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a man and woman in Keep Manatee Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful volunteer reflective vests, holding a trash picker on an anna maria island beach
Love It Like A Local

How to Leave the Bradenton Area As You Found It

Love It Like A Local

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.

Love It Like A Local

Love It Like A Local
person holding shell at the beach

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.

Love It Like A Local
Love It Like A Local
Love It Like A Local

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

Love It Like A Local

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.

Love It Like A Local

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. 

Love It Like A Local

With free beach trolleys, water ferries, electric golf carts, bikes, and more, there’s no need to drive a car!

Love It Like A Local

Manatees and other sealife are slow movers, so remember to cruise carefully, and respect no-wake zones and all signs on the water.

Love It Like A Local

When you’re on vacation, remember to relax, recharge, and recycle!

Love It Like A Local

Mangroves, sea oats, and seagrass are important parts of our ecosystem, so please leave them to grow undisturbed and refrain from disrupting the dunes.

Love It Like A Local

Pass on plastic and pick reusable bags, straws, water bottles, and utensils.

Love It Like A Local

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.

Love It Like A Local

Our local wildlife love their personal space, so always maintain a safe distance and never touch or feed them.

Love It Like A Local

Keep your trash in the bins and out of the waters, beaches, and natural landscapes. 

Love It Like A Local
Love It Like A Local

Show us how you

#Loveitlikealocal

Love It Like A Local

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