Innings Festival in Tempe, Arizona last month. The event comes to St. Petersburg for the first time this month. Photo: Roger Ho/Innings Fest
Whether you want to take advantage of warmer temperatures with an outdoor adventure or escape the humidity indoors, here’s your guide to spring in Tampa Bay.
1. Spring for brunch
It’s time to put on your most beautiful spring outfit for a perfect brunch. Here are some of our favorite places:
The library, Saint PETERSBOURG
wild child, Saint PETERSBOURG (Sunday brunch only)
Timpano, Hyde Park (recently reopened for brunch)
- After a two-year hiatus, Timpano resumed its brunch service last month. Try the parm to table macaroni experience. To jump French toast with melted tiramisu.
Florida Cracker Kitchen, Brooksville
- That Okeechobee gumbo… holy heaven.
Ella’s American Folk Art Cafe, Seminole Heights
- You can not be wrong with the Bone in Bloody Mary – if you can sit in this very popular restaurant on a Sunday.
First watch, several places
- This local channel recently went public. First Watch is always crowded for a good reason: an interesting and healthy breakfast made with fresh ingredients.
Trip dinner, several places
- Look at these chicken cookies.
2. Launch your festival
whatever the music you like, from rock to reggae, there’s a festival for you this spring.
3. Take a seat at a local game
It was a close call, but the MLB lockout ended with enough time for a shortened spring training schedule.
Save this date: Opening day is April 7.
Here is an overview of local hours:
Baltimore Orioles
Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota
Detroit Tigers
Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland
New York Yankees
George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
Philadelphia Phillies
Spectrum Field, Clearwater
Pittsburgh Pirates
LECOM Park, Bradenton
Tampa Bay Stingrays
Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte
Toronto Blue Jays
TD Baseball Stadium, Dunedin
Not into baseball? Lightning has lots of home games in Tampa this spring.
4. Go on vacation
Check these three unique Airbnb getaways – all within a four-hour drive of Tampa Bay.
5. Hike these nearby swamps…seriously
To our happiness, a 560,000 acre wonderland is right in our backyard.
- The Green Swamp is the beating hydrological heart of the Tampa Bay area, the serene birthplace of four of our rivers, and it’s free for anyone to stroll. Here is Ben’s advice on hiking the Florida Trail through the Western Tract from Green Swamp.
For an even wetter experience, put on your gaiters and head south Big Cypress National Preserve Visitor Center on US 41 between Naples and Miami, the southern terminus of the Florida National Scenic Trail.
- Follow the orange blazes north through Big Cypress. A common destination for a three-day hike is the rest area on I-75, about 30 marsh miles from the visitor center.
- Or plan a night round trip at one of the primitive campsites along the trail. Permit required.
If that sounds too ambitious, check out our list of best hikes around tampa bay.
6. Choose a new vegetable baby
Ready to test your green thumb? Check out these local plant stores:
7. Flamin-go at the Sunken Gardens
Spend the day surrounded by 50,000 (!!) tropical plants, a flock of flamingos and relaxing water features in this century-old botanical garden.
- The tickets are $15 for adults.
- Details: The garden is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The address is 1825 Fourth St. N. in St. Petersburg.
8. Go peddling
Take your bike for those jaunts around Tampa Bay.
Saturday March 19
Hi Ybor City! Vision Zero Tampa will close 14th Street to vehicular traffic from Columbus Drive to 21st Avenue for “Unlock Block.”
- The event offers activities suitable for cyclists and pedestrians and opportunities to meet local business owners. Noon to 4 p.m. To free.
Sunday March 20
Tampa’s Joe Haskins Bike Shop organize a tour to remember the death a year ago of Haskins, a champion of the city’s working class cyclists.
- Meet at Joe Haskins Bike Shop, 2310 N. Florida Ave., at 11 a.m.; departure at noon.
March 25
Join Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez for a 2.5 mile relaxed ride on the Hardy trail.
- Meet at the Spoke Visitor Center, 37800 Church Ave., at 8:30 a.m.; the trip starts at 9am.
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