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Sustainability
How to Leave the Bradenton Area As You Found It
Our pristine, white-sand beaches, abundant natural wildlife, and easy pace of life are not all that you can enjoy when visiting the Bradenton Area. Join locals and fellow visitors alike in efforts to leave the area as beautiful as we found it so that future generations will be able to enjoy the same natural wonders as we are today.
What does Love It Like A Local stand for? Well, for Bradenton Area locals, sustainability, preservation, and respect are more than just “buzzwords”; they’re a way of life. Why? Because no one loves this unique place as much as those who call it home. Now it’s your turn to learn how to play a pivotal role in protecting our little slice of paradise.
Shelling with Care
Nestled along the calm Gulf of Mexico, Bradenton Area barrier islands and neighboring keys provide a sanctuary for local wildlife and a wide variety of shell species. Collecting shells, or “shelling,” is a peaceful way to connect with nature while uncovering the treasures washed ashore by the gentle waves of the Gulf. But while it might be tempting to gather as many shells as you can carry, it’s important to respect marine life and their delicate habitat.
A leave no trace guide to the bradenton area
Watch this video to learrn more about how to Love It Like a Local and Leave No Trace when you are in the Bradenton Area
How to
#Loveitlikealocal
We encourage all visitors to love our community as though they lived here year-round — to Love It Like A Local. And we’ve partnered with Leave No Trace to offer useful and actionable tips for keeping our beaches and waterways clean, conserving energy, protecting wildlife, and supporting local businesses.
Applicable from Leave No Trace’s 7 Principles, check out the practical ways listed below that you can Plan Ahead & Prepare, Respect Wildlife, Dispose of Waste Properly, Be Considerate of Others, and Leave What You Find.
Use Lotion to save the ocean
Avoid aerosol sunscreens that release airborne chemicals into the environment, and opt for reef-safe lotion that won’t harm nature.
Don’t be a noisy neighbor
The Bradenton Area has a nightly noise ordinance beginning at 10 p.m. So be sure to bring the party inside and keep your voices low for those who aren’t on vacation.
Run Clean!
With free beach trolleys, water ferries, electric golf carts, bikes, and more, there’s no need to drive a car!
Be a good boater
Manatees and other sealife are slow movers, so remember to cruise carefully, and respect no-wake zones and all signs on the water.
Do your part
When you’re on vacation, remember to relax, recharge, and recycle!
Protect the plant life
Mangroves, sea oats, and seagrass are important parts of our ecosystem, so please leave them to grow undisturbed and refrain from disrupting the dunes.
Choose to reuse
Pass on plastic and pick reusable bags, straws, water bottles, and utensils.
Remember the turtles
Be sure you keep your lights dimmed at night from May through October so turtle hatchlings do not confuse your dinner party for the ocean.
Watch from afar
Our local wildlife love their personal space, so always maintain a safe distance and never touch or feed them.
Don’t be trashy
Keep your trash in the bins and out of the waters, beaches, and natural landscapes.
Animal Fun Fact
Manatee
Sometimes known as a sea cow, the average adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds! A migratory slow-moving species, you’re most likely to see them in the Bradenton Area during summer months.
Animal Fun Fact
Hermit Crab
A nocturnal species known for living in the shells of other sea creatures, hermit crabs are found around the Bradenton Area and have evolved a unique body shape to fit into the shell homes that they find.
Learn how to love it like a local
Watch the videos below to learn more ways to #LoveItLikeaLocal from a true expert!
Show us how you
#Loveitlikealocal
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