live music on Saturday, the fried shrimp and fries were some of the best I’ve ever had! Seriously, the breading on the shrimp was a little peppery and super yummy. Plus, the view is amazing! And the fisher people fishing for shark - YES SHARK - are fun entertainment 😁

Beautiful place! Wished we could have tried the food! We arrived at 9 to find out they stopped serving food other than drinks and desserts at 9pm but online it said open until 10pm, but didn't specify food stopped at 9pm. Also a bit nerve wracking for that long of a pier to a restaurant with no railings!!! I have kids that cannot swim and I was a bit nervous for there safety with so many people crossing at once.

Had a great lunch at the City Pier Grill and Bait. The tacos for taco Tuesday were good! Pork was a tad dry but the ingredients were fresh. The hush puppies were excellent and the orange butter served with it is phenomenal. Chowder is very tasty and fried clams were tasty and not overly greasy. Friendly employees and a great view to top it off.

Old school Anna Maria Island in all its glory. I miss the old location on Gulf Road, but apparently that “new” landlord was a jerk and forced them to move to Pine Street. Excellent sports travel mug options for beach beverage consumption. Delicious Ice Cream with ample outdoor seating. Enjoy!

Such a fun and delicious spot on Anna Maria Island! The ice cream was rich, creamy, and loaded with flavor we couldn’t stop smiling with every bite. They have so many great options, and the portions are very generous. The atmosphere is just as sweet, with the colorful lights and beach-town vibe making it extra special. Perfect place to end the night with a treat. Definitely five stars!

Amazing ice cream! Nothing better than a mint chocolate chip cone on a hot day! Great customer service, very friendly & love the outdoor vibes- thank you to the team at Dips. Will be back next time we are on the island!

Came here with family and friends and everything was delicious with all different flavors and options! Staff was super friendly and happy to help with any of our questions or dilemmas (which flavor to get hehe). All agreed it is the best ice cream on the island!!! Will definitely be back for more!

Cute little place! Lots of fun ice cream and gelato favors. Tried the peanut butter cookie dough and the salted caramel praline and both were excellent. Huge portions - two scoops definitely is more like three or four.

Cool little spot, ice cream tastes great and the service was very friendly as well. Nice outdoor seating with good people watching! The little store is also a type of sports/fan shop, lots of hats, stickers and other professional sports attire available. They had several EAGLES items in stock which was nice to see!! GO BIRDS! If in the area, I'd definitely stop in and grab a scoop or two!

Had amazing service on a very busy night! Staff were so lovely and accommodating. Ice cream is delicious! Great texture and flavor. Best on the island! Cant miss if you’re visiting or live here

Very interesting about the history of Anna Maria Island. It's a small museum but backed with information. Plus they have scavenger hunt for kids and it's free!!! Donations accepted. And there's a small park with a kayak launch too.

To get a feel for the island and understand some of the architecture and people a good place to start your vacation is at the AMI museum on Pine st. We spent about 45 minutes going thru the museum, jail and cottage. Karen was full of interesting facts and stories. Glad we stopped by. It was a fun afternoon.

This was a cute little free museum. Lots of artifacts and history. There is a tiny gift store, too. The volunteer working there was super friendly and helpful. She gave us tips on where to eat that paid off! The jail is interesting and offers free air conditioning! Oh and there are some movies that were in part filmed on Anna Maria Island. Might be fun to watch them for your trip. See photos for the movie names.

Visited November of 2021. Was passing thru Sarasota en-route to Ana Maria Island. On the 2nd day on the island me and my family visited the old city jailhouse, very much "still" intact. Highly recommend to visit this piece of history if in the area. Just make sure to bring yourself and an empty drive to take plenty of photos : ) And don't forget to walk past behind the jailhouse as you will find a different spot to take photos with your friends, family and loved ones.

It was very informative about the history of the island. There were lots of artifacts inside and it was neat to see the old jail outside. I never knew how tiny of a jail Anna Maria had, and how it was ran was even more interesting. Come and visit to see more for yourself!

Neat little museum that tells you about the history of Anna Maria Island. Free entry (donations accepted). A guide was there for questions. Really awesome collection of everyday artifacts from old island inhabitants. Could be a great learning opportunity for kids about how life used to be back in the day. Had a small souvenir/gift shop. The jail cell outside is a great photo opportunity. There is a small cabin next door too that is set up how it would have been in the past. Great stop for families or anyone interested in times past. Will put things into perspective on how far we've come when you're surrounded everywhere else by the commercial touristy aspects of the island.

Cool free museum to learn a little history about the area! Very friendly tour guide.

A pleasant place to enjoy the arts. Small but with ample seating. Some wine and beer options. Difficult to get to since you have to cross Hwy 64.

Had a wonderful time at The Rocky Horror Picture Show. They offered specialty themed cocktails, along with beer, wine and mixed drinks at the bar. They also offered “Prop Bags” for $5, making it a more engaging experience. The cast were all terrific. The performance was fantastic. I had a great time. The venue was clean. This was my first time in the little Theater. The ladies room was exceptionally clean. I look forward to my next experience there.

Awesome place. Went to see the Steve Blass event and it was terrific. What great baseball stories and what a great person he is. Everyone at this facility was awesome. Signed up for the news letter already. First time going there, but we will be back for sure.

The Manatee Performing Arts Center is a hidden gem. We just recently heard about this venue. Crimes of the Heart was fantastic! The very talented actors, who had an incredible amount of lines to learn, were so engaging. The theater we were in was intimate and every seat made you feel like you were in the action the entire time. At intermission you can purchase alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages as well as snacks. The restrooms were very clean. Actually, the entire venue was spotless. Every person we had contact with was helpful and polite. I loved how they had local student art on display in the lobby. We will be returning this week to watch the musical Oklahoma! Check this venue out!

The performance was great, saw swan lake. Two complaints about venue, it was so hot inside I was sweating through my makeup. Also during intermission the line was so long and they had one person making drinks and one on the register. It took way over the intermission time to get a drink so missed the first 10min once got done.

I just saw Evita!! Standing Ovation! The talent is good!! Actors, singers, dancing, music, stage, sound, lights!!! No photos are allowed!! Can not wait to aee the next show.

Performance was outstanding. Thank you so much. Mtge director is always amazing. Just loved this evening.. so loved it. The dancing,the artists! Everything. Thank you!!!!!!!!

Neat little mini golf establishment. Course is compact and pretty easy. We played through in 30 Mins. The pond in the center of the course is full of koi and another with turtles. It's a fun stop if your in the area .

Very fun, small, but we had a great time! We had kids from age 7-17 and they all enjoyed themselves. Misters were amazing! Cool coi fish pond and turtles swimming.

A cool little mini golf place! It’s mostly shaded and has misters to help keep you cool. It’s a unique place that we had lots of fun playing.

My family had a wonderful time golfing on this fabulous course. The owner was sweet enough to let us take a picture of him with my grandson. He works hard to maintain the lovely water features, fish and tropical plants on his he 18 hole golf course. Truly a labor of love!! Do not miss this hidden gem. We are looking forward to golfing on our next family adventure!

Cute little activity to do! Very hot/humid so be prepared but it is all shaded.

Just a nice little spot nestled in the heart of a busy shopping districts. Great break for the kids and adults with some mindless entertainment in a picturesque setting. Course is small but challenging even for adults and well maintained. Give it a try for a relaxing break.

I enjoyed this Miniature Golf course built between two buildings. It is compact, but still challenging. While walking the course between the holes are views of live fish and turtles. The holes are actually complicated because they have tiny bumps and curves. Recommend for the family of all ages. The staff were friendly and helpful. At the end of the 18 holes you have a chance to win a free game.

Overall, a good experience. The golf cart crapped out on us half way through our last day. They were quick to replace (albeit, it wasn’t a lux like we’d rented, but it’s okay) I called about a week later for an itemized receipt. The girl on the phone seemed really hesitant to want spend the time to find it and send… but she begrudgingly grabbed my email and I never heard back. Would be nice if customer service extended beyond the time you paid the bill.

It was very easy, rented a bike just by calling, they delivered it at the resort I was staying in. There was no need to be present during the delivery. It was very convenient, good rates and pleasant people to speak too. Will use again.

Rented some nice beach chairs and the best (very sturdy!) umbrella at the last minute on a busy Saturday on Labor Day weekend. Seriously the best umbrella ever. Great experience at the shop, just kind and helpful people.

Rented a moke from beach bums this past week and they were nothing short of awesome! Everyone who works here are super friendly, we left it nightly as we were staying at a hotel and every morning whoever was working made sure to ask if everything was good and made sure to tell us to have a good day! We come multiple times a year and they will definitely be our go to from now on for rentals!

Rented 5 bicycles from Beach Bums. Spoke with Dirk on the phone before arriving to make our arrangements to have bikes delivered and picked up, which was a breeze. The bicycles were waiting for us in the driveway when we arrived. Their website claims that "all returned bicycles are serviced by their repair team", and I have absolutely no problem believing that. Bikes were all in tip top condition and came with locks, lights, a basket, and even a squeaker parrot on the handlebars to warn others of your approach as you rode. Bicycles are a MUST when staying on AMI. We were able to get everywhere we needed to go with our bikes or the free trolley. Dirk and co were so pleasant to work with and the bikes were in perfect condition. This company also offered the best prices I could find on the island. Great experience all around!

Easiest golf cart rental experience. We were literally in and out in less than 5 minutes with our reservation. Everything was explained to us, and had top notch customer service. Will be our place of choice for the future. Think Tony was his name, at least I hope it was. I'm terrible with names but He was awesome. (If he sees this review, make sure I got the name right so I can fix this review) Took our picture and remembered us each time we drove by the shop lol. Always asked us if we were good when we saw him.

Loved renting the surrie bike from Beach Bums! We walked in and were served right away - we rented the bike for an hour and they suggested a route to go. It was a lot of fun and the price was great for the hour rental! Would do it again for sure

Great little shop owned by a husband and wife great attentiveness and recommendations for a suburb wine. They’re Italian sandwich along with a chilled Sauvignon Blanc made for a delightful treat.

What a fantastic little shop! While staying on the Island I was looking for some local raw honey and found it here! Also grabbed some delicious flavored olive oil (after trying a few tasters of course) and some organic blackberries spread! So many other things to choose from as well. Don’t sleep on this place!

For us it was like visiting a little shop in Italy, absolutely wonderful. The cheese selection was just amazing, we ended up getting the Spanish goat cheese, Italian pastas and a mini ciabatta. We’d previously purchased the pomegranate balsamic which was the best I’ve ever had. Thanks for a great experience, we’ll be back!

Great little store and nice owners. We always visit this store on our trips to AMI, great selction of olive oil, cheeses, breads and other hard to find items. And the fresh bread sticks are amazing!

This shop is a hidden gem in Anna Maria. It has so many unique and tasty goods. We purchased a bottle of the basil olive oil, which is absolutely a game changer to bolster the flavor of dishes. I highly recommend and will be back!

Excellent selection and great Olives. Found perfect blue cheese for my martini, aged Gouda and Whiskey cured meat. Just need better martini glasses as only had margaritas glass. 🤣 love that they offer tasters and staff is always great.

The guy at the checkout start yelling at my kids because they eat more then one peace of bread sample. He starts yelling at my 5 years old because of one extra sample of bread. I wouldn’t recommend to go there. I felt a lot of negativity in that place

Great vintage classy upscale clothing. Staff was very knowledgeable and helpful every step of the way. Highly recommended!

I had the best experience with my online order at this boutique. I live clear across the country and I was so upset with myself for not purchasing this mesh bodysuit when I had the chance here locally. The store didn’t have it online either and when I went back in person they were completely sold out. I found the bodysuit at Pink & Navy, ordered it on Monday evening and just got it! I couldn’t be more happy and will be wearing it to our holiday party!

Stopped in after lunch next door to shop around and saw lots of good stuff. Definitely leans more towards feminine accessories/apparel, but still worth stopping in to look at their variety of souvenirs even if that’s not your style. The staff was also very friendly which is always a plus. Do note they seem to be not accepting cash (at least at the moment), so make sure you come prepared when you stop by!

Today I bought a couple of truly great knit tube top from Wild Honey. One black, one white. Identical except for color. I never noticed that the white top was $24.00 and the black top was $18.00. I tried on the black and loved it so I also took the white one. These are nice fitting. Once I realized by looking at my receipt that the same top was $6.00 more than the other, I returned to the store. Approximately 5 mins later. The sales person was very nice but could not explain why the difference in the same exact top. I asked for a refund on the white one but their policy is no refunds, only store credit. I'm very dissatisfied and hope that this lovely store will correct this issue. P Clarke Blue bamboo jewelry Longboat key, fl

I LOVE Pink & Navy Boutique! The amazing Amy Fleece and her staff are so professional and talented... it made my shopping a breeze! I have been looking for the PERFECT boutique since we moved from Toronto... and it is worth the drive to Anna Maria Island. The clothes are stunning and the service is impeccable! From boho to classic... at very reasonable prices. Thank you Amy! LOVE this store!

LOVED this shop! I have nothing but good things to say about the help I received while shopping there. I was in a hurry and had sweaty clothes on from just finishing a run. Unlike another store in the area, I was treated kindly and respectfully, and not with disgust because I wasn’t “done up”for the day. I was looking for a specific item and the sales lady went out of her way to help me find several options. She also helped me zip up an outfit that I wanted to try on (and ended up being the one I wore that night) . I asked her to hold something else for me as I planned to come back later when I had more time. Not only did they hold it, but they continued to hold it the next morning since I ran out of time the day before to come grab it. They also offer a military discount and told me both times “thank you for your service”. These are the companies I will continue to support with my time and money. Thank you for going above and beyond. Can’t wait to come visit next year!

I used to reaaally love coming to this store years ago but over time it’s only gotten more expensive and gearing more towards clothes… they used to have amazing bathing suits, and a huge selection at that. Now it’s a few suits here & there. Most likely sizes/patterns no one wanted. I was irked years ago when I found the most beautiful bathing suit. Tried it on, fit like a glove. Saw the price. Yikes. Looked it up online to see if I could find it cheaper and the ACTUAL small business owner’s website sold it online cheaper by $25 ! The owner matched my price after I pointed it out but, you feel me? It’s that same energy now, hiking the price up. Spent $100 on one top and a pair of shorts still -__-

YUMMMMM!!! Hands down to the best donut shop ever! Drove 90 min to come check out the hype..well worth it!! The maple bacon ...hot off the press=AMAZING!! Great prices too!!

Such a special spot! 💕 As locals to the area, we get the chance to frequent here often. My boyfriend always convinces me to drive to the tip of the island to see the sunrise because he throws in that we will be stopping here for donuts and coffee. Immediate YES. Their house blend iced coffee is to die for. You can’t go wrong with their donuts, just create whatever you like. Service is good and quick, place is clean, make it a must stop.

Easily the best donuts we’ve ever had! Super fresh and delicious and a great spot. And they were so affordable that I initially thought we had been mistakenly undercharged!

Love the customization options. All the employees are very friendly, I loved the soft warm donuts. Only thing I wish was they had blueberry, chocolate and different flavors of donuts, but the toppings are delicious

This is a small shop and the parking area is also quite small; however, the line and ordering process moves quickly and in the end you get your chosen, fresh, warm donuts! Absolutely delicious!!!

They had lots of flavors to choose from or you could create your own. I had the key lime and it was really good. They are cake donuts.

When you enter, you will fill out a paper form picking out what kind of donuts you want. They have a big selection, with many options. You can watch as they make your donuts. You can also order online and pick it up in store. The donuts are very fresh and delicious!

What a beautiful beach! We drove all the way to Bean Point Beach and stopped in here on the way back home, what a nice surprise! They have a nice little playground for the kids and have a few volleyball courts set up, which are close to the showers and enclosed changing stations. The sand is perfect and doesn't contain all the shells like Lido Beach does. We were very impressed!

A great place for a fun beach day. There's tons of beach space, even some under trees for maximum shade. That area also has picnic tables and grills. The parking fills up pretty fast so you should arrive no later than 10 for a good spot. The water was clean and clear and the sand was nice and white with some spots filled with shells.

Wonderful beach, water incredibly clear and warm, sugar white sand, showers and changing rooms for visitors. There are no public restrooms but instead they set 3 or 4 porta potties near the parking lot. Gross… The restaurant at the Beach is handy if you don’t want to leave the area for lunch, but the food wasn’t good. Our Philly steaks came burned and the fries soggy. The playground is adorable and has lots of swings for the little ones. They also have volleyball nets. The natural beauty of the area is worth the visit.

WORTH THE DRIVE! Our favorite Florida beach! Better than anywhere along St. Pete or Clearwater. We swam for two hours and had lunch at the cafe. We had beef & chicken tacos, burgers, and the fish & chips and loved it all.

A little crowded but super clean in comparison. Soft sands and good energy. We spent a few hours there and had a lot of fun!

One of the best beaches in the region, with very close restrooms, changing rooms, wide parking and restaurant. The sand and the water are perfect.

Great little beer hut! Not siesta key that I am use too, but friendly people and clean beach. Bathrooms, drinks and food is all assessible.

I so want to leave a 5, but last night was a no. It was valentines and there was no mention of it. However, hesitantly I ordered the Nashville Hot Chicken. I even asked our waitress how it was was and our waitress said good. This is NOT Nashville hot chicken this is a hot BBQ . Our waitress said it was sweet baby rays. It was so yuck! I’ve had a lot of NHC and this was terrible. This is false advertising. Everything else we have ever had here was yum so this was disappointing to say the least. Especially on Valentines. Regretful. It islets not cheap, I think $27, total waste of money!

My server was Zack the bartender get energy and super friend I got the hulk smash burger and a ghostface Nilla beer absolutely delicious I will be a repeat customer. Great food and beer amazing service.

Acknowledged us as soon as we entered. Excellent service from Jenna throughout out lunch. They have vegetarian choices including Impossible animalmeatsubstitute. The beef is local free-range and everyone loved it. Had a local draught lager, crisp and refreshing & tasty 5.5%. Great atmosphere with large bar and all the regulars have their own tankard hanging on the wall. Lots of seating, DOG friendly, live music areas indoors and outside. Plus heaps of parking. Def going back.

Great experience and best cauliflower crust pizza I’ve had around town. Their beer and some food items could use a little more but we will be back for sure!

Fantastic array of beer on offer. Really nice food too and great service. Also a talented young singer as well.

Just moved next-door to this lovely little gem. We stopped in last night for the eight dollar hamburger special and let me tell you that was the best burger I have had anywhere on this earth in my 54 years of life. The beef is so clean tasting and tender, and purchased from a local farmer. I will happily pay full price any day for that burger. Ryan, our bartender was welcoming, knowledgeable about everything and friendly. This will definitely be our new regular spot. Can’t wait to try something different with each visit. Oh and they are well behaved dog friendly in the outside patio!

Update. The service here was excellent. The food and beer came out quick and the wait staff was very attentive. We haven't had service like that in a long time. We had their award winning burgers and they were good, just not exceptional. They do have a nice selection of types of burgers. The place looks better now under new management with nice updates, while keeping the original layout and adding a beer garden. The beer is good with a decent variety. 3 Keys stays on our list of favorite places to go.

I was there to play pickleball as a guest. Good games but crowded due to the holiday. The lighting is very difficult on some courts which hampered my game because I couldn't see. Better to be shaded versus good vision?

Plenty f parking space lots of recreational areas to do may sport wether you like soccer , football,tennis,gym,skating ,running, jogging I mean the options are endless it’s up to your preference.

Wonderful large dog park really nice dogs and humans, and with lots of trees, but very dirty sanding ground. Would definitely come back here again they have plentiful water and pools for your dogs to pull off in.

Great park with many playground throughout. The newest playground is by the dog park and pavilions. However the new gear spin broke when my child used it. Great playground for older kids and brave little ones. Just need to fix the gear spin.

Awesome park with a beautiful pool area and , woodland trails , sports fields , etc. Lot's of wildlife and squirrels that will chase you down , someone must feed them because they have no fear ! Ducks and water fowl everywhere as well. Fantastic park ample parking , great experience!

Great facility, easy parking, and yes... bathrooms!

This place has changed so much, this is a good thing, they updated alot of the park and its good they are keeping on top of this..

This is a great beach access for those with limited mobility. You can park in front of the bathrooms, there are several shelters within a few feet apart, the distance to the water is very short. We went in June 2025, the water seemed deep, There was no shallow area like in other beaches. The water quickly came close to chest level. However, the calm bay waters were safe enough for a non-swimmer to enjoy a fun day under the sun. The water was so clear that we enjoyed the little fish swimming up to our feet. I saw several other people snorkeling. We got there on a Thursday around 12:30 pm and was able to find a parking spot. My family and I would love to go back there soon.

Really pretty, and fairly quiet beach. Nice covered picnic areas that can be reserved, and the restrooms are close by. Parking is free, but get there early, as parking spots go quick.

Extremely beautiful park and beach! I highly recommend trying to get there as early as possible to get good parking and a free pavilion where we had shade, tables and a place to BBQ. The public bathrooms were good. Outdoor showers available by the bathrooms. The park is walking distance from the Anna Maria City Pier and we were able to go fishing there & enjoy the live music. The clear water of the beach is just priceless! Restaurants, stores and much more are just walking distance from the park. Parking is free!

Normally I'd give this wonderful beach ***5 stars, but... The showers are not working, neither are the bathrooms. Why on earth are the showers not operational 🤷🏽‍♀️ ***UPDATE! everything was operational today! Thank you park employees! We had another great day on the beach 🏖️ and were able to rinse off afterwards

It's such a fun little beach! We hit this beach up first when traveling to Anna Marie Island due to the rest of the beaches being packed with no parking. We had fun though exploring around and enjoying the sun. We found a star fish, two crabs, and some dead venus claim shells. All catch and release, of course, but a fun interactive area.

Amazing family spot you can swim find shells have a picnic under cover playground for kids showers bathrooms you’ll love it

Beautiful park for family gatherings and picnics! Maybe the only park in Anna Maria island with big parking lot and not that crowded! They have clean restrooms, showers. Picnic area is pretty good can fit up to 15 people under roof. Also, there’s a lots of trees by the water and all area is shaded. Would recommend coming here!

IMG Academy would be the best high school for athletes in the U.S. According to my son who has visited there twice on the football and track & field camp, the dorm is so clean, the gym's equipment is much better than 24 hour fitness, fields/arena for all sports are set. It is a really incredible high school. That is why the tuition is a super high cost.

IMG adult tennis program exceeded my expectations. The three instructors - Roger, Tumeka and Jonathan were amazing people with patience, extreme technical knowledge that allowed them to break down my faults quickly and help correct. This program was strenuous as well which was exactly what I wanted but feared as an adult program it wouldn’t be. I learned several things each and every session that I will bring with me into my tennis world. I loved every single session and will be back!!!

IMG Academy hosted the Under the Lights national flag football championship this weekend. The good-fields were in good shape and schedules seemed to roll right along. Unfortunately, that was about all the good. Parking and traffic were poorly managed. Many, including most of our party, sat an hour waiting to get in. Those delays resulted in players being dumped in the side of the road and weaving through traffic to try and reach scheduled games. Many near misses were observed while we sat and sat. Direction to parking was minimal and what staff was posted tended to be unhelpful and extremely rude, as if our being there was a personal affront. To further compound the misery, IMG chose to close the exit gates on Sunday, so each car had to beseech permission to depart from guards that were surly at best, crude and insulting at worst. For thousands of fans and participants, two small trailers (one of which flooded) and a couple of port-a-John’s were provided as facilities and those were positioned as far as humanly possible from the fans and fields. This despite a map provided that showed facilities more widely available. Top that with sparse options for food/drink also positioned far from the action, it made for a miserable all-day event on a blazing Florida day. Despite all the good things I’ve heard or read about IMG, it wouldn’t have been possible to feel less welcome to an ill-prepared event.

Our son is in his first year of school. The coaches, facilities, staff, rooms, roommate match, food and benefits all exceed expectation. It is truly unfortunate that the American education system cannot reproduce this idea (even by making sports longer, class in the afternoon) because many student athletes need this type of schedule and environment to be their very best. My son is incredibly happy. We have only had one issue and I would just encourage all parents to ask the coach a lot of questions about your child’s sport prior to beginning. I’m thankful we joined IMG this year.

Sports camps are 2nd to none...they are VERY, VERY expensive, but you truly get what you pay for. Our son ahs attended summer and holiday camps here and was very impressed. No detail goes unnoticed. If you have children and are willing to pay top $$$ for them to attend a sports camp, look no further. Our son got invited a couple of times to their annual soccer invitational and the event itself, from planning to execution was flawless. They also have overnight/boarding camps available if you don't want to commute back/forth from a hotel.

After paying about $1k/day, our son arrived and forgot a towel and hand soap, to then be told they do not supply either. If we had checked into the Best Western for $100/day we could have called to the front desk for a toothbrush, toothpaste, or more towels. These people left our son without the ability to shower or wash his hands while alone in a different state. This place is an embarrassing waste of money. This is not the kind of place you can feel comfortable sending your children, especially at the price they are charging. Imagine your child being stranded at this place with no help in a different state. Disgusting.

Paid almost $300 a night plus got hit with a $25 destination fee for everyday. Had to go here for a football tournament. The convenience of being on the property was very nice, but that was the only good thing..I Went to set the alarm clock, and I will have to wash my hands four times because it was so sticky and nasty. Not sure if the chemicals are using is breaking down the plastic. It’s overall the room looked dirty paper in the corner of the bathroom on the floor. The Toilet would not flush. Ordered a burger medium well from cafe and it was overcooked and charred.

Love love the peace I found here! The restrooms were absolutely CLEAN! I was on campsite #19 and the hostess for the area were so KIND and ensured I was good after that surprise rain storm we had. Love walking along the lake and hearing the rain come down as I laid in my tent!

Extending only about three miles along the south shore of Lake Manatee, this state park is definitely considered to be smaller yet it has plenty to offer! Typically we always see someone fishing from their boat or the park's fishing docs. There is a swimming beach, but beware of gators in the area and always swim at your own risk! In addition, this park has a large picnic area and pavilion as well as a volleyball net in the sand. Full-facility camping is also available, which we haven't tried as we are only day trip visitors. Overall, this state park is well kept and it's a different experience every time we go.

March 2025. First time camping here (3 nights) - everyone who works here was so friendly! Inside the ranger station, where you check in, is the book, puzzle, etc. exchange - plus friendly people! Our bug zapper (allowed at this park) was very "zappy" at night! Great experience - hiking, biking, canoeing.

Great location. A Walmart is 20 minutes away, and there's a 7-Eleven at 8 minutes. Visitors are very respectful of quiet times, even the ones with dogs or many children. Park rangers and camp hosts were kind. I missed a bit of tree canopy for the campsite (since I forgot my canopy tent), but I get it; the place seems to be fit more for RVs. Nonetheless, if you have the canopy, it's going to be fine.

Loved the views and hike trails. Looking forward to camping as well.

I would give this park personally a 3.5 star. The hiking trails were poorly marked and hard to follow. The park is really nice and quiet and has nice picnic and playground areas with places to fish and swim. Overall good park, just not a place to hike. $5 per car entry fee.

This was a nice and peaceful park (aside from the nearby speed racing. I’m unsure if there’s a track or not, but it sure sounded that way.) We camped here for a few days while it was cold. It was super easy to book, check in, and check out. Each site had a fire pit and picnic table. The rules were simple and self explanatory. The staff was very friendly. It was cost effective. The facilities could use a bit updating.