5 of the Best Trails in Tampa Bay to Explore

Are you new to the Tampa area and looking for an exciting way to explore? Pack up a backpack with water and snacks, and head out for a hike!

Tampa Bay is a beautiful city located on the gulf coast of Florida. With beaches galore and warm weather year-round, it might seem that Tampa is simply a coastal destination. That is definitely not the case.

The Tampa area is lush with activities both on the coast and inland. If you’re a fan of hiking, you don’t need to move to the mountains. Tampa has everything you need for hiking, whether it’s a quick summer stroll or a long fall adventure. Read on for some of our favorite hiking trails in Tampa. 

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

If you’re looking to escape the urban sprawl of Tampa, make the drive out to Boyd Hill Nature Preserve.

This 245-acre park is located on Lake Maggiore in St. Petersburg. Featuring over 3 miles of trails and boardwalks, Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is truly a place you can get lost in. The ecosystems contained in the park include floodplain forest, freshwater marsh, and Pine Flatwoods. 

Boyd Hill is also part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, so pack your binoculars and check out the wildlife. 

Lettuce Lake Park

On the north side of Tampa alongside the Hillsborough River, you’ll find Lettuce Lake Park, a 240 acre getaway with some beautiful nature. 

In addition to hiking and biking trails, Lettuce Lake has an extensive boardwalk system that will take you through swamps and cypress trees and get you up close with wildlife like herons and alligators. 

If you’re at Lettuce Lake Park, make sure to check out the observation tower to get a birds-eye view of the whole park. 

Fort De Soto Park

If you like to combine hiking with your beach days, Fort De Soto Park should be your go-to getaway from city life. 

Fort De Soto Park is located just southwest of St. Petersburg. The park is a sprawling 1,136-acres with five interconnected islands and some of the best beaches in America. 

If lounging on the beach isn’t your thing, Fort De Soto Park has over 7 miles of trails and pathways to explore where beautiful views are abundant.

Osprey and Pelican Trails

Honeymoon Island is a barrier island located just outside of Dunedin, and there you will find Osprey Trail and Pelican Trail. Both trails offer extensive views across the sound as well as the Gulf of Mexico. 

Osprey Trail leads you through a virgin pine forest complete with an underbrush of coastal plants.  

Pelican Trail winds its way around the perimeter of the peninsula along the Gulf of Mexico to the sound adjacent to Pelican Point and through mangrove marshes. 

Honeymoon Island is one of the last remaining areas with Florida slash pines, and Osprey Trail winds 2.5 miles through nesting colonies of osprey and pelicans. If you’re a bird lover, check it out. 

Bayshore Boulevard

This isn’t technically a hiking trail, but you moved to Tampa because you love the city.

Bayshore Boulevard wraps along the bay, offering 4.5 miles of paved pathways. It’s the perfect spot to go for a hike, run, or a leisurely stroll. You’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of the water and Tampa’s stunning skyline. 

Beyond the Hiking Trails in Tampa

While there are plenty of beautiful hiking trails in Tampa, it’s not all the city has to offer. If you’re looking to make this amazing city your home, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re moving from across the world or just down the street, trust us to make your move as easy as possible.

Unveiling Your New Digs: The Ultimate Housewarming Party Ideas

Welcome to the neighborhood!

You’ve done the hard part—house hunting, packing, hiring movers, unpacking—and you’re finally starting to settle into your new digs.

Now, what better way to make your house a home than to invite friends, family members, loved ones, and even new neighbors to check out your new spot and do a little mingling? 

Here, we discuss some housewarming party ideas that take the stress of planning out of the equation. After all, you just finished moving—you don’t want to work too hard! These ideas guarantee a party that’s smooth, fun, and simple to execute. 

DIY Food and Drink Bar

One of the best ways to ensure you spend the party with your guests, rather than meal-prepping in the kitchen, is to have do-it-yourself food and drink bars.

This allows guests to grab food or make drinks whenever they want from pre-set stations while you get to think about other things.

For food bars, consider themes like

  • A nacho bar (include ramekins for toppings and keep the meat hot)
  • A sandwich bar with meats and cheeses, toppings, and bread
  • A slider bar—you can prep meat like pulled pork early and include buns and toppings

You can also put out small trays with dips, veggies, cheeses, and the like.

For drink bars, consider

  • A tea, lemonade, and water station
  • Build-your-own mimosas (put a variety of juices and fruit garnishes out)
  • A beer cooler
  • A white and red sangria bar
  • A simple ‘bar,’ i.e., liquors, mixers, and lime/lemon garnishes

This allows you to take a “hands-off” approach at the party and enjoy yourself! Plus, the clean-up is simple.

Make sure to have plenty of plates, cups, and napkins around, as well as coasters for the drinks.

Consider an Open House Mentality

First, set aside a chunk of time that will be best for you and the attendees—like a Saturday or Sunday, mid-afternoon.

If you send out invitations, consider doing an “open house” style party. An open house allows attendees to come and go as it is convenient for them. If they’re not able to show up right on time, they won’t feel bad about attending for the last hour—instead of not showing up at all. 

You can even consider inviting neighbors. Keep the entrance to your home inviting and distinct, perhaps also placing streamers, balloons, or a sign near the front door or mailbox.

Play Some Games

No housewarming party is complete without some games.

Plus, if you have some queued up, you can suggest playing one whenever there’s a lull in the party. This is also an excellent way for people who don’t know each other to meet, hang out, and connect.

Some great housewarming games include

  • Cornhole
  • Jenga (you can even have guests sign Jenga pieces for a cool souvenir)
  • A ‘new home’ trivia—include questions about your new home and neighborhood and see what your guests remember!
  • Charades

You can even place some kid-friendly games in a particular room to keep the children entertained.

Enjoy These Housewarming Party Ideas

Are you excited to host a party in your new home?

With these inspiring, fun housewarming party ideas, you’re well on your way to a fantastic shindig!

Another great way to settle into your new neighborhood is to explore the town’s fun spots. Check out this list of some of Tampa’s most fabulous weekend activities.

Should I Have a Moving Sale Before I Relocate?

Are you getting ready to relocate?

Hosting a moving sale can be an excellent way to cut back on moving expenses and downsize your overall load. That said, moving sales aren’t for everyone.

Here are some things to know to decide whether or not a moving sale is the best option for you.

Should You Have a Moving Sale?

For many people: Yes, you should have a moving sale before relocating.

While a yard or garage sale can be a hassle to put together and host, it’s one of the best ways to cut down on the amount of stuff you need to move while offsetting some of the costs associated with moving.

Here are a few of the most notable benefits you should consider when trying to decide whether or not a moving sale is the best option for you.

The Benefits of Downsizing

The fewer things you own, the less you have to pack up and haul away.

Whether you’re downsizing or upsizing with your next house, getting rid of some of your belongings won’t just make moving more manageable, it will also make unpacking and setting up your new home a breeze.

If you’re downsizing, getting rid of as much as you can before arriving at your new house will eliminate the need for additional storage — which could save you a lot of money later on.

What You Can’t Move

There are several things your movers may not be willing to touch. Doing your homework ahead of time and selling off these items in a moving sale can save you from having to find an alternative way to transport these goods last minute.

Check with your moving company for a full list of items they cannot or will not move on the day.

Earn Some Extra Cash

Whether you’re moving your family down the street or across the country, moving can be an expensive venture. Depending on where you’re going and the amount of stuff you’re taking with you, you could wind up spending upwards of $2,000 on your movers alone.

Hosting a moving sale beforehand can help offset some of the additional costs in several ways.

If you do your research and price your items properly, you could earn enough from your moving sale to cover the cost of your move.

On top of that, selling off heavy or hard to move items will cut back on the overall weight of your load and the amount of time your movers have to spend packing everything, which could wind up saving you some money.

When You Shouldn’t Have a Moving Sale

Moving sales can be highly beneficial and a quintessential part of the moving process, but only if you have the time to put one together.

The downside to moving sales is that they can be time-consuming, and if you need to relocate quickly, trying to host a moving sale can jeopardize your timeline.

If you cannot dedicate one full week to planning and organizing your yard sale, then you would be much better off calling it a wash and disposing of goods you cannot take with you through other methods, such as donating them.

Getting Ready for Your Next Move

Now that you know whether or not you should host a moving sale before relocating, it’s time to get planning.

Need help finding the right movers to help you take on your next big move? 

Contact us for more information about our services or to receive a free quote today.