explore your next travel destination below
CLEARWATER
DOWNTOWN TAMPA
The Florida Gulf Coast region on the tip of every thirsty tongue and beach-loving body of late is having more than just a major Sunshine State moment. All eyes are on Tampa Bay. What many visitors don’t realize, however, is all the unexpected fun and outdoorsy explorations
that await in this part of Florida — and beyond the famous stretches
of sand and waters as clear as the Caribbean, too.
Whether you’re looking for a quick day trip from an urban or beachy base in the region or are heading here for a weekend adventure (or longer), plan to leave no trace but bring on the discoveries when you follow our lead to super cool experiences you can have only here.
We joined forces with Corona® — a brand that knows a thing or two
about kicking back and diving in — to put some of Tampa Bay’s best
offbeat hotspots on your radar. That leaves you just to bask in the sunshine and bring on the good vibes.
ADVERTISER CONTENT FROM
Particularly around the booming new wellness district of Water Street Tampa and the nearby 2.6-mile-long Tampa Riverwalk skirting the Hillsborough River, this downtown core has boomed into one of the most exciting cities in
all of the southeast for nonstop entertainment backed by natural beauty. Stroll the Tampa Riverwalk past sculptures, murals, and glasswork installations to reach Armature Works, a former streetcar warehouse-turned food hall that stages everything from sunset SUP sessions to bootcamp classes from its riverfront lawn. Bikers and runners love nearby Bayshore Boulevard, a linear park and greenway trail fringing Tampa Bay that runs south of downtown
for more than four miles. You can get out on the waterways here, too, aboard pedal-powered forays with Go Tiki Tours. Plan to BYO a few frosty Corona Premiers® to toast the passing dolphins or manatees you might be lucky enough to spot.
APOLLO BEACH
TARPON SPRINGS
DUNEDIN
ST. PETE
DOWNTOWN TAMPA
ST. PETE
St. Pete welcomes visitors with a quirkier scene and killer sunsets. Kick things off with self-care in the form of a morning yoga class under a tropical canopy at Sunken Gardens. More than a botanical oasis billowing with bougainvillea, royal palms, and orchids, this four-acre garden in St. Pete’s Historic Old Northeast neighborhood is the spot to see the resident flamingos first brought here in the 1950s, toucans, kookaburras, and other exotic winged things. A short drive away, stroll the St. Pete Pier with its overhead art installations, pirate-themed playground, and an onsite eco discovery center, in addition to a little urban beach lined with Adirondack chairs. At Weedon Island Preserve, you can rent a SUP or kayak from Urban Kai or join an eco tour to paddle through tunneling mangroves. And dune-lined Pass-a-Grille Beach is always a stunner for sipping something cold
as the sun bids the sky a sherbet-hued adieu.
CLEARWATER
Soothing temperatures in the year-round forecast make Florida prime
grounds for outdoor concert-going. You’ll find one of the state’s best alfresco venues fronting Clearwater Harbor in downtown Clearwater at The BayCare Sound, with 4,000 covered seats, 5,000 on the lawn, and bands like UB40, O.A.R., and the Avett Brothers taking the stage. On your way west toward Clearwater Beach, stop off at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium for dolphin and wildlife boat tours or to see rescued sea otters, turtles, and stingrays. And
for the area’s prettiest beaches, it’s worth the effort to make your way to the totally undeveloped islands of Caladesi Island State Park, which you can visit
on day trips aboard the Caladesi Island Ferry (there are regular daytime departures from Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin, just north).
TARPON SPRINGS
Greek history runs deeper than all the dishes of Baklava proffered at bakeries along Dodecanese Boulevard in this gulfside town known for its old world ties. After you’ve indulged in Grecian delicacies, try catching a specialty of your own during a scalloping charter into the Gulf of Mexico to look for bivalves in the shallow grass seabeds where they live. Scalloping is seasonal only and lasts just a few weeks in summer, but you can snorkel year round in the warm waters of Anclote Key Preserve State Park. Three miles offshore, reach it by private charter or sightseeing and ferry service with Odyssey Cruises, which charts a naturalist-guided course down the Anclote River to the state park’s powdery shores. Step ashore with your mask, fins, and snorkel in tow then slip into the water to scout for tropical fish, sponges, and more.
APOLLO BEACH
The main reason to make your way southeast around the bay from downtown Tampa to the town of Apollo Beach is manatees. The gentle and giant marine mammals that converge here during the cooler winter months at Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center (from November 1 to April 15 every year) are a big beautiful draw. Particularly when air temperatures plunge into the 60s and 50s and Gulf of Mexico waters cool similarly down, manatees arrive in droves at warm water outflows. You can easily spot them from the 900-foot elevated boardwalk over the bay that’s part of the Great Florida Birding Trail (look for cormorants drying their wings and great egrets stalking the shallows, too). Pet stingrays in a touch tank at the facility, then head nearby to 63 additional acres of real Florida nature and a swath
of beachfront prime for a picnic await at Apollo Beach Nature Preserve.
DUNEDIN
The cute coastal hamlet of Dunedin, known for the lively Downtown Dunedin Market on weekends and cafe-lined streets, is cut through by
one of Florida’s best cycling spots, the 75-mile Pinellas Trail. You can pedal along it from downtown all the way to Honeymoon Island State Park, where leave-no-traces beaches are only bested by the birdwatching opps (scout for spring and fall migrants along the beautiful Osprey Trail, through the park’s virgin pine forest). Maximize time on the sparkling clear surrounding waters by setting sail out onto them with Dunedin Sailing Charters aboard the 41-foot monohull, Miracle. Opt for sunset cruises, or half or full-day charters where you can enjoy views of Clearwater Beach and Caladesi Island. Let a can of cold Corona Extra® refresh you once more after a dip.
The Tampa Bay Area
next
back
close
FEATURES
Wildlife
Stunning Views
Stunning Views
Historic
FEATURES
Wildlife
Day Trip
Water Adventures
FEATURES
Historic
Water Adventures
FEATURES
Wildlife
Stunning Views
FEATURES
Wildlife
Stunning Views
FEATURES
Water Adventures
Day Trip
YOUR GO -TO GUIDE
TO TAMPA BAY'S
OFFBEAT hotspots
Written by Terry Ward; Illustrated by María Jesús Contreras; Designed by Kelly Millington
The perfect drink to go with your perfect summer getaway. Grab a Corona® today.