How to Visit Florida's Gulf Without Spending a Ton of Money

6. Explore a historic downtown

Clock in downtown Dunedin — A section of downtown Dunedin near the start of the Pinellas Trail, a 30+ mile bike ride.

Skip the standard malls in favor of a walkable, quaint downtown. Many small Gulf towns feature free community events throughout the year, such as live concerts, community holiday celebrations, and farmers markets. Dunedin (home of Honeymoon Island State Park), Safety Harbor (where the famous Fountain of Youth was reported to be discovered), Anna Maria Island (a quaint, old fashioned Gulf Coast community), and St. Armand’s Circle (a wonderful old-fashioned shopping and dining district) in Sarasota are a few of the best. In Dunedin, definitely check out the free Beatles museum if you are a fan.

I love dining at local restaurants and shopping at local businesses. It’s a great way to support local over the big chains. One restaurant I highly recommend is Columbia, a long running Spanish restaurant which opened in Tampa’s historic Ybor city back in 1905. I love the Cuban Black Beans and Paella here. There is a great location in St. Armand’s Circle which you can hit after relaxing at Siesta Key Beach.

Britain telephone booth in downtown Dunedin — Downtown Dunedin is home to a lot of great attractions including a quirky Beatles museum

Columbia restaurant in Sarasota, Florida — Columbia restaurant at St. Armand’s

7. Enjoy a beautiful sunset

A gorgeous sunset at Sarasota's Lido Beach — A gorgeous sunset at Sarasota’s Lido Beach

It wouldn’t be right to visit the coast without taking some time out to enjoy a beautiful sunset. The best part is that this wonderful activity won’t cost you a dime. Grab a beach chair, your camera, your loved one and enjoy a romantic evening out on the beach. I’ve seen so many gorgeous sunsets since moving here. A few of my favorite destinations are: Honeymoon Island State Park, Lido Beach, and Fred Howard Park.

Gorgeous sunset at Honeymoon Island State Park — Honeymoon Island

Pretty sunset in Clearwater, Florida — Clearwater

Beautiful sunset at Fred Howard Beach in Tarpon Springs, Florida — Fred Howard Park

Stormy day at Sunset Beach — Sunset Beach

8. Play some beach volleyball

Although the sports scene sorely lacks in comparison to the sporty beaches of Southern California, you can still find a few beaches and even parks with nets set up. I lived in Long Beach for a while and was used to seeing the courts packed almost every weekend in both the L.A. and Orange County region.

The late fall and winter months are ideal for playing as the weather is a bit cooler and less humid than the brutally hot summer months. Get out there and enjoy some fun-in-the-sun, all while getting in a great workout and enjoying the beautiful views.

Clearwater, Siesta Key, Treasure Island, and Sunset Beach are a few of the popular beaches in which you will find nets set up.

Volleyball at SIesta Key — Volleyball at Siesta Key Beach

Volleyball at Sunset Beach — Sunset Beach

9. Enjoy free live entertainment

Beach crowds at Clearwater's Pier 60 Sunsets at the Pier Festival. — Beach crowds at Clearwater’s Pier 60 Sunsets at the Pier Festival

Many beaches, downtown districts, and parks offer free events and activities throughout the year. Check individual towns websites, Chamber of Commerce sites, bulletin boards, and park websites to stay informed about upcoming events.

One great free year-round festival, Clearwater’s Sunsets at Pier 60, includes a great nightly lineup of music, entertainment acts, and monthly movies on the beach. I recommend hanging out after the sun goes down to enjoy this event. You will find special vendors, live music, and even movies on the beach (we recently saw The Goonies which was pretty fun). Visiting the beach in the morning or afternoon and staying until the festival will ensure that you find a parking spot for this very popular nightly event.

10. Take a scenic drive

Scenic driving loop at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota — The scenic 7 mile drive around Myakka River State Park in Sarasota

Unfortunately, most driving around the Tampa Bay area is quite appealing with unending traffic, stores, and malls. However, the driving gets less congested and more appealing as you move beyond this area. Most driving around the Sarasota area is less clustered, and more tropical in nature. The Windows to the Gulf Coast Water Scenic Highway is one of the most popular and scenic drives on the West side of Florida. The drives features lots of beautiful Old Florida architecture and plenty of tropical views.

A few more drives I recommend adding to your bucket list:

Myakka River State Park loop

Myakka is definitely my favorite park on the west coast. Beautiful views of Myakka Lake, sabal palms and moss trees, and a gorgeous marsh can be enjoyed via the park’s scenic 7 mile loop (biking is also a fun way to explore the scenery). This is a great park; I really feel like I am taking a step back into time and experiencing uninterrupted Florida from long ago.

Moss trees lining the drive around gorgeous Myakka River State Park. — Beautiful moss trees lining the drive around gorgeous Myakka River State Park.

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Tampa Bay’s iconic bridge frequently rates amongst the top in the world. Travel Channel rated it number 3 on its’ Top 10 Bridges in the World list. The 5+ mile bridge connects St. Petersburg with Terra Ceia. Driving over this architectural wonder truly is a great experience; the views of the water on both sides is simply amazing.

As you drive up to the top, you almost feel as if you are heading up into the clouds. Due to its’ beauty, it is often used in car commercials. Consider a sunset visit as the views are extraordinary at this time.

A few great places to see the bridge from afar: Robinson Nature Preserve in Bradenton, East Beach at Fort De Soto Park, and Bayfront Park in Anna Maria Island. Note there is a small toll.