Trade sand castles for sand traps with an unforgettable day of play at Legacy Golf Club at Lakewood Ranch. Four-star rated by Golf Digest, this Arnold Palmer links course provides five tee boxes on every hole and appeals to all levels of play. For tee times, call (941) 907-7067.
Raise a racket at IMG Academies Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, where tennis greats Maria Sharapova, Monica Seles and Andre Agassi played. The academy boasts 10 clay, 35 hard, and six indoor courts on-site, with an additional 21 courts at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Centre. Visitors are welcome to play for a day, a week, or by the month. Visit www.imgacademies.com for more information.
Explore shimmering tidal lagoons, lush landscapes, rustic footbridges, and boardwalks at Coquina Bay Walk at Leffis Key, a pristine, 17-acre water habitat on Bradenton Beach. The peaceful sounds of wildlife and wind come alive, as visitors discover blue crabs, whelks, ragged sea hares and many types of fish. At low tide, fiddler crabs and wading birds appear, making this one of the many popular stops along the Great Florida Birding Trail.
Paddle your way through exotic mangrove tunnels, tropical barrier islands and crystal clear springs on a kayak eco tour. Enjoy bird watching, beachcombing, and guided fishing trips with Shawn Duytschaver at Native Rentals or (941) 778-7757.
Experience the natural side of Florida this summer aboard Captain Kim's Charters. Spend an hour or spend the day enjoying the sun, surf, shells and sea life in Florida’s Gulf waters. Trained local guides lead visitors around sandbars and through the area’s bays and backwaters for awesome bird watching and nautical historical and shelling tours. Kids enjoy the eco-tours that provide hands-on interaction and learning activities with the local wildlife, from crabs and crawfish to starfish, stingrays and manatees. Call (941) 920-3307 to book your tour.
Robinson Preserve
Set on nearly 500 acres in Northwest Bradenton, Robinson Preserve underwent a restoration that changed it from farmland to coastal and wetland habitats. Native plants have taken the place of exotic invasive plants, and a new waterway system is helping restore the salt marsh’s tidal flow. Take advantage of hiking, biking and paddling trails; a canoe and kayak launch; a 40-foot observation tower; boardwalks; picnic areas; and a visitors center. The preserve is open sunrise to sunset year ‘round, and admission is free. For more information, call (941) 748-4501 or visit www.mymanatee.org.
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch
Enjoy the calming beauty of the early morning light on the Gulf as you embark on a guided walk and talk with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch volunteers. As you explore the world of loggerhead sea turtles, you may enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience of watching a baby sea turtle hatch and head for the water. To make a reservation, visit www.islandturtles.com or call Suzi Fox (941) 778-1435 or (941) 778-5638.
Emerson Point Preserve
Off the eastern tip of the Bradenton coast, just off Terra Ceia Bay, lies Emerson Point Preserve, where a lacework of winding trails and wooden boardwalks let visitors take in the landscape of this 200-acre state park. This diverse nature preserve is home to numerous ecosystems, including salt marshes, beaches, lagoons, grass flats, mangrove swamps, hardwood hammocks and semi-upland wooded areas.
The paths make it easy to discover and appreciate the park on foot, but visitors can also bike, fish or canoe their way through. For guided tours, contact Karen Fraley with Around the Bend Nature Tours or call (941) 794-8773.
