Play: Bradenton Riverwalk at sunset

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Bradenton Riverwalk Skatepark at sunset. HT ARCHIVE

Bradenton Riverwalk Skatepark at sunset. HT ARCHIVE

My wife’s a walker now — 3 to 5 miles a day — so on Saturday evening we headed out to Bradenton’s Riverwalk.

At the last minute, we decided to ride our bikes.

Call it cross-training.

And it was perfect.

Perfect timing. Perfect weather after a thunderstorm. Perfect sunset along the Manatee River.

I tried to take the perfect photo at the Riverwalk Skatepark, but couldn’t manage to capture the scene. You’ll have to trust me — it was glorious.

And this Riverwalk is Bradenton at its best.

Sarasota snobs, take note: We have nothing like this riverfront trail that links parks and recreation with marina restaurants and downtown bars and nightclubs.

Multi-use trail

The Riverwalk is a multi-use trail. It’s a place for cruiser bikes and skaters to weave around kids, dog walkers and fishermen.

There’s a great mix of people along the Manatee River.

Old people and young people. Rich people and poor people. Black, white and Hispanic people.

Even if you don’t ride a skateboard — I sure don’t — it’s nice to swing by the Riverwalk Skatepark.

There are beach volleyball courts next door, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone playing there. There is a playground at Rossi Park, where there are always kids and families.

All along the Riverwalk, there are benches, lounge chairs and swings. Those are popular, too.

Our one complaint was that there were a bunch of Riverwalk streetlights out near the Skatepark. Those sections are pretty dark. My wife said she would never walk there by herself.

riverwalk donut

Donut box left at Bradenton Riverwalk. STAFF PHOTO / THOMAS BECNEL

Leftover donuts

Our Riverfront jaunt should have included dinner at the YachtSea Grill, but my wife already has a favorite local restaurant.

It’s the red taqueria truck behind the Dollar General Store at State Road 70 and E. 15th Street. That’s our first stop on any trip through Bradenton.

After scarfing down tacos, we drove out to the Riverwalk and parked next to Manatee Memorial Hospital.

We cruised east to the Tarpon Pointe Grill & Tiki Bar, then swung back toward downtown.

Near the City Pier, we stopped for a strawberry shake at Corwin’s ice cream parlor.

On the ride back to our car, we saw something that made me laugh.

Someone had brought a box of donuts down to the Riverwalk. When they couldn’t finish the box, they left a donut with a sign that said “Eat Me.”

The perfect note to end the perfect day.

Last modified: September 3, 2015
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