The Bradenton area offers attractions for all ages and interests. We’ve got educational (and fun!) museums, authentic historic sites, outdoor attractions and year-round sporting events. Read on to discover your favorite.

Museums

At the South Florida Museum, explore the history of the region through exhibits, artifacts and fossils dating back to the Pleistocene era. The museum is home to the Bishop Planetarium and the Parker Manatee Aquarium, where Snooty – the oldest living manatee in captivity – represents the county, his namesake.

You can see more marine life at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, which features a 135,000-gallon shark tank, plus exhibits on local fish to a giant squid. There are even hands-on experiences that let you touch rays, starfish and other sea creatures.

For more interactive fun, visit G.WIZ - The Science Museum. The modern museum introduces visitors to Florida natives in the Critter Habitat, encourages the exploration of light and sound in the ExploraZone, and lets you test your strength in the Body Zone.

Another don’t-miss museum is The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. The legacy of circus magnate and art collector John Ringling, the 66-acre estate includes the Museum of Art, the Ca’ d’Zan mansion, fragrant gardens and the Circus Museums, which boast the world’s largest miniature circus.

Discover the area’s railroading history at the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish. Open on weekends, the museum is where you can take hour-and-a-half rides on historic rail equipment. Trips depart twice daily. There also are special themed rides throughout the year, including the North Pole Express at Christmastime.

Car enthusiasts can fire up their engines at the Sarasota Classic Car Museum, a 60,000-square-foot space with more than 100 automobiles spanning 100 years. Antique, European and exotic classics are on display in rotating exhibits seven days a week, including John and Mable Ringling’s collection of Rolls Royces, John Lennon’s Mercedes Benz and Paul McCartney’s Mini Cooper.

Other museums not to miss are the Family Heritage House Museum, the Crosley Museum at the Powel Crosley Estate and the Manatee County Agricultural Museum.

Historic Sites

Manatee County takes pride in preserving its history and provides visitors and residents alike with historical sites that give a glimpse into the past. One of those is the Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site, an ancient Native American site from which excavations have revealed cultures dating back 2,000 years.

At DeSoto National Memorial, travel the route Hernando DeSoto’s expedition took upon landing on the shores of the Manatee River in the mid-1600s.

Learn about local culture at Manatee Village Historical Park, where you can see a Cracker-style home, a one-room schoolhouse and a church dating back to 1889. Similar attractions are the Palmetto Historical Park and Cortez Historic Fishing Village.

Gamble Plantation, the county’s oldest building, dates back to 1844, when Major Robert Gamble built the plantation on 16 acres.

Outdoor Attractions

Palma Sola Botanical Park in northwest Bradenton is 10 acres of tranquil gardens, from rare palms to flowering fruits. Down the road in Sarasota, the 9.5-acre Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is best known for its collection of 6,000 orchids.

Lush vegetation can also be found at Sarasota Jungle Gardens, a family-friendly sanctuary for reptiles and small animals like the Gardens’ popular flamingos.

One of the Bradenton area’s finest gems is Robinson Preserve, where nearly 500 acres have been restored to a coastal wetland environment. There are miles of kayaking and canoeing waterways, acres of open water and 100 species of birds, including the bald eagle. View their nests from the 53-foot observation tower, which affords breathtaking views of the entire preserve.

Sporting Events

The Pittsburgh Pirates call Bradenton home during spring training, playing games most of the week at McKechnie Field. In summer, the Bradenton Marauders play at McKechnie for Florida State League play.

Golfers can tee off at a number of courses acoss Manatee County, including the Arthur Hills-designed Stoneybrook Golf Club at Heritage Harbour, Legacy Golf Club at Lakewood Ranch and county- or city-run courses like Buffalo Creek, River Run and the Manatee County Golf Course.

Also in Manatee County are numerous tennis courts for beginning and seasoned players, and even polo grounds. Watch polo matches every Sunday December through April at the Sarasota Polo Club in Lakewood Ranch.

A short drive away in St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay Rays professional baseball team plays at Tropicana Field. Other Tampa teams include the NFL’s Buccaneers, who play August through December, and the NHL’s Lightning, whose regular season runs October through April.