ATTRACTIONS

Historic Sites & Monuments

• Cortez Historic Fishing Village
  Cortez Road & Intracoastal Bridge • Bradenton, FL 34210
  Located in Cortez
  941-794-1249
  The only remaining fishing village in Florida, this historic working waterfront fishing village was built over 110 years ago and invites visitors to stroll the historic village and fish houses.

• Desoto National Memorial
  Located at Seventy-Fifth Street Northwest
  941-792-0458
  This historic memorial commemorates the expedition of Spanish conquistador Hernando De Soto's 1539 to 1543 Spanish expedition which traveled through the Southeast United States. Exhibits and trails explain the events and the impacts associated with the trek and upon Native Americans and future explorations. more...

• Gamble Plantation State Historic Site
  3708 Patten Avenue • Bradenton, FL 34222
  Located in Ellenton
  941-723-4536
  The only Antebellum plantation house surviving in South Florida, this mansion is located on an 1800s sugar plantation that covers 3,500 acres. The mansion stands as a testament of the way of life in that period and is furnished with a wide array of period items to give visitors the feel of frontier living. Tours are available. more...  map

• Manatee Village Historical Park
  604 Fifteenth Street East • Bradenton, FL 34208
  941-749-7165
  A National Historic site, this park contains a collection of historic buildings ranging in ages from 1860 to 1914 including an 1887 church, a 1903 General Store, and a 1912 farmhouse. All of the buildings are filled with period furnishings and a 1914 steam engine is also on display. Visitors can also enjoy a children's hands-on room, museum exhibits, and picnic areas while visiting here. more...  map

Museums & Galleries

• ArtCenter Manatee
  209 Ninth Street West • Bradenton, FL 34205
  941-746-2862
  Promoting the visual arts and encouraging professional and developing artists, this art league features juried and non juried art exhibitions and offers a wide range of day and evening classes for all ages. more...  map

• Family Heritage House Museum
  5840 Twenty-Sixth Street West • Bradenton, FL 34207
  Located at Manatee Community College Campus
  941-752-5319
  "A gallery and resource center for the study of African American achievements," this museum is also a facility on the Natural Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program and research materials on slavery in the United States is available. more...

• Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum
  Eighty-Third Street East • Bradenton, FL 34219
  Located in Parrish
  941-776-0906, 877-869-0800
  This museum is filled with historic artifacts, memorabilia, and more chronicling the history of the railroad plus offers scenic train rides through Manatee County aboard vintage railroad coaches from the 30's, 40's, and 50's. more...

• South Florida Museum
  201 Tenth Street West • Bradenton, FL 34205
  941-746-4131
  A comprehensive museum that is dedicated to the cultural and natural history and heritage of Florida. Features of the museum include and life-size dioramas of Seminole and Timucuan Indians, a medical wing, maritime exhibits, a hand's on Discovery Place, a 19 foot high mastodon skeleton, and Snooty, the oldest living manatee born in captivity, who entertains visitors from his 60,000 gallon pool.  more...  map

Tours & Cruises

• Around the Bend Nature Tours
  1815 Palma Sola Boulevard • Bradenton, FL 34209
  941-794-8773
  Discover the rich, natural, and cultural heritage of Florida with this tour company that provides guided outdoor tours such as kayak, canoe, and field trips for people of all ages. more...  map

• Captain Kim's Boat Rides & Charters
  12306 Forty-Sixth Avenue West • Bradenton, FL 34215
  Located in Cortez
  941-920-3307
  A wide variety of tours and charters are available by this company including historical sightseeing and eco tours, bird watching tours, fishing charters, shelling trips, charters for reunions and weddings, and sunset tours.

• Captain Mark's Boating Services
  P.O. Box 14081 • Bradenton, FL 34280
  941-518-9649
  Experience custom trips, fishing trips, nature and diving excursions, sunset cruises, sightseeing trips, parties, and more aboard the "Pride and Joy," a 40 foot excursion vessel, with this full service boating service captain.

• Great Escape Charters
  10215 Manatee Avenue West • Bradenton, FL 34215
  941-779-9443
  Climb aboard a state-of-the-art, 32 foot Wellcraft Coastal cruise boat and enjoy Gulf of Mexico sunset cruises, dolphin cruises, or moonlight party cruises with this charter company. Snacks and beverages are provided. more...  map

• Longboat Pass Parasail
  4330 127th Street West • Bradenton, FL 34209
  941-792-1900
  Experience exciting Gulf of Mexico soaring or dipping parasailing with this company that is the oldest parasailing company in Florida. Take off from the back deck of a boat, available daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

• Manatee Airboat Tours
  12310 Manatee Avenue West • Bradenton, FL 34205
  941-795-5353
  Explore the natural side of Florida and see beautiful birds, wildlife, and other creatures during this airport tour that runs daily on the hour from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from the Perico Harbor Marine near Leverocks restaurant and Galati Marine on Manatee Avenue.

Vineyards, Wineries & Breweries

• Rosa Fiorelli Winery
  4020 County Road 675 • Bradenton, FL 34202
  941-322-0976
  Winner of six awards in the commercial international wine competition, this ten acre vineyard and winery allows you to pick fresh, mature green or red grapes during the summer months and bronze or black muscadine grapes in early August to September. They also host wine tastings and sell the delicious wines they create. more...  map