There is no best time to visit the Bradenton, the barrier islands Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, but the month of February allows you to take full advantage of the romantic aura that surrounds the region. Like pearls strung out along the Gulf Coast, 15-miles in length, it is possible to pick your passion and create your own experience.
The area is located on the West Coast of Florida midway between Sarasota and Tampa, a brief ride from the Sarasota Airport. The destination offers a selection of pristine beaches, cultural and artistic offerings, an extraordinary range of culinary venues and accommodations created to fulfill your personal desires. www.bradentongulfislands.com.
For thousands of years Native American tribes, most notably the Calusa, Jeaga, Tequesta and Apalachee, inhabited Florida. Hernando De Soto arrived in 1539 and after contact with the Spanish conquistadors their numbers were rapidly depleted by disease, battle and enslavement and removal. Even under these circumstances the Apalachee put up such a fierce fight that the Spanish were not eager to settle there for more than a century.
In 1842 brothers Dr. Joseph and Hector Braden left plantations they owned in North Florida and moved to the Manatee River area to start anew. Hector drowned in 1846 but Joseph persevered, developed a sugar plantation and erected the Braden Sugarmill and a log home/stockade known as Braden’s Castle. The 2-story structure had 20-inch thick walls and each outer wall was 100-feet long. The castle had 4-rooms, all 20-ft. square, on each of the floors. The building’s remains stand at First Baptist Church of Bradenton’s playground. #BradentonArea
In the 1870s an official name was required for the Manatee River area to qualify for a post office and become a town. The residents voted for Bradentown in honor of Hector Braden. In the 1900s the “I” and the “w” were dropped and the town was officially named Bradenton.
One of the outstanding ways to immerse yourself in the area is through the culinary options that are both specific to the area and incorporate cutting edge techniques and sustainability. Begin with a tour of Gamble Creek Farms and Farmer’s Market. This 26-acre working farm is on organic-certified land and merges scientific techniques to produce locally grown and ethically raised meats and seafood. Gamble Creek supplies area restaurants daily and supports charitable entities in the region. Gamblecreekfarms.com
Your gill to grill culinary tour should continue with a guided boat tour with
Oysters Rock Hospitality. The goal of the tour is to familiarize visitors with oyster restoration programs designed to bring back the oyster population to improve water quality. One oyster can clean up to 50 gallons of seawater daily. In the past 200-years nearly 90% of all oyster reefs have disappeared.
Anna Maria Island is 7-miles long and is connected to mainland Bradenton by two drawbridges and to Longboat Key by road. The earliest nonnatives, Spanish explorers, appeared in the 1530s. One story of the naming of the island tells us that the explorers called it Ana-Maria Cay in tribute to the Virgin Mary and Anne her mother.
A leisurely amble down colorful Pine Avenue, the greenest street in America, will give you a real feel for the island and allow you to engage in some serious retail therapy. Pine Avenue is a certified Green Village with native landscaping, community gardens and a unique selection of shops, boutiques and restaurants.
Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum consists of three structures, the museum, old city jail and Belle Haven cottage. The museum building dates from 1920 and outlines the island’s history from its prehistoric past onward. The 1927 old city jail was the only jail ever constructed on the island and there was only one documented prisoner.
Historic Cortez Village, with 97 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, preserves Florida Gulf Coast Heritage. Originally it was known as Hunter’s Point and in 1880 five fishermen and their families arrived from North Carolina and established homes.
The Florida Maritime Museum’s exhibits detail the area and the state’s maritime culture and history through dioramas, models and text. A highlight is the exhibited Cortez fisherman Capt. Blake Banks seashell collection. The museum’s Folk School presents public programs that emphasize the teaching of heritage crafts and skills. The museum is situated inside a 1912 schoolhouse. @FloridaMaritimeMuseum
One of the most interesting classes they offer is Painting with a Fish, modeled after the Japanese art of Gyotaku. Pre-photography rubbings were taken by fishermen to document the number and type of their catch. It was believed the print brought good luck. @PaintingWithaFish
Anyone with a desire for a complete dining experience including excellent cuisine, ambiance and sensational views should seek to continue the SW Gulf Coast experience by dining in any, or all, of the listed restaurants.
Beach Bistro is an award-winning restaurant nestled on the white sands of the Gulf. It has been awarded the highest Zagat ratings in the country. Their most renowned dishes are seafood, lamb and prime rib. Add great sunsets for true awesomeness. @beachbistro
Sit on the climate-controlled outdoor deck, enjoy the view and dine locally sourced and fresh dishes at the Beach House Restaurant. This waterfront restaurant takes pride in its bountiful menu and exemplary service. The Anna Maria Bake House is located inside the restaurant and creates from scratch all of the baked goods offered to diners using only the highest quality ingredients. @TheBeachHouseAMI, @thebakehouseami
Tide Tables is so named to honor the connection between the rhythm of the tides and the culture of the waterman. All of the seafood is fresh and cleaned on the dock of the restaurant. Their most requested dish is the fish taco. Seating is available both indoors and on the patio. @tidetables
Anna Maria Oyster Bar was founded on the Anna Maria City Pier in 1996, and the City Pier will always be home. It is notable for the fresh seafood, extensive menu and casual, welcoming, atmosphere. @annamariaoysterbar
Seaside at Anna Maria Island Inn offers the newest upscale accommodations on Anna Maria Island. It is also the only hotel located directly on the beachfront. Guests can step from their glass doors onto the deck leading to the white sand beach, a few feet from the turquoise waters of the Gulf. Each room is artfully decorated and features deluxe linens and bath amenities. The sunset views from your resort room are incomparable. @annamariaisland.inn
Pick you passion in paradise.
