Popularly known as “The Friendly City”, Bradenton is situated along the Manatee River and located in close proximity to the beautiful Anna Maria Island. One of the city’s gems is the Bradenton Riverwalk which provides a safe walking path along the river and is great spot for fishing. Numerous entertainment events and educational activities are held on the Riverwalk every year. The city is undertaking steps to further improve and expand the 1.5-mile Riverwalk with plans to add new parks, a mangrove boardwalk, and more. Another city gem is the 400-seat Mosaic Amphitheatre which lies in the city’s vibrant downtown. The amphitheater offers live entertainment, music, concerts, and community programs with the Manatee River as the backdrop.

Bradenton offers a plethora of things to do. It is home to a wide array of festivities held in the city’s many open spaces. Residents can watch boat races, kite flying and other watersports events. Enjoy horseback riding at the beach or marvel at the eclectic art community. 

Bradenton is a relatively affordable retirement destination, especially when you consider its close proximity to beautiful beaches. In fact, if you are comfortable living in a mobile home, you’ll find a lot of inexpensive options since there are some large mobile home communities in Bradenton. When searching for a home, be sure to search more than just retirement communities in Bradenton. Seniors make up nearly 1/4 of the population so the retirement lifestyle is well integrated into the community as a whole.