Home to some of the prettiest towns in Florida, the Bradenton Area is where quaint fishing villages, endless beaches and nature await.

The unspoiled coast is renowned for birdwatching and dolphin spotting, and the crystal-clear Gulf beckons water sports enthusiasts or those simply wishing for a leisurely dip into its calm waters. Nature is king in Bradenton, Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key—the southwestern area is also home to about 12,000 hectares of conserved public land from coastal habitats, estuaries and rivers to inland areas and artificial reefs.

The Bradenton area offers 45 parks and numerous golf courses, and it may be one of the “greenest” places in the Sunshine State.

Five of the area’s beaches are certified as Blue Wave, a sustainability award given by the Clean Beaches Coalition, based on water quality, cleanliness, conservation efforts, management of erosion and other factors.

Anna Maria Island’s Platinum LEED-certified and historic Green Village is powered wholly by renewable energy, while Bunker Hill is a green-certified winery using 100-per-cent-recycled bottles and employing cisterns to water its vines, thus preserving the precious Florida aquifer. 

Take time to feed the calves and try fresh milk at the environmentally sustainable Dakin Farms, one of three remaining dairy farms in the county. It’s also the winter home of the original Lipizzan Stallions of Austria, which offer weekend performances and training sessions.

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Uncover more and plan your adventure at BradentonGulfIslands.com.