Tampa Bay Day TripsThere are so many Tampa Bay Day Trips that I could talk about. I am going to tell about a few of my favorites..... I think probably my favorite day trips from Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club would be a trip to Mt. Dora. Mt. Dora is a beautiful little town situated on a lake. It is about an hour drive or maybe a little more. Mt. Dora hosts a spring top-rated art festival and a fall craft festival; fall bicycle rides & antique ...more boat shows; a sailing regatta; into the holiday season with the 'Lighting of Mount Dora', a wonderland created by a million twinkling lights; then the annual Christmas Walk. It has a three day music festival in February and an antique boat show in March. The restaurants are fabulous. There are so many great ones to choose from. I love photography and love to take a camera to Mt. Dora. It is so historic and typical old Florida. These are a couple of photos that I have taken of the area. Perhaps it will give you an idea of how special it is.
Another of my favorite spots for a day trip is Tarpon Springs. Tarpon Springs is about one hour from Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club. Perhaps a little less if the traffic is good. It is a predominantly an old Greek fishing town known for it sponge industry. Historic, picturesque, and unspoiled, Tarpon Springs is composed Of delightful residential areas, clustered around beautiful saltwater bayous and other waterways. The community is a mixture of new subdivisions and graceful old mansions. There is plenty to see and do, from the world famous Sponge Docks to deep sea fishing, from antique shops in the historic downtown area to championship golf, from walking around Spring Bayou to watching the sunset on the Gulf of Mexico. The community is permanently enriched by the Mediterranean heritage brought at the turn of the century by Greek sponge divers and their families. The feast of Epiphany on January 6th, the largest such celebration in the U.S., attracts spectators from all over the country. With approximately 15 restaurants and more than 100 shops, the Sponge Docks offer something of interest for everyone. You can take a leisurely sightseeing cruise down the Anclote River, enjoy a lunch or dinner cruise to the Gulf, take a 5 hour casino cruise, or experience a live, sponge diving exhibition You can also visit the 120,000 gallon salt water aquarium, tour the sponge museum, or go deep sea fishing. A mile south of the Sponge Docks is downtown Tarpon Springs, which is listed in The National Register of Historic Places. A mixture of antique shops, art galleries, specialty shops, and restaurants, this area is the vibrant center of the city. Also in this area is the Cultural Center, where a variety of exhibits, concerts, and programs are held St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, a replica of St. Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople, is open daily to visitors and worshipers. Whether you wish to sample Greek cuisine, or desire fresh seafood, a deli sandwich, Coq au Vin, or Afternoon Tea, Tarpon Springs offers something to tempt everyone. I have some great photos of Tarpon Springs that I could share compliments of my friend Jack.
It is a little farther for a trip to St. Augustine but certainly well worth the trip. It could be as long a three hours to St. Augustine from Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club. It again is such a picturesque and historical town. It has a little tourist train that takes you all around the city and you can get out anywhere you want and get back on later. The train is good for two days which is really what it would take to see it all. There are quaint little bed and breakfast hotels all over. The last thing that I wanted to see while I was there was the "Fountain of Youth." I thought it would be really a tourist trap. That could not be farther from the truth. It was absolutely beautiful and very historic. It is the landing site of Ponce De Leon. The story is quite interesting and the "fountain" is still running! Again, Jack has taken great photos of St. Augustine that I would like you to see.
There are so many places to see, but I can't skip Dunedin. Dunedin is about an hour from Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club. Dunedin would be a great place to take you bicycles if you have them. The Pinellas Trail goes right through the town.
Dunedin reflects the rich American and Scottish heritage of its founding fathers. This charming village like town has the distinction of being the oldest town south of Cedar Key. Early in its history, thanks to a dock built to accommodate schooners and sloops and the ingenuity of pioneers from as near as Georgia and as far as Scotland, Dunedin became one of Florida's chief seaport and trading centers. At one time Dunedin had the largest fleet of sailing vessels in Florida. Early settlers were primarily cotton and citrus growers, and it is hard to envision that most of what is now downtown was once a big cotton field.
The historic Atlantic Coast Line Depot on Main Street is home to the Dunedin Historical Society and Museum plus the Orange Belt Quilt Club. The Society has designed a walking tour of historic sites and works hard to collect area artifacts and preserve buildings that are pertinent to Dunedin's past. Through their efforts, the Douglas home and Andrews Memorial Chapel have been put on the National Register of Historic Sites. The high school band plays the bagpipes to celebrate the heritage. During the nice weather the downtown streets are often closed for an art show or an antique show of one kind or another. The many festival are always listed on the Dunedin website.
Do you have a memorable day trip to share?Do you have a great story about this? Share it! There are several really good books offered on day trips from the Tampa area.......
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