Downtown Bradenton gives baseball fans more to cheer about

It's February, which means the Pittsburgh Pirates are days away from invading the Bradenton area for spring training in preparation for the upcoming season. That means now is the perfect time to make plans to catch all of the action and explore the Bradenton area's urban core, which is just a stone's throw away from McKechnie Field.

For years, the area has been developing into one of the finest small downtowns along the west coast of Florida, with offerings for residents and visitors of all ages and interests. And it continues to serves as the perfect spot to explore prior to the first pitch or after the final out.

Fans who make their way to Old Main Street -- the heart of downtown -- should take advantage of the top dining options lining the street. With temperatures warming up, the street's outdoor seating provides the opportunity to enjoy the area's weather and witness the street's vitality. And its proximity to the Riverwalk makes it a top spot to meet before or after a game and enjoy one of the most scenic views in all of Bradenton or partake in regular events and activities, including the Family Fun Zone, fishing pier, flex lawn, a beach volleyball court and skate park. And just across the river in Palmetto, are the Riverhouse Reef & Grill, 12 city-owned parks and countless opportunities to enjoy shopping, coffee shops and the water views.

The downtown core is also home to two of the state's top breweries. The first, just steps from McKechnie, is Darwin Brewing Co., which offers unique craft brews inspired by the flavors and culture of South America, a 15-barrel production facility, a tasting room and a beer garden. It also recently introduced Tapas & Taps -- offering unique beer pairings with three tapas courses -- on the first Monday of the month.

And, beer enthusiasts do not have to go far to sample the beers of Bradenton's other top brewery. Just down the road is Motorworks Brewery. Built in 1920's as an automobile dealership, Motorworks is a full-production, craft beer brewery with Florida's largest beer garden and is one of a few breweries in the state to have its own grain silo.

Thanks in large part to the vibrant arts and culture emanating from the downtown core, the Bradenton area also continues to emerge as one of the growing arts centers in the South. In fact, Bradenton was recently listed by American Style as one of the nation's top 10 small cities for art -- a testament to those helping to highlight its many offerings, one of which

is the South Florida Museum.

Downtown Bradenton is the home of the South Florida Museum, the largest natural and cultural history museum on Florida's Gulf Coast. Must-see stops within the museum include fossil evidence of Florida's earliest mammal and marine species, the Montague Tallant collection of prehistoric and early post-contact archeological artifacts, the Bishop Planetarium and, of course, Snooty.

In addition, the Village of the Arts in downtown Bradenton is Florida's largest art community with more than 30 businesses in the village. The undeniably eclectic neighborhood provides residents and out-of-town fans access to galleries, studios, cafes, healing arts, jewelry, fashion and more -- all found within restored 1920s and 30s cottages. It's the perfect afternoon stop for those looking for a truly one-of-a-kind gift or Bradenton keepsake.

Those in search of additional opportunities for enrichment can catch a performance by the award-winning Manatee Players at the Bradenton Performance Art Center, with more than 70 seasons of presenting live theater in Bradenton.

And this is just scratching the surface.

As the Bradenton area prepares to draw sports fans for spring training 2016, I continue to be amazed by the range of options the destination has for those looking for opportunities to play off the field as well. I hope that in discovering the downtown core -- before or after a day at the ballpark -- that this year is most memorable.

Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, can be reached at Elliott.Falcione@BACVB.com or 941-729-9177 ext. 222.

This story was originally published February 7, 2016 at 11:31 PM with the headline "Downtown Bradenton gives baseball fans more to cheer about ."