Before you know it the hot, humid days will be driving everybody indoors. While the weather is nice and there’s still a breeze in the air, here are ten things that you can do to get out and enjoy the Florida sunshine.



Go To The Saturday Morning Market in Downtown St. Petersburg – Every Saturday from October to May vendors of prepared foods, produce, seafood, baked goods, plants and crafts come together for an open-air market that encompasses a city block. You can sit down and have breakfast and enjoy the activity. It’s also walking distance to the pier, Straub Park and Bay Walk.


Kayak at Weedon Island – Weedon Island Preserve is a 1,046-acre park Pinellas County just across the Gandy Bridge. It gives its name to an archaeological culture (Weeden Island Culture). Besides kayaking there are hiking trails, fishing, a 3,000-foot boardwalk, observation tower and The Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center. Kayaking is great way to really appreciate the natural beauty of Florida.


Spend A Day At Hillsborough River State Park – One of the first places that I saw an otter in the wild was near the Hillsborough River State Park. You can see a lot of the natural inhabitants of the area here, including alligators. Opened in 1938, it was one of Florida’s first state parks and has 3,950 acres. It was developed by the by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The Hillsborough River here actually has rapids (class II). In addition to hiking and kayaking, there is a swimming pool and camping.


Sit on Your Front Porch – I think that every house in Florida should have a front porch. Maybe it should be in the building code. I admit, though, that I don’t use mine enough. It’s hard to beat a relaxing, breezy weekend morning in an easy rocking chair with a cup a coffee. My daughter loves to pick out the birdcalls – mocking birds, woodpeckers, blue jays, cardinals, doves and more.


Rent (Or Borrow) A Projector and Watch a Movie Outside – If you want to meet some of your neighbors, this is a sure way of doing it. It’s easier than you think. All you need is a projector, a DVD player and some sound. A sheet or wall will do for a screen. Throw a few blankets on the ground and you’re ready to go. We’ve even set up a Wii outside.


Take A Walking Tour of Hyde Park – This has been on the web for years and it’s one of those things that I’ve planned on getting around to doing. It’s a walking (or driving) tour of Hyde Park with a map that points out significant houses and structures. The background that it covers is not extensive but it’s the only thing of its kind that I know of. It was done by M. C. Bob Leonard, Professor of History at Hillsborough Community College.


Walk (Don’t Run) On Bayshore – I know that people like to exercise on Bayshore. It’s a great place to get out, see some people, and run or ride a bike. But if you slow down and take in a little bit of the scenery you will be surprised at what you find. Early mornings are the best time to see some dolphins. Sometimes they come right up to the wall while corralling some jacks or mullet for breakfast. Look down and you might see some blue crabs or rays. I’ve seen a bonnethead shark, a nurse shark and even a manatee swimming right up near the wall.


Spend an Afternoon At Picnic Island – Even tough it’s only 15 minutes from downtown, Picnic Island takes a bit or work to get to if you don’t know where you’re going, but it’s worth the effort. Located in Port Tampa on the Interbay Peninsula, it has a fishing pier, a boat ramp, playgrounds, shelters, and a dog park.


Cook Out at Ballast Point Park – Located near the end of Bayshore Boulevard, it was named Jules Verne Park until 1920. A woman named Emelia Chapin controlled the trolley company started by her husband, and she had the end of the line turned into a park and named it after the science fiction author. One of his novels, From The Earth To The Moon, used Bell Shoals, near Tampa, as a setting for a rocket launch. She also had the park lushly landscaped and a pier built which has since been rebuilt.


Eat Dinner Outside – A good choice for a nice dinner outside is Ceviche, which has just moved to the new location in what was once St. Bart’s and previously Le Bordeaux. The tapas or “small plates” are perfect for sharing and trying out a few items.

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