February 2025
Visiting the Robinson Preserve – Bradenton, Florida
One of the aspects that attracted us to Anna Maria Island was the opportunity for bird watching and wildlife. The Bradenton area is home to a wide variety of wildlife – from sea turtles to manatees, bald eagles and alligators. Depending on what you want to see will determine which activity you should choose. Kayaking and boat tours are great for manatees and dolphins whereas hiking the numerous nature preserves will give you a great opportunity to bird watch. Since our time was limited, we only had room in the itinerary for one choice so we opted for the bird watching at Robinson Preserve.
Robinson Preserve has over 600 acres to explore that has coastal elements and salt marshes which is home to a wide variety of land, sea, and sky animals. Features of Robinson Preserve include hiking paths, water routes for kayaking including through mangroves, boardwalks, picnic tables, a 53 foot viewing tower, and a multiple use space for learning and recreational programs called the NEST (center for Nature, Exploration, Science and Technology) that also includes a Canopy Zone play area for kids.
Our walk started later in the day than would be optimal for bird watching but we did see fish jumping out of the water as well as a blue heron hiding in the mangroves. We heard osprey in the area as well. The paths are easy but there is not much shade so take note if you are visiting when it is hot or later in the day. I would love to return here to kayak in the future and come earlier in the day to get the best chance of spotting those birds. Enjoy this photo gallery of our time exploring a fraction of Robinson Preserve!
Adding one of the many wildlife preserves to your Anna Maria Island itinerary is a great way to start your day. I know when we return to Anna Maria Island we will definitely check out Robinson Preserve again in hopes of finding more wildlife!
Continue reading all the details of our trip – here!
To see our full itinerary – here!
See all blog posts for visiting Anna Maria Island – here!
Planning your trip? Check out the Perfect Itinerary for Anna Maria Island here!
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