Bradenton

Bradenton is a city on the Florida West Coast. Its economy is based on tourism and agricultural products. Tropicana, the orange juice company, and Bealls are headquartered here.

By plane

 * You can arrive by air at Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport, on the border between Sarasota and Manatee counties, south of Bradenton.
 * You can also fly into Tampa International Airport, in Tampa. Tickets to Tampa are generally cheaper and it's easier to get a direct flight since the airport is bigger.
 * The third option is a smaller airport St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. (PIE) The airport is predominantly served by Allegiant Airlines and features direct flights from many mid-sized northern cities.

By car

 * Easy access by car from Interstate 75.

Get around

 * The MCAT (Manatee County Area Transit) bus system stops at all the major shopping areas, beaches, schools, hospitals, etc.

Stay safe
For the most part Bradenton is a safe city, with crime rates among the lowest in Tampa Bay Area. However some areas, especially south of downtown, tend to have a higher concentration of crime, especially at night.

Don't walk around by yourself late at night or carry around expensive objects or large amounts of cash. Driving is normally pretty safe, though carjackings have been known to happen. When driving around at night, lock your car doors and windows and stick to major roads to avoid getting lost and ending up in a bad neighborhood.

Go next

 * Sarasota
 * Saint Petersburg
 * Palmetto
 * Anna Maria Island &mdash; swim, jetski, windsurf, or ride the trolley
 * Longboat Key Beaches