Road trip! 6 day trips not too far from the Bradenton Area

A sunny day. The open road. The anticipation of a new destination. Who doesn’t love a road trip? Just outside the Bradenton Area, there are multiple attractions to explore, all within a two-hour drive. So fill up the tank and fire up the GPS. Here are our favorite one-day getaways for those times when the open road is calling your name.

Where Lego Comes to Life

About an hour-and-a-half from The Bradenton Area, the LEGO universe comes to life. LEGOLAND® Florida Resort is an interactive, 150-acre theme park with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions inspired by popular LEGO brands and characters. In addition to the rides and attractions are the LEGOLAND Water Park, a world-famous botanical garden and live entertainment and shows, including meet-and-greets with your favorite characters. The park is perfect for kids aged 2 to 12 and there’s more than enough to keep everyone occupied for the multiple days.

Florida’s Greatest Thrill Ride

An hour to the north, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a must-do attraction for thrill-seekers and animal lovers. Spread out over 335 acres, the natural beauty of the park separates it from many others in the area. And that beauty is only eclipsed by the large quantity attractions, including the Tigris roller coaster, Florida’s tallest, featuring forward and backward motion, breathtaking drops, a 150-foot skyward surge, and an inverted heart-line roll at more than 60 miles per hour. But beyond the excitement of the attractions are the animals. With more than 200 species, it’s one of the largest zoos in North America.

Connect to the Sea

Just a short drive north is one of the top aquariums in the country: The Florida Aquarium. You can learn about many of Florida’s aquatic and terrestrial animals and the ecosystems in which they live. Then, literally immerse yourself in their natural habitat. Swim or dive side-by-side with many types of sea life—including hundreds of reef fishes, sea turtles, moray eels, sand sharks and much more. When you’re finished there, search for dolphins on the Wild Dolphin Cruise aboard the Bay Spirit II, a 72-foot powered catamaran. Afterwards, grab your Penguins Backstage Pass to chill out with real African penguins in a fun and educational 30-minute, behind-the-scenes tour. Cap off the day at The Splash Pad, the Aquarium’s water play area.

Wander and Wonder

Just an hour away, the Tampa Museum of Art balances a growing collection — including one of the largest Greek and Roman antiquities collections in the southeastern United States — with a dynamic annual schedule of special exhibitions. The region’s largest institution devoted to the art of our time, the Museum has fostered a reputation for presenting contemporary photography and new media, most notably, Leo Villareal’s Sky (Tampa), a 14,000-square-foot LED installation on its south façade which has become an iconic landmark for Tampa. When you’ve finished your tour, stop by the Riverwalk Cafe at TMA, featuring favorite local flavors overlooking the Hillsborough River.

Sparking a Passion for Wildlife

Home to more than 1,300 animals, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, is famous for having one of the most beautiful, tropical zoological settings in the world. Only an hour from the Bradenton Area, the zoo brings animals and visitors together to create unforgettable, natural connections. Touch a giant tortoise, feed a giraffe, and get nose-to-horn with an Indian rhino, hand-to-fin with slippery stingrays and more. And for more excitement, splash in water play areas, jump on a ride or catch an educational show. The zoo cares for the most diverse group of Florida wildlife anywhere, and has won numerous awards for animal preservation.

A Place for Art, Architecture and…the Circus?

About 20 minutes to the south is The Ringling, an art museum housing a collection of artworks inside a remarkable pink colonnaded building. It’s part of the legacy left by John and Mable Ringling, who made their fortune in the early 20th century as part of the famous Ringling family circus. Built in the Renaissance-style around a sunken garden of fountains and statues, the building itself is a work of art. However, your admission gives you far more than this wonderful art museum. There’s also the Circus Museum, a guided tour that recounts the history of the Ringling brothers and how they developed their circus act into the Greatest Show on Earth.