Diversions & Excursions

A visit to the aqua waters of the Ocala National Forest on what was once Timucua land. Flowing out of the limestone at a rate of 64 million gallons each minute, Alexander Springs is an aquatic gem amongst the 900 other springs that are scattered throughout Florida. Managed by the National Park Service, located in […]

Off the coast of Islamorada stands a Florida Keys icon just beckoning you to come and explore its depths. If you have ever driven down to the Florida Keys, you’ve probably found yourself mesmerized by the aqua abyss flanking the Overseas Highway. Perhaps you have spotted a lighthouse or two on the horizon and wondered

Sitting on Old Tampa Bay between Rocky Point and Bayshore Boulevard in Clearwater lies a stretch of dedicated pavement that is a recreational playground, with easy access from the road. Considered to be one of the best stretches for biking in the area, the Courtney Campbell Trail offers riders the perfect scenic byway to traverse

Rachel Carson once said, “For the sense of smell, almost more than any other, has the power to recall memories, and it is a pity that we use it so little.” Scents can evoke feelings, places and experiences, but recapturing a specific smell can be difficult. Fortunately, the Candle Pour in Hyde Park Village makes

When you’re driving down Hillsborough Avenue, it may be difficult to imagine anything healthy and delicious could flourish among the strip malls and housing developments. Less than half a mile from Race Track Road, however, there’s a suburban oasis that does just that, and it’s called Fat Beet Farm. I visited the farm for the

By Heather Bossowski Each winter, as the temperatures drop, manatees make a beeline for the warm waters of the many springs that flow through the Sunshine State. Pumping out a steady stream of 72-degree water year-round, they provide the perfect habitat for these gentle creatures to overwinter. Just 90 minutes north of Tampa lies a

Have you ever fantasized about going to a place filled with glass or other breakable items and simply destroying everything within reach without being arrested or committed? If so, there is a place where that fantasy can come true: Smash Room of Tampa! Located in a warehouse space on Nebraska Avenue, the Smash Room provides

If the definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again but expecting different results, I am certifiably insane. I love plants, but have the opposite of a green thumb. I buy them and am determined that each new addition to my short-lived collection will be the exception to the rule and