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THE PALMS IN THE RIVIERA DUNES COMMUNITY

The Palms overlooks the Riviera Dunes Community in Palmetto.  Situated around a hurricane-safe harbor, Riviera Dunes is one of the premier waterfront communities in Southwest Florida offering residents a quiet lifestyle along the waterfront.  The community is a boat-lover’s paradise just 10 minutes (by boat) away from the Gulf of Mexico.  One of the largest master-planned communities in the area, Riviera Dunes is located in the Tampa / Sarasota area and is surrounded by some of Florida’s most vibrant neighbourhoods – all offering an amazing amount of amenities, recreational opportunities, cultural and sporting centres, beautiful beaches and places to enjoy fine dining or a casual lunch.

Visit other pages in this section to learn more about the area – where to DINE | SHOP | GO BOATING | GOLF | RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES | ENJOY THE BEACH – all near The Palms!

COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING THE PALMS

PALMETTO
Historic Palmetto is a waterfront community located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, midway between Tampa/St. Petersburg to the north and Sarasota to the south. Palmetto offers many enjoyable features, including twelve city-owned parks, basketball and tennis courts and is host to many festivals throughout the year.  The City has seen dramatic growth and expansion, but continues to maintain the “Old Florida” charm that residents and visitors have come to love.

BRADENTON (1 minute away)
Voted one of Style America Magazine’s 25 best cities in the USA, the city of Bradenton is located just across the river from The Palms – in fact, you’ll have views of the city from your terrace.   Bradenton is surrounded by miles of waterways, both fresh and saltwater.  Along the blue-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and into Tampa Bay are over 20 miles of beaches.  There’s plenty to do in Bradenton, including a vibrant downtown with restaurants, galleries and boutiques and museums.  Shop and explore Village of the Arts, a working artists’ community or check out Emerson Point Preserve archaeological site and Gamble Plantation or the historic fishing village of Cortez.  The swimming, boating and fishing activities available in Bradenton also make the city a great place to be — and it’s all just minutes away.

ST. PETERSBURG (15 minutes away)
St. Petersburg is known as the “City by the Sea,” and with good reason. St. Pete, as the locals like to call it, is famous for its 35 miles of beaches.  Historic St. Pete is replete with many attractions for locals and tourists alike. Downtown is called “The Quarter,” and is considered the heart of the city. It’s located off Beach Drive and gives easy access to art galleries such as the world famous Salvador Dali museum, elegantly refurbished hotels, restaurants and a proliferation of antique stores. With its temperate year-round weather, St. Petersburg is truly the “City by the Sea”.

SARASOTA  (20 minutes away)
The beauty of Sarasota will get your attention on your first visit. White sand beaches, sophisticated arts, world-class shopping, legendary fine dining and community events coupled with the area’s natural beauty and year-round good weather are just a few reasons that Sarasota ranks among the nation’s most popular communities.  Sarasota has all the charm of a southern town with the conveniences of a big city.  The county supports a wide variety of recreational activities and arts organizations. Among them are theater, ballet, opera and international film festivals usually found only in larger urban areas.  In fact, Southern Living magazine recently named Sarasota County “the nation’s per capita arts capital.” If you are more the athletic type, outdoor activities are plentiful as well, from beach combing to biking.

ST. ARMAND’S CIRCLE (25 minutes away)
Centrally located on the lushly landscaped island of Lido Key, St. Armand’s Circle is one of the area’s gems.  You’ll find buildings featuring beautiful architecture, lush landscaping, a superb shopping area and upscale restaurants and cafes.   Lido Key also boasts stunning beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, year-round lifeguards, acres of recreation area along the bay, spectacular views, playgrounds and pools for lounging at our public beach. For those visiting Lido Key in search of peace and quiet, enjoy one of our hidden white sugar sand beaches and relax your days away.


ANNA MARIA ISLAND (18 minutes away)
Anna Maria Island is northernmost on the string of barrier islands that extend in a southerly direction, the only other set of keys in this latitude aside from the infamous Florida Keys. Anna Maria Island just may be one of the most unpretentious places left on the planet. No one’s consulting their schedule here – they’re too busy with more important activities – like eating grouper sandwiches at funky little beach bars, kayaking with dolphins in Palma Sola Bay, fishing from an old wooden pier, or watching the sky turn 10 shades of beautiful as the sun settles into the Gulf of Mexico. Life is simple here and good.

LONGBOAT KEY (30 minutes away)
Stretching narrowly for twelve sun-drenched miles between the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay, Longboat Key provides an ideal beach and bayfront setting for your pleasure.  Longboat Key is home to a host of golf and tennis resorts, some of the county’s finest restaurants and designer shops, not to mention mostly secluded snow-white beaches.  This barrier island, sharing space with more casual venues as you venture further north, remains peacefully devoid of crowds. It’s no wonder that our coveted island captivated the readers of Condé Nast.


TAMPA (40 minutes away)

With a personality as big as its coastline, Tampa is world of experiences in a single city.  Located just 40 minutes from The Palms, the city is the third largest in Florida.  Glistening waterways wrap around the region’s miles of coastline, providing scenic views and passageways for dolphins, manatees and other sea life.  For your dining experience, Tampa has something for every palate. Head downtown for king-size steaks in palatial opulence or go Spanish or Cuban among the cigar shops in Ybor City. Try Thai or Japanese in Westshore, take a dinner cruise around Tampa Bay or stay ashore to savour Mexican, Deep South or Italian cuisine.

Tampa offers many unique cultural, and entertaining experiences, including the Tampa Theater, the Jobsite Theater, The Florida Orchestra and Stageworks Theater.  Some of the area’s favorite attractions include Busch Gardens, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Tampa Bay History Center, SS American Victory and the Tampa Museum of Art.  For sports fans, Tampa is home to NFL footballs’ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays, and hockey’s Tampa Bay Lightning.