Pirates Cove 5410 Fourteenth Street West, Bradenton, FL 34207, 941-755-4608, An exciting five acre entertainment facility which features fast paced go-kart racing action, wet-n-wild action on the bumper boats, adrenaline pumping laser tag, challenging miniature golf, skill testing softball and baseball batting cages, and an arcade full of the latest redemption and video games. 

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... 

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... 

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... 

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... 

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... 

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. more...

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. 

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.

Seafood Shack Showboat Dinner Cruise 4110 127th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34215, Located in Cortez, 941-794-5048, This 110 foot long, Mississippi style sternwheeler boat offers daily narrated sightseeing cruises including sunset cruises, dinner cruises, starlight cruises, and Sunday brunch cruises. 

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.