The Area · Bradenton and Anna Maria Island
Things to do near our Bradenton vacation homes
Beaches, piers, preserves, restaurants and groceries, with Google Maps drive times from the G.T. Bray Park area. Measured October 12, 2026.
The map
All four homes are in the G.T. Bray Park area; exact addresses are shared after booking. Drive times are Google Maps typical-traffic ranges from the park on a weekday morning, measured October 2026.
Beaches
10 to 18 min drive · 4.1 mi
Palma Sola Causeway Park
Bay-side sand along Manatee Ave on the way to Anna Maria Island for wading, picnics, paddling and fishing; one of the few local beaches where dogs are allowed.
16 to 24 min drive · 6.5 mi
Cortez Beach
Lifeguarded county Gulf beach in Bradenton Beach (towers 2 to 4), a short walk from Bridge Street.
18 to 26 min drive · 7.5 mi
Manatee Public Beach
Holmes Beach county beach at the end of Manatee Ave: lifeguards year-round, Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe, restrooms, showers, playground, free parking and beach wheelchairs.
18 to 26 min drive · 7.4 mi
Coquina Beach
Long county Gulf beach at the south end of Anna Maria Island with lifeguards, restrooms, cafe, shaded picnic areas, playground and the Coquina Beach Market (Wed, Fri, Sun 10 to 2).
18 to 28 min drive · 8.4 mi
Greer Island (Beer Can Island)
Sandy spit at the north end of Longboat Key across Longboat Pass from Coquina Beach.
26 to 40 min drive · 10.9 mi
Anna Maria Bayfront Park
Tampa Bay-side park with restrooms, showers, picnic tables and a pavilion; no lifeguard, no pets.
Eat and drink
Swordfish Grill & Tiki Bar
Waterfront seafood grill and tiki bar on the Cortez docks; daily 11 am to 9 pm.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Cortez Rd
Mainland location of the local oyster bar chain on Cortez Rd, near the homes.
Sage Biscuit Cafe
Breakfast and lunch cafe on Cortez Rd W near the homes; daily 7 am to 3 pm.
Star Fish Company
Dockside seafood market and casual restaurant in Cortez village; reopened Oct 31, 2024 after Helene.
Beach House Waterfront Restaurant
Gulf-front seafood restaurant on the sand in Bradenton Beach; daily 11 am to 10 pm.
Bridge Street Bistro
Seafood restaurant at Gulf Dr and Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach.
Rod & Reel Pier restaurant (temporary land location)
The Rod & Reel’s pier was destroyed in 2024 and not rebuilt; its restaurant serves from a plaza location in Holmes Beach, daily 11 am to 9 pm.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Pier
Restaurant on the Historic Bridge Street Pier, lunch and dinner daily.
Gulf Drive Cafe
Beachfront breakfast-to-dinner cafe in Bradenton Beach.
Pier 22
Restaurant on the Manatee River in downtown Bradenton, near the Riverwalk.
Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub
Bay-front seafood restaurant in the old village of north Longboat Key; daily 11 am to 9 pm.
Duffy’s Tavern
Holmes Beach bar and grill on Marina Dr (closed Tuesdays per Google).
The Feast Restaurant
Holmes Beach restaurant on Marina Dr.
Sandbar Seafood & Spirits
Gulf-front seafood restaurant in Anna Maria; daily 11 am to 10 pm.
Poppo’s Taqueria
Casual taqueria on Pine Ave in Anna Maria.
Ginny’s & Jane E’s
Anna Maria breakfast and lunch cafe and gift store; daily 7 am to 3 pm.
The Waterfront Restaurant
Seafood restaurant on S Bay Blvd near the Anna Maria City Pier.
Things to do
Manatee County Golf Course
County-owned public 18-hole course with snack bar and golf shop, open to everyone.
IMG Academy
Sports boarding school and training campus hosting tournaments, showcases and camps; campus access is by program, event or appointment.
De Soto National Memorial
Free National Park Service site marking the 1539 de Soto landing; visitor center closed from 2024 hurricane damage, contact tent open 9:00 to 4:30, some trails awaiting repair.
IMG Academy Golf Club
18-hole par-72 course open to the public and members, with a signature island green on hole 10 and online public tee times.
Cortez Historic Fishing Village
One of Florida’s last working waterfront fishing villages, on Sarasota Bay at the mainland end of the Cortez Bridge.
Bradenton Riverwalk
2-mile Manatee River promenade, open 24 hours, with splash pad (9 to 6), skate park, beach volleyball, fishing pier, amphitheater and a Gulf Islands Ferry stop.
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature
Science museum and planetarium with the Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat; Tue to Sat 10 to 5, Sun 12 to 5, closed Mondays.
Historic Bridge Street Pier
Fishing pier on Sarasota Bay in Bradenton Beach, open, with Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Pier and a Gulf Islands Ferry stop.
Historic Bridge Street
Bradenton Beach’s walkable street of shops, restaurants and bars running from Gulf Dr to the Bridge Street Pier.
Village of the Arts
Bradenton arts district of galleries, studios and cafes in colorful cottages, with a monthly ArtWalk.
LECOM Park
Spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates (2027 home games Feb 19 to Mar 20) and the Bradenton Marauders.
Manatee Village Historical Park
Free open-air history museum of restored pioneer-era buildings in east Bradenton.
River Run Golf Links
Public course run as a City of Bradenton recreational facility.
The Ringling
Ringling Museum of Art, Ca’ d’Zan mansion, Circus Museum and bayfront gardens; daily 10 to 5, some Ca’ d’Zan and bayfront areas still under hurricane restoration.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Zoo and tropical gardens on Bay Shore Rd in Sarasota.
Ellenton Premium Outlets
Outlet mall off I-75 in Ellenton.
Pine Avenue, Anna Maria
Anna Maria’s small-town main street of shops and cafes; hosts Bayfest (Oct 17, 2026).
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Bayfront botanical garden in downtown Sarasota known for orchids and bromeliads.
The Mall at University Town Center
Regional mall at I-75 and University Pkwy, Sarasota.
St. Armands Circle
Circle of shops and restaurants on St. Armands Key in Sarasota, next to Lido Beach.
Mote SEA (Science Education Aquarium)
Mote Marine’s new aquarium at Nathan Benderson Park, opened Oct 8, 2025 (the old City Island aquarium closed to the public July 2025).
Skyway Fishing Pier State Park
Fishing pier built from the old Sunshine Skyway bridge spans, open 24 hours; since Oct 27, 2025 no vehicle or pedestrian access beyond the bait shop (FDOT inspections), and the south pier has had no power since Mar 16, 2026.
The Dali Museum
St. Petersburg waterfront museum with a major collection of Salvador Dali works.
The Florida Aquarium
Downtown Tampa aquarium on the Channelside waterfront.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Theme park with roller coasters and animal habitats in north Tampa.
LEGOLAND Florida Resort
LEGO theme park and water park in Winter Haven, geared to kids about 2 to 12.
Walt Disney World (Magic Kingdom)
Walt Disney World Resort, measured to Magic Kingdom Park.
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe and Volcano Bay in Orlando.
Groceries and errands
BP (Cortez Rd W)
7 min
Publix (Cortez Rd W)
8 to 10 min
ALDI (Cortez Rd W)
8 to 9 min
HCA Florida Blake Hospital
8 min
Walmart Supercenter (Cortez Rd W)
9 to 12 min
Winn-Dixie (Cortez Rd W)
9 to 12 min
PrimeHealth Urgent Care, West Bradenton
9 to 14 min
Target (Manatee Ave W)
10 to 16 min
The Fresh Market
10 to 14 min
CVS Pharmacy (Cortez Rd W)
10 min
Getting here
Google Maps typical drive times to G.T. Bray Park, weekday morning. Sarasota Bradenton International is the closest airport.
Sarasota Bradenton airport (SRQ)
20 to 40 min
St. Pete-Clearwater airport (PIE)
45 min to 1 hr 10
Tampa International (TPA)
50 min to 1 hr 20
Downtown Sarasota
24 to 45 min
Downtown St. Petersburg
35 min to 1 hr
Walt Disney World
1 hr 40 to 2 hr 30
Orlando International (MCO)
1 hr 50 to 2 hr 40
Miami
3 hr 40 to 5 hr
Atlanta
6 hr 50 to 8 hr 40
Weather
72
52
63
2.8
75
55
66
1.9
78
58
72
2.9
82
63
77
2.5
88
68
82
2.6
90
74
87
7.1
91
75
89
7.4
92
75
88
9.1
90
74
86
6
86
68
80
2.8
80
60
73
1.8
75
55
67
2.3
As of October 2026
What is still closed after the 2024 storms
The county says its public beaches are open. A few landmarks are still being rebuilt.
Anna Maria City Pier
Closed while it is rebuilt. The city is aiming for fall 2026, with no confirmed date.
Rod & Reel Pier
The pier was destroyed. Its restaurant serves from a temporary spot on East Bay Drive in Holmes Beach.
Florida Maritime Museum
Closed for building work in Cortez.
De Soto National Memorial
Open, but the visitor center is closed. A contact tent runs 9:00 to 4:30.
Robinson Preserve
Open, but tram tours are cancelled and some trails close through November.
Cortez Road
Resurfacing between 86th and 30th Streets West runs to late 2027, with lane closures near the homes.
Come back to a heated pool
After the beach, the backyard. Four homes near G.T. Bray Park.