Heading north across the river from Bradenton is Palmetto, Ellenton, Lakewood Ranch and Terra Ceia. Once strictly farming and fishing towns, these areas have evolved into tourist destinations with marina activity, museums, parks and restaurants worth the trip.

Parks and recreation in Ellenton and Palmetto
Be it hiking or birdwatching, the
Ellenton & Palmetto areas offer parks
and recreation areas for everyone.
Palmetto is located on the north shore of the Manatee River. This quaint city is home to Palmetto Historical Park, the Manatee County Agricultural Museum and the Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site, an ancient Native American site.

To the southeast of Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch is a 7,000-acre master-planned community offering world-class recreational facilities, from the Sarasota Polo Club to the Sarasota International Cricket Club and its very own Main Street dining and shopping district.
Anchored by University Parkway, this cultural community winds north across the Braden River.

Ellenton is just a short drive east from Palmetto. The historic Gamble Plantation, the only antebellum plantation house surviving in peninsular Florida, is a landmark in the Ellenton area. Previously home to Major Robert Gamble and headquarters of an extensive sugar plantation, the house and 16 acres were saved by the United Daughters of the Confederacy and donated to the state.

Ellenton is home to Ellenton Premium Outlets, with more than 130 factory direct stores.
Shopping at Ellenton Premium Outlets
There are over 130 factory direct stores at Ellenton Premium Outlets.
Sarasota / Bradenton Area Map
Manatee County Visitor Information Sarasota County Visitor Information
Local Beaches in Ellenton and Palmetto
These amazing communities are minutes
from local beaches.
Historical Parks in Ellenton and Palmetto
Go back in time at Palmetto Historical Park.
Gable Plantation in Palmetto
Explore the only antebellum plantation house surviving in peninsular Florida at the Gable Plantation in Palmetto.