25 beautiful Tampa Bay places you probably haven't visited

Wat Mongkolratanaram Buddhist Temple

5306 Palm River Rd. Tampa , Florida 33619-3746, (813)-621-1669
On a large Buddhist compound on the river next to the monk’s residence and the Dharma relaxation area, lies a beautiful Ayudhya style Buddhist Temple. The compound offers a popular Sunday market filled with fresh Thai food, plants, produce.

Photo via USF Global Disaster Management, Humanitarian Relief & Homeland Security/ Facebook

Beercan Island

304 N. Shore Rd, Longboat Key, FL 34228 (parking)
Accessible only by boat or walking through a trail of mangroves during low tide, Beercan Island is an almost secret, undeveloped white sand beach. Located on the northern tip of Longboat Key, this beach has no bathrooms, no amenities, no tourists, and all the beautiful privacy you need.

Photo via Adam Boehm

The NEST at Robinson’s Preserve

840 99th St NW Bradenton, FL 34209, (941) 742-5923
The giant, adult treehouse of your dreams. A nature and education center, yoga studio, event space, the NEST is in the middle of hundreds of acres of marsh, wetlands, and native foliage. The top floor of the NEST offers a 360 degree view of the entire preserve.

Photo via Adam Boehm

St Petersburg’s 600 block murals

648 1st Ave N, Saint Petersburg, FL, USA
A sprawl of about a dozen murals cover the buildings behind Central Ave’s 600 block. It’s where you take your out-of-state-visitors to see St.Petersburg’s artistic reputation in real life, perhaps after dinner or before a show at State Theater. And yes, you’ll almost always see someone taking pictures for Instagram in front of them.

Photo via State Theater/Facebook

Fancy Free Nursery

1502 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33602, (813) 260-0217
This family owned business is more than just a typical nursery. Filled with beautiful plants, Fancy Free Nursery has indoor and outdoor spaces that also host weddings and botanical workshops. Get your phone out now, because you’ll definitely want to take pictures for Instagram.

Photo via Fancy Free Nursery/Facebook

Fenway Hotel Rooftop

453 Edgewater Drive, Dunedin, FL 34698, (727)-683-5991
You don’t have to book a room at The Fenway Hotel to experience their larger-than-life rooftop bar looking over the prized Honeymoon and Caladesi islands. Originally home to the Boston public radio station WGHB in 1925, the Fenway Hotel’s Hi-Top Bar now serves choice cocktails with a great view.

Photo via Fenway Hotel/Facebook

Eureka Springs Park

6400 Eureka Springs Rd, Tampa, FL 33610, (813) 744-5536
Established in 1938 by botanist Albert Greensburg who later donated the park to Hillsborough County, Eureka Springs Park has one of Florida’s oldest botanical gardens . Chock full of Florida-native foliage and family friendly amenities, this park is the ultimate Sunday afternoon destination.

Photo via Eureka Springs/Facebook

Replay Museum

119 Tarpon Avenue Tarpon Springs, FL 34689, (727) 233-8490
A whimsical, interactive museum filled with over 100 old pinball machines and vintage video games. Whether you’re 6 or you’re 60 you’ll find a colorful, hunking piece of old technology to play with. Immerse yourself in some fun 80’s tackiness.

Photo via Replay Museum/Facebook

Honeymoon Island State Park

#1 Causeway Blvd. Dunedin FL 34698, (727)-241-6106
One of Florida’s most popular state parks, Honeymoon Island attracts locals and tourists alike with its beautiful beaches, diverse wildlife, and range of nature activities, including an information center where visitors can learn about the park’s history and ecosystem. There’s also a ferry to another highly-praised Florida destination, the boat-only accessible Caladesi Island.

Photo via Honeymoon Island State Park/Facebook

Mole y Abuela

1202 N Franklin St Tampa, Florida, (813) 370-1000
One of the most prized views of downtown Tampa is from the rooftop bar and patio of Mole y Abuela, a Spanish-inspired restaurant. Grab a marg, snag some tapas, and just enjoy the view.

Photo via Mole y Abuela/Facebook

Hillsborough River State Park

15402 US 301 N. Thonotosassa FL 33592, 813-987-6771
This state park with 7 miles of nature trails is a hidden gem in plain sight--just miles from downtown Tampa. Fully equipped with kayak and canoe rentals, a swimming pool, and 112 campsites, this park is the ultimate city escape.

Photo via Floridastateparks.org

The Saunders Planetarium

4801 E. Fowler Ave. Tampa, Florida 33617 USA, (813)-987-6000
Lie back, relax (but don’t fall asleep), and experience a state-of-the-art simulation of the night sky, anywhere on Earth at any time period. The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) has one of the best planetariums in the state, and it’s right here in Tampa. Get your learn on.

Photo via MOSI/Facebook

The Dali Museum Avant-Garden

1 Dali Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, 727) 823-3767
A combination of Florida’s native fauna and Dali’s whimsical fascination with the duality of nature, the Dali’ Museum outdoor garden, The Avant-Garden (Ha!) is chock full of instagrammable opportunities like the iconic melting clock bench and larger-than-life pencil mustache sculpture. Buy a souvenir at the gift shop and leave your wristband on the tree at the end of the maze, that is, if you can find a spot to tie it.

Photo via The Dali Museum/Facebook

Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park

8737 US Highway 19 North Port Richey FL 34668, (727)-816-1890
There’s no beaches or swimming areas at this state park due to a shoreline jammed pack with protective mangroves, but nature lovers can still bike through scenic trails, birdwatch, and kayak in this massive reserve. Its name reigns true as more than 80% of is marsh or partially submerged acres.

Photo via Floridastateparks.org

Ciro’s Speak Easy

2109 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa FL 33606, (813)-251-0022
With a long list of visually pleasing cocktails, and an even longer, more extensive list of choice liquors, Ciro’s is the sleek speakeasy you never knew you needed until you found out about it. And yes, you need to know the password to enter.

Photo via Ciro's/Speakeasy

University of South Florida Botanical Gardens

12210 USF Pine Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, (813) 974-2329
Emphasizing botanical education and the importance of conservation, USF’s 16 acres of botanical gardens are open to the public 7 days a week. Fostering more than 3,000 animals, plants, and natural habitats, these gardens are an entire ecosystem on their own, showcasing some of Florida’s prettiest native fauna.

Photo via USF Botanical Gardens/Facebook

Edge Rooftop Bar

1207 South Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606, (813)-999-8731
In the heart of Tampa’s So-Ho district, the Epicurean Hotel offers a rooftop cocktail lounge (and small plate menu) with an esteemed view of the city. It’s also great for people watching if you squint hard enough.

Photo via Edge/ Facebook

Keel and Curley Winery

5210 Thonotosassa Rd, Plant City, FL 33565, (813)-752-3892
A winery, a brewery, a farm, a beautiful event space, and restaurant––Keel and Curley Winery has it all. In 2003 Central Florida blueberry farmer Joe Keel wanted to find something to do with his end-of-crop blueberries, and the winery was born. Now, it’s a must-visit location.
Photo via Keel and Curley Winery/Facebook

Mable Ringling’s Rose Garden

5401 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL 34243, (941)-359-5700
The oldest operating rose garden in Florida, at a whopping 106 years old, the Mable Ringling’s Rose Gardens in Sarasota are an art exhibit all on its own. The rose garden shares the 66 acre grounds of Ringling with iconic massive banyan trees, and tons of other beautiful fauna.
Photo via Ringling Museum/Facebook

Manatee Viewing Center

6990 Dickman Rd Apollo Beach, FL 33572, 813-228-4289
Despite Manatee season only being a few months long, Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center offers year round activities and scenic views including a butterfly garden, a wildlife observation tower, and mangrove-packed nature trail.

Photo via Manatee Viewing Center/Tampa