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What to do in Central West Florida
Outdoors • Cultural and Historical • Recreation and Tours • Attractions
Outdoors
Anclote Key State Preserve
c/o Caladesi Island State Park, 1 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin. (727) 469-5918. An 1887 lighthouse watches over southern tip of this island, accessible only by boat. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_4/Anclote/index.html
Caladesi Island State Park
No. 1 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin. (727) 469-5918. One of the few remaining large undeveloped barrier islands of the Gulf Coast, with nature trails, boating, fishing and swimming. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_4/Caladesi/index.html
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1502 S.E. Kings Bay Drive, Crystal River. (352) 563-2088. More than 30,000 acres of saltwater bays, estuaries, and brackish marshes with a fringe of hardwood swamps, providing habitat for bald eagles, wood storks, Florida black bear and others. southeast.fws.gov/chassahowitzka/index.html
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
1502 S.E. Kings Bay Dr., Crystal River. (352) 563-2088. Pre-Columbian Native American ceremonial burial site. crystalriver.fws.gov/
Crystal River State Archaeological Site
3400 N. Museum Pointe, Crystal River. (352) 795-3817. Pre-Columbian Native American ceremonial burial site. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_2/CrystalRiver/index.html
Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge
1502 S.E. Kings Bay Drive, Crystal River. (352) 563-2088. This 350-acre barrier island refuge provides nesting, feeding, and resting habitat for brown pelicans and other migratory birds. egmontkey.fws.gov/
Egmont Key State Park
Slip 656, 4801 37th St. South, St. Petersburg. (727) 893-2627. Accessible by boat only, this island was a camp for captured Seminoles. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_4/EgmontKey/index.html
Fort Cooper State Park
3100 S. Old Floral City Rd., Inverness. (352) 726-0315. Park includes spring-fed lake, hardwood hammock and nature trails. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_4/FortCooper/index.html
Hillsborough River State Park
15402 U.S. 301 N., Thonotosassa. (813) 987-6771. This 3,738-acre park features camping, canoeing, nature trails and Fort Foster Historic Site. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_4/HillsboroughRiver/index.html
Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park
4150 S. Suncoast Blvd., Homosassa. (352) 628-5343. Boat trips, natural trails, alligator programs, manatee rehabilitation and more. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_2/HomosassaSprings/index.html
Honeymoon Island State Recreation Area
1 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin. (727) 469-5942. Gulf beaches, mangrove swamps and tidal flats are home to shorebirds and wildlife.www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_4/HoneymoonIsland/index.html
Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park
10500 Wilderness Park Rd., New Port Richey. (727) 834-3247. Thirteen miles of hiking trails and a bike path.
Little Manatee River State Recreation Area
215 Lightfoot Rd., Wimauma. (813) 671-5005. Park offers camping, canoeing and fishing, with 10 miles of riding trails for equestrians. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_4/LittleManatee/index.html
Lowry Park Zoo
7530 N. Blvd., Tampa. (813) 935-8552. Visit Asia Domain, A free-flight aviary; Florida Wildlife Center, Manatee and Aquatic Center. www.lowryparkzoo.com
Silver Lake State Recreation Area
15019 Broad St., Brooksville (352) 754-6777. Camping, boating, fishing, trails, adjacent to Withlacoochee State Trail.
Weekiwachee Preserve
2379 Broad St., Brooksville (800) 423-1476. 6,000-acre wetland habitats, recreation.
Cultural and Historical
Columbia Restaurant
2025 E. 7th Ave., Tampa. (813) 248-3000. Historic Ybor City restaurant, the oldest Spanish restaurant in Florida. Other Columbia Restaurant locations at Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Celebration and St. Augustine.
Dade Battlefield State Historic Site
7200 County Rd. 603 S. Battlefield Dr., Bushnell. (352) 793-4781. Site of beginning of the Second Seminole War with nature trail and visitors center. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_4/DadeBattlefield/index.html
Florida International Museum
100 Second St. N., St. Petersburg. (727) 822-3693. Florida's premier museum of international blockbuster exhibitions.www.floridamuseum.org
Great Explorations, the Hands on Museum
1120 Fourth St. South, St. Petersburg. (727) 821-8885. Interactive exhibits for the whole family. www.stpete-clearwater.com/explore
Henry B. Plant Museum
401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. (813) 254-1891. Internet: www.plantmuseum.com. National Historic Landmark in the former 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel. www.plantmuseum.com
Heritage Museum
601 Museum Ct., Brooksville. (352) 799-0129. Guided tours of 1856 gabled building that tells the story of Hernando County’s history.
L’Unione Italiana
1731 E. 7th Ave., Tampa. (813) 248-3316. 1894 building is home to social club events.
Museum of Fine Arts
255 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg, 33701. (727) 896-2667. Palladian-style building houses 20 galleries. www.fine-arts.org
Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI)
4801 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa. (813) 987-6300. Largest science center in the southeastern U.S., with planetarium, butterfly garden. www.mosi.org
Pinellas County Historical Museum—Heritage Village
11909 125th St. North, Largo. (727) 582-2123. Historical buildings, museum, archives. www.co.pinellas.fl.us/bcc/heritag.htm
Pioneer Florida Museum
15602 Pioneer Museum Rd., P.O. Box 335, Dade City. (352) 567-0262. Collection of Florida pioneer artifacts on display, including house, church and school. www.dadecity.com/museum
Salvador Dali Museum
1000 Third St. South, St. Petersburg. (727) 823-3767. World's most comprehensive Dali collection. www.daliweb.com
St. Petersburg Museum of History
335 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg. (727) 894-1052. Four galleries with more than 55 exhibits and thousands of artifacts. www.ij.net/spmh
The Tampa Bay History Center
PO Box 948, Tampa, FL 33601-0948. (813) 228-0097, fax (813) 223-7021. Gallery and traveling exhibits show the geographical, historical and multicultural influences that have shaped the region through the ages. www.tampabayhistorycenter.org
Tampa Museum of Art
600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa. (813) 274-8130. Changing exhibitions ranging from contemporary to classic, permanent collection of Greek and Roman antiquities. www.tampamuseum.com
Ybor City State Museum
1818 9th Ave., Tampa. (813) 247-6323. Exhibits tell the story of Ybor's cigar making history and the immigrants' lives. www.ybormuseum.org
Recreation/Tours
Alligator Bob's Gourmet Alligator
PO Box 522, Thonotosassa. (813) 986-3008. fax (813) 986-5879
Birds Underwater, Inc.
320 NW Highway 19, Crystal River. (352) 563-2763
CNR Watercraft Rentals
40081 US Highway 19 N, Tarpon Springs. (727) 937-3933; fax (727) 938-3903
Canoe Escape, Inc.
9335 E Fowler Ave., Thonotosassa. (813) 986-2067; fax (352) 588-3666
Captain Memo's Pirate Cruise
25 Causeway Boulevard, #3, Clearwater. (727) 446-2587; fax (813) 447-3033
Customized Historic Tours & Events
1320 E Eighth Ave., Suite 3, Tampa. (813) 247-6692;fax (813) 247-3233
Dolphin Encounter Cruise
PO Box 3563, Clearwater. (727) 442-7433. (800) 444-4814
Explore Audio-Driving Tours
2306 Cheryl Rd., Largo. (727) 559-0120; fax (727) 518-1661
Far Horizons Sport Fishing Charters
11715 First Street East, Treasure Island. (727) 367-7252; fax (727) 360-7955
It's Our Nature, Inc.
929 Bay Esplanada, Clearwater. (888) 535-7448; fax (727) 442-8559
J.B. Starkeys Flatwoods Adventures
12959 State Rd. 54, Odessa. (813) 920-5288; fax (813) 920-7686 www.flatwoodsadventures.com
Parasail City, Inc.
1715 S Missouri Ave., Clearwater. (727) 449-0566. fax (727) 584-2453
Phalanx Outdoor Adventures
PO Box 320775, Tampa. (813) 831-1944. fax (813) 832-1700
Scuba Haven Dive Center, Inc.
2039 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. (813) 972-4455; fax (813) 972-4455
Sea Screamer
PO Box 3700, Clearwater. (727) 398-9612; fax (727) 319-8592. Family boat ride for all ages, guaranteed dolphin sightings.
Shawnee Trail Campground & Canoe Outfitters
2000 S Bishop’s Point, Inverness. (352) 344-3372
Shell Key Shuttle & Sunset Cruise
1960 K Lakewood Club Drive S, St. Petersburg. (727) 360-1348; fax (727) 360-6606
Skydive City
PO Box 1599, Zephyrhills. (813) 783-9399; fax (813) 782-0599
St. Nicholas Boat Line, Inc.
PO Box 382, Tarpon Springs. (727) 942-6425; fax (727) 937-5417
Starlite Cruises
PO Box 3335, Clearwater Beach. (727) 462-2628; fax (727) 446-4814
Sunshine Skyway State Fishing Piers
PO Box 12774, St. Petersburg. (727) 865-0668; fax (727) 906-8085
Tampa Bay Sporting Clays
10514 Ehren Cut Off, Land O Lakes.(813) 995-9282; fax (813) 995-0462
Tampa Tours
2810 Springdell Circle, Valrico. (813) 621-6667; fax (813) 654-3759
Attractions
Adventure Island
PO Box 9158, Tampa. (813) 987-5600.Outdoor water theme park. www.adventureisland.com
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando. (813) 987-5082; fax (813) 987-5407. Theme park includes African wildlife. www.buschgardens.com
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
249 Windward Passage, Clearwater. (727) 441-1790 ext 22fax (727) 442-9466. Dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured marine animals. www.cmaquarium.org
Dinosaur World
5145 Harvey Tew Rd., Plant City. (813) 717-9865; fax (813) 707-9776. Explore fascinating dinosaurs. www.dinoworld.net
The Florida Aquarium
701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. (813) 273-4000; fax (813) 224-9583. World-class aquarium. www.flaquarium.org
Odessa Rodeo & Festival
PO Box 295, New Port Richey. (727) 869-6677; fax (727) 893-3255
Peace River Refuge & Ranch
PO Box 1127, 2545 Stoner Ln., Zolfo Springs. (863) 735-0804; fax (863) 735-0805. Exotic animal sanctuary. Open for tours.
The Pier Aquarium
800 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. (727) 895-7437; fax (727) 895-7437; (727) 821-6451. Marine science museum.
The Stage Door Dinner Theater
15212 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. (813) 910-0221; fax (813) 910-7304
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
PO Box 518, Tampa. (813) 222-1050; fax (813) 222-1057. All kinds of performances presented here.
Ted Williams Museum & Hitters Hall of Fame
2455 N Citrus Hills Boulevard, Hernando. (352) 527-6566; fax (352) 527-4163. Museum honoring baseball and its heroes.
Weeki Wachee Springs Waterpark
6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill. (352) 596-2062; fax (352) 597-1388. Have a day of water-filled fun. www.weekiwachee.com
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