One of the best things about living in Tampa, Florida, is the abundance of beautiful parks to enjoy and explore. Whether you’re a nature lover or looking for a place to enjoy your favorite outdoor activities, the city’s parks offer something for everyone. Here are four Tampa parks that you should visit.
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Cypress Point Park
With beautiful beaches, stunning sand dunes, and gorgeous wildflowers, Cypress Point Park is an ideal spot to take in the natural wonders of West Tampa. While there’s a lot to see in Cypress Point Park, there’s also plenty to do. The park features nature trails, a boardwalk, a canoe launch, and a playground.
Another popular feature is the 18-hole Disc Golf Course. With its concrete trees, diverse natural landscape, and 7,980-feet length, it’s no wonder the Professional Disc Golf Association considers the Cypress Point Park course to be one of the best in Florida. After a relaxing canoe trip or an exhilarating game of disc golf, enjoy lunch at one of the park’s picnic pavilions.
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Lettuce Lake Park
Located in the natural floodplain of the Hillsborough River, Lettuce Lake Park, with its hardwood swamp forest, is a peaceful sanctuary just outside the city limits. The park also features hardwood hammocks and pine flatwoods plant communities, making it ideal for birdwatching. Be sure to keep an eye out for wood ducks, great blue herons, and osprey.
If you’re eager to get out on the water, Lettuce Lake Park offers canoe rentals and a boat dock. While crossing the lake, you’re sure to see snapper turtles, and maybe even an alligator or two. Taking a stroll along the boardwalk is another excellent way to observe the wildlife that calls the park home. An observation deck provides plenty of great photo opportunities.
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Ballast Point Park
Located right on Hillsborough Bay, Ballast Point Park is a South Tampa gem offering visitors breathtaking views of the bay and downtown Tampa. A spacious fishing pier gives you the opportunity to catch snapper, snook, and Spanish mackerel. The kids will enjoy the partially-shaded playground featuring plenty of swings, slides, and monkey bars.
After a day of play, they can beat the heat at the park’s splash pad. With its shelters, picnic tables, and gazebo, Ballast Point Park is an excellent spot for a summer picnic. The park also features a boat ramp and expansive dock so that you can visit Ballast Point by boat.
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Al Lopez Park
Named after the first Tampa native to play Major League Baseball, Al Lopez Park is a great place to get active in a beautiful outdoor setting. An extra-wide, paved bicycle trail offers plenty of space for biking, rollerblading, and skateboarding. It circles a gorgeous lake and stunning wooded area. The trail also includes several circuit training stations, allowing you to engage in a diverse exercise routine.
A dog park offers a safe space for your furry friends to frolic off-leash. A charming fishing pond is home to bluefish, bass, and catfish. The park also features several playground areas and picnic shelters.
These are just some of the fantastic parks in the Tampa area. No matter which one you visit, you’re sure to have a great time.
Image via Pixabay.com
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