This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday, offering the perfect opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy Florida’s gorgeous winter weather. Below are a few fun ideas to celebrate as a couple, friend group or family.
Get out on the water. The storm-free winter months are ideal for a boat ride. Pirate Water Taxi offers a great way to explore Downtown Tampa by water. An all-day pass includes a hop-on, hop-off boat ride with 14 stops along the Hillsborough River that offer convenient access to downtown’s numerous attractions, museums and restaurants. Or hop aboard a floating tiki hut and set sail down the river with Cruisin’ Tikis. These cruises are BYOB and are a great option for friend groups.
If the Gulf waters are calling, there are numerous options – from guided kayaking tours and dolphin-watching tours to sunset sails and dinner cruises. Visit St. Pete-Clearwater offers a comprehensive list here.
Go on a food tour. Tampa Bay is quickly becoming a foodie destination, and a food tour is a fun way to uncover the area’s hidden culinary gems. Tampa Bay Food Tours offers 3-hour walking tours through vibrant neighborhoods like downtown Tampa, Dunedin, Safety Harbor and St. Pete. Taste Ambassadors lead the tours and offer insight and history along the way. Jimbo’s Jumbo Food Tours has options in Clearwater, the Tampa Riverwalk, St. Pete and Safety Harbor that blend street food, local history and a lively trivia competition. The Official Ybor City Food Tour introduces you to locally owned breweries, restaurants, hotels and cigar bars, while visiting historic sites and learning how this area became the “cigar capital of the world.”
Enjoy a cocktail with a view. Whether you’re looking for a sophisticated city vibe or sunset views over the Gulf, there are numerous places to grab a cocktail (or mocktail) with a view. M. Bird is a rooftop bar atop Armature Works that offers sweeping views of the city’s skyline and the Hillsborough River. At the other end of the Tampa Riverwalk, Beacon on the 27th floor of the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, offers a 360-degree view that captures both Tampa’s skyline and the sprawling waters of the Garrison Channel. Sal Y Mar at the top of the Aloft/Element Hotel in Midtown offers a stunning panorama that includes both the Tampa and St. Pete shorelines. At Pier Tiki, located on the upper level of the St. Pete Pier, enjoy views of the St. Pete skyline on one side and an expanse of Tampa Bay on the other, while sipping one of their signature rum-based cocktails. If you like digging your toes in the sand and don’t mind sipping your drink from a plastic cup, it’s hard to beat the Gulf views at Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill in Clearwater, especially at sunset.
Take in the St. Pete mural scene. St. Pete’s Central Arts District is home to an impressive number of murals (over 600!) and new crop of artwork is added each year through the city’s SHINE Festival. Download the PixelStix app for a mural map and information on each mural. Florida CraftArt also offers a guided mural walking tour on Saturday mornings and a bike tour one Saturday per month. Or hop aboard the new Star Trolley tour, which offers a one-of-a-kind mural experience on select days. Learn more here.
Spend a day at the fair. Grab that special someone and head to the Florida State Fair! Enjoy Midway rides, farm animals, live entertainment and more. And, of course, the fair is always a fun place to try outrageous food concoctions, like Dubai Chocolate Funnel Cakes, Nashville Hot Chicken Tots and Sushi Hot Dogs. The Florida State Fair runs Feb. 5-16. Learn more here.
Stick close to home. February is also the perfect month to take advantage of the numerous al fresco dining options right here in Westchase that are just a short walk, bike ride or car ride away.
Whatever option you choose, we hope all our readers enjoy spending time with their loved ones this Valentine’s Day.