If you’re looking to get away from the Tampa Bay/”Champa Bay” area for a day or the weekend, you’ve got plenty of options. Although Orlando is just an hour or so away, you actually have many more day trip options near Tampa that you may not have considered yet. Here are five day trips from the Tampa/St. Pete area to check out next time you need a nearby getaway.
Micanopy, Florida
The tiny town of Micanopy, Florida, is small in size but big on charm and history. Located just 15 minutes from the University of Florida (go Gators), Micanopy (pronounced mic-uh-NO-pee; population: 700) is the oldest inland town in Florida, according to the Town of Micanopy website. The town has served as an Indian trading post, farming town, and Hollywood movie setting in the past. Now, visitors flock to Micanopy for antique shopping and other unique stores and a friendly small town experience. If you can stay overnight, the Herlong Mansion Bed & Breakfast is the place to hang your hat. Built in 1845, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Herlong offers just the right kind of feel for a visit to Micanopy.
Round out your visit to Micanopy with a few hours spent at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, where you may get lucky enough to see some wild buffalo and horses roam, as well as a few big alligators. Paynes Prairie, also located in Micanopy but away from the “downtown” area, has lots of trails to explore. Find our guide to visiting Paynes Prairie here.
Silver Springs State Park
Located in Ocala, Silver Springs State Park feels like a step back in time, which may not be a coincidence. After all, Silver Springs State Park has attracted visitors since the 1800s and served as a Hollywood set where shows like “Sea Hunt” and movies like “Creature from the Black Lagoon” were filmed.
What keeps visitors coming back, aside from the beautiful park itself (which actually feels like an autumn stroll up north if you visit during Florida’s winter months) are its glass-bottom boats. Step on the boats for a tour, and you can see down through the clear water to spot marine life and the occasional manatee and alligator. The park has many underwater springs, with some that are millions of years old.
In addition to glass-bottom boat tours, Silver Springs State Park attracts visitors for kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, or trying to spot the 200 rhesus monkeys that live in and near the park.
Anna Maria Island
You’ve got some great beaches in the Tampa area, like Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach, but there’s something special about Anna Maria Island. Make your way through the town of Bradenton to reach Anna Maria Island for an “Old Florida” feel. Anna Maria attracts snowbirds and beach lovers who want a quiet pace of life. Anna Maria is home to two piers (including the recently remodeled Anna Maria City Pier), unique shopping that’s mostly along Pine Avenue, and miles of beaches that provide killer sunset views. Don’t forget seafood restaurants and the nearby authentic fishing village of Cortez. Oh, and if anyone in your group misbehaves, you can throw them in “jail”–Anna Maria City Jail, an open-air area that once housed those who were naughty, usually after a night of drinking.
Word about Anna Maria has gotten out, so best to arrive as early as possible for your day trip from Tampa. Pay attention to any parking signs, as visitor parking is often a topic of debate among year-round residents. You can also use a free trolley from MCAT to travel from the town of Anna Maria to the tip of Anna Maria Island, where you’ll find Bradenton Beach and Coquina Beach.
Myakka River State Park
There are alligators, and then there are ALLIGATORS. Myakka River State Park offers both small alligators and ALLIGATORS–the kind that you snap pictures of and share on social media to wow your non-Floridian friends.
Located in Sarasota, Myakka River State Park has been around since the 1934 and is considered one of Florida’s oldest parks. Among its 58 square miles, you’ll find hiking, camping, biking, and lots more. Want to get the real scoop on the park? Take a boat or tram tour. There’s even shopping at the Pink Gator Cafe.
And about those alligators: The park is home to 4,000–yes, 4,000–alligators. That’s why no matter where you go in the park, if you’re near water, you have a good chance of seeing one or multiple alligators hanging out and catching some rays. Keep a safe distance and use whatever close-up lens you have available to get the best shots. On the boat tour, the captain will take you near some park areas where you also may be fortunate enough to see a few more gators.
Boca Grande
The affluent enclave of Boca Grande has quietly attracted visitors to its beaches, shops, and restaurants for decades. Still, its out-of-the-way location on Gasparilla Island in Lee County doesn’t mean it goes unnoticed. From the Bush family to Fox News host Tucker Carlson to Clemson U. head coach Dabo Sweeny, many celebs and politicians have spent some time in Boca Grande.
Once you pay a toll to cross the Boca Grande Swing Bridge, you’ll pick up on a different, laidback feel. Visit Boca Grande to fish (it’s the so-called Tarpon Capital of the World) and visit not one but TWO lighthouses. Boca Grande Rear Entrance Range has a more traditional lighthouse look, while Port Boca Grande Lighthouse and Museum is smaller and located inside Gasparilla Island State Park.
Boca Grande also has a small but cute downtown area for shopping and restaurants. There’s also The Gasparilla Inn, a treasure trove of history and a local destination for golf, spa time, and tennis.
