Located in the city of Bradenton, Florida just over 30 miles south of St. PetersburgIMG Academy is a premier preparatory boarding school that offers an integrated academic and athletic experience for a variety of sports, including baseball, basketball, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track and field, and cross country.

In addition to its many boarding school programs, IMG Academy also serves as a training and competition venue for amateur, collegiate, and professional teams.

Whatever your team’s reason for visiting IMG Academy is, you’re all in store for a great time. This is not only because of the numerous state-of-the-art facilities and amenities you’ll find at IMG Academy, but also because of all of the great experiences that can be had in Bradenton and the surrounding area.

 

Things to Do

Escape Bradenton

If you’re looking for a fun way to help bolster your team’s cooperation and teamwork skills before a big game, take them to Escape Bradenton. This popular escape room attraction is just a short, 12-minute drive from IMG Academy, making it easy to fit a visit to Escape Bradenton into even the busiest itinerary.

At Escape Bradenton, you and your team can choose from five different escape room experiences. Each one is unique but they’re all equally as thrilling.

Once you’ve entered the escape room of your choice, you and your team will be locked inside. After that, it’s up to you to find the way out. To do so, you’ll need to solve puzzles, find clues, and most importantly, think outside the box.

Even if you can’t manage to escape in under the set time limit, you and your team will leave Escape Bradenton with fond memories of your experience. 465 Cortez Rd, West Bradenton, FL 34207

 

Sarasota Classic Car Museum

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At the Sarasota Classic Car Museum, you and your team can get a glimpse of what kinds of cars lined the streets ever since the automobile was first invented.

As the second-oldest continuously operating antique car museum in the U.S., the Sarasota Classic Car Museum features an astounding collection of more than 75 immaculately restored vintage cars throughout its 60,000-square-foot facility.

The museum’s collection includes everything from an elegant 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II to a 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 that looks just like the one famously featured in the Back to the Future trilogy, as well as cars owned by celebrities like John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and John Ringling.

Before you leave, make sure to bring your team to the museum’s gift shop. There they can commemorate their visit to the Sarasota Classic Car Museum by purchasing a fun memento like a miniature version of their favorite car. For any vintage car aficionados you might be traveling with, the gift shop also features rare collectables, hard-to-find automotive books, and more. 5500 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34243

 

LECOM Park

Just a 15-minute drive from IMG Academy is LECOM Park, a popular local baseball stadium that’s been the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1969.

Formerly known as McKechnie Field, named for Bradenton resident and baseball legend Bill McKechnie, this baseball stadium has been nicknamed Florida’s Fenway Park because of its nostalgic charm and urban surroundings, which are reminiscent of the iconic Boston ballpark.

In addition to being the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, LECOM Park also hosts games for the Bradenton Marauders, a minor league, Class A-Advance affiliate of the Pirates. So, even if you and your team doesn’t happen to be visiting IMG Academy during the Pirate’s spring training, you can still catch a game of America’s favorite pastime in a charming, recently-renovated ballpark while in Bradenton. 1611 9th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205

 

Coquina Park

No Floridian excursion would be complete without a trip to the beach. Luckily for you and your team, one of the area’s nicest beaches is just a few miles from IMG Academy. Located at the southernmost end of Anna Maria Island, Coquina Park spans from gulf side of the island to the side that faces beautiful Sarasota bay.

In addition to crystal clear waters and white sand beaches, the gulf side of Coquina Park also accommodates beachgoers looking to picnic in picturesque surroundings with a number of pavilions, tables, and grills.

A one and a half-mile paved trail close to the gulf is a popular place to go for a jog or just a leisurely stroll. The trail passes many of the park’s other amenities, which include playgrounds, water fountains, concession stands, benches, changing cabanas, outdoor showers, and volleyball courts. Bayside, you’ll find more pavilions, trails reaching up to a 26-foot overlook, and more. 2651 Gulf Dr S Bradenton Bch, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

 

South Florida Museum

Although you and your team will likely spend most of your trip to Bradenton enjoying outdoor activities to make the most of the beautiful, sunny weather that Florida is known for, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for the possibility of a rainy day.

If some rain does happen to get in the way of your plans, don’t fret; the South Florida Museum, one of the state’s largest and most popular museums, is only a short drive from IMG Academy. The South Florida Museum offers a variety of engaging exhibits, many of which are related to the history of Florida’s Gulf Coast from the prehistoric to the present.

The museum also encompasses the Bishop Planetarium and the Parker Manatee Aquarium. At the Bishop Planetarium, you and your team can experience the wonders of the universe without ever leaving Earth thanks to the planetarium’s state-of-the-art projection and sound systems.

Once you’ve returned from your interstellar journey, head to the Parker Manatee Aquarium. There you can get up close and personal with manatees that are part of the museum’s rehabilitation program during live presentations that are offered daily. 201 10th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205

 

The Fish Hole

Although it’s a bit of a drive from IMG Academy at just under 30 minutes away, The Fish Hole is a miniature golf course that’s definitely worth the trip.

Featuring lush native foliage with interpretive signage and a 3,000-gallon pond filled with koi of all different sizes, The Fish Hole is unlike any other mini golf course you’ve ever been to. That’s because it looks more like a botanical garden than a place where people go to play a round of mini golf!

You’ll be enchanted by The Fish Hole’s charming atmosphere the moment you step onto their beautiful 18-hole course. Don’t forget to toss some fish food to the koi that call The Fish Hole home while you’re there! 117 Bridge St, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

 

To find hotel rooms closest to where your team is playing in Bradenton or any city, visit https://www.hotels4teams.com/. Hotels4Teams – The Best Hotels at the Best Prices, Closest to the Action!

 

Places to Eat

Anna Maria Oyster Bar

Since IMG Academy is located right on the Gulf Coast of Florida, you and your team won’t have to travel far to find fresh seafood prepared perfectly.

Located less than a 10-minute drive from the academy on the historic Bradenton Beach City Pier, the Anna Maria Oyster Bar is a fun and family-friendly seafood restaurant that many Bradenton locals swear by. Once you try some of their delicious oceanic offerings, you and your team will understand what all the buzz is about.

Despite its name, the Anna Maria Oyster Bar has far more to offer than just oysters. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, and on weekends they also provide brunch service around noon. 200 Bridge St, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

 

Lucky Frog Restaurant

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The Lucky Frog Restaurant is a popular Bradenton eatery serving both German and Mediterranean dishes. Because all of the items on the menu at the Lucky Frog are prepared using low-fat methods of cooking, it’s a great place to go if your team prefers to stay away from eating unhealthy food in the midst of a competition.

German offerings on the menu at the Lucky Frog include breaded pork schnitzel served alongside their tender homemade spaetzli and bratwurst with sauerkraut, German potato salad, and a small mixed salad.

On the Mediterranean side of things are dishes like tabbouleh salad, a gyro filled with grilled organic chicken and homemade tzatziki sauce, and more. 4625 Cortez Rd W, Bradenton, FL 34210

 

Thai Palace

If you and your team are looking to enjoy a taste of Thailand during your visit to IMG Academy, head to Thai Palace. This quaint eatery is especially popular among Bradenton locals thanks to their fresh ingredients, authentic recipes, and friendly service.

Their menu features all kinds of Thai dishes like basil fried rice, pad Thai, pad kee mow, and curry. If you’re feeling extra hungry, start your meal off with some of their delicious appetizers. These include eggs rolls, steamed dumplings, and even a dish called Duck Strips, made with duck tenderloin strips that are breaded, deep fried, and served with a refreshing cucumber sauce.

The menu at Thai Palace features a variety of decadent desserts as well, such as Thai donuts, lychee served on top of creamy homemade coconut ice cream, and more. 4756 Cortez Rd W, Bradenton, FL 34210

 

Blue Jasper Restaurant

For even more exotic cuisine, take your team to Blue Jasper Restaurant. The dishes on the menu at Blue Jasper Restaurant are probably unlike anything you and your team have ever had before, seamlessly blending together Southern American and traditional Indian cuisine in a way that’s deliciously unique.

Blue Jasper features both a breakfast and lunch menu. For breakfast, try their chicken and waffles, served with chipotle cream cheese and spiced maple syrup or biscuits and gravy made with ham and scallion biscuits topped with homemade Southern-style gravy, fried eggs, and scallions.

Lunchtime offerings include a flavorful lemongrass and coconut curry, a grilled cheese filled with smoked bacon, apple butter, grilled apple slices, and smoked Cheddar, and more.

If you’ve got some less-than-adventurous eaters on your team, they can enjoy more kid-friendly lunch options like chicken tenders or fish fingers, both served with a side of fries. 5718 Cortez Rd W, Bradenton, FL 34210

 

If the next event your team will be participating in is going to take place at IMG Academy, consider yourselves lucky. During your visit to the academy you and your team will get the chance to enjoy world-class amenities in addition to fun attractions, beautiful beaches, great restaurants, and the warm, sunny weather that Florida is so well known for. Don’t be surprised if your team doesn’t want to leave when it comes time to head back home!