Page 73 - 2024-2025 Travel Guide to Florida

amusement is found winding down the Weeki Wachee River on a wilderness river cruise, cooling off in the indoor ice rink at AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, creating art at the Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa, indoor skydiving at iFLY Tampa, and walking among life-size dinosaurs at Dinosaur World in Plant City.
BEACHES AND OUTDOOR GEMS
West Central Florida’s stretches of sugar- white, powder-soft sandy beaches, found along the Gulf of Mexico, are perfect playgrounds for all ages.
For a quiet, more natural beach day without high-rises towering behind you, consider Fort De Soto Park, south of St. Pete Beach, or Anclote Key Preserve State Park to the north. Caladesi Island State Park is a perfect destination not only for beaches, but also for its four-mile kayaking trail and its three-mile nature trail. Honeymoon Island State Park, once a popular honeymoon destination in the 1940s and 1950s, is now a favorite among birdwatchers and a real gem for beach lovers.
Not only Floridians think the beaches here are fantastic. A couple of local beaches have made it onto TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice “Top 25 Beaches in the U.S.” list over the years. Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach have held high rankings and remain a coastal favorite for all ages. And at the end of the day, there’s no better place than a beach
HONEYMOON ISLAND STATE PARK • VISIT FLORIDA/SPARK
in West Central Florida to watch spectacular sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico.
When water temperatures dip below 72oF in Florida, West Central Florida’s natural springs are terrific spots to see manatees, thought to be mermaids by sailors too long at sea. Popular manatee viewing spots include Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River and the TECO Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach, just south of Tampa.
ENTERTAINMENT
When it comes to nightlife, West Central Florida likes to have a good time. And there are plenty of spots to do just that.
Ybor City’s thriving nightlife ranges from dance clubs and live music venues to quiet pubs, while Tampa’s South Howard Avenue, or SoHo, is filled with restaurants. However, this hip strip really comes alive after dinner when the drinks begin to pour.
Professional sports take hold of West Central Florida on the ice, on the field and
SPONGE DIVER, TARPON SPRINGS • BRAND USA/ JACOB PIERCE
2024-25 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA 71
5 MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS
HONEYMOON ISLAND STATE PARK
floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland
THE DALÍ MUSEUM, ST. PETERSBURG
thedali.org
THE RIVERWALK, TAMPA
thetampariverwalk.com
THREE SISTERS SPRINGS, CRYSTAL RIVER
threesistersspringsvisitor.org
CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM
cmaquarium.org
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