Tampa Bay Vacation Guide: My Top Picks
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21. Eureka Springs Preserve
Another great Bay preserve, Eureka Springs was at one point a botanical garden. Although this park is very small, it’s quite beautiful and well worth a visit by any plant and bird lovers. Highlights include a seasonal rose garden, an orchid room, and boardwalk trails through floodplain forests of cypress and maples. On a side note, this park is home to the largest publicly owned collection of ferns in Florida. There is a small fee, but I think it is worth it if you are really into plants.
Address: 6400 Eureka Springs Rd
22. Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park
Another one of my favorites parks in New Port Richey, Jay B. Starkey, offers miles and miles of hiking trails, a wonderful 6 mile out-and-back biking trail (also great for half marathon training), with unending views of beautiful pine forests and plenty of opportunities for wildlife photography. This park feels so rustic and far removed from the beach tourist traffic to me. It was one of the first parks I visited after moving here, but not the last. Part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, it’s a real treat for birdwatchers, with over 150 species seen to date. There is a small fee, but it is totally worth it in my opinion.
Address: 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd, New Port Richey
23. Explore the Foodie scene
To my surprise, Tampa is a surprisingly great foodie city. There are so many interesting restaurants to try here, across the culinary board. I tried out a lot of interesting local establishments within my 3 years living in the metro. You have famous restaurants like Columbia (serving the best Spanish food in Florida), old school Italian joints, lots of seafood options near the beach, tons of health food eateries, the best Greek food in the US, and so many hidden gems across the board. It would be impossible for me to list them all, so I recommend checking out my dining guide for a few recommendations.
24. Pass-a-Grille Beach
Pass-a-Grille beach is located on the southern end of St. Pete Beach. This beach offers a more laid-back vibe with less commercialization, thus appealing to those of us who are seeking more of a low-key experience. You get to enjoy the same white sand as you would at St. Pete, minus the crowds! It’s a great place for sunsets and photography. The dunes, wooden boardwalk, and fishing pier provide plenty of opportunities for great photos. From the beach, you can walk to several local restaurants and shops in Pass-A-Grille village. I have tried out a number of great vegetarian cafes in this area.
Address: 113 11th Ave, St Pete Beach
25. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
What used to be a small zoo is now a beautiful 245 acre park with 6 miles of hiking trails. At Boyd Hill, every hike is unique due to the many different ecosystems found within the park (sand pine scrub, hardwood hammock, willow marsh, pine flatwoods, swamp woodlands, and lake). This means the park is home to a diverse array of wildlife. Gopher tortoises, alligators, armadillos, over 50 butterfly species, and 100’s of species of bird call this preserve home.
The best way to take in all the beauty, while also learning about the history of the preserve, is to take a guided tram ride around the park. Volunteers will guide you around the park while pointing out all different types of plants and wildlife, some which you might not have noticed on your own. I loved the quiet setting here – it was a nice day off from the crazy beach crowds. We saw so much wildlife including a few baby gators that our guide pointed out. Plan at least half a day to explore this wonderful St. Petersburg gem.
Address: 1101 Country Club Way South St. Petersburg
26. Tampa Museum of Art
Tampa’s art museum is not the biggest, nor the best, yet it still offers a small, attractive collection. The real highlight is the stunning architecture of this 30 million dollar plus building, located on the Riverwalk in downtown. I love that I can take a stroll on the Riverwalk and get to other attractions from here, so it’s basically at least half a day out. Thursday nights (4-8pm) admission is pay-as-you-wish , so everyone has a chance to take advantage of the city’s cultural attractions.
Address: 120 W Gasparilla Plaza
27. Downtown Dunedin
Dunedin is most famous for being home to beautiful Honeymoon Island, one of Florida’s most popular beaches. However, it is also home to a charming, historic downtown that is lined with individual restaurants and shops. Most of the buildings are so colorful and unique with eclectic beach decor which keeps things interesting. Most of the US is loaded with blah chains today, so I love seeing anything different. This is probably my favorite Main St. in the metro next to Tarpon Springs.
I love the coffeehouses and cafes (Cork and Beans, Tukro, The Living Room, and The Sandpiper are some of my favorites). I love the little local shops (there is a great Irish store) and the Beatles Museum (it’s free and worth a visit if you are a fan). As an added bonus, ongoing events (farmer’s markets) and special seasonal events (Octobeerfest, Haunted Happenings, Lighted holiday boat parade) give you exciting activities to look forward to year-round. Bonus: the beautiful Pinellas trail runs right through the downtown.
Address: Main St, Dunedin
28. The Pinellas Trail
The 45 mile long Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail, starting in Tarpon Springs and ending in St. Petersburg, travels through forests, historic downtowns, and urban areas. Although the path tends to get congested, especially in the dense urban areas, for the most part it is a scenic quiet & scenic journey. It’s really flat which is why I used it for my half marathon training. Along the way, there are many great detours to take, including: Honeymoon Island State Park, historic downtown Dunedin, and downtown Tarpon Springs.
As this is a long ride, I recommend a fitness watch to conveniently track your distance, pace, and overall time. Mike and I typically started this trail in Palm Harbor or Dunedin and stopped for lunch in Tarpon Springs before heading back. This route is about 7 miles long and the most scenic and least congested in my experience.
Address: Downtown Dunedin (Main St. Dunedin, FL 34698) is a great place to start the trail.
29. Centro Y-bor City
Y-bor is the city’s most historic neighborhood, founded in the late 1800’s by cigar manufacturers. This area is most famous for Columbia, Florida’s oldest restaurant and the largest Spanish restaurant in the world. In addition to great Cuban food, you will also find a selection of shops, nightclubs, and tourist attractions (trolley tours, ghost tours, eBoats Tampa). I’ve been to several Columbia locations and this is my favorite. The setting is so amazing, the service exceptional, and they even have live flamenco dancers.
Address: 1600 E 8th Ave
30. The Chihuly Museum
There are tons of galleries to explore, art festivals to attend, and art walks throughout the year in St Pete, an art lover’s haven. I’ve attended the First Friday Art walk on several occasion and I have always been so impressed with the talent. One interesting museum I recommend checking out is The Chihuly. Here, you will be able to view a colorful selection of glass blown art pieces by iconic glass artist Dale Chihuly. Live glass blown demonstrations are included with admission. I’ve always been a fan of his work (I see it in various museums, resorts, and botanical gardens across the US), so it was a unique experience to visit a museum dedicated solely to his marvelous creations.
Address: 720 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
