Wags Loc: Mequon, WI

I’m going to be in Bradenton, FL, from mid-March to mid-April. I would be interested in hearing any suggestions for places to see and photograph. I’ll be staying at an RV campground with my class B RV, so I will have quite a bit of flexibility in driving around the area. Thanks in advance!

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Bradenton is the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sarasota has the Ringling Brothers Museum.

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

Plant City strawberry festival should be coming up very soon. I guess the antebellum plantation house is still there at Ellenton. Looks like the name has changed, the planetarium at Bradenton, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

Here’s the plantation house. Also check out Fort DeSoto park near the north end of the Sunshine Skyway bridge.

AVG Loc: Pittsburgh

Try beach/dunes/sea grass at Beane Pt on the very North end of Anna Maria Island. Wide beach, windy, color difference between the surf, sky and white sand. If the wind is high enough the waves, tide and clouds make a great still shot. Wait until 6:20 PM in February and just look West for that sunset.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

Mayake state forest , lots of birds. There is a bird rookery in Venice which is a bitt south but , but check I think mid march is too late, LOTS of nesting birds there.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Myakka River State Park is about 1/2 hour south. It's been damaged by recent storms but still pretty good. If you want to see Limpkins that's the place for them! And lots of BIG Gators!!

Red6

My wife and I just left Bradenton in October after spending 3 months there and we are anxious to go back! Our favorite by far was Anna Marie Island and the beaches. We love it and will go back at some point. We tended to stay south exploring Bradenton and the Sarasota area. Going north to St. Petersburg and Tampa is OK but like other big cities traffic can be bad.

Favorite places there around Bradenton;

Our favorite beach was Coquina Beach, Bean Point is very pretty at the far north but has no facilities such as restrooms etc. though it is good for shelling. Coquina Beach has public facilities such as showers, restrooms, and quick-service food.

On Anna Marie Island our favorite places to eat were The Ugly Grouper for lunch or dinner and for breakfast try Ginny and Jane's Cafe and store with local artwork and gifts.

One of our favorite places was Palma Sola Blvd., a small road running between Cortez Rd W. and Manatee Av. There is a very small park called Portosueno Park which often has manatees. It is a very small public park off the road you can stop and watch them. Check it out. Cortez and Manatee Av are the two main roads that run into Anna Marie Island from Bradenton. There are some beautiful homes on this road also.

Anna Marie Island can also be approached from the south at Sarasota by traveling up Longboat Key. This is very scenic but is mostly resorts and condos. But it is a nice drive.

I think you will enjoy. We miss Anna Marie Island and Bradenton, we are in Central Florida now but miss the beach. Maybe later this year.

Nosaj Loc: Sarasota, Florida

All these posts have very good suggestions. Here’s another: on April 1 (Saturday) at 7:00 PM, go to the Neel Performing Arts Center at the State College of Florida for a concert if the Manatee Community Concert Band (tickets are only $15). You’ll be glad you went. (I know because I play in the band!).

tcthome Loc: NJ

I believe Fort Desoto has some great birding if you do wildlife photography. A wildlife trail, etc. is probably worth the walk.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Wow what freaky colors that place is painted.

TonyF Loc: Bradenton, FL

Old Main St., (12th St. W) has a great market on Saturday mornings. Also, you can get some good night shots on Old Main St. if you're into that. Also, setting sun on the Palmetto side of the Green Bridge. And some good night shots of the Sunshine Skyway bridge from the south fishing pier of the bridge. If there's a night rocket launch while you're here from Canaveral, depending on weather, you might get a great shot over the St. Pete Pier looking east of course. Also, the Palma Sola Botanical Park if interested.

GLSmith Loc: Tampa, Fl

NE of Bradenton by about 40 minutes, is the Circle B Bar Reserve on outskirts of Lakeland. One of the better known "secrets" of natural preserves with bobcat, alligator, birds, eagle, trails are walkable & maintained.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

But no dogs allowed, for what it's worth!

nitehntr Loc: rivesville west virginia

check out Oscar Scherer state park it has florida scrub jays among many other things