4 Fun St. Pete-Clearwater Adventures Before School Starts
Summer break is wrapping up soon, but there's still time to squeeze in a few adventures that will leave your family with more than just great photos. These four experiences help you connect with the wildlife, history, and culture that make the St. Pete-Clearwater area so special.
Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center & Wildlife Boat Tour
Make a trip to the St. Pete Pier extra special by visiting the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center. Inside, you and your family will learn about native and invasive species in Tampa Bay, living shorelines, and the non-profit's work to restore the estuary's oyster population. Interactive exhibits make it easy for kids and adults alike to understand why a healthy estuary is so important. Better yet, locals and visitors alike can volunteer for a variety of Tampa Bay Watch restoration projects.
Tampa Bay Watch also offers boat tours departing from the St. Pete Pier. On the 90-minute Wildlife Boat Tour, marine science educators conduct real-world scientific research while guests enjoy stellar views of the St. Pete skyline. Along the way, you'll keep an eye out for dolphins, seabirds, and other wildlife that call Tampa Bay home.
Every visit to Tampa Bay Watch makes a difference in the St. Pete-Clearwater area because proceeds from the Discovery Center and boat tours help support the organization's mission to restore the health of Tampa Bay.
Florida Botanical Gardens & Heritage Village in Largo
Learn local history and appreciate St. Pete-Clearwater's natural beauty at Heritage Village and Florida Botanical Gardens. Both are free to visit and located in Largo, less than 15 minutes from the area's famous white sand beaches.
At Florida Botanical Gardens, wander more than 100 acres filled with beautiful flowers, native plants, and wildlife. Families won't want to miss the Majeed Discovery Garden, an interactive outdoor space where kids can connect with nature through hands-on play and exploration. Seasonal blooms, shaded walking paths, and peaceful ponds make it easy to slow down and enjoy the scenery.
Connected by a walking path, Heritage Village is a 21-acre open-air museum that has spent more than five decades preserving Pinellas County's history. Explore more than 20 historic buildings and discover what life was like for the area's early settlers and pioneers. The historic homes, schoolhouse, church, railroad depot, and exhibits help tell the story of how the community has evolved over time.
St. Nicholas Boat Line in Tarpon Springs
See why Tarpon Springs, just 30 minutes north of Clearwater, is known as the Sponge Capital of the World on this one-of-a-kind tour. St. Nicholas Boat Line, a family-owned company with more than a century of history, brings Tarpon Springs' Greek heritage to life through stories from families who have called the area home for generations.
You'll learn about the history of sponge diving, enjoy beautiful views of the Anclote River and Gulf, and watch a diver, wearing traditional gear weighing more than 170 pounds, harvest a sponge.
Afterward, grab a meal at one of the Greek restaurants, treat yourself to a pastry from a local bakery, and pick out a natural sponge along Dodecanese Boulevard to bring a little piece of Tarpon Springs home with you.
(Heads up: A sponge diving demonstration may not take place on every tour. Call ahead to see availability.)
Weedon Island Preserve in St. Pete
Explore the natural beauty and rich history of Weedon Island Preserve in St. Pete. Spanning more than 3,000 acres on Tampa Bay, the preserve has miles of boardwalks, trails, and a 45-foot observation tower that are favorites for hikers. From the top, you can enjoy sweeping views of the preserve and even see downtown St. Pete in the distance.
To make your experience even more meaningful, visit the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center. The center aims to connect people with the environment while showcasing the rich natural and human history of the area. One of the most incredible artifacts in the museum is an approximately 1,100-year-old canoe that was first discovered by a local resident in 2001. The remarkably preserved canoe gives a fascinating glimpse into the lives of Indigenous people who once traveled these waters.
As expected, paddling is also extremely popular at Weedon Island because of its winding system of mangrove tunnels. The marked paddle trail is about 4 miles long (slightly longer if you launch from the park concessionaire, ECOmersion). Make sure to check the tide before venturing out. Mid-to-high tide offers the best paddling conditions through the narrower mangrove tunnels.
