With Florida’s Stay at Home Order and Manatee County’s new curfew both in full-swing, many of us are wondering what to do to pass the time. Don’t worry! We’ve got some great ideas for you. Check it out!

1. Enjoy Some Local Music

Music brings us hope in the darkest of times, and, just because you’re staying home doesn’t mean you have to live without it. Every Thursday at 4:30 p.m. tune into Connect Bradenton’s Facebook page for their new weekly edition of “Connect Live.” You can check it out now to this week’s edition featuring the talented Undine Shorey and Pat Laughrey!

Independent Jones and MVP Sports Social are also hosting Ranch Nights LIVE Virtual Happy Hour every Wednesday night at 7 pm. You can tune in here.

2. Work on Your Fitness

There are a TON of local fitness centers offering virtual classes. Here are a few you might want to check out:

• Key2Life Training – currently offering online video training 3 times a week and online nutrition consulting and planning. For more information, email Info@key2lifetraining.com or check out their website.
  
• EVO Athletics – check out their YouTube page for FREE home workouts for you and for your kids!
  
• Orangetheory Fitness University Park – offering FREE live workouts three times a day on their social media accounts and on Zoom. Check out their Facebook page to watch the videos and get more information.
  
• Star Academy of Dance & Aerial Arts – offering virtual dance and stretch classes for all ages and skill levels. Cost is $5 per class drop-in and $20 for unlimited access (typically 8-10 classes each week). You can also sign up for virtual private lessons for $12 per 15 minutes. To learn more, email info@staracademyfl.com.
  
• Fit Crew – currently offering classes on Zoom for just $8! No equipment needed except a mat or a towel (although you can add weights if you have them). Check out their schedule here.

3. Get Bendy

Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or you’ve never tried it before, now is a great time to experience the calming effect of yoga. Here are a few local studio that are offering virtual options:

• High Vibe Warrior – visit their website to purchase a virtual pass for $25 and you can access their database of classes 24/7. They’re also hosting many different pop-up classes and workshops, most with a $10 drop-in costs. Check out their events calendar here!
  
• Thrive Yoga & Fitness – currently streaming ALL of their classes online, including yoga, kickboxing, and more. Email info@thriveyogafit.com for more information.
  
• Beyond the Mat Yoga & Holistic Healing – currently offering FREE yoga classes on their Facebook page. Donations are welcome.

4. Explore Some Local Art

While the studios are closed, the artists in The Village of the Arts are still busy creating! Need to beautify the walls in your home? Take a look at Jan Lewis Art Gallery’s online portfolio and contact the artist if you see something you love. Art Junkies will also be posting their latest artwork on their Facebook page. If you see something you would like to purchase, just send them a message!

5. Get Groceries — Without Ever Leaving Your Car!

It’s no secret that the local grocery stores are a bit crazy right now. Luckily, you can order your groceries online from some of the area’s best restaurants and pick them up without ever getting out of your car!

• Pier 22 / Grove – offering grocery items, family-style meals and sides, and beer, wine, and liquor. Check out their menu, order online, then pull up and they’ll put your order right in your trunk for you!
  
• Sandbar Restaurant – offering takeout, select grocery items, fresh produce, and package sales. Check out their order page here.

6. Learn Some Healthy Cooking Tips

Slow Foods Kitchen owner Amanda Girton is offering a “Cooking Healthy with What’s Already in Your Pantry” workshop. This is a FREE phone call/FaceTime call for mealtime inspiration. She’ll help you go through what you have in your pantry and discuss practical, healthy meal and snack options that you can make with what you already have. Email Amanda@SlowFoodsKitchen.com to schedule your complimentary 30-minute call today!

7. Try a Guided Meditation

Meditation is another excellent way to calm your nerves and find your inner strength. If you’ve never meditated before or find it challenging, a guided meditation is an excellent way to start! Head over to The Village Mystic’s Facebook page where they’re hosting a Facebook Live meditation every Tuesday at 7 pm.

8. Get a Tarot Card Reading

A Tarot reading can help ease your stress and guide you through your challenges. Koko Vartalo Massage is currently offering remote readings for $20. For more information, text 727-888-1728.

9. Read A Book (Or, Learn a New Language!)

The libraries might be closed, but you can still access their entire online inventory of books, magazines, audiobooks, comics, digital puzzles, movies, TV, and music. They also have access to free language classes, so if you’ve always wanted to learn a new language, now is your chance! Don’t have a library card? No problem! You can apply for a virtual library card online. The whole process only takes about three minutes.

You can also find children’s’ storytimes and “how-to” workshops on their YouTube channel.

10. Do Your Taxes

The tax filing deadline has been pushed back to June 15th, but, if you’re getting a refund, then it makes sense to file your taxes now! If you do your own taxes and you have some extra time, think about knocking this task out.

11. Review Your Insurance Coverage

This might not be the most exciting thing on the list, but now is a great time to review your insurance coverage. Not only will hurricane season be here before we know it, but if you haven’t reviewed your policies recently, you might be able to save some money. Who couldn’t use some extra cash right now?

Reach out to your insurance agent, or, if you want a second opinion, Insurance Time of Bradenton and Goosehead Insurance are both open for business and happy to provide free reviews! You can reach Insurance Time at 941-746-5151 or katie@insurancetime.org and Goosehead at 941-757-3715 or Heather.Andrews@goosehead.com.

12. Hand Off That Math Homework

Is home schooling driving you nuts? Mathnasium of Bradenton offers online live math tutoring and math homework help. They also have an awesome SAT/ACT prep program for High Schoolers. Now you can stop pulling out your hair and hand this task over to the pros — how cool is that?

13. Check Out Some Awesome Museums

You might not be able to travel right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t explore some of the world’s best museums. Check out these virtual tours:

• Louvre Museum (Paris)
• Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam)
• Metropolitan Museum of Arts (NYC)
• National Gallery of Art (Washington DC)
• Uffizi Gallery (Florence)
• Frontiers of Flight Museum (Dallas)
• Museum of Natural History (Washington DC)
• Vatican Virtual Tours (Vatican City)

14. Get Up-Close With Wild Animals

If animals are more your style, you’re in luck! There are also many famous zoos and aquariums that offer virtual tours and live webcams. Here’s your to get up-close and personal (virtually) with all kinds of animals. Here are a few of our favorites:

• San Diego Zoo
• Smithsonian National Zoo (Washington DC)
• Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta)
• National Aquarium (Washington DC)
• Monterey Bay Aquarium (Monterey, CA)

It’s no fun to stay at home, but now you have plenty of fun (and productive!) ways to pass the time. If you enjoyed this post, please share it on social media — and don’t forget to follow Discover Bradenton on Facebook!