50 Fun Things to do in the Tampa Bay Area
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 Tampa. The great location provides the perfect setting for a relaxing stroll before or after your visit. 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, Tampa, FL 33602
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. Cork and Beans and The Sandpiper are 2 great local coffeehouses. 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, FL 34698
28. The Pinellas Trail
The 45 mile long Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail, starting in Tarpon Springs and ending in St. Petersburg, meanders 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. The flat course is great for commuting between different cities. 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 GPS watch to conveniently track your distance, pace, and overall time.
Address: Downtown Dunedin (Main St. Dunedin, FL 34698) is a great place to start the trail. The Dunedin to Tarpon Springs section of the trail is the least congested and most tree-lined portion of the journey.
29. Centro Y-bor City
Y-bor city is Tampa’s most historic neighborhood, founded in the late 1800’s by cigar manufacturers. 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).
Address: 1600 E 8th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605
30. The Chihuly Museum
St. Petersburg is considered to be one of the best cities for art lovers. There are tons of galleries to explore, art festivals to attend, and art walks throughout the year. One interesting museum to explore 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.
Address: 720 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
31. Safety Harbor Resort and Spa
Safety Harbor’s claim to fame is the supposed founding of the Fountain of Youth at the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa. The healing mineral waters are known to hold restorative properties. The spa is said to be a place “where the healing water flows.” In the mid 1500’s, Spanish explorer DeSota discovered the waters and named them “Espiritu Santo Springs” which means “Springs of the Holy Spirit.”
A relaxing day soaking in the spa’s natural healing waters is the perfect staycation idea for Tampa Bay residents. A lap pool, dozens of massage treatments, tennis courts, and several on site restaurants are available to compliment your day out. And if you wish, you can stay overnight at the resort, which is situated on 22 acres of waterfront property. Bonus – the restaurant serves amazing holiday buffets!
Address: 105 N Bayshore Dr, Safety Harbor, FL 34695
