Plus, $21 million Davis Islands home listed.
 
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Today’s Forecast

67º | Cloudy | 10% chance of rain | Sunrise: 7:20 a.m. | Sunset: 6:00 p.m. | Tides | Old Tampa Bay | High: 9:02 p.m. | Clearwater Beach | High: 8:07 a.m. + 5:43 p.m. | 10:46 a.m.
 

🛻 Hit the road, Jack

10 day trips from the Tampa Bay area
Crystal River shines blue. It is surrounded by trees.
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is under 100 miles from TBAY. | Photo by @annemie.travel
Don’t get us wrong, there is nowhere we’d rather live than the Tampa Bay area. That’s why these day trips are all within ~two hours from where we call home, so you don’t have to go too far.

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge

Step, swim, or kayak around crystal clear waters offering unique wildlife opportunities. We recommend a see-through kayak tour to get the best view of manatees. Pro tip: The best time to see sea cows is from mid-November to late March.

Siesta Key

There’s no shortage of amazing beaches right here in TBAY, but if you want to try a new spot on the sand, the beaches on Siesta Key might be your best bet. Siesta Beach was named the No. 2 beach in the entire country by Trip Advisor for its open space, white sand, and Gulf of Mexico access.

Marion County

Here’s one for the horse enthusiasts. Marion County has a higher concentration of horses + ponies than any other county in the US, boasting 1,200+ horse farms. We recommend catching a show at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala.

The sun sets over the Caloosahatchee River from behind the Edison and Ford Winter Estate. The sky is blue and orange.

It’s easy to see why Edison and Ford liked it here.

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Photo by TBAYtoday

Edison and Ford’s Winter Estates, Fort Myers

Explore the winter homes of two visionaries + their blooming gardens with 400+ plant species from six different continents. Situated right on the Caloosahatchee River (we can’t pronounce it either), the 21-acre botanical gardens are occupied by an abundance of wildlife, and are a sight to behold at night when the twinkle lights turn on. See for yourself.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Merritt Island

To the Space Coast and beyond. Get lost in the stars, learning about NASA’s history, current missions, and the potential future of space exploration. Grab tickets.
5 more day trip ideas
Asked

What kind of travel do you hope to do more of in 2024?
A. Roadtripping
B. Family vacations
C. Cruising
D. Other
Indulge your wanderlust
Events
Friday, Jan. 19
  • St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show | Friday, Jan. 19-Sunday, Jan. 21 | Times vary | Albert Whitted Park, 107 Eighth Ave. SE, St. Petersburg | $22 | Bring on the boats — the “Gulf Coast’s Largest Boat Show” is back, featuring tons of charters for sale, seminars on boating and fishing, and kids fishing clinics.
  • “Alabama Story” | Friday, Jan. 19-Sunday, Jan. 21 | Times vary | The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Pl., Tampa | $30 | It’s the final weekend to catch this story inspired by the history of 1959 Montgomery, Alabama, which reveals themes of humor, heartbreak, and hope.
Saturday, Jan. 20
  • Florida Reptile Show | Saturday, Jan. 20-Sunday, Jan. 21 | 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Largo Event Center, 6340 126th Ave. N., Largo | $10-$15 | Slither to Largo to check out a range of reptilians, vendors, and maybe bring a scaly friend home with you.
  • The Official Onesie Bar Crawl | Saturday, Jan. 20 | 4-11:59 p.m. | Park & Rec DTSP, 100 Fourth St. S., St. Petersburg | $25 | Tow some pals along to roam the Burg’s streets at the comfiest bar crawl in town.
  • Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 6" | Saturday, Jan. 20 | 8 p.m. | Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg | $23+ | Sit back and listen to the classic symphony, played by the Florida Orchestra as part of the “Masterworks Concert” series.
Sunday, Jan. 21
  • Yoga at The Dalí | Sunday, Jan. 21 | 9-10 a.m. | The Dalí Museum, 1 Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg | $10-$15 | Join Lucky Cat Yoga for a vinyasa yoga flow with waterfront views — bring your own mat.
  • Thomas Swick: “Falling into Place” | Sunday, Jan. 21 | 3:30-5 p.m. | Oxford Exchange, 420 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa | $5-$35 | Listen to the travel writer discuss his work which tackles life, love, and wanderlust.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
News Notes
Sports
  • Get ready, Bucs fans. Baker Mayfield and company are heading to Detroit this weekend to play the Lions in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. The Bucs are underdogs again, just as they were ahead of Monday night’s victory vs. the Eagles. Kick-off is at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 21.
Civic
  • St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch is hosting the State of the City 2024 address later this month. The public is invited to the Palladium Theater on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Welch will cover 2023 and his plans for 2024 starting at 11 a.m.
Number
  • $21 million. That’s how much a home on Davis Islands is listed for. If sold for asking price, the 9,442-sqft property at 96 Martinique Ave. will be the most expensive home sale in the Tampa Bay area since the $22.5 million acquired for Derek Jeter’s former residence in 2021. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Community
  • St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Chief Jim Large has announced his retirement after 50 years of service. Large has served in the role since 2006 and will be replaced in the interim by Deputy Chief Robert Bassett on Saturday, March 2. (St. Pete Catalyst)
Giveaway
  • Low-cost grocery store chain ALDI is giving away “golden tickets” worth up to $100 for the first 100 customers at its new St. Pete location (6765 22nd Ave.). The grand opening is on Thursday, Feb. 1., and customers also have a chance of winning $500 of credit through Sunday, Feb. 4. (I Love the Burg)
Closed
  • The Florida Cane Distillery bar + tasting room has closed its doors. The Ybor City staple operated for over a decade at 1820 N. 15th St., and made the announcement on social media. The company cited a decline in Florida tourism as a reason for the decision. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
On This Day
  • On Jan. 19, 1977, Tampa Bay residents woke up to the area’s last significant snowfall. We recently wrote about the historic day, and you shared some of your own memories of the event.
Outdoor
  • Pinellas County’s white pelicans are back. The bird breed can be spotted in areas like Crescent Lake Park + Fort de Soto Park throughout the winter. Experts say they normally hang around until the end of February. (Tampa Bay Times)
Eat
  • Does the smell of barbecue wafting in the air make you drool? Then you don’t want to miss Pigfest — a mouth-watering, finger-licking barbecue experience happening Friday, Jan. 26-Saturday, Jan. 27 and the first leg of the Triple Crown of BBQ competition. Get the juicy details.*
Finance
  • Erasing interest on purchases and balance transfers into 2025 can really make a difference. Throw in no annual fee, and there’s no wonder why thousands are lining up for these cards.*
 
Festival

🏴‍☠️ Get ready for Children’s Gasparilla

Children’s Gasparilla Parade preview
Children aboard a Gasparilla pirate ship float. They are throwing beads into the crowd, dressed like pirates.
Beads at the ready, landlubbers. | Photo via City of Tampa
Ahoy, mateys. What’s that on the horizon? It’s boats, beats, and buckets of fun for all the family on Saturday, Jan. 20.

A timeline of the day

Bicycle + Pedestrian Safety Rodeo: 12-2 p.m.

Bring your kiddo for the no-cost Bicycle + Pedestrian Safety Rodeo, to teach them tips for staying safe on two wheels.

Gasparilla Air Invasion: 12-4 p.m.

Before the pirate invasion on Saturday, Jan. 27, turn your eyes to the sky for an invasion by air. Check out planes, parachutes, and other airborne marvels.

Children’s Gasparilla Parade: 4:15-6 p.m.

This is the big one. Watch floats travel up the 1.5-mile route. Get your hands ready — beads will be flying.

“Piratechnic Finale”: 7-7:30 p.m.

End the day with spectacular fireworks, as the mock battle begins between pirates and the City of Tampa. Same time next week?
More info on travel + safety
The Buy

The Buy 1.19.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
“The 5-Minute Gratitude Journal.” Written by happiness and relationship coach Dr. Sophia Godkin, this journal inspires gratitude with prompts to answer every day — and it only takes five minutes.
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The Wrap
 
Patrick Sidwell.jpeg

Today’s edition by:
Patrick
From the editor
Who’s in the mood for a trip to Middle-earth? We headed to Elevenses Co. in Ybor City to check out their limited-time, “Lord of the Rings” inspired menu. It was, unsurprisingly, quite the journey.
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