MANATEE — Whether it’s art, shopping or nature, Manatee County and its surrounding areas have it all.
For urbanites looking for a bit of culture, here are some worthy choices.
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art features an impressive collection of Renaissance and Baroque eras, and has evolving contemporary and Asian art exhibits.
Near the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport off U.S. 41, the museum is part of a property that belonged to circus magnate John Ringling.
Visitors to the museum can take advantage of the sizeable, water-front grounds to visit some of the other attractions including the Ca d’Zan Mansion and a circus museum. For information, call 351-1660.
In Bradenton, a visit to the South Florida Museum is a must.
The museum offers a glimpse of prehistoric and precolonial Florida through of fossils and displays.
The South Florida Museum is also home to Snooty, Manatee County’s famous sea cow, and the Bishop Planetarium, a state-of-the-art digital dome theater. For information, call 746-4131.
For exotic plants enthusiasts, visit the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens on the bay front of Sarasota.
Selby Gardens has some of the largest orchid collections in the country and a stunning array of bromeliad, cycad, succulents and exotics that bloom once every few years.
To truly enjoy the diverse gardens, visitors should drop by at least two or three times a year. For information, call 366-5731.
For bargain hunters, try the Red Barn Flea Market, a Bradenton institution.
Off First Street, the market offers a dizzying array of merchandise ranging from micro-fiber mops, Christmas ornaments to decorative swords and fresh vegetables.
Even if you are not looking to get anything, a stroll around the market is highly entertaining. For information, call 747-3794.
For nature lovers, take advantage of the mellow Florida winters and check out the local rivers, wetlands and parks.
Explore the beauty of the Braden and Manatee rivers up close on kayaks and canoes.
Rentals, water eco-tours and fishing are available through Ray’s Canoe Hideaway on the Manatee River and the Canoe Outpost on the Little Manatee River.
For maps and information, call the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at 729-9177.
To learn more about the area’s history, local parks featuring temple mounds are great resources.
Visit the Emerson Point Preserve, near Terra Ceia Bay, or enjoy a fantastic view of the Manatee River at the DeSoto National Memorial Park in west Bradenton.
The 480-acre Robinson Preserve park, a public environmental restoration project years in the making, is a great place to visit if you want to be outdoors. Visitors can hike, kayak, fish or bike or participate in the weekend programs or tours. For information, call 748-4501 ext. 4605.
For those seeking close encounters with alligators, try Myakka River State Park. Hop on the Gator Gal or the Myakka Maiden, the park’s popular trams, for a tour of Upper Myakka Lake. There’s also a canopy walkway, hiking trails and bicycle roadways at the park.
For information on state parks in the Manatee County area, visit www.floridastateparks.org.
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