Kids like visiting Snooty the Manatee at Bradenton's South Florida Museum, playing mini golf at Smuggler's Cove or learning at the Mote Marine Science Aquarium, just south of Longboat Key, in neighboring Sarasota. Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa is a tad farther, but a favorite with the younger crowd. If the kids wouldn't mind a little drive, take them to Pelican Pete's Playland in Englewood, rumored to be an ideal birthday-party place. Additionally, there's some home-grown culture, too. Longboat Key Art Center attracts 1,100 members and sponsors eight exhibits and two special events during the season.
Galleries abound, especially on the barrier islands.
Shop 'til You Drop Galleries, boutiques and shops loaded with island-style casual clothes predominate on Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island and Sarasota's St. Armand's Circle, the latter in neighboring Sarasota. U.S. Highway 41 and Cortez Road location. For bargain shopping, sample Ellenton's more than 100 often upscale discounters at the Gulf Coast Factory Shops. Numerous shopping plazas and strip malls provide additional retail outlets. All are nearby.