By Dathan Kazsuk
Breeze Airways may still feel like the little airline that quietly slipped into RDU without a lot of chest-thumping, but it has become a serious player at Raleigh-Durham International. Since launching service in 2023, Breeze has expanded rapidly at the airport, with RDU announcing in late 2025 that the airline planned to operate 32 nonstop routes from here and to open a crew base in 2026. That’s a far cry from its early days, and it says a lot about how aggressively the airline has planted its flag in the Triangle. Key West is now part of that growing map, and Sarasota-Bradenton is, too, giving Raleigh travelers an easy shot at two very different flavors of Florida.
That growing connection was the backdrop Thursday night, March 19, when the Bradenton Area Tourism Bureau rolled into Terrace Raleigh to remind a small group of local media that Florida’s Gulf Coast is still sitting down there like a smug, sun-soaked temptation, waiting for us to stop pretending we don’t need a vacation.
The focus of the evening was the Bradenton area—Bradenton, Anna Maria Island, and Longboat Key—a stretch of Florida’s Gulf Coast that has a way of sounding relaxed even when you just say the names out loud. This isn’t the neon frenzy of some overbuilt tourist corridor. It’s more of an authentic Florida escape, where the appeal comes from white-sand beaches, waterfront restaurants, arts pockets, nature preserves, and the kind of slower coastal rhythm that makes you start mentally checking out before you’ve even booked the flight. Anna Maria Island, just west of Bradenton, is known for its laid-back character and award-winning beaches, while Longboat Key brings a more polished edge with 12 miles of shoreline, boating, golf, and upscale dining.
When I got to Terrace, I was handed a welcome bag and made the immediate, correct decision to head to the bar. There, a bartender was mixing the evening’s signature drink, a Gulf Coast Island Mojito made with rum, pineapple, lime juice, mint, and toasted coconut. It was tropical without trying too hard, which is usually the line these sorts of cocktails fail to walk. Nearby, Empire Eats Catering was sending out bites for the crowd, including mango salsa shrimp skewers. I was told the seasoned shrimp recipe came from a Bradenton restaurant, which felt like a smart little preview of the kind of food vacationers go chasing once they hit the Gulf.
Representatives from Bradenton Area Tourism Bureau and Breeze both spoke to the group about the destination’s appeal and the ease of getting there via a budget airline expanding its footprint here in Raleigh. And while there was plenty of travel talk, the night also leaned into the fun details—some Florida-flavored charm without feeling like a hard sell. Guests picked up swag that included candles from Ochre + Co, sunscreen and USB fans from Breeze, and a cocktail kit from Gulf Coast Bartender Co. with everything needed to recreate that mojito later. I also painted a sand dollar ornament, which, unless I completely botched it, will be hanging on my Christmas tree this year like proof that even travel media nights can take a wonderfully strange turn.
And honestly, the Bradenton area makes a strong case for itself. You’ve got the Bradenton Riverwalk, a 2.03-mile stretch along the Manatee River with public art, a splash pad, playgrounds, and spots to just wander and stare at the water for a while. There’s De Soto National Memorial for history, The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature for families, Lake Manatee State Park for outdoor time, and Main Street at Lakewood Ranch for shopping and dining. Then, of course, there’s the bigger draw: being close to Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, where the beaches, seafood, and sunsets do most of the heavy lifting.
Some destinations scream for your attention. Bradenton and its surrounding islands don’t really need to. They just pour the drink, slide over the shrimp skewer, point you toward the coast, and let the Gulf handle the rest.
And fly Breeze for that nonstop trip to fun in the Florida sun.
