| |
|  |
BRADENTON FACTSHEET
(www.floridasgulfislands.com)
Location
Located in Manatee County, Florida, the Bradenton Area & Florida’s Gulf Islands of Anna Maria and Longboat Key are situated on the West Coast of Florida, nestled between the tropical blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the west and Tampa Bay to the North.
Areas of Interest
Bradenton, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, Longboat Key, Palmetto and Lakewood Ranch.
Geography
740 miles²
150 miles of waterfront
27 miles of beaches
Climate
|
| Month | HIGH | LOW | | January | 71.8°F | 50°F |
February | 72.6°F | 50.9°F | March | 77.1°F | 55.7°F | April | 82°F | 59.6°F | May | 86.9°F | 65°F | June | 89.5°F | 69.9°F | July | 90.6°F | 71.8°F | August | 90.7°F | 72.1°F | September | 89.4°F | 71.5°F | October | 84.4°F | 64.6°F | November | 78.3°F | 56.8°F | December | 73.2°F | 51.1°F |
Population
Overall: 264,002 residents
Anna Maria: 1814
Bradenton: 49,504
Bradenton Beach: 1,482
Holmes Beach: 4,966
Longboat Key: 2,591
Palmetto: 12,571
Other: 191,074
Road Access
Interstate 75, US Highway 41 and US Highway 301.
Mileage
Miami 225 miles (4 hours drive time)
Orlando 119 miles (1¾ hours drive time)
Tampa 47 miles (45 minutes drive time)
Airport
Tampa International Airport (40 miles north)
St Petersburg/Clearwater Airport (30 miles north)
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
Peak Season
Begins February until Easter (reservations necessary).
Value season is June to September.
Accommodation
Bradenton & Florida’s Gulf Islands of Anna Maria and Longboat Key offer more than 5000 lodging rooms including beachfront, boutique hotels, luxury hotel/condominiums, Superior Small Lodging properties, economically priced hotels, scenic camp and park sites.
Attractions
South Florida Museum/Parker Manatee Aquarium, De Soto National Memorial, Family Heritage House, Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum, Gamble Plantation Historic State Park, Manatee Village Historical Park, DeSoto Speedway, Emerson Point Preserve, Lake Manatee State Recreation Area, McKechnie Field, Mixon Fruit Farm.
State Parks
Gamble Plantation Historic State Park, Lake Manatee State Recreation Area.
Golf
22 public and semi-private courses are available for visitor play. Many top-rated golf courses are located in the area, including: University Park Country Club, Legacy Golf Club (new Arnold Palmer Course), Waterlefe Golf & River Club, Rosedale Golf and Country Club. Also home to David Leadbetter Golf Academy.
Fishing
There are abundant salt and freshwater fishing opportunities year-round. Fishing licences are required, except on charter trips. Full details in the Visitors Guide.
Beaches
Anna Maria Beach, Bayfront Park, Holmes Beach, Manatee County Beach Palma Sola Causeway, Coquina Beach, Cortez Beach, Beer Can Island, North Longboat Key Beach.
Shopping
The Bradenton Area features one of the largest designer factory shop outlets in Florida – The Prime Outlets at Ellenton, as well as a good selection of boutiques and galleries on Anna Maria Island or Longboat Key. The Red Barn Flea Market has over 600 unique shops (indoor and out), DeSoto Square is great for quaint shops and boutiques, and Village of the Arts, a working artists’ village, has almost 50 studios.
History
The first settlers of the Bradenton Area were the Timucan Indians who inhabited the area as early as 1000AD. They were farmers, fishermen and fierce warriors. Ponce de Leon is said to have landed on Florida’s west coast in 1521 but his efforts at colonising the area were thwarted by the Timucan Indians.
In 1539, Hernando De Soto landed at Shaw’s Point in Bradenton. De Soto is said to have enslaved the Indians and demanded they lead him to El Dorado, the City of Gold. After guiding his men through a 4000 mile search, De Soto grew ill and died. His men abandoned the quest and returned to Mexico.
Legend relates that Indians named the Manatee River for the gentle sea cows which are found in the area’s inlets. Manatees are large, plant eating mammals which inhabit the coastal waters of the Bradenton Area and Florida’s Gulf Islands of Anna Maria and Longboat Key.
For further information on Florida’s Gulf Islands visit www.floridasgulfislands.com or call 020 7681 6275
- ENDS -
November 2007
For press enquiries:
Sarah Falkingham or Sam Crossfield at gosh pr, t: +44 (0)20 7681 6270, e: sarah@goshpr.co.uk
|
|
|
|
