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Nature Parks Near Anna Maria Island – Manatee County

There are many nature parks near Anna Maria Island. Most visitors to Anna Maria Island know about Robinson’s Preserve located just a few minutes to the East of Holmes Beach. It has fabulous nature trails, a sky high tower that overlooks the park as well as the Tampa Bay. But, all are not aware there are lots of other Parks and Nature Preserves in Manatee county. Additionally, there is even Leffis Key right on south island! Sure some other parks are a few more than minutes to the East of Robinson Preserve but everyone likes choices, right?

Below is a list of Manatee County nature parks that the Manatee County Natural Resource department overseas. A big plus is the County is renovating to new parks just off Anna Maria Island that we can all Walk or Bicycle to! Opening in late 2012/2013 stay tuned for more information. Happy Hiking, Roller Blading, Bicycling, or nature viewing!

If you visit one of these parks please provide your comments on what you love about the park! View the map below to get an idea of where Manatee Parks and Preserves are located.

Nature Parks Near Anna Maria Island

Robinson Preserve
1704 99th Street, NW
Bradenton, FL 34209
(941) 745-3723
Open 7 days a week and hours vary on season

De Soto National Memorial – near Robinson Preserve and north of Riverview Pointe Preserve.
8300 De Soto Memorial Hwy
Bradenton, Florida 34209
941-792-0458
Open daily from dawn to dusk. Parking lot closes at 5pm.

Riverview Pointe Preserve – Only 5 minutes beyond Robinson Preserve
8250 DeSoto Memorial Highway
Bradenton, FL 34209
(941) 745-3723
Open 7 days a week and hours vary on season

Jiggs Landing
6106 63rd Street East
Bradenton, FL 34203
(941) 745-3723
Open 7 days a week and hours vary on season

Emerson Point Preserve
5801 17th Street West
Palmetto, Fl 34221
(941) 721-6885
Open 7 days a week and hours vary on season

Rye Preserve
905 Rye Wilderness Trail
Parrish, FL 34219
(941) 776-0900
Open 7 days a week and hours vary on season

Duette Preserve and Headwaters at Duette
2649 Rawls Road
Duette, FL 34251
(941) 776-2295
Open 7 days a week and hours vary on season

Leffis Key at Coquina Bay Walk – located at the south end of Anna Maria Island in Bradenton Beach.
2351 Gulf of Mexico Drive
Anna Maria Island, FL 34217

New to Open Parks in 2012/2013

Neal Preserve
12301 Manatee Avenue, West
Bradenton, Fl 34209
Currently being renovated. You could bicycle here from Anna Maria Island!

Perico Preserve
11700 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34209
This is just off Anna Maria Island! You could bicycle here when it opens!

Find great wildlife viewing at parks close to Anna Maria Island — There are many great places for nature viewing off Anna Maria Island in Manatee County.

Causeway 4 The Cause – Benefit For The Susan G Komen Organization

Be part of the Causeway 4 the Cause this Saturday October 29TH from 9:00am – 1:00pm. Walk, run, or bike the Palma Sola Causeway and help support breast cancer research! Anna Maria Island Causeway 4 the Cause, is a benefit for the Susan G Komen Organization to support breast cancer research!

The benefit will start at beautiful Manatee Public Beach on Anna Maria Island. Participants may walk, run, or bike the causeway to Palma Sola Boulevard and return to Manatee Public Beach. It is approximately 8 miles to Palma Sola Boulevard from the Manatee Public Beach, there will 3, 5, and 8 mile turnaround points with water stations along the way.

Causeway 4 The Cause is asking for $25.00 donations from each participant but will gladly accept whatever you can afford. All of the proceeds will be donated to the Susan G Komen Organization. Women of all ages are welcome and should wear articles of pink to show their support.

Preregister at Beach Bums on Pine Avenue or come to the Manatee Public Beach this Saturday at 8:30am.

Beach Bums
427 Pine Avenue
Anna Maria Island FL 34216

Causeway4TheCause@TampaBay.rr.com
941-224-7506

Coquina Public Beach On Anna Maria Island

coquina-beach-sunset — Photo By Jason Hrnak

Coquina Public Beach is located in Bradenton Beach just south of Bridge Street and spans all the way to the Long Boat Key Bridge. Coquina Beach is a local’s favorite beach on Anna Maria Island. For activities, there is a paved walk/bike path the entire length of the beach, and multiple volleyball courts.

A gorgeous beach, be sure to avoid swimming on the very southern tip of the island, obeying warning signs, as the water running under Longboat pass is strong with rip tides. Stay withing the large designated swimming area.

Coquina Public Beach has two public restrooms, concession stand and more than one lifeguard tower. There is also a lovely shaded grilling & picnic area, as well as a pirate ship playground on the beach for children. Make the most out of your Anna Maria Island vacation and visit all of our public beaches, leave us a comment here or on Facebook, and let us know which Anna Maria Island Beach is your favorite.

G. T. Bray Park is a large park in Bradenton, Fl

G.T. Bray Park located in Bradenton, Fl has something for everyone. You can walk tree rimmed paths, swing on the swing in one of the three playgrounds, swim and play in the water fountains or take your dog to the very safe enclosed dog park.

If you are looking to have a larger event while visiting Bradenton or Anna Maria Island then G.T. Bray Park could be your perfect ticket. The Bradenton park has seven pavilions (Picnic Shelters.) Of course sizes vary. If you refer to the map below the numbers here correlate to those on the GT Bray park map. (1)Cedar Hammock (2) Oak Knoll (3) Hickory Hollow (4) Meadow View (5) Woodland Grove (6) Whispering Pine (7) Bright Outlook – located adjacent to the Activity Center. For information on availability of the picnic pavilions call (941) 742-5974.

The dog park is called happy tails and is a perfect treat for pet visitors to Anna Maria Island. Happy Tails Canine Park is a fenced in, 3-acre off leash dog park located at the North East corner of G.T. Bray Bradenton park. Happy Tails is just off 51st Street West. Amenities at the dog park includes one drinking fountain and free waste bags and a enclosed separate area exclusively for small, fragile, or elderly dogs.

This Bradenton park is a great place to relax or play soccer, softball or football in one of their many open fields. Tennis and racquetball courts are available year round. There is a weight room available for a fee. Skate and hockey court is also just one of the great amenities the Bradenton park has to offer. The skate park is located at G.T. Bray Park, 5502 33rd Avenue Drive West, Bradenton, Fl, 34209.

Depending on the time of year you are visiting the beaches of Anna Maria Island, you can find many family friendly events for children all year long. The Christmas party is a must see, Santa Claus flies in on a helicopter with Batman to give the children their opportunity to tell him what they want for Christmas and have their photos taken. The holiday celebration is perfect for families of all ages, face painting, bounce houses, games, crafts, etc. Easter is when they have the largest Easter egg hunt I have ever seen! The G.T. Park staff fill and lay out thousands of eggs. Imagine three baseball outfields covered in plastic Easter

eggs! These are just a few holiday events that the G.T. Bray park has to offer.

G.T. Bray Park
5502 33rd Avenue Drive West
Bradenton, Florida
(941) 742-5923

Personal fitness training on Anna Maria Island – relax and get fit all on Anna Maria

Relax, your on an Anna Maria Island Vacation. Most relax on the beach but it is always a great time to get back in the “saddle” again to get your physical activity on the right track. Walking or jogging the beach is a favorite past-time but another option that most don’t consider is a personal trainer.

Jeff Levine will take you to one of several Anna Maria Island fitness centers and take you through a routine sure to get your heart pumping or assist your body-part that may need strengthening. With over 30 years of personal and fitness training, Jeff will be sure to get you back on the right track or help you mix up your fitness training while staying on Anna Maria. Jeff prides himself in offering fun highly productive fitness.

Another great option is to work out on the beach. It’s more common than you think but it offers great relaxation as well as productive fitness. After all, what better way to break a sweat than having an expert in their field show you new and great ways to keep yourself healthy and happy, all while doing it on the beach!

Another great idea is to have Jeff train your family, multiple couples, or multiple groups. Jeff can help with groups and the best thing of all is your price per person will reduce as the group becomes larger. If your family is like most families everyone could use a little help burning calories from all the great restaurants on Anna Maria Island.

Jeff Levine
(941) 744-6883