Horseback Riding On The Beach Bradenton/Anna Maria Island

Looking for something new and exciting to do? How about horeseback riding on the beach? Or even better- How about riding a horse that is swimming in the bay?! Cool, right?! Well in Bradenton, FL you can do just that!



We noticed people riding horses in Palma Sola Bay on our way to Anna Maria Island from Bradenton and I had to look more into it. It turns out you can pay to go out with a guide who will help you ride a horse that is actually swimming! They can also teach you how to HorseSurf™ and HorseSki™if you want. It looks like so much fun!



Price: $124.95 per person plus sales tax

You can search for available dates here as this experience is by appointment only and apparently sells out quite frequently. You must make your appointment 12 hours in advance and no refunds are offered. You can contact BeachHorses.com at 941-907-7272 if you have any questions or want to book an appointment during normal business hours.

The site location is off of Manatee Ave in Bradenton. Look for a truck and a horse trailer!



Your ride will last approximately one hour in which the first half will be spent riding the horse on the beach and the second half will be spent in the water. You will be able to try HorseSurfing if you would like where you stand on the back of the horse while he/she is swimming! After the ride, you will have an opportunity to pose with your horse on the beach for some photos. Spectators are allowed as everything takes place at a public park so bring someone who can take photos or a water proof camera so you can take some yourself!


What to bring:

-Towels

-Dry clothes

-Sunscreen (That Florida sun is brutal!)

-Waterproof Camera

-Extra cash to tip your guide (not required but recommended)





I'm super excited to try this out next time we visit Bradenton! I will definitely share our experience when we do.

Have you ever done anything like this? I'd love to hear about your experience!

Courtyard Marriott Bradenton Sarasota Riverfront

We recently took a trip to Bradenton, FL to see our friends tie the knot and had the pleasure of staying at the beautiful Courtyard Marriott Bradenton Sarasota/Riverfront.



The hotel overlooks the Manatee River and is close to downtown Bradenton nightlife. It is close enough to walk but was much easier to pay for the $6 cab ride! I definitely wouldn't recommend the walk during the day in the summer but wasn't too horrible at 10 o'clock at night in flip flops. =]

With 5 floors, 96 rooms, 57 suites, and 5 meeting rooms, there was plenty of room to accommodate all of the guests for the wedding we were attending as well as another wedding that was taking place on the same day at the hotel!

THE HOTEL:
The lobby has a very homey feel to it when you walk through the front door and is very inviting. There are multiple areas to sit and chat while you wait for the rest of your party including a media room right off the lobby. The furnishings and decor made you feel more like you were at home than at a hotel.

The Market is just off the lobby as well and offers sodas, snacks, and toiletries for purchase.

 

There is a boarding pass printing station right in the lobby which I thought was pretty convenient for guests who need to print their passes before heading to the airport.



The parking is complementary for guests which I feel should be the case for all hotels but have been to some (usually downtown) that charge an extra fee to park. They also offer free wifi for guests. Check in was pretty typical at 3pm and check out was noon which was very nice. We definitely enjoyed our extra hour of sleep the day after the wedding!

THE POOL:
The pool is pretty typical for a Marriott and not really anything too exciting. I personally think they should have taken advantage of the waterfront view and built the pool a little closer to the river but it was still a great place to catch some sun and hop in the water on those hot Florida summer days. There was also a spa but it was way too hot to enjoy that this time of year!





THE COURTYARD:
The fountains in the courtyard were beautiful and made for a very nice backdrop for the wedding.




OUR ROOM:
Our room was very comfortable with a King size bed, a desk/chair work station, a couch area, a mini fridge/bar area, and closet build into the TV stand. The bathroom was pretty standard with one sink and a shower/tub. Again, the room felt very homey and inviting and I was impressed with the furniture and art work.






We ordered room service from The Bistro Restaurant one morning and were not disappointed! We both had the Breakfast BLT with a side of fruit. The menu is more extensive than I was expecting and worked great for us when we were looking for a quick bite to eat.




There was a Tiki bar not too far from the hotel (another $6 cab ride) that we went to after the wedding and a seafood restaurant across the street. If you are looking for the beach, a short 10 mile drive down 64 will take you to the shores of Holmes beach on Anna Maria island. We went exploring one day and found one of my new favorite restaurants The Sandbar and some beautiful beaches!

I really enjoyed the Courtyard Marriott Bradenton Sarasota/Riverfront and we will definitely consider staying again the next time we are in town!

Have you ever been to Bradenton? Have any tips or fun places to check out?