Ballast Point Park is located South of Bayshore off inter bay and has a fantastic shaded kids…read moreplayground with a younger and older kids area, 3 slides, and even a splash pad play area. There's a fantastic seafood restaurant, fishing pier, and pretty water views too! During the winter months when the sun sets early at 530-6, the park really should have lights for the playground at least until 8pm. There's not enough parking spots for this park and parking on side of road has signs that say no parking which is ridiculous because everyone parks on the side of the road anyways. If you're in the south Tampa area and looking for pretty water views, casual seafood, or a fun kids playground, definitely visit Ballast Point Park!

This is a beautiful and sort of hidden part towards the end of Bayshore drive. It's such a lovely…read morespot that's much more quiet and slow compared to the ever busy Bayshore area. If you have a family, this can be a perfect spot to spend the better part of a day. It has everything you need- a walking path, a big playground, and a cafe. Oh, and bathrooms of course. There's also a gorgeous view of the distant Tampa skyline overlooking the water. They have swinging benches where you can enjoy the view of the water and it's so serene. Unfortunately, there is usually a pier & boardwalk you can walk out upon as well. But (assumingly) due to Hurricane Helene & Milton it is still closed down and under construction. That was definitely a bummer but will make the park that much better once it's open again. Such a lovely little area that's almost a hidden gem in Tampa!

This is by far the best fishing charter in st Pete affordable professional and the captain puts you…read moreon the fish

Awesome fishing excursion as usual, they cater to kids and adults,top notch family owned and…read moreoperated fishing charter You will enjoy it

I love going to Hillsborough River State Park in Thonotosassa. We regurlarly enjoy its hiking…read moretrails, (we usually combined them all for a good for a 7 miles haul). The trails are tranquil and vary in difficulty from easy to somewhat hard. Along the way there are plenty of opportunities to watch the animal life of the area and capture them in photographs. There a plenty of benches and little nooks where to rest along the way, some good enough to enjoy a picnic! Besides hiking this park offers all kinds of amenities such as camping- (all, including glamping), biciclying, horseback riding, fishing, and canoe/kayak launching. There is a historical fort and grounds within but currently close for renovations, (I believe it is scheduled to open in November). At Hillsborough River State Park there is plenty to do to enjoy a great day outdoors!

I love camping here! It is magical. We just don't love that the trails are closed off. So far we've…read morecamped here twice using the electric and water. In the summer we were in loop 1 and recently we grabbed a last minute spot in loop 2. Even though there were so many folks we still had a great experience. The dogs love that park. There is a 13 mile trail that is in and out and that would take us way too long especially with the heat. We adore this spot and will be back!!!

A beautiful, small, 25 acre lake surrounded by two nice neighborhoods, Magnolia Point and Silver…read moreLakes. The lake is springfed, clean with plenty of fish and wildlife, including Sand Hill Cranes, Squirrels and turtles. Large enough for water skiing. Silver lakes has a boat launch for the community. WARNING! We do see alligators on occasion, but come on! This is Florida and they were here first.

The Safety Harbor Pier is an easy five star spot and one of those places that just sticks with you…read moreafter you leave. It's simple, peaceful, and has that classic Florida waterfront feel that makes you want to slow down and take it all in. Walking out on the pier, you get beautiful views of the water and a nice breeze that makes it perfect any time of day. It's a great place to just relax, look out over the bay, and enjoy the scenery. Everything felt clean and well kept, and it wasn't overly crowded, which made the experience even better. The highlight for us was spotting a stingray swimming right near the pier such a cool and unexpected moment. Watching it glide through the water made the whole visit feel special, especially for my daughter. It's those little surprises that turn a good stop into a great one. We had a lot of fun. Overall, the Safety Harbor Pier is a perfect spot for a peaceful walk, some great views, and even a chance to see some wildlife up close. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area we'll absolutely be back.

This is a really nice spot to watch the sunrise! Beautiful! My family's first time, and it will be…read moresomething we will adopt as a ritual. So many spots to sit/stand and watch the sunrise. After the sun comes up, there is a pier you can walk that's a in a trail fashion. Check out these shots!

I have been visiting this park for years!…read more This is on my "Host Suggestions" list when we have guests in town and is a hit every time! We visited the park recently and were on the hunt for as many bird species we could identify. Found some birds we had never seen before and it was so much fun trying to hunt them down by their calls. I've never not seen a gator when visiting but you had to take your time and look closely. I can't say enough about this park. Just $2 to enter the park. There are picnic areas you can reserve, volleyball courts, playgrounds, trails, restrooms and an onsite nature center. You really cannot ask for much more. Definitely worth the visit!

One of the coolest parks in Tampa. You almost always get to see alligators. Beautiful boardwalk and…read morewalking trails. It costs $2 to park. The playground is also really nice and my son enjoys it. Dogs are allowed in this park as well. One star removed because the tower is now inaccessible.

Nice wide trails that two people can walk side by side. Dog friendly so bring your canine, but…read moredon't forget a leash. Not much shade and very sandy so make sure to bring some water. My favorite part is the pine tree area near the pond. The pine tree needles lay on the ground and when the wind blows the sound is melodic blowing through the pine trees. There is one picnic table to sit on for a picnic, but try and ignore the graffiti. There is an area that's preserved and protected for Burrowing owls. I wish I could have seen one or two, but no luck this time. There is traffic noise and watch for what looks like a homeless individual who had ridden a bike in.

Beautiful preserve. Great for natures walks and photos! Follow me on TikTok: MariaSocialsCoread more

We had a really great and fun time on our five-hour fishing trip with Hubbard Marina. The crew and…read moreMarina staff could not have been more friendly and helpful. I highly recommend that your consider a fishing trip with Hubbard if you are looking for a rewarding fishing experience!

We decided to work with Funerals at sea to help with our Fathers memorial after our last experience…read morewith Hubbards Marina. John who runs the Funerals at sea and his wife made sure everything went according to plan. It was a little rough on the waters but went smoothly we didn't feel rushed or uncomfortable in the process. Honestly Captain Mike and Brandi were amazing and definitely made the experience even more memorable. Capt Mike slowed down for us to see some dolphins not once but twice and Brandi was so incredibly sweet she helped the kids make necklaces and held their hand for them to throw flowers in for my family. Definitely a way better experience than last time and I was able to finally put my father in his resting place.

There's a fee to enter the park, but it's worth it to take a few trails and spend a lot of time…read moreoutdoors. The trails are easy to navigate and are good for people of all levels. The nature center has a bathroom and a bit of information, but all the displays were empty, including the outdoor one that allegedly used to have a tortoise. There are canoes to rent if you're into that. Overall, it was a nice, uncrowded park to spend some time outdoors.

We visited this park as part of the 2020-2021 Hillsborough Hiking Spree. I was very impressed by…read moreit. We arrived and parked in the parking lot nearest the nature center. The center is currently closed due to Covid but the bathrooms are open. From what I could tell, on our mad dash to the bathroom and distance viewing, the displays are informative and well done. I'd love to return when it is safe to and take a look. The park has three trails that are part of the spree. We hiked the Bobcat Trail since it includes the boardwalk. The trail travels for about a half mile through trees and over dusty shells. Then it connects to the boardwalk. This was by far the best part. We walked along the beautiful, tree lined water, getting up close and personal with a bunch of small black crabs. We scanned the water for manatees but were not lucky to find any. The trail ends back at the nature center. We climbed the back steps to the top level and caught a great view of the river and the distant city. After the hike we hit up the playground for a few minutes. This is always my kids' favorite part. We also stopped off at the butterfly garden which was pretty active on this day. The park was in great shape, the bathrooms were clean, there were lots of people around doing various park things. Canoeing, kayaking, hiking, nature hunting and playing on the playground are just some of the things available at your fingertips here. So glad we visited! Can't wait to return to check out the other trails.

Typical florida day on the water. Everyone is friendly. Everything is free. You just need a boat.read more

Nice days get away. Small but work in progress. Will be interesting to see how it progresses.read more