Resources
Resources for exploring the area
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Exploring Bradenton
Sitting just south of Tampa Bay, Bradenton has trails that explore the mangrove-lined coast of Manatee County as well as its wooded uplands along the Manatee River and its tributaries.
Just over the Intracoastal Waterway from the city, public beaches provide pleasant getaways on Anna Marie Island, Bradenton Beach, and Longboat Key.
With surrounding suburbs stretching to the edge of Tampa Bay and up towards the county line, the look and feel of the region has greatly changed since we first came here and savored the bounty of its many farms.
These are the shores where Hernando de Soto landed in Florida in 1539. That Spanish expedition is commemorated with a National Park, DeSoto National Memorial.
Trails and Parks near Bradenton
Camp Bayou Nature Preserve Located on the banks of the Little Manatee River, Camp Bayou Nature Preserve provides an easygoing set of trails through a variety of natural Florida habitats. 
Conservatory Park A place for nature play, Conservatory Park is a 55 acre family-friendly patch of wild in the thick of suburbia along the Bradenton-Sarasota border with an accessible loop hike.
De Soto National Memorial Interpreting the landing of Spanish conquistador Hernando De Soto, De Soto National Memorial occupies a peninsula where the Manatee River flows into Tampa Bay. 
Emerson Point Portavant Mound Trail Delve deeply into Florida's past by exploring an ancient complex of mounds fronting the Manatee River at Emerson Point Preserve. 
Emerson Point Preserve Where the Manatee River meets Tampa Bay, Emerson Point Preserve has a network of trails around a complex centered on one of Florida's most ancient temple mounds, the Portavant Mound, near Bradenton.
Emerson Point Terra Ceia Trail An immersion in mangrove forest and numerous overlooks on Terra Ceia Bay elevates the rugged Terra Ceia Trail to the best of the hikes at Emerson Point Preserve.
Felts Audubon Preserve Conserving a collection of natural habitats amid farmland and subdivisions north of the Manatee River, Felts Audubon Preserve isn't just for the birds. It's for hikers, too.
Hightower Trail System Strongly influenced by nearby Tampa Bay, Terra Ceia Preserve State Park protects unique landscapes where marine and terrestrial ecosystems blend seamlessly.
Johnson Preserve A 44 acre tract of wild amid suburbia, Johnson Preserve provides a rare opportunity for public access to the upper reaches of the Braden River.
Lake Manatee Gopher Trail On the east side of Lake Manatee State Park, the Gopher Trail system offers scenic views of the lake among a variety of natural habitats. 
Lake Manatee State Park With a natural lakefront stretching three miles along the edge of Lake Manatee, this state park outside Bradenton is a quiet place to camp, fish, and hike
Lake Manatee Trails Explore the open uplands inside the main entrance of Lake Manatee State Park with a trio of trails that make a 2.5 mile loop around the campground.
Leffis Key Preserve Discover the spectacular beauty of a coastal mangrove forest on a network of boardwalks along Sarasota Bay at the base of a 26-foot-hill with an outstanding view.
Little Manatee River Corridor Nature Preserve In the Little Manatee River watershed, the 579 Trailhead offers access to a pair of loop trails across palmetto prairies and shady oak hammocks.
Little Manatee River State Park With sandy shores around every bend and a canopy of trees overhead, Little Manatee River State Park provides a beautiful destination for a family getaway.
Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site One among many intentional high points constructed by ancient peoples along the edges of Tampa Bay, this protected shell mound and adjacent burial site are what remain of a much larger complex at Terra Ceia.
Myakka Hiking Trail For immersion in the vast central prairies of the Florida peninsula, the 39-mile Myakka Hiking Trail is a serious backpacking destination in South Florida near Sarasota.
Myakka River Canopy Walk At Myakka River State Park in Sarasota, the Canopy Walk provides a sky-high view of the Myakka River basin as well as an intimate immersion in the live oak canopy in a beautiful hammock of oaks and palms. 
Myakka River State Park With tall waving grasses, saw palmetto, and the sound of birds, Myakka River State Park is Florida's Big Sky country, blanketing more than 37,000 acres east of Sarasota.
Neal Preserve Discover the botany and prehistory of Perico Island through excellent interpretation and observation points with outstanding views at Neal Preserve.
Palma Sola Botanical Park Now a showcase for temperate and tropical species, this former ten acre nursery encompasses collections of palms, fruit trees, and flowering tropical trees.
Perico Preserve Hugging the edge of Perico Bayou on Perico Island, Perico Preserve adjoins Robinson Preserve in Palma Sola, presenting similar habitats on a smaller scale. 
Riverview Pointe Preserve Protecting eleven acres of waterfront adjacent to De Soto National Memorial, this dog-friendly coastal park features a beach on the Manatee River.
Robinson Preserve Edging Tampa Bay, the vast sweep of Robinson Preserve is a puzzle of natural and restored habitats circled by more than ten miles of mixed-use trails. 
Robinson Preserve Eagle Loop Hilly, with outstanding views: that's why the loop around the island in the middle of the Eagle Loop at Robinson Preserve is a must. 
Robinson Preserve NEST Trail Providing access to the Canopy Zone at Robinson Preserve, the NEST Trail is a showy canopy walk with views of the bordering wetlands.
Robinson Preserve Osprey Loop The oldest of the loop trails inside Robinson Preserve, the Osprey Loop offers waterfront views and boardwalks as it skims the southern shore of Tampa Bay. 
Rye Preserve One of Mantee County's oldest preserves, Rye Preserve offers seasonal camping along the Upper Manatee River along with short nature trails.
Rye Preserve Yellow Trail Explore the pioneer settlement of Rye and the flow of Rye Creek towards the Manatee River in the open spaces of Rye Preserve.
South Fork State Park A series of three loops tied together across Little Manatee River Southfork Tract and South Fork State Park explore progressively wilder scrub communities along the South Fork of the Little Manatee River. 
Terra Ceia Preserve State Park Home to many wading birds, Terra Ceia Preserve State Park is an aquatic preserve protecting the ragged northern shoreline of the island of Terra Ceia.
Ungarelli Preserve A 35 acre sliver of public land along the southeast rim of Palma Sola Bay divides subdivisions and shops from a tiny strip of uplands above a mangrove forest.
Wingate Creek State Park Named after a blackwater stream at the headwaters of the Myakka River, Wingate Creek State Park showcases natural scrub communities home to the rare and endangered Florida scrub-jay.Articles
Florida’s Best Urban Parks (10/27/2016) When you live in a tightly packed space, you need somewhere green as your go-to place nearby. These are our top picks for parks in Florida's urban areas, chosen for their diversity of outdoor activities and/or their unique green spaces.
Backpacking Myakka River State Park (11/10/2011) With 39 miles in four loops, the Myakka Hiking Trail at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota is one of the state's finest destinations for a weekend or long weekend holiday hike.