05.03.2024

Today’s Forecast

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🥾Time to hit up a hike

Hit the trails with this guide to Tampa Bay area hikes

Grab your hiking boots and discover TBAY’s most remote views. | Photo via Hillsborough County

From quick and easy loops around town to drives that take you to fantastic beaches and forests, our region has so many options to hit the trail. So lace up your hiking boots, because we’ve compiled a hiking guide for the Tampa Bay area with 12 routes and trails to help you plan your next adventure and experience breathtaking views.

Note: While parks and trails may be listed as open, we recommend checking park websites before visiting for further info, current trail conditions, and the safest practices for the area.

Key: Easy = 🥾| Moderate = 🥾🥾 | Hard = 🥾🥾🥾
(Spoiler alert, we don’t have any hard trails because most of Florida is flat.)

Hillsborough

Baynard Trail and Seminole Trail, Hillsborough River State Park, Thonotosassa

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 5.5-mile loop
Pet friendly: Yes, leash required

The lengthy trail winds through the beloved state park, which boasts its own Class II river rapids. But don’t worry about time, the hike should only take a little under two hours. Parking is $6 per vehicle.

Flatwoods Loop Trail, Flatwoods Wilderness Park, Lutz

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 11-mile loop
Pet friendly: Yes, leash required

Take a break from the hectic city life with a lengthy hike down this tree-lined trail frequented by deer and wild turkey. Plus, the trail is paved + suitable for folks using wheelchairs or strollers.

Explore the pocket of St. Pete paradise that is Weedon Island while making new vet friends.
|
Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Pinellas

Weedon Island Preserve Trail, St. Pete

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 4.3-mile loop
Pet friendly: No

Make your way through a pristine slice of Tampa Bay’s outdoors on the boardwalk or dirt trails, taking in all the wildlife and flora of the preserve. Don’t want to go it alone? The Weedon Island Cultural and Natural History Center offers a variety of tours, like the Guided Naturalist Tour + Photography Hike.

Fort De Soto Park Nature Trail, Fort De Soto County Park, Tierra Verde

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 1.4-mile loop
Pet friendly: Yes, leash required

This scenic trail offers breathtaking views of nature with a diverse range of wildlife, such as crabs and woodpeckers. Enjoy informational panels throughout the trail about the local flora and fauna. Plus, pack the blankets and umbrellas for a little beach action after.

City Guides are presented by Water Street Tampa.

8 more fantastic finds

Asked

What is most important to you when choosing a hike?

Level of difficulty
Time to complete/number of miles
Unmatched views
It’s all about the hiking location

Share your take

Events

Friday, May 3

Waxahatchee | Friday, May 3 | 7 p.m. | Jannus Live, 200 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg | $28 | Singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield brings her latest album “Tigers Blood” to the outdoor stage.
Ya Dig Records Showcase | Friday, May 3 | 9 p.m. | The Nest @ St. Pete Brewing Company, 544 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg | $13 | Jam out to vinyl and digital grooves with other music aficionados.

Saturday, May 4

Tampa Bay Chalk Festival | Saturday, May 4 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | 22nd Street between 7th Avenue South and 9th Avenue, St. Petersburg | Free | Check out this year’s masterful creations, all themed around environmental consciousness.
Puppies + Pilates with MercyFull Project | Saturday, May 4 | 9-10 a.m. | Procure @ Hyde Park Village, 1623 W. Snow Cir., Tampa | $32 | Work out alongside cute rescue puppies in this class led by Emilie of Rise Pilates — bring your own mat.
Derby at the Pier 2024 | Saturday, May 4 | 3-9 p.m. | St. Pete Pier, 600 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg | $35+ | Celebrate the Derby in style with hats, mint juleps, and festivities benefiting the Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg.
Jockey & Juleps Signature Gala: A Kentucky Derby Event | Saturday, May 4 | 4:30-8 p.m. | The Orlo, 315 S. Plant Ave., Tampa | $150+ | Buckle up for the live broadcast, cocktails, a silent auction, a photo booth, and miniature ponies at this American Cancer Society event.
“If I Cry” | Saturday, May 4-Sunday, May 5 | Times vary | The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Pl., Tampa | $49+ | The Tampa City Ballet transports you on a journey through the mind of Frida Kahlo.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Plan Ahead

Culture

Mayfaire by-the-Lake unveils this year’s stork-tacular Feature Poster

Presented by a TBAYtoday Partner

Two people stand in front of an outdoor art stand featuring realistic landscape paintings.

Visitors can view + purchase works from jewelers, clay artists, painters, photographers, and more. | Photo provided by the Polk Museum of Art

Mayfaire by-the-Lake, The Polk Museum of Art’s annual fine art festival, officially unveiled their feature poster artist + image — a colorful painting of wandering waterfowl on the shores of Lake Morton, set against a vibrant Lakeland sky.

The committee chose award-winning impressionist Heather Nagy’s striking submission from among 150+ entries. Why storks? The Florida resident decided to focus her poster image on Lake Morton’s iconic residents after learning they were once on the brink of extinction.

🖼️ 52 years of local art

The beloved event began in 1971 as a small craft fair on the Lakeland Library lawn. It’s since become one of the largest outdoor art festivals in Central Florida, welcoming 15,000+ visitors and 150+ artist booths from all over the country every year on Mother’s Day weekend.

But don’t lake our word for it — experience this one-of-a-kind art showcase yourself during its upcoming 52nd celebration, happening next Saturday, May 11-Sunday, May 12.

Meet the artists + plan your visit

News Notes

Coming Soon

Welcome to the pink room. Tampa’s latest fitness studio, Biomefit, is opening its doors in Sparkman Wharf this summer. The brand’s inaugural 2,400-sqft location will house strength equipment, personal training areas, saunas, and cold plunges + host “Booty Babez” classes. (Tampa Tomorrow)

Development

What’s next for the MOSI redevelopment? Two companies have submitted plans to turn the North Tampa museum’s surroundings into mixed-use neighborhoods. Take a look at the renderings + ideas. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Number

$10 million. That’s how much NBA executive William Koening and his wife, Melinda Witmer, just listed their 22nd floor Tampa EDITION condo for. The luxe residence was the most expensive condo ever sold in TBAY — and boasts four bedrooms + top tier access to Water Street Tampa delights. (Tampa Bay Times)

Real Estate

The Miramar is bringing some vintage flair into its new era. The St. Pete Beach hotel’s tweaked expansion plans now include saving the 1950s-era building + constructing a new vintage-esque tower with 30 units, a rooftop restaurant, and a bar. Council approval is needed. (St. Pete Rising)

Try This

Now’s your chance to show your support for your favorite fishy friends. TBAY’s own Florida Aquarium is nominated for Best Aquarium in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Award competition. Vote now through Monday, May 13. (That’s So Tampa)

Announced

Grammy Award-winner Maren Morris rides into the Burg in her “80s Mercedes” this summer. The contemporary country singer-songwriter plays the Mahaffey Theater on Saturday, August 17. Tickets start at $44. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

Drink Up

Drink Up Week — our annual celebration of City’s vibrant beverage culture — is coming July 22-July 26. If you’re a local business, you’re going to want to get in on the buzz. Be our exclusive presenting sponsor and advertise your brand with us during Drink Up Week.

Sports

Catch up on potential changes to the Rays’ lineup. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Rays with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Culture

🎶 Get ready to dance, dance, dance

Celebrate at these Cinco de Mayo events across the Tampa Bay area

Get ready to salsa, bachata, or merengue the night away. | Photo via Pexels

Cinco de Mayo is upon us, TBAY. We rounded up a variety of celebrations and deals to take advantage of this weekend:

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Cinco de Mayo Festival | Friday, May 3-Sunday, May 5 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Head to the theme park for a weekend of Latin music performances, a street fair, a solo acrobatic performance, Cinco Stilt Walkers,Tequila Shrimp Tacos + Savory Mojo Pulled Pork Tacos, and Modelos aplenty.
Latin Beats: May the 4th Be With You | Saturday, May 4-Sunday, May 5 | 9:30 p.m.-2 p.m. | Enjoy a guided dance class at 9:30 p.m., beats by DJ Mike Sensation, and social dancing starting at 10 p.m. Make sure to wear something “Star Wars” themed — like this t-shirt.

2 more sensational events

The Buy

Ingredients for a perfect margarita. Try the Simple Times Mizers Margarita Bundle to get a taste of something new, like the Strawberry Safe mix.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Bailey

From the editor

Can we get a round of a-paws for this long-awaited reunion? The Humane Society of Tampa Bay just shared these touching photos of one of their rescue dogs being reunited with his family. Ace escaped their yard — all the way in Miami — in December and showed up at HSTB recently.

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