23 very outdoor, very solitary, things to do in the Tampa Bay area

Bike or walk through a downtown St. Pete mural tour

719 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, (813) 274-8615, Click here for more info
Florida CraftArt offers both walking and biking mural tours throughout downtown St. Pete. Walking tours take place Saturday mornings from 10 to 11:30 a.m. while biking tours are offered every first Saturday of the month.

Photo via St. Pete mural tours/Website

Explore Sawgrass Lake

7400 25th St. N., St. Petersburg, (727) 217-7256, Click here for more info
One of the largest maple parks on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Sawgrass Lake Park boardwalk and dirt trail are perfect spots for birdwatching and gator spotting, and it's only about 10 minutes from downtown St. Pete.

Photo via Colin Wolf

Honeymoon Island

1 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin, (727) 241-6106, Click here for more info
Whether you want to search for seashells along the shore, relax on the sand or take to one of the park’s nature trails or bid observation areas, Honeymoon Island offers several outdoor options, as well as a gift shop and snack bar.

Photo via Honeymoon Island/Facebook

Hike through Lettuce Lake’s boardwalk

6920 E. Fletcher Ave., Tampa, (813) 987-6204, Click here for more info
For a $2 entry and $25 kayak or canoe rental, you can make your way through Lettuce Lake or stay dry and search for gators from the boardwalk.

Photo via Hillsborough County/Website

Sip your way through Strongtower Vineyard and Winery

17810 Forge Dr., Spring Hill, (352) 799-7612, Click here for more info
At Spring Hill’s Strongtower Vineyard and Winery, guests can try a variety of wines in the winery’s tasting room or stroll through the vineyard.

Photo via Strongtower Vineyard and Winery/Facebook

Walk through a Tampa cemetery

5300 Interbay Blvd., Tampa, (813) 274-8615, Click here for more info
Tampa owns and operates four cemeteries (Jackson Heights, Marti/Colon, Oaklawn and Woodlawn), totaling about 40 acres with over 29,000 recorded burials. Oaklawn Cemetery offers a self-guided walking tour through its historic grounds.

Photo via City of Tampa/Website

Hike through Weedon Island Preserve

1800 Weedon Dr. NE, St. Petersburg, (727) 453-6500, Click here for more info
Weedon Island offers six hiking trails along aquatic and upland ecosystems. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. until 30 minutes before sundown, and although admission is free, donations are welcome.

Photo via Weedon Island Preserve/Facebook

Hike and sightsee your way through Eureka Springs State Park

6400 Eureka Springs Rd., Tampa, (813) 744-5536, Click here for more info
Eureka Springs State Park, first created as a botanical garden of rare and unusual tropical plants, offers a 0.75-mile-long Peaceful Paths Trail. The park is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and entry costs $2 per vehicle.

Photo via Eureka Springs Conservation Park/Website

Hike the wetlands and forests of Hillsborough River State Park

15402 U.S. Hwy 301 N., Thonotosassa, (813) 987-6771), Click here for more info
With over 7 miles of hiking trails, Hillsborough River State Park offers guests the chance to hike through hydric hammock forests, pine flatwoods cypress domes and wetlands. Visitors can also rent kayaks and canoes to take to the water, and it’s all only a short driving distance from the city of Tampa.

Photo via Florida State Parks/Website

Explore the waters of Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Ecotour

190 Taft Dr. Lido Key, Sarasota, (941) 779-7426, Click here for more info
Take a two-hour-long guided kayak tour through the protected waters of Kido Key, where you can spot manatees and bottlenose dolphins while paddling through exotic mangrove tunnels.

Photo via Sarasota Kayak Tours/Website

Paddle with Urban Kai

310 W. 7th Ave., Tampa, (813) 598-1634, Click here for more info
This paddle board tour takes you around the Gandy area for a bit more of a physically demanding day on the water.

Photo via Urban Kai/Website

Caladesi Island

Offshore Island, Dunedin, (727) 469-5918, Click here for more info
With no connecting bridges accessible by shore, this white-sand island is only reachable by boat, ferry or kayak and houses only a food stand and restrooms.

Photo via Florida State Parks/Website

Sunken Gardens

1825 4th St. N., St Petersburg, (727) 551-3102, Click here for more info
St. Petersburg’s Sunken Gardens is a tropical getaway inside the city. The botanical gardens offer tropical foliage-filled trails, a waterfall and even some flamingos.

Photo via Sunken Gardens/Website

Get spooked at Spook Hill

Lake Wales, Click here for more info
Watch cars defy gravity at this Lake Wales roadside phenomenon, which was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Photo via Spook Hill/Website

Paddle your way down the Chaz

8600 W Miss Maggie Dr., Chassahowitzka, 352-382-2200, Click here for more info
Affectionately coined “the Chaz,” the Chassahowitzka river offers a convenient kayak and canoe launch area, from which guests can travel down the clear blue spring waters.

Photo via Chassahowitzka River/Website

Swim the waters of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

6131 Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee, 352-592-5656, Click here for more info
You can visit one of Florida’s oldest roadside attractions at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. Swim in the freshwater cave system or relax on land to do some wildlife watching.

Photo via Florida State Parks/Website

Kayak or canoe at Seven Sisters Spring

2 chassahowitzka river spring, Homosassa, Click here for more info
Located on the Chassahowitzka River, Seven Sisters Spring is a swimming or kayaking spot, but you have to rent a kayak to access it. The spring’s clear water is also the perfect place to do some manatee searching.

Photo via Google Maps

Go beach camping

Multiple locations, Click here for more info
Love the beach so much you don’t want to leave? Lucky for you, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay compiled a list of the best beach camping spots located within driving distance of Tampa Bay.

Photo via Visit St. Pete/Clearwater/Facebook

Lithia Springs Conservation Park

3932 Lithia Springs Rd., Lithia, (813) 744-5572, Click here for more info
Known for its clear blue waters, Lithia Springs flows into the Alafia River and offers amenities including restrooms, showers, grills and walking trails. Entry costs $2 per car and another $2 per person to swim.

Photo via Google Maps

Go for a swim at Wekiwa Springs State Park

1800 Wekiwa Cir., Apopka, 407-553-4383, Click here for more info
Admission to this populaar swimming spring near Orlando is $6 per vehicle. Park amenities include restrooms, parking, playgrounds, pavilions and more and is right down the road from Wekiva Island.

Photo via Wekiwa Springs State Park/Website