Yesterday I went to the dog beach. I also stopped by North Beach for a bit, and the East Beach at…read moreFort De Soto. Being that it's pretty much at the tail end of Snowbird season there wasn't many people here. I liked all three beaches I actually saw zero dogs at the dog beach. Guess it was just bad luck. North Beach had some people spread out. I was only there for about 30 minutes. My favorite was the east beach which had next to nobody and was extremely quiet. Also had the barge which I took a picture of. At least the beaches were relatively clean and you could sit on the sand for a while and hang out. Very calming, peaceful, and serene.

This was our favorite pet friendly beach we went to during our vacation. The waves were less harsh,…read moreso our Border/Aussie had a lot more fun and was more brave while swimming (she is used to lakes and rivers, not big ocean waves). Our Aussie loved making new friends and everyone we encountered at this beach was incredibly friendly. Our dogs even made friends with another tri-color Aussie while we were there. There are lots of shells to find and collect for the humans and the sand is no where near as hot as Brohard Beach in Venice. We didn't have to put our dogs' boots on to protect their paws from the heat, so they got to free roam and have more fun. I think with the location and the calmer waters, this beach gets a lot more fun wildlife sightings- right before we got there a pod of dolphins and a manatee swam by. And while we were out in the water we had a baby sting ray swim past us. Brohard was also a lot busier than Fort Desoto, so it the laid-back atmosphere was nice. Fort Desoto has an enclosed dog park, but I don't think it had separate areas for big/small dogs like Brohard does. (I am not 100% sure on that since we did not use it, but it appeared to only be one large fenced-in area.) Fort Desoto also does not have a designated pet wash station like Brohard does, but we stayed until sunset and let the dogs air dry as best as they could and then rubbed their fur down with towels before they got in the car.

Cute, little, fenced in dog park in a quiet neighborhood. This dogpark is located inside the Ron…read moreMcKenney park. It is near picnic tables, water and there's also a pavilion. The dog park itself has a water station, poop baggies, and a couple of benches. It is shielded in trees that provide plenty of shade. It is located on the corner of Gulf Ave and 93rd BLVD. There is an adjacent free parking lot. Both small and large breeds share the same area. Our furry buddy had a good'o time here.

Emerson Point is one of those how-is-this-not-more-famous? kind of places. Whether you're into…read morehiking, biking, kayaking, or just soaking up the views, there's always something fun to do. The hiking trails are great, the kayak launches make it easy to get out on the water, and the observation tower is a must--climb to the top for an awesome bird's-eye view, including the Sunshine Skyway Bridge showing off in the distance. There are plenty of picnic spots, plus a pavilion with nearby restrooms (always a win). One of our favorite things is walking out to the Portavant Temple Mound, where helpful signs bring the area's history to life. And if you're looking for photo ops, this place delivers--nature shots, family photos, you name it. We've had ours taken here more than once. No matter if you're exploring, relaxing, or snapping pictures, Emerson Point always has beauty waiting around the corner. There's even a welcome center near the pavilion to get you started. A perfect spot to wander, relax, and fall a little in love with Florida!

This was our first time here and there is so much more to explore! We drove all the way to the…read morepoint and parked in the lot. There are portable bathrooms there and a lot of small beaches. We walked and stopped and enjoyed the water! We brought the bike and scooter and stroller but didn't get a chance to use them this time although there are plenty of good sidewalks to use! We will be back!

Bright as the day is, but a new addition to a new addition to Bradenton! My heart breaks slightly…read morefor the older houses and undeveloped land that used to be here, but progress shines brightly on Bradenton, and this park is a wonderful example of that! There's doggy poo bags, and I'm not sure why, but across the street is another unlabeled park with a smaller playground in the shade and it's absolutely strange. They have astroturf and fake mounds, I cannot fathom why. It's only lacking a hole and some golfers... Either way, untapped park that I've never noticed before!

Great little park, the baby really loved it! I'll post some pictures! Has all the basics: slides,…read moretunnel, swings. Lots of neat stuff to climb up. Will definitely be coming back :)

This is an incredible park - it's squeezed between a marina and an airport so you're seeing boats…read moreand planes coming and going. They have a terrific playground here and so that's nice for kids to see. The playground is well designed and maintained. It is, fittingly, aviation-themed. Swings, slides, things to climb on - all that good stuff. There are a few free, non-metered parking spaces by the playground, then a bunch of metered spots on the strip going back to the Dali museum. I only have two places for improvement if any city bureaucrat is reading this: 1) much more shade by the playground. it's brutal in summertime without shade. trees or those canvas sunscreens. 2) upgrade the trash cans - squirrels and birds can easily get into the current trash cans and pull out food/trash.

Albert Whitted Park is a nice park that's waterfront. It's so nice and relaxing. I decided to go…read morehere and take an afternoon stroll one day and it was so nice and relaxing. There is a small playground area for kids.

Great park. Definitely a landmark for visitors wanting to see Florida's wildlife…read more I hope it continues to be treasured and we stop building highways all around it.

My local park- love it great place to clear your head and get a few steps in. See the wildlife.read more