Things to Do in South Bradenton

Art in the eyes of Cara Levitt isn't only about aesthetics––it's a powerful tool of personal expression that can be used to heal unseen emotional wounds. A board-certified art therapist with six years of experience working in the mental-health field, Levitt established Draw It Out Art Therapy to help visitors grapple with life's obstacles while learning to problem solve, regulate their emotions, and create original works of art as a tangible form of catharsis. Her programs for singles, groups, families, and children take on a variety of issues, including low self-esteem and anxiety, and encourage participants to redirect their energy into completing a number of projects such as paintings, worry jars, and piñatas made of papier-mâché pink slips.

Certified as a 100 Ton Master Captain by the U.S. Coast Guard, Red Devil Fishing Adventures’ Captain John Gibson leads near-shore reef-fishing excursions in Gulf waters from Venice to Tarpon Springs. Captain John's 24-foot motorized vessel disengages its seaworthy hull from shore to chase after undersea denizens such as cobia, grouper, snapper, and mackerel, offering aspiring anglers high-quality gear and lines with which to angle. Besides fishing expeditions, the captain regularly wanders away from the mainland to engage in bird watching, shelling, nature tours, and languid afternoons of sunbathing on West Florida's isolated islands. Excursions run seven days a week and are subject to weather conditions, availability, and favorable predictions from the captain’s magic 8 ball.

Having judged six world-championship shows as a USEF Big R judge, Rick Davis bestows his time-earned expertise upon riders visiting his 11-acre ranch. The stable offers private and group riding lessons in addition to horse boarding and training services. A saddlery stocked with tack, saddles, and riding apparel sits next to the lounge, which is heated and air-conditioned to ensure an ideal temperature during private parties whatever the occasion or dress code. Over the past 40 years, Rick Davis Stables has produced a number of champions, who inspire beginners hoping to master the art of equitation.

With backgrounds in marine science and conservation, Sea Life Kayak Adventures’ guides tailor their tours to highlight the Sarasota coastline's natural splendor. They limit their expeditions to no more than 10 kayakers at a time, allowing groups to glide quietly through bays and mangrove islands without disturbing nesting herons, ambling manatees, or staring contests between sea cucumbers. Additionally, their vast knowledge of the region’s best bird-watching islands and sea-life feeding grounds empowers guides to customize tours to suit each group’s wildlife-watching ambitions. Dedicated to giving back to the waters that support their passions and livelihoods, Sea Life Kayak Adventures' owners and guides are members and volunteers at organizations including the Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Center Inc., Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, and the Save the Manatees Foundation.

Designed by Ted McAnlis to take advantage of the area’s natural wetlands, the fairways at The Preserve Golf Club are riddled with water hazards and marshy areas. Water comes directly into play on 9 of the course’s holes, and players end up traipsing across 11 bridges as they hit their way from beginning to end. Many stumble at the 3rd hole, whose aim-blocking sabal palms earn it a handicap of 1, or at the course’s signature 17th hole, which drowns balls left and right. The course’s greens are newly recarpeted with ultradwarf bermuda grass, and pines, oaks, and palms line the fairways, their branches grasping at stray balls like nature’s catchers' mitts.

Before tackling the aquatic mischief of the championship course, golfers can take aim at the island target greens of the aqua driving range, where 40 hitting stations let players gear up for the watery course. After facing down the fairways, players select from a deli-style menu at Ryder Cup Grille, which features live music from artists such as Larry Crane, longtime guitarist for John Mellencamp.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 7,000 yards
• Course rating of 74
• Slope rating of 141
• Three tee options
• See the scorecard

The instructors at True Blue Horse Farm instill the subtleties of horsemanship in students of all ages and abilities. Prior to each private lesson, students spend 30 minutes preparing for their time atop one of the many resident horses. They then review proper safety and grooming techniques before saddling the animal and memorize its life story to prevent awkward lapses in conversation.

Once settled, both the instructor and pupil lead hoofed vehicles out onto the farm's 2-acre grass ring, complete with a full jumping course. Students may choose to receive their instruction in the riding styles of hunting and jumping, which recall classic English foxhunting, or dressage, which involves commanding the horse to perform nimble maneuvers without having to yell at it or install a steering wheel.