If you would like to experience the feeling of living in an exclusive yacht club without having to worry about mandatory membership, Hawk Island in Bradenton may just be what you are looking for.

Hawk Island is not a very large neighborhood; there are only 28 single-family homes in a small peninsula that overlooks the Manatee River to the north and the Braden River to the west. Each waterfront estate at Hawk Island, however, occupies more than 20,000 square feet of riverfront land and boasts private docking space.

This unique gated community can be reached by finding a couple of discreet streets north of Manatee Avenue on the east side of the Braden River. All properties have been custom-built by prestigious developers such as Bamboo Homes and Arthur Rutenberg. Various architectural styles can be found in this neighborhood: Caribbean estates, Key West homes, Mediterranean mansions, and more.

A typical listing in Hawk Island features four or more bedrooms and at least three bathrooms. Two-story homes with panoramic balconies to enjoy the Manatee River views are common, and most properties have enough garage and driveway space to park more than three cars. All homes enjoy a great deal of craftsmanship and quality design, and many of them have extras such as riverfront studios, swimming pools, wooden decks, small fishing piers, wine cellars, and more.

The mooring and dock space at Hawk Island is discreetly located in a southern canal behind the properties. Most residents enjoy taking their boats to Anna Maria Island for a day at the beach or south on the Braden River to eat at a dockside restaurant.

With Downtown Bradenton less than 10 minutes away and Holmes Beach a little farther west, Hawk Island offers residents an enviable location. The closest shopping center at Rivers Edge is within bike riding distance.