As Pennsylvania weather is beginning to cool down, I am sure there are others like me that are dreaming about escaping to somewhere warm. There is no better place to visit during the cold, northern months than Tampa, Florida. Not only is Tampa a fun, bustling, and exciting city, but it is also nearby some of the state’s most beautiful coastal spots. Check out this list of some of Tampa’s best spots!
Things to Do
Visit Clearwater Beach
If you are interested in escaping from the busy city for a few hours, Clearwater Beach is only a twenty minute drive, and the views will not disappoint. The town is very cute, and the sand on the beach is a golden blanket. The water is clear blue in color and extremely warm for most of the months of the year, making it feel like a Caribbean vacation. Make sure to get there early in the day to ensure you get a parking spot near the beach if you are driving!
Tampa Riverwalk
Right in the center of the city is the Tampa Riverwalk. It is conveniently located beside most of the hotels and restaurants in the city, so it is extremely easy to access. At night time, the Riverwalk is completely lit up (as shown in the picture on right), and this serves as a great activity for people of any age to do in the evenings. As a distance runner, my visit to Tampa consisted of many runs on the Riverwalk, which felt safe and enjoyable!
Places to Eat
SoFresh
One of my favorite restaurants in Tampa would have to be SoFresh. It is healthy, fast, and delicious. While visiting Tampa, my mom and I loved being able to preorder our meal and pick it up in store so that we could enjoy the meal on a bench in a nearby park. You can create your own grain bowls filled with so many different plants foods, protein choices, and yummy sauces. Preorder your meal here!
Haven
If you and your travel buddies are looking for an option that is slightly fancier, I would recommend Haven as a great spot for dinner. Their meals are based on an American cuisine, so their menu consists of meals like steak and seafood. If those are not your preferred dinner option, do not worry! They also have mac and cheese for picky eaters! Check out the menu here before making a reservation here!
Use this guide for your next visit to Tampa, Florida! Thank you.
Florida does seem to be the classic winter vacation spot and your travel guide really backed up that notion. Hearing about how nice the beaches in Florida are reminded me of when I went, probably a decade ago. I must say however I do like Pennsylvania’s cold weather so Florida will remain a summer vacation for me.
My sister once went on vacation to Clearwater with her bestie and it looked BEAUTIFUL. Also I love restaurants like SoFresh, they’re fireee. There’s one of those in Pittsburgh. Loved this post!
As someone who HATES cold weather, I would love to go to Florida during the winter months. Swimming at Clearwater beach would be quite a different experience from the not-so-clean ocean at the Jersey shore, where my family goes on vacation LOL. Hopefully I will get to go there one day!
I love love love Tampa so much. I went down with my friends for a girls trip last summer and it was amazing. We went to Clearwater and the beach was absolutely beautiful and we went on the riverwalk as well, which made for an amazing photo-op. I absolutely agree with you and this recommendation, I think everyone should go to Tampa.