ABOUT BRADENTON

Located just south of the Tampa Bay area in Manatee County, Bradenton is a fabulous place to explore our art and historical attractions, have fun in the sun enjoying the beach and all types of water and boat adventures, plus we are a golfer’s paradise! Simply put, whether you're a resident or visitor, young or old, you're sure to find Bradenton is the place to be.

Bradenton also is the spring training home of Major McKechnie Field, spring training home of Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates McKechnie Field, spring training home of Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates. In March, the Pirates play their spring training games at beautiful McKechnie Field, regarded by many as one of the best spring training stadiums in Florida's Grapefruit League. In an era where baseball teams and cities part ways quite frequently, the Pirates and the City of Bradenton have enjoyed a relationship stretching back to 1969.

DISCOVER BRADENTON'S AND SARASOTA'S ATTRACTIONS

South Florida Museum (1 mile)

Learn about the history of Southwest Florida by viewing up close the creatures that once roamed the area and checking out tools used by ancient man.
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Bishop Planetarium (1 mile)

Come see and experience our state-of-the-science, all digital full dome planetarium/theater featuring astronomy presentations, sound and light shows and wide-screen large format programming. The planetarium is a remarkable astronomy education resource, allowing visitors to explore their universe through traditional live star talks and immersive virtual journeys to the far reaches of the cosmos.
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Parker Aquarium (1 mile)

The Parker Manatee Aquarium, designed to house three adult manatees, holds nearly 60,000 gallons of water, including a medication pool. The Aquarium has housed fourteen manatees as part of its rehab program. Parker Manatee Aquarium is the permanent home to Manatee County's most famous resident and official mascot, ‘Snooty’, the manatee.
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Manatee Village Historic Park (1 mile)

The Parker Manatee Aquarium, designed to house three adult manatees, holds nearly 60,000 gallons of water, including a medication pool. The Aquarium has housed fourteen manatees as part of its rehab program. Parker Manatee Aquarium is the permanent home to Manatee County's most famous resident and official mascot, ‘Snooty’, the manatee.
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Manatee Players Riverfront Theater (1 mile)

Award-winning community theater company that presents six mainstage productions, including live musicals, theatrical plays, and children's programs, during their season.
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Rossi Waterfront Park (1 mile)

Rossi Waterfront Park is ideal for a relaxing stroll along the Manatee River. The park stretches along the Manatee River and the City has recently improved it with lights, brick pavers and other new amenities, and additional plans include stretching the improvements further east!
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Ringling Museum of Arts (10 miles)

The Art Museum is internationally recognized for its collection of Baroque paintings. The Museum's Courtyard is inhabited by statues of Greek and Roman gods and goddesses, which enhance the architecture and form a charming twentieth-century American version of a European formal garden. Over 400 objects of art are exhibited in galleries around this courtyard including paintings, drawings, prints, decorative arts, and photography.
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Circus Sarasota (10 miles)

Their mission is to provide a circus that represents the circus arts at the highest level and that is linked to the community through performance, education and integrated arts programming.
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Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (13 miles)

A must-see for serious plant lovers and a should-see for those looking for good photo ops, this peaceful retreat on the bay, just south of downtown, is said to be the only botanical garden in the world specializing in the preservation, study, and research of epiphytes -- that is, "air plants" such as orchids. It's home to more than 20,000 exotic plants, including more than 6,000 orchids.
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Mote Marine Laboratory (17 miles)

Mostly local marine-life is showcased in Mote Marine Aquarium. Over 25 tanks feature such animals as sharks, sea turtles, aquatic plants and invertebrates. One of the highlights is the manatee exhibit with two manatees born in captivity. Visitors can get close up and hands on with stingrays, horseshoe crabs, and sea stars.
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