Upper Tampa Bay Park

Today we visit Upper Tampa Bay Park. Just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the big city you can find this gem

Located on the far western end of Hillsborough Avenue a little east of Racetrack road

These picnic shelters and the Nature Center are the only development you find here due to the extremely sensitive environment that the park resides in

The park is bordered on the east by Double Branch and on the south and west by Old Tampa Bay

Founded in 1982 the park is 596 acres of protected mangrove forests, salt marshes, freshwater marshes and woods. The Nature Center has many exhibits and displays

The park provides several trails to walk 

Some of what you might see on the trails

There is a canoe launch facility. Bring your own or rent one from the park

A boardwalk through the mangroves out to the bay offers beautiful views

Just a beautiful place to see nature at it's best...undisturbed and undeveloped

Fiddler crabs

We are at sea level so if you're visiting the park during a hurricane bring a life jacket  :)

I did enjoy my stay and I recommend this park to anyone

Staycation....Beach scenes

Here in Florida just staying home is a good thing. Sometimes we like to stay a night or two at the beach so we head for the Grand Plaza on St Pete Beach. We have been staying here for years...that's a restuarant on top

The view from a gulf front room is hard to beat

MK making the view even better

Beautiful white sand of the Florida gulf coast

Looking north and then south

Cruise ship heading out the Egmont channel

MK roughing it

Some sunset pics to close out this stay at home weekend

The best for last

Water..Boats..and Birds

Sitting by the water is my favorite way to relax....there's just something about all that water

I love boats...watching boats sail by...or speed by...always wishing I was in one of them

Even boats that make sure boaters follow the rules

Wave runners are fun to watch

Sometimes watching boats and water I see another of my favorite things...airplanes

From boats on Tampa Bay to boats on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico

Boats....and birds

Here's how I watch

Dolphin playing inside the jetty

That's a great day for me...water...boats...and birds

Until next time...so long from Florida