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Brian Cahn/ZUMA Press/Corbis (Dalí)
14 – 26
As the days get warmer, beach time and Gulf
adventures begin to reign supreme. Take the
causeway to Honeymoon Island State Park and
catch a ferry to
Caladesi
, a long island with a
marina and beach. Much of Caladesi is undevel-
oped and worth exploring by canoe or kayak,
particularly the bay side with its mangrove shore-
line and seagrass flats. Hire a fishing charter —
or go on a dolphin-watching cruise — out of Hub-
bard’s Marina in John’s Pass. End the day viewing
the sunset from the dockside lounge at the
Friendly Fisherman while getting your hands
around a fat grouper sandwich.
1 – 13
The first few months of the year are usually warm
enough to enjoy everything the outdoors has to
offer but cool enough to not work up a sweat —
unless that’s your goal. While water temperatures
tend to be on the chilly side, try your hand at fish-
ing, especially for sea trout. Golfing is great
whenever you can get in your tee time. Outdoor
dining is delightful, and with
stone crab
(a local
delicacy) season in full swing, now’s the time to
indulge. For seaside ambiance, The Rusty Pelican
restaurant in Tampa is hard to beat.
40 – 52
Mention the Gulf Coast and images of swaying
palms, blinding white sand, and calm, blue waters
are certain to come to mind. But ... Salvador Dalí?
The famous Spanish artist? Yes! In St. Petersburg,
the fantastic
Dalí Museum
holds an extensive
collection of the master’s work, spanning the
length of his career. Elsewhere, the stunning
Tampa Museum of Art, located in downtown’s
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, has a renowned
17th- and 18th-century European art collection.
27 – 39
This time of year, you’ll need to pack plenty of
shorts and swimsuits. The summer heat will drive
you to the pool, to an air-conditioned mall, or to
the shore. A great place to enjoy the latter is at
St. Petersburg’s
Fort de Soto Park
. Explore the
fort — which was built in 1898 during the Span-
ish-American War — before heading to North
Beach, one of the top stretches of sand in the U.S.
Cap off your day in the sun with a dinner at one of
the eateries along Restaurant Row in historic Hyde
Park, where many of the neighborhood’s 19th-
century bungalows and cottages still stand.
1.
LOWRY PARK ZOO:
This Tampa zoo hosts an assortment of amazing animals from all corners of the globe.
2.
THE RINGLING:
In Sarasota, see a variety of authentic artifacts, costumes, and props in the Circus Museum.
3.
YBOR CITY:
A Latin American–infused evening of music and dance in Tampa’s historic district will leave you enthralled.
4.
FLORIDA AQUARIUM:
Explore a coral reef, view sea life, and cool off at the water park at this Tampa facility.
hy Go?
For a fun-filled vacation on the shores of the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, with convenient access to a range of
family-friendly attractions and cultural pursuits. Reach for the beach at some of Florida’s (and for that matter, the country’s)
finest strands of white sand. Discover a wealth of restaurants, shops, and bars in electric downtown Tampa. Visit a host
of museums. Experience over-the-top thrills at Busch Gardens. Or simply get away from it all and revel in the natural
beauty of the area’s parks.
Southwestern Coasts
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