Summer excursions don’t have to involve elaborate trips out of state or weekend stay-cations at the nearby theme parks. Thanks to Kristen Hare’s book, “100 Things to Do in Tampa Bay Before You Die” you can spend your days exploring local hidden gems and become reacquainted with the Gulf Coast community tourists flock to from around the world.
Hare’s guide came out in 2014 and during her author visit at Bruton Memorial Library last week she announced its second edition is nearly complete. As she chatted with attendees about their favorite places in the area she gave insight on how to make the most of the unique and thriving community we live in.
“We live in this beautiful place, don’t let the tourist have all the fun,” Hare said.
To fully maximize the joy of being a hometown tourist Hare, a journalist at Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg,
recommends you follow three simple steps. Think like a tourist, think like a local and then stop thinking all together.
When Hare moved to Florida from St. Louis in 2012 she thought she would only have a year to see every nook and cranny of the state she was quickly falling in love with. As a journalist, she was writing a review for the St. Louis Beacon about the book, “100 Things to Do in St. Louis Before You Die.”
When she called the publisher with a question for her article he asked where she was currently located. She said the Tampa area and before she could blink she was drafted to create a book for the Bay. Using the spots her family had already explored as a foundation she dove into “interviewing the locals” to find out what everyone from the checkout girl at Publix to her random waiter counted as their favorite locations in the Bay area.
Her list is intricate, ranging from iconic destinations like the Columbia Restaurant to hidden gems like Solomon’s Castle. The key to finding some of the lesser known amenities of each town is to act like you know nothing, Hare said. Utilize the tourist agencies in the area, find out what outsiders are told are the highlights of the city.
In Tampa, one of the great resources available are the eBoats. These electric boats can be rented out by the hour, don’t require a captain and allow visitors to explore the Hillsborough River and Bay on their own. Hare recommended using the boats around the holidays to see the Christmas lights strung up all along the river.
When you pair the marketing from the individual cities with the knowledge of locals you can begin to have a
well-rounded grasp of the area as a whole. Locals know locations tourists will seldom stumble upon. In Plant City, Hare said Medard Park with its gorgeous trees that make a “forest of exposed roots” is one of her favorite places to spend a morning.
“I had been told I had to visit Medard and when I pulled up I said, ‘I’m here for the trees,’” Hare said. “The man just told me it was the second left so I knew this was going to be something special.”
Of course, the antique shops, Parkesdale Farm Market, Keel & Curley, Dinosaur World and the renowned Florida Strawberry Festival all also make her coveted list.
During her adventures, Hare has walked along secluded beaches and examined unique architecture. She’s found treasure at quirky antique shops and explored one-of-a-kind markets. Restaurants that are cult favorites have been put to the test and left lasting impressions, like the Linger Lodge, which features unique decor aka an abundant collection of taxidermy. Even the name of the restaurant is spelled out in mounted snakes.
Many of her favorite finds have come from Hare simply turning off her internal GPS and taking in her surroundings. Whether it’s stopping at something that catches her eye on her commute or getting out of her car and walking around she said some of the greatest discoveries have come from opening her eyes and adopting an adventurous spirit.
“Many of the things on my list I’ve found through serendipity,” Hare said.
One mistake many locals tend to make is to assume the cities they’ve grown up around haven’t undergone major change. Downtown Tampa used to offer very little in the form of entertainment. Now, it is home to dozens of must-see locations like museums and restaurants.
An influx of entrepreneurs to the area has revitalized many of the local cities and suburbs. This summer instead of spending your money in another state’s economy consider grabbing Hare’s book and taking advantage of the diverse adventures found in your own backyard.
“I hope you are inspirited to do and see more things,” Hare said. “This is a beautiful area. It’s time we took advantage of all it has to offer.”