The kids were scared to death to swim as they were afraid of being eaten by alligators. It was a hot - hot day. Like 99 degrees. It was too hot to hike - there was a bit of shade - but not enough to keep the kids happy or busy!
Nice boat ramp no facilities. Kept lake natural a treasure in the rough. Camping is available. Doesn't open until 8 am so don't go early.Watch bank for alligators
This bit of wild FL is easily accessible from Sarasota and Bradenton. If you take the boat tour, you are very likely to see 20 to 50 gators. The land tour gives you a view of FL cattle country in the early 1900s. You don't have to take a tour though to enjoy the park. The foot paths allow delightful hiking on level ground and well prepared paths. Don't skip the interesting and educational museum.
Not much to see. The lake is beautiful but a little disconcerting with signs all over warning about alligators.
enjoyed the quiet time at the park. Everyone were friendly as well as the staff. My wife's sister and brother in law live in Bradenton, Fl. This is the closest park to Bradenton. Wy wife and I camped with my Daughter and our two dogs. We had a third dog which is my daughter's service dog. This is our second stay. Our first stay was in the summer.
Great park camp there for a week there where really cool trails and loved the campsite set up the only problem was it said on website swimin put when you got there there was a sign that says harmful bacteria
A very pleasant to spend a non-beach day. Large park whose main attraction is a large fresh water lake. Some easily accessible hiking trails. The boat ride on the lake is themain attraction. It is a great way to see alligators and birds.
Nice sites, water, electric with dump station not far. Friendly staff. Small lake walking distance but I wouldn't swim there. Clean bathroom. Noise from highway, gun range and local racetrack but not all the time. Spring break brought local family's with tons of kids and bikes. I would guess 13 or 14 young kids on the 3 a joining sites so no listening to the birds and wind for us. Needed to ask parents to have children move bikes from roadway and that's another story. Decent place but would pick little manatee river state park over this one mostly because of noise.
You won't see any manatees at Lake Manatee. The brochures make it clear that the dam which produced the lake keeps its namesakes out of the lake. From this tourist's perspective, there wasn't much else to see, either. The "beach" was tiny and clogged with water hyacinths. Facilities were OK, as was the campground, Our best time was spent playing cards down by the lake and enjoying the sunset.
Just east of Bradenton on Manatee Ave. (State Road 64) lies this state park. Easy to find as signage gives plenty of notice, this park isn't as popular as Myakka State Park and has multiple trails, boat launches and a nearby restaurant to prepare you for a relaxing day.