Diversions & Excursions

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 […]

A visit by Jacques Cousteau left him with the impression this aqua oasis had “visibility forever.” Just outside of Gainesville, on the Santa Fe River, lies the historic village of High Springs. This charming old Florida town is dotted with Victorian and Craftsman style dwellings, quaint shops and restaurants, and is home of the famous […]

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 […]

Spend A Day Unearthing Pieces of Florida’s Prehistoric Past By Heather Bossowski Millions of years ago, Florida as we know it today was submerged under a shallow sea of blue. Dugongs, mako and the massive megalodon, which grew to 60 feet in length, reigned supreme, patrolling the ancient depths. As they hunted, they dropped thousands […]

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 […]