Bradenton Beach, Florida: A Hidden Paradise

The gulf coast is a different side of paradise than Florida's east coast, with the tumultuous Atlantic Ocean making it the surfer's destination. On the west coast of Florida, the gulf waters are sublime, sub-tropic greens with hints of aqua marine blue. There is a special beach located in Manatee County, between Sarasota, Long Boat Key and Anna Maria Island.

Bradenton Beach, located adjacent to Anna Maria Island, is a shell collectors' paradise. This beach is generally known for its calm stretch of powdery white sand, located between the artsy St. Armand's Circle area of Sarasota, and the vacation stilt homes of Anna Maria Island, with Coquina Beach continuing past Bradenton Beach back to the Sarasota area.

Bradenton Beach is known to the locals lucky enough to live in the area as the perfect retirement destination, with balmy year-long tropical weather, and world class water sport activities. Most locals enjoy beach life on a daily basis, the silver and pastel pink sunset watching is a local evening ritual. This is when the hot sun fades into the aqua marine horizon, casting shades of silver that shimmer off the surface of the water as the sun goes down, a common picturesque occurrence in this part of Florida.

Many of the locals go shelling in the mornings, then relax on the beach, or take leisurely strolls as the sun sets after a lucky day of finding beautiful shells. Bradenton Beach is by far one of the best shelling destinations, second only to Sanibel.

In Sanibel, known is the shelling capitol; the water is sometimes fierce with riptides and boat traffic. There is a small stretch of sand with lots of beautiful, little shells in a small stretch of beach, where the majority washes up from the strong currents. This is perhaps why it is known mostly for shelling, along with some fantastic finds, but if you want to go swimming, Bradenton Beach is a little calmer.

In Bradenton Beach, there are some beautiful emerald green, tall waves that bring forth a plethora of native Floridian shells that are plentiful and vast along the entire stretch of powder, the same kinds of shells found along the Gulf in Sanibel as well.

One can find perfect sand dollars, and a variety of coquina, conch and beautiful little ocean treasures, nature's perfect jewelry. The shells are easily found intact. They look like shells one may find in a gift shop!

Bradenton Beach has an interesting history, for it was incorporated in 1953, and not acknowledged till around 1920. Florida's indigenous tribes have been around for thousands of years. Native American occupation dating two thousand years ago, with remnants of fishing and hunting tools was evident, and can be viewed in the local museums. Florida's Indians used to fish in the area along Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria Island, which is still one of Florida's premier fishing destinations, spanning to Tampa Bay. The Spanish, credited for naming Anna Maria Island, arrived in Bradenton in 1530, and the landing point of Bradenton is rumored to be one of the spots for Hernando de Soto and other Spanish explorers. Bradenton and its beach are accessible from I-75.