Diabetes Type 2 Treatment in West Bradenton, FL

There’s a lot to love about Bradenton. The vibrant town of around 57,000 strikes the perfect balance of having just enough to do without be overwhelming to a weekend visitor. There are ample opportunities to experience the arts, great restaurants to dine at, and plenty of preserves and natural areas to help you unwind in the great outdoors. The riverfront town’s proximity to picturesque Gulf beaches and islands is just another facet of Bradenton’s seemingly endless charm. Situated between St. Petersburg and Sarasota, Bradenton can often feel a bit forgotten as far as west Florida locales go, but it’s 100-percent worth remembering and then revisiting time and time again. Here are the 15 best things to do in Bradenton, Florida.

What To Do In Bradenton, Florida

Every Saturday from October through May, Bradenton’s Old Main Street transforms into a bustling market filled with more than 100 vendors offering all kinds of local wares—from fresh produce to art. The beloved event started in 1979 and has been a boon of the community ever since. Live music and kid-friendly activities are also part of the fun.

realizebradenton.com/bradenton-market

An eclectic mix of colorful historic homes (20^th century bungalows, Florida Cracker homes, and more) make up this one-of-a-kind, live-work-play neighborhood. Inside each of the charming homes, there’s a different treasure to uncover, from artist galleries and studios to restaurants to vinyl shops. On the first Friday night and first Saturday afternoon of each month, the district hosts popular Art Walks that bring live music, delicious food, and even more art to the area.

villageofthearts.org; 1312 11th St. W Bradenton, FL 34205

Celebrating all kinds of art, the Manatee Performing Arts Center is home to two venues that host everything from Broadway shows to ballets to string quartets. At the Herrig Center for the Arts, explore three galleries with ever-changing exhibits. Onsite, the LiveArtFully gift shop provides an impressive selection of souvenirs made by local artists.

manateeperformingartscenter.com; 502 Third Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34025; 941-748-5875

artcentermanatee.org; 209 9th St West, Bradenton, FL 34205; 941-746-2862

Between historical buildings, replica buildings, and museum exhibits, there are dozens of access points into the past at Manatee Village Historical Park. Inside the museum, you can learn about Manatee County’s founding and early days from 1840 to 1918. Walk the four-acre grounds and pop into buildings ranging from an old general store to private home to get a picture of what life was like in Bradenton’s foudning days. Bring the entire family and enjoy the onsite playground and picnic tables nestled under the shade of giant oak trees.

manateevillage.org; 1404 Manatee Ave E, Bradenton, FL 34208; 941-749-7165

Climb the 40-foot observation tower at Robinson Preserve to look out over the natural area’s nearly 700 acres of coastal grasslands, saltern, marsh, and mangrove habitat. Birders will love keeping an eye out for species ranging from roseate spoonbills to wood storks to bald eagles. If you’re looking to stretch your legs, there’s a 2.5-mile paved path that’s open to walkers and runners, as well as bikers and rollerbladers. There’s also another 5 miles of coastal trails.

manatee.hosted.civiclive.com/departments/natural_resources/preserves/robinson

One of the best ways to explore Bradenton’s bounty of natural treasures is on the water via kayak. At Emerson Point Preserve, located on the north shore of the Manatee River, you can explore both the Manatee River and Terra Ceia Bay from one convenient launch point. De Soto National Monument offers a variety of things to explore, from a nature trail to a small beach to a living history camp (from Jaunary through April). Ranger-led kayak tours are a popular activity in the summer months.

mymanatee.org/connect/locations/location-details/emerson-point-preserve

nps.gov/deso/index.htm; 8300 De Soto Memorial Hwy, Bradenton, FL 34209; 941 792-0458 x102

Absolutely no trip to Bradenton should neglect some time strolling on the Bradenton Riverwalk. The 2-mile paved stretch runs between the Green and Desoto bridges along the Manatee River. Sunset and sunrise are especially magical times to visit, but the walk and its surrounding parks are buzzing at all times of day thanks to an amphitheater, skate park, beach volleyball courts, and fishing pier.

The Bradenton Area, which includes Anna Maria Island and Longboat key, claims 16 miles of uninterrupted sugar-white coastline. To experience all the beaches have to offer, take a quick 20- or 30-minute drive to Anna Maria Island or Longboat Key and find a place to park your chairs and umbrella. Each of the area’s eight beaches offers a different vibe, depending on your mood or travel group. Coquina Beach is ideal for shell seekers, while Cortez Beach draws surfers. Holmes Beach is a slam dunk for families, and Bean Point is perfect for those seeking solace.

bradentongulfislands.com/discover/beaches/

All visitors should make it a point to spend time in The Cortez Fishing Village, which was established way back in 1880 and is the oldest continuously operating fishing village in Florida. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, stroll the town to find 1920s beach bungalows, a busy marina full of restored boats and active fishing boats. If you want to dive even deeper into Cortez’s history, head to the Florida Maritime Museum. And if you start to get hungry between your exploring, visit Star Fish Company, a dockside seafood market and restaurant that serves up the freshest catch in an unbeatable setting. Note: At the time of publish, the Maritime Museum is closed for building rehabilitation.

Where To Eat In Bradenton, Florida

There are multiple ways to get your Italian fix in Bradenton. For a more casual meal, Arte Caffe in the Village of the Arts is your spot. Owner Remo Mambelli immigrated from Italy in 1990 and is dedicated to bringing a true taste of his home country to guests. A simple menu of pizza, pasta, salad, antipasto platters, and sandwiches are served for lunch and dinner. Don’t miss out on a dessert of tiramisu, cannoli, or panna cotta. Find a more upscale experience at Taverna Toscana, led by famed chef Fabio Viviani. The Top Chef alum combines traditional steakhouse offerings with Italian fare at his elegant downtown spot.

artecaffebradenton.com; 930 12th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205; 941-750-9309

tavernatoscana.com; 1301 6th Ave W, Bradenton, FL, United States, 34205; 941-357-7772

There’s a lot of history behind the location of Pier 22, a waterfront restaurant on the Manatee River. Municipal Pier was first built here in 1878, and the spot later went on to become the South Florida Museum and then a radio station. In 1976, it became The Pier restaurant and today it’s known as Pier 22. Come for gorgeous views in a upscale dining room with a generous menu featuring everything from sushi to fresh catch to steak.

pier22.com; 1200 1st Ave W., Bradenton, FL 34205; 941-748-8087

For a great beer, a yummy burger, and a laidback, local-loved atmosphere, 3 Keys Brewing & Gastropub is your spot. The family-friendly spot features a weekly selection of 20 beers, ciders, and seltzers, plus a menu of creative pub grub ranging from buffalo chicken eggrolls to brisket dumplings served with beer cheese. The beer garden and front patio are both excellent places to soak up the sunny weather and sip a cold one.

3keysbrewing.com; 2505 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton, FL 34208; 941-218-0396

The food Bradenton is most famous for combines classic Florida fare with Caribbean influence. Featuring bright, citrusy flavors and rich spices, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable meal. The fish tacos at Tide Tables in Cortez are a must, and several spots in the Bradenton area beach communities like Hurricane Hanks, The Sandbar Restaurant, and Woody’s River Roo are also worth a visit.

Where To Stay In Bradenton, Florida

One of the area’s newest additions, the Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa is the ultimate place to go if you want to relax and unwind. Located near downtown Bradenton, the hotel isn’t directly on the Gulf but gives all the same tropical, beachfront vibes thanks to a resort-style pool deck and a waterfront area with cabanas and loungers. The view from Oyster River, the hotel’s rooftop bar and restaurant absolutely can’t be beat.

marriott.com; 600 US-41, Palmetto, FL 34221; 941-304-3115

If you’re partial to a spot with a view of the ocean, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from in the Bradenton area. Whether you’re seeking a quaint beach bungalow on Anna Maria Island or would prefer amenities consistent with an oceanfront boutique hotel like cheery Mello on the Beach or coastal cool Joie Inn, there’s something for everyone.

A couple with years of restaurant experience out west is bringing their love of homestyle cooking to Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Their new restaurant, Pork Belly’s Eatery and Catering Co., opened its doors at 9516 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, on Feb. 15. It joins two sister locations in Utah.

Co-owner Kate Meek says she fell in love with Manatee County over the years while visiting her mother, who lived in the area.

Eventually, Kate and her husband Eddie decided Bradenton was the right place to expand Pork Belly’s.

The American-styled restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. While smoked meats are big a focus, the Meeks say there is much more to the menu.

“We don’t claim barbecue at all,” Kate Meek said. “We do smoke the pork and the brisket. We smoke our meatloaf, we smoke our prime rib. But it’s all lightly smoked. We don’t do a heavy smoke on anything, so it’s just got a little flavor in the background of the smoker.”

Pork Belly’s Bradenton menu features customer favorites from the Utah restaurants, including tacos, smoked meat sandwiches, burgers, chicken, beef, pork and seafood dishes and salads.

One favorite, the Island Taco, includes smoked pulled pork, pineapple, salsa and homemade sauces. Another, the Jacked Up sandwich, contains jalapenos, cheese, bacon and sauces.

And the ribs are a best-seller, too.

“We sell out of our ribs constantly,” Meek said.

While there aren’t any vegan options, there are cauliflower tacos for vegetarians and several gluten-free dishes.

Bradenton’s menu is about 90% the same as the Utah locations, but with a few unique offerings, including mahi-mahi.

There’s also a full-service bar serving beer, wine and signature cocktails.

But the restaurant also specializes in breakfast, with made-from-scratch biscuits and gravy and several varieties of eggs benedict as the highlights.

“I think our name … puts us in a box where it doesn’t seem like we would have breakfast,” Meek said. “... The breakfast is a big deal, people are catching on. But again, you don’t go to Pork Belly’s expecting to get scratch-made biscuits and gravy, thick-cut bacon, and seven different styles of benedicts.”

While they’ve been open less than a month in Bradenton, the Meeks have years of restaurant experience.

They had a successful spot in California before transitioning to smoking meats in a food trailer. That led to needing a storefront. After 16 years in California, they relocated to Utah. The Meeks opened two Pork Belly restaurants in the Beehive State before planning to move to Florida’s Suncoast.

“So we knew we needed to wait until our youngest graduated,” Kate Meek said. “So when she graduated, she actually moved here a year before us. She goes to college here. And then we moved a year later after everything was sold.”

Kim Meek said they fell in love with Florida because of the people and diversity. In Utah, it was dirt and snow.

Before they left, the Meeks sold their Pork Belly’s restaurants in Utah’s Cedar City and St. George.The new owners continue to operate those restaurants under the Pork Belly’s name.

“They have all the recipes, but they are able to do what they like also,” Meek said. “If they go too far south from what we’re doing, then they would be required to change the name.”

After negotiations on the Cortez Road building fell through last summer, the Meeks moved to Manatee County and began looking for another place to open Pork Belly’s. But then they got good news.

“Our real estate agent reached back out to us and said, ‘Hey, that unit is available and you don’t have to buy it,’” Meek said. “The tenants left.”

After remodeling to fit their needs, the restaurant opened in February.

The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lunch service begins at 11 a.m. with dinner offered starting at 5 p.m.

There are 123 seats inside with an additional 40 outside patio seats.

Pork Belly’s also offers catering services.

For more information, visit PorkBellysEatery.com.

This story was originally published March 11, 2025 at 5:50 AM.

SeaFlower, a mixed-use community being built on land that used to be a flower farm in west Bradenton, has released the home prices for its first phase of its development.

There will be 1,063 single-family residences built along 400 acres south of Cortez Road and west of 75th Street in this initial phase. Homes will run the gamut from those starting in the $400,000s and $500,000s to others with prices beginning at $1.28 million.

SeaFlower will be designed to look like a classic coastal town. All the homes will be in a palette of whites, ranging from 1,400 to more than 3,200 square feet.

“At SeaFlower, our builders are offering homeowners the perfect blend of flexibility, luxury and functionality,” says Edward Hill, a principal with Lake Flores Land Co., which is developing the property with investment partner LAMB Properties, in a statement. “The homes are thoughtfully designed to accommodate a variety of lifestyles, from single-story bungalows to expansive multi- generational residences.”

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The builders and offerings include:

At the heart of the first phase of development at SeaFlower is a body of water called Lake Flores, which will be accompanied by a lakeside park and resident-only amenity campus called the Garden Club with a pool, fitness center, meeting hall, pickleball courts, event lawn and children’s play area.

A 2.5-mile trail for pedestrians, cyclists and golf carts will connect the amenity center area with a nature preserve and dog park as well as the nearby SeaFlower Village Center, anchored by a 50,000-square-foot Publix and Publix Liquors. More retail and dining tenants will be added to the shopping center, providing the sense of a Main Street, developers say.

At full buildout, SeaFlower will encompass 4,000 homes as well as apartments, 250 hotel rooms and 350,000 square feet of commercial space.

“SeaFlower provides an ideal setting for those seeking a new home within a traditionally inspired master planned community with convenient access to the vibrant downtowns of Bradenton, Longboat Key and Sarasota, and the pristine beaches on Anna Maria Island,” Hill says in the statement.

The development has been in the works for more than a decade; in 2014, the Business Observer reported the project was under review by Manatee County planners.

The SeaFlower preview center is at 8114 Cortez Rd. W. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.