The IMG Academy, the world’s most reputable sports, performance, and educational institution, is situated pretty close to many top attractions in Bradenton, Florida. The multi-sport training and educational institute is located within a short drive of some beautiful beach towns like Anna Maria Island, Siesta Key, Holmes, and Longboat Key.
These areas play host to several white sandy beaches, golf courses, restaurants, shopping malls, and exclusive resort-like complex buildings that boast upscale apartments with amenities galore. Whether you’re reuniting with your IMG Academy pals or are just looking to get away from it all with your friends or family, there’s no other place to spend some quality time—and create some fantastic memories—than around the IMG Academy area in Bradenton or even around Anna Maria Island.
The Best Experiences: The IMG Academy, Bradenton & Anna Maria Island
A new adventure awaits you every day and night in and around the IMG Academy, Bradenton, and Anna Maria Island. Here are the best things to do during your vacation:
Discover the vibrant Downtown Bradenton
For a relaxed walk along the Manatee River or an exploration of the eclectic collection of galleries, studios, restaurants, healing arts, and specialty shops, the vibrant Downtown Bradenton is the place to be. It’s a lively and exciting area, loaded with culture and unique things to do.
Race against the clock as you explore the area’s best landmarks, restaurants and bars, local markets, art galleries, and shops. Attend some exciting multi-cultural events in the 1.5-mile Riverwalk park. A few blocks away from the park, you can explore the colorfully-restored 1920s bungalows at the Village of the Arts, offering some respite in art, fashion, music, and wellness. Businesses in the artistic hub open each day of the week (daily hours may vary).
Visit the sports facilities at LECOM Park, the state-of-the-art IMG sports camp, to cheer on local teams. Don’t miss the traditional flea market, Red Barn Flea market, where you can explore many booths and shops for some food produce.
Explore some of Florida’s best beaches
Everyone loves a fabulous beach day, and there’s no shortage of them in and around the Bradenton and Anna Maria Island area. With some of Florida’s best beaches featuring white sands, glittering turquoise waters, and lots of sunshine, you’ll surely enjoy a fantastic day at the beach.
The vast stretch of beach areas offers tons of free parking, picnic spaces, rivers, and waterways, including Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Whether you’re capturing photos of willets, taking shades close to Australian pines, or under the beautiful cypress trees, you’ll bask in the cultured nature experiences of these beaches.
Bradenton and Coquina beaches in Anna Maria are instant big hits with families with just about everything desired; playground, dressing areas, lifeguards, grills, restrooms, natural beach habitat, name them. Several other premium beaches in Longboat and Siesta Keys are “washed up” with adventures, from parasailing, snorkeling, paddleboarding to boating. Beachgoers can also enjoy a sweeping view of the Gulf of Mexico, preferable for some Instagram-fit sunset photography shoot on some of these beaches.
Most importantly, if you decide to stay awhile around these areas, you’ll find some beautiful Viagem apartments loaded with all you need for an exclusive seaside or beach getaway.
Visit top championship golf courses
Photo Source: YouTube-Aerial of IMG Academy Golf Club by Tampa Randy
When you attain the absolute impact position in golf, the game becomes much more exciting. Fortunately, some beautiful and top championship golf courses in and around IMG Academy and Bradenton offer challenging play for golfers. Get ready for the magnificent views, exciting golf bunkers, and challenging holes!
Whether you are a scratch golfer or a beginner, the IMG Academy Golf Club has an 18-hole championship golf course, as well as several practice areas where you can take your golfing game to the next level.
The upscale community of Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club boasts miles of recreational trails for golfing and wildlife watching. Nestled between Bradenton and Sarasota, the golf club features 54-hole golf and three courses, as well as a 400-yard practice range for golf lovers. It’s one of the most desirable places to live in Florida, offering more than just fine dining facilities and luxury apartments. The expanding Waterfront at Main Street in the ranch, a co-op neighborhood, sits within walking distance of shopping and entertainment venues, pubs, festivals, and farmer’s markets.
The regular golf courses on Longboat Key, the Islandside Golf Club, and the Harbourside Golf Course are ideal for counting strokes and swing drills. Better still, done against the backdrop of the Gulf of Mexico.
Visit Performing Arts Venues
Many performing arts venues host several ballets, opera, symphony, or theatre around the Bradenton-Sarasota area and Anna Maria Island. The usual performing art venues include Manatee Performing Arts Center, The Island Players Theater, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Asolo Repertory Theatre, and Sarasota Opera House.
Look out for concerts, festivals, and art talks at Bradenton’s Riverwalk or the historic downtown Venice. The Anna Maria Island Concern Chorus & Orchestra also performs four concerts per year and a Symphony on the Sand every November. The 10-day Sarasota County Fair also takes place every March at the Sarasota Fairgrounds & Robarts Arena.
Other multi-cultural events in Manatee county have always enjoyed so much fandom and charming pandemonium. Such is Realize Bradenton and the Manatee Performing Arts Centre’s popular new free concert series, Music in the park (ing Lot). The socially-distanced event holds in fifty parking spaces, four people (also chairs) allowed per space – reservations required. The event takes place inside the theatre, should it rain, but then only two people per car will be allowed – masks required. The Big Truck Day will also hold in a drive-through format this year.
Go horseback riding on the beach
Nothing like a “cinematic vacation”, horseback riding – on the beach and in the waters – in Manatee County. The Great World Adventures and The Real BeachHorses are among the reliable companies offering booking in advance. You can also organize horseback riding in the woods around the forested areas within the Manatee State Park.
Bradenton and Anna Maria beaches boast other activities aside from horseback riding, including waterfront dining and various shopping options.
Sip some of South Bradenton Best Brews
Photo Source: Darwinbrewingco.com
What’s your drink of choice? Margarita, pina colada, daiquiri, rum punch, ice-cold beer, or an ice-cold lemonade? Relish outstanding beers and diverse taproom options in some of the best breweries in the Sarasota- Bradenton-Venice area. Enjoy a variety of premium drinks accompanied by a blend of culinary and dining experience, including dishes such as shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, as well as burgers and sandwiches.
The breweries also host weekly live events. Notable names include the Darwin and Big Top Brewing companies, Three Keys Brewing and Eatery, and Calusa Brewing.
Places to Stay In & Around IMG Academy, Bradenton & Anna Maria Island
There are incredible places to stay around the IMG Academy, Bradenton, or even Anna Maria Island. For your next vacation, you may want to consider staying in one of Viagem’s modern apartments in Bradenton for an opportunity to actively indulge in the local lifestyle.
In conclusion, with so many choices for things to do, beautiful attractions, impressive dining experiences, and some of Florida’s beautiful white-sand beaches to enjoy, life is pretty amazing when you’re in or around the IMG Academy, Bradenton-Sarasota area, and Anna Maria Island. Above all, you will not be disappointed by the long list of fun and enriching things to do in and around the area.
Can’t wait to check the IMG Academy, Bradenton, or Anna Maria Island off your travel bucket list? Start planning your vacation today!
