Palma Sola Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Sailboat silhouette at sunrise Palma Sola Bay, Bradenton
Drone Sunset on the Palma Sola Bay in beautiful Bradenton, Florida.
EyeEm Custom Shoots Q4 2018
One of the weirdest wildlife encounters I had in Florida was with this wacky bird! I'm guessing he's an Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga).

He stayed nearly completely submerged, swimming underwater, stalking a school of fish. He'd only pop his head up every few minutes for a quick breath or when he'd catch a fish in his mouth sideways. Then he'd pop his head up with the fish in his mouth, flip the fish up in the air and catch it in the correct orientation to swallow it down.

Then back underwater for more hunting. This went on for at least 20-25 minutes. I have never seen a bird behave like this. I've seen cormorants dive down and disappear for a half a minute or so, but this was incredible to watch! 

Palma Sola Botanical Park is a 10 acre botanical garden located in Bradenton. It's beautiful AND free! 

The park showcases collections of rare palms, fruits, and flowering trees, as well as three lakes, a butterfly garden, gazebo, pavilion, and playground.
One of the weirdest wildlife encounters I had in Florida was with this wacky bird! I'm guessing he's an Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga).

He stayed nearly completely submerged, swimming underwater, stalking a school of fish. He'd only pop his head up every few minutes for a quick breath or when he'd catch a fish in his mouth sideways. Then he'd pop his head up with the fish in his mouth, flip the fish up in the air and catch it in the correct orientation to swallow it down.

Then back underwater for more hunting. This went on for at least 20-25 minutes. I have never seen a bird behave like this. I've seen cormorants dive down and disappear for a half a minute or so, but this was incredible to watch! 

Palma Sola Botanical Park is a 10 acre botanical garden located in Bradenton. It's beautiful AND free! 

The park showcases collections of rare palms, fruits, and flowering trees, as well as three lakes, a butterfly garden, gazebo, pavilion, and playground.

Popular places to visit

Activities


Our pick of the best Palma Sola Hotel Deals

Kompose Boutique Hotel

Kompose Boutique Hotel

3 out of 5
965 University Pkwy Sarasota FL
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Sarasota. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (5,173 reviews)
Nice hotel near airport. Clean, friendly. Enjoyed the heated pool & hot tub very much. Breakfast also very good.

Reviewed on 24 Mar 2026

Kompose Boutique Hotel
RumFish Beach at TradeWinds

RumFish Beach at TradeWinds

4 out of 5
6000 Gulf Blvd St. Pete Beach FL
The price is NZ$521 per night from 19 Apr to 20 Apr
NZ$521
19 Apr - 20 Apr
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this beach resort in St. Pete Beach. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 4 outdoor pools and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,714 reviews)
The place had some nice touches such as champagne toast upon arrival and the tastings on some of the nights at the neighboring property. The pools were nice and the food and drink were very good. I was disappointed in the room itself. I felt it was not up to the standards for the price charged. It ...

Reviewed on 23 Mar 2026

RumFish Beach at TradeWinds
Golden Host Resort - Sarasota

Golden Host Resort - Sarasota

3 out of 5
4675 N Tamiami Trl Sarasota FL
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Sarasota. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (2,375 reviews)
The pool was great, the staff was lovely, the floors were slightly dirty

Reviewed on 23 Mar 2026

Golden Host Resort - Sarasota
SkyBeach Resort

SkyBeach Resort

4 out of 5
6800 Sunshine Skyway Lane St. Petersburg FL
The price is NZ$395 per night from 29 Mar to 30 Mar
NZ$395
29 Mar - 30 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this beach hotel in St. Petersburg. Enjoy 2 outdoor pools, 2 restaurants and a private beach. Popular attractions Salvador Dali Museum and Fort De Soto ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (576 reviews)
The hot tub was broken. We had to pay for parking. No free coffee. No free breakfast. Our room looked to the roof. The bunkbed was wobble. Top that off with a $45 resort fee. We could have have stayed at Disney and been better taken care of. We will never stay here again.

Reviewed on 24 Mar 2026

SkyBeach Resort
Island Grand at TradeWinds

Island Grand at TradeWinds

4 out of 5
5500 Gulf Blvd St. Pete Beach FL
The price is NZ$521 per night from 20 Apr to 21 Apr
NZ$521
20 Apr - 21 Apr
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this beach resort in St. Pete Beach. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 5 outdoor pools and 4 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,064 reviews)
Room was terrible! AC did not work, Bathroom door knob was barely hanging on. Toilet was nasty upon check in, checked out the next day and moved to another venue. Completely dissatisified!

Reviewed on 23 Mar 2026

Island Grand at TradeWinds
Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Anna Maria Sound

Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Anna Maria Sound

4 out of 5
12324 Manatee Avenue West Bradenton FL
The price is NZ$472 per night from 12 Apr to 13 Apr
NZ$472
12 Apr - 13 Apr
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Bradenton. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (2,022 reviews)
Very clean rooms. Quiet. Good breakfast. Close to island

Reviewed on 23 Mar 2026

Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Anna Maria Sound
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Palma Sola

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Shore Acre Heights

Shore Acre Heights might not have many top sights, but LECOM Park and Anna Maria Sound are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Shore Acre Heights
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Belair Bayou

When in Belair Bayou, you can plan a visit to LECOM Park and Anna Maria Sound, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Belair Bayou
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Harbor Hills

While Harbor Hills isn't home to many top sights, LECOM Park and Anna Maria Sound are some notable places to visit nearby.

Harbor Hills
Path to a Gulf of Mexico beach in Bradenton Beach on the west coast of Florida

West Bradenton

While there might not be top attractions in West Bradenton, you can explore the larger area and discover places like LECOM Park and The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.

West Bradenton
Bradenton, Florida, USA Downtown on the Manatee River

River District

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in River District and surrounding area, you can visit LECOM Park and The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.

River District
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Pine Lakes

Though Pine Lakes may not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like LECOM Park and The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.

Pine Lakes


Palma Sola Travel Guide

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