The boardwalk begins with a bridge across the water and enters a swampy, wooded habitat full of trees, vines, and ferns.  The dappled shade was pleasant as we made our way to the overlook tower on Sawgrass Lake itself.  The tower has two stories from which you can view the whole small lake. We observed turtles, fish, and more wading birds.

The boardwalk branches toward the highland hammock habitat.  Here the ground is dry, the path is sandy, and the vegetation different.  A good place for the armadillo we saw nosing through the leaf litter for food.

We enjoyed this park very much.  there is a pavilion with restrooms and a small wildlife display near the beginning of the trail. Bring your binoculars!

Sawgrass Lake Park, 7400 25th St N, St Petersburg, FL 33702
free admission

Written by Lucy Noe

​When in Sarasota, my husband and I sometimes like to visit Bayfront Park on Bayfront Drive. The famous statue of the sailor kissing the nurse is there. On the peninsula that creates the cove sheltering the marina is this very nice little park. Walkways meander under large trees and, along the way, many benches encourage people to sit and enjoy the view.

​While the inner curve faces the marina, on the outer edge of the peninsula waves gently lap the shore, and sandpipers search for dinner among the rocks. A statue of four children playing, entitled "Olympic Wannabees" is by the playground. Their childish, happy abandon could almost be felt.

We strolled out to the point where there is a fountain featuring dolphin figurines cavorting in the pool. Here we unpacked our lunch and enjoyed it while we sat and watched the small boats come in. Big yachts at the marina were across from us. After a while, we walked to the other end of the park where we watched a pair of pelicans diving, in unison, for fish. They each caught one almost every time. As the sun moved closer to the horizon, and the breeze got cooler, we headed home after a relaxing afternoon.
​
Bayfront Park is located just off Route 41 just north of where it meets 301.

Written by Lucille Noe

​The day we were there was one of those perfect Florida winter days. It was breezy, and not too hot or too cold. The water was another story. It took a minute or two for our feet to get used to it. We set up our folding chairs by the water and took a little walk to the south end where we watched boats of various kinds going in and out through the breach way. We went back to our chairs and watched the waves for a while – just basking in the beauty of it all – just listening to the calming surf and calls of the shore birds.

Written by Lucy Noe

Little Manatee River State Park in Wimauma, Florida has two entrances. North of the river directly off 301 is a 6.5 mile trail loop and primitive camping site. South of the river is where the main campground, playground, picnic areas, and more trails are. I have been many times and I usually visit the north.

Shortly after entering the woods, the trail splits. To the left it runs along a part of the river, sometimes overlooking it from high banks, other times running through boggy areas. This is where I have seen snakes, large turtles, centipedes, beautiful spiders, and many sweet flowers. To the right the trail runs through a dry area with several open places covered by either grass or palmetto. This is where I have seen birds, dragonflies, and a dead tree swarmed by dozens of bees. Once when visiting the south side of the river, I saw two bobcats in a tree! Even in the winter, I always find some animal life – even if it is only a distant vulture.

Even though I have been before, it seems I am always finding new things I never noticed before, such as trees with unique twists in them, single charred trees while nothing around them is burned, and trees in various states of decay. The last time I went, I saw a hollow stump I had never before noticed. Only the bark remained, greatly resembling puff pastry. I also saw several trees with swollen balls on their branches – and not all in the same part of the trail. Are they truly new? Or by noticing one was my mind primed to notice the others? I was also noticing the odd shapes of large flakes of wood scattered everywhere. What goes on when I’m not there?

215 Lightfoot Road, Wimauma, Florida
Website

Written By Daniel Noe, WayOutLife.com

1707 1st Street, Bradenton, FL
RedBarnFleaMarket.com 

Written by: Tom Noe

Located at the intersection of North Tampa Street and East Kennedy Boulevard, Solstice is a twenty-eight foot metal sculpture created by Charles Perry. I always think it looks like it is about to unravel or roll away. I can definitely picture some mad scientist harnessing lightning with it to open a rift to a dimension full of goblins or something. Could this have been Perry’s plan all along? Placing it in a place like Tampa known for its frequent thunderstorms? I can almost see the goblins now climbing up the sides of the surrounding skyscrapers, cackling and stealing babies. I really should pay more attention to traffic.

I like the flow and the symmetry of the piece. It is rumored to be named Solstice because it casts a perfectly circular shadow on the solstice. That seems harmless enough.

​See list of public art in Tampa

Written by Daniel Noe, WayOutLife.com

Simmons Park has some great views across Tampa Bay. There are tables and shelters throughout offering places to sit in the breeze and watch the boats go by. There are numerous coves and mangroves as well. Along the edge there are breaks in the trees to get down next to the water and look for fiddler crabs, horseshoe crabs, or fish. Beware of sharp oysters! Every time I go exploring, I see something interesting. There are osprey nests there. I even saw raccoons once. Another time I was able to get close to some pelicans. Another time I saw dolphins! Of course, sometimes I don’t go exploring because it is also a great place to pull my folding chair out of the trunk onto the grass and read (or write) a book.

Simmons Park has a boat ramp, RV parking, two campgrounds, two playgrounds, and a small beach. Shelters can be reserved for large parties. Many people go there to fish or catch snails. It seems there is something there for everybody.
​
2401 19th Ave NW, Ruskin, Florida
Visit Website

Written by Daniel Noe, WayOutLife.com

When I have business in the area, I like to walk through the William F. Poe plaza to look at the plants, fountain, and architecture. There are many semi-secluded nooks at different levels connected by stairs. I don’t usually stop, but others do, sitting on benches or at tables outside the café. There is also a covered footbridge overhead connecting the bank and the leasing company. This area is mostly in shade and surrounded by trees. It always makes a nice place to spend one’s lunch break.
​
What I did not know until recently is how much Tampa history is connected to the place. It was the starting point of the 1909 auto race from Tampa to Jacksonville. Later in 1980, a forgotten Seminole-War-era cemetery was discovered during construction of an adjacent building. Finally, the plaza was built and named after the former mayor Bill Poe.

The plaza is located between East Jackson Street and East Whiting Street and between North Tampa Street and South Florida Avenue.

Written by Daniel Noe, WayOutLife.com

Pinellas Heritage Village is just that – an entire village of houses built between 1850s and the 1910s all around Pinellas County and carried there in the 70s and 80s. Most of them you can now go inside and see what they were like. They often have interesting artifacts laid out and two of the houses have docent tours. They tell you in detail how people used to live and what all the artifacts do.

​There was also a cabin that used to be out in the middle of the woods. It had no windows and the kids used to have to heat and pour boiling water through the spaces between the floorboards to drive away the animals that would otherwise take up residence underneath. It had two separate rooms connected by a wrap-around deck. It seemed cozy and I think I wouldn’t mind living there except for the mosquitoes.

There was also a train station, a schoolhouse, and a church. The church I had thought had a very interesting story. It was actually picked up and dragged still intact by a hurricane at one time and then another storm many years later took its roof off. Later it was fixed up and moved to its present location.

There is a little mini-museum visitor center near the entrance giving a little bit of the history of Pinellas County. It was very big in the sponge business. A sponge press was used to press the air out of the sponges to pack them into bales for shipping. Later it became a prime tourism spot and St. Petersburg was among the first cities to actually have a tourism department the specialized in marketing the city.

I learned a little bit about the parks in Pinellas County and how they began too. People used to just put their dead wherever or else they had a family plot but then when the land changed hands the records were lost so at some point they started to put the dead all together in one place. These first cemeteries were well maintained and in time people began to visit often to get away from the cities. When the first parks were created, they had to put up fences to keep out the chickens and pigs both domesticated and wild that used to roam around all over the place.

I found it very interesting. I like history. I like seeing how the stories of different people and things are all interconnected in subtle hidden ways. This place is just as good as any history museum only much much much bigger because it's like a whole bunch of museums in one – each one a treasure. You can walk around there almost all day. The village is free courtesy the city of Largo.

11909 125th Street N. Largo, FL 33774
Website

Written by Daniel Noe, WayOutLife.com

​On the western edge of Tampa facing Oldsmar is a gem of a park named Upper Tampa Bay Park. Packed into this quiet peninsula on the northern part of the bay is a nature center, three trails, a good playground, water fountains, plenty of parking, and most importantly plenty of restrooms. There are many covered picnic tables and pavilions. You can also rent canoes there.

​The trails are wide and come in a variety of surfaces. Some are dirt, some are shell fill, and some are grassy. There are also boardwalks. I first walked along the east side of the park where there was water access, but no swimming allowed. Along the path heading south it seemed much like an ordinary Florida coastal park but as if an artist had added just a few subtle highlights to give it a totally new look. Blackened palms from controlled burns stood out against the surrounding green and brown. Red runners reached across the white sand. One trunk had the most interesting burn design.

​I hadn't yet seen any animals. This is because they were all hiding on the second trail. I saw a cardinal, a white butterfly, a yellow butterfly, and was unfortunately seen myself by a deer fly, but I got rid of it. This area was grassy.

I went back to my car and sat in one of the pavilions to write while small grey birds poked through the grass next to me and the breeze caressed my skin. I was impressed with how quiet it was. It's a great place to spend a Friday afternoon.

8001 Double Branch Road, Tampa, Florida
​Website

Written by Daniel Noe, WayOutLife.com

For those who get up early enough, a free educational tour of the port is available on the Bay Spirit Two (which also does paid dolphin tours). Leaving from the back of the Florida Aquarium next to the American Victory Ship, I got see well-known buildings from the opposite side. I learned the history of how the channels were deepened from twelve feet to thirty feet to accommodate larger ships and how the excess sand was used to create islands such as Davis Island, Harbour Island, and several small “spoil islands” reserved for birds and other non-humans only.
​
Tampa imports and exports material from all over the world. I saw giant gantry cranes for moving shipping containers on and off ships. It’s hard to appreciate the size of these until you drive under them. Elsewhere, liquid cargo such as fruit juice is pumped through pipes. Giant silos store grain, phosphorous, sulfur, solar salts, and other materials. There are several dry docks that work by being filled with water until they sink, allowing a ship to slip into them, and then are raised by pumping the water out of them allowing them to float again. This allows workers to clean and repair ships without having to use scuba gear, which I gather is quite an inconvenience. I also imagine that welding might be a problem. There are also docks set aside for several shrimping boats and for the sheriff’s department.

The tour is a treasure to many. It makes for a good field trip and is a good way to kill some time waiting for the aquarium to open.

Make reservations by calling 813-905-7678
Other Tours on Bay Spirit II

Written by Daniel Noe, WayOutLife.com

Once upon a time, Honeymoon Island was known as Hog Island and was owned by a pig farmer. Then a hurricane flooded the land and cut the channel known as Hurricane Pass. The former southern half of the island was renamed Caladesi and the former northern half was developed as a getaway for newlyweds. Honeymoon Island was born. It later became a state park. It is accessed by causeway.
​
The north of Honeymoon Island is split, forming Pelican Cove between the east and west arms. I first explored the eastern arm, which faces the mainland. I saw several nests in the trees. Ospreys and vultures were all over the place. There were even bald eagles. From October until May that section of the trail is closed so as not to disturb them. I also saw a moth sitting in a bush. It had an iridescent, hairy back that reminded me of a hummingbird.

Returning to the playground parking lot to eat, I saw a tortoise. So did the playground kids. They got enormous pleasure from watching it eat the grass, and I watched them watch it. When I finished, I headed for the west side of the island and walked north along the beach.
​
I could not find a high tide line and judging by the shells and seaweed strewn everywhere, I suspect that the entire western arm is submerged on a daily basis. The sand was moist and large gulleys led into Pelican cove from among the mangroves. I planned on hiking to the northern tip and back, but I found much to distract me and eventually ran out of sunlight. There was a path part of the way between two groves of trees and numerous doorways cut into them leading to some stunningly beautiful places...

The water smelled like eggs. The mud came in hues of purple and green. The nearly bare trees, lack of undergrowth, and bright white sand reminded me very much of a snowy forest up north. It was exciting to find these secluded places that I had to share with no one but a few ibises.
​
Shells also distracted me. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen such variety before. There were some that were quite large and most were unbroken. Many had barnacle shells stuck to them. Some were full of holes. I’m used to seeing holes in shells but usually it’s just one or two. The colors were mind-boggling. It doesn’t take much to boggle my mind, I guess. The photographs barely capture what my eyes saw in direct sunlight. There was a black pen shell with green and purple shine – like oil floating on water. There was a shell boring white on the outside and brilliant purple inside. I like to leave most shells behind for others to find, but this one was too good not to take home and show everybody I knew. Unfortunately, at home it became an ordinary shell. I am used to shells looking different when dry and under artificial light, but I have never seen this great of a difference!

There were also thousands of squishy, pea-sized objects everywhere. I thought at the time that they were seaweed floatation bladders that had broken off, since I sometimes found them among the seaweed, but now I’m not so sure. Do you know what they are?

Eventually the sun went down and I had to leave the beach before I had finished exploring. I might have to return someday. I was disappointed that I had encountered no rattlesnakes, which the park signs had promised/ warned me about. Passing through the playground back to my car I did see an armadillo digging up the lawn. Here are some other things I saw:

Honeymoon Island State Park,
​1 Causeway Boulevard, Dunedin, Florida
Website

Written by Daniel Noe, WayOutLife.com

​The Dog House is the place in Ruskin for everything barbeque. Seating is outdoors at covered picnic tables surrounded by tiki statues. Everything is smoked on the premises and their pork always has the perfect ratio of smoke to meat. You can really taste the smoke. They certainly have the instinct to understand what makes good pork. The sandwiches are the best. The pulled pork sandwiches and boneless rib sandwiches are local favorites. I like the southwest burger, which comes with onions, bacon, barbeque sauce, and southwest seasoning worked into the meat. It was amazing. They also have a variety of beef hot dogs, other burgers, chili, macaroni and cheese, tacos, seafood, and ice cream. Why would you ever go anywhere else? After eating all that, how would you go anywhere else? It’s easy to get full there.

Website
106 N US-41, Ruskin, Florida

Written by Daniel Noe, WayOutLife.com

On the back side of Sun City Center plaza, lies Nearly New. This is where one can find inexpensive clothes of every variety packed inside. Around every corner is a great deal on something you didn’t even know you needed. There are several rooms containing goods such as clothing, bedding, shoes, books, decorative figurines, jewelry, appliances, and clocks. Outdoors on nice days along the back side of the building there can be found furniture and sometimes other items such as golf clubs or walkers. There are blouses and jeans for three dollars and chairs for twenty-five dollars.

Nearly New keeps its prices so low by using volunteer staff and all merchandise is donated. They provide value to the community in multiple ways. They provide low-price goods that help struggling families afford things they need. They provide a place to get rid of excess items for those that don’t need them. They also provide a friendly place to volunteer. Finally, the money raised funds the Interfaith Council of Sun City Center, an alliance of nine local houses of worship that grants money to various charitable causes in Hillsborough County (almost half in the form of scholarships).

Nearly New is open every Saturday from eight until noon. During the winter months, it is also open Wednesdays during the same hours. Donations can be dropped off any weekday between eight and three.

1515 Sun City Center Plaza, Sun City Center, Florida
InterFaithCouncilOfSunCityCenter.com

Written by Daniel Noe, WayOutLife.com

Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa is a popular route for joggers, bicyclists, and those who just want to stroll by the sea. It also serves as daily driving commute for many. Fortunately for everyone the Boulevard’s median is magically sprinkled with strange and wonderful works of art. One of these is called The Wave – a metal sculpture roughly ten feet tall created by Mary Ann Unger (1945-1998). It is supposed to represent a crashing wave, but people see different things in it. I like to think of it as a gelatinous sea creature sucking water through its body and filtering out plankton. When I see it, which isn’t often, it feels like an old friend.

Art of all kinds is important because otherwise what is the point of life? Do we work in order to pay the bills so we can continue to work? Or do we work to pay the bills in order to have time to play? Our art and our artists are local treasures.

List of public art in Tampa

Written by Daniel Noe, WayOutLife.com

One of Tampa’s local treasures is also a national treasure that connects us to the past. When the Navy cargo ship American Victory was sitting in Virginia destined for the scrapyard, Captain John C. Timmel arranged for its rescue to live on as a floating museum. One of only three WWII-era Victory-model ships still fully operational, it is open most days of the week for self-guided tours. Not only does it connect us to the past and provide educational benefit, but it serves as a reminder of the efforts of those that kept American soldiers fed, armed, and equipped in Europe, the Pacific, Korea, and Vietnam.

I went to see it and my first impression was that it looks like the game pieces in the Axis-and-Allies board game – only bigger. Once up top, I was surprised how many floors it had. One can see across the channel or look down at the kids playing in the water park nearby. I wandered around the deck, seeing the giant anchor and big guns. Inside I saw the kitchen and insulated food storage. Somewhere a radio played 1940’s-era music. At first I thought that there seemed to be a lot of toilets and showers, but now I think it appropriate based on how many beds there were. My guess would be one bathroom per eight beds. I didn’t count. I suppose when one is on a ship, one doesn’t need to worry about running out of water. Another thing I noticed was that the deck seemed rather smooth and slick. I can only imagine what it would be like rolling back and forth in a storm once it gets a little bit of water on it. It seems like a safety hazard. Is this normal on ships? I should have called ahead to schedule a guide to ask questions (yes, you can do that). Down below there is a collection of various model ships, artifacts, and information placards. I saw giant bullets and shells taller than most children. Wow.

A history of the ship can be found on the website, including the tale of how American Victory broke up sea ice for other ships while leaving a Soviet port despite not being designed for it.

To get to American Victory, take Channelside Avenue in Tampa to the rotary and turn into the entrance for the Florida Aquarium. At the stop sign, take a right and head for the water. Free parking is just around the corner.

705 Channelside Drive, Tampa, Florida
AmericanVictory.org

Written by Daniel Noe, WayOutLife.com

Trinity Café provides human dignity by serving balanced gourmet meals at no cost to the homeless, disabled, and working poor without tedious means-testing or religious proselytization. For those who can afford it, a donation bucket is available near the door. I decided to volunteer to get an inside peek at how it all worked.

At 10:30 am (weekdays), diners line up to receive tickets for lunch. This lets the kitchen know how many meals to make. At 11:30 am (weekdays) the doors open and the diners are assigned seats as they become available. There are two volunteers to a table. One serves the meals and the other provides conversation. It’s actually not a bad way to meet interesting people.

The day I went, they had chicken underneath some sort of tomato-basil sauce and cheese next to grits and a vegetable mix. I had time to snag a plate after everyone else was finished. The tables have tablecloths and flower arrangements in the center, which gives the place a little character. I liked working there for a day (less than three hours). It had a fun atmosphere and a sense of camaraderie among the volunteers and employees. Spots fill up fast, so sign up well ahead of time. For their full schedule, visit their website below.
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2801 N Nebraska Avenue, Tampa, Florida
2202 E Busch Boulevard, Tampa, Florida
TrinityCafe.org

Written by Daniel Noe, WayOutLife.com

Written by Lucy Noe

Written By Lucy Noe

It was only a few years ago that Scott Kenny and his wife were selling gifts, antiques, furniture, and home décor online out of their storage unit. Now they have a store. Both artists and woodworkers themselves, they know the business. Around the store among the signs with cute sayings, the paintings, the exotic soaps, and the lamps are worn-looking chairs, desks, bureaus, and tables. This is furniture painted to look worn and then coated so as not to wear any further – a style I am told is called shabby chic. They even sell the same paint they use in the store and offer painting classes so others can do it. There is a variety of shapes and sizes of furniture, such as children’s desks, so one can find something special that fits their specific needs. There are a lot of interesting things there.

The couple is involved in the community and Scott was even named 2016 honorary mayor by the Southshore Chamber of Commerce for raising the most money for charity. They offer painting classes and even plan on expanding the store.

229 Apollo Beach Boulevard, Apollo Beach, Florida
Visit Website

Written by Daniel Noe, ChampionOfTheGalaxy.com

Written by Daniel Noe, ChampionOfTheGalaxy.com

Met with soft pink walls featuring words of encouragement, a woman battling breast cancer feels a sense of comfort as she enters A New You, Pink Boutique. A different kind of shop, the boutique seeks to work with a woman's medical team to provide compassionate care before and after breast surgery. Made in the USA, American Breast Care products provide a high standard in breast prostheses. Several different types of breast forms are available. A certified fitter on staff will help select the right fit for a woman's individual needs. They carry mastectomy garments, such as pocketed bras in styles from casual, to lacy, to even strapless. Also, several styles of swimwear are on display. Wigs and artificial eyebrows from the boutique help a woman on chemotherapy to feel more feminine and confident. There are also racks of "T" shirts and fun hats with upbeat and encouraging slogans. One might purchase a gift for a loved one such as a journal or jewelry.

Carol Sands-Poole co-founded the boutique with her sister Lisa, who passed away in 2013. Her warm and upbeat personality helps bring encouragement and hope to her clientele. Carol sees her business as more than a store. Instead, she sees it as a ministry to women at a vulnerable time in their lives. On the window of the shop are the words "Faith," "Hope," "Strength," and "Courage," – and that's what it's all about.

106 West Robertson Street, Brandon, Florida
Visit Website

Written by Lucy Noe

The Leepa - Rattner Museum is a small and delightful museum of modern and contemporary art. It is located on the Tarpon Springs campus of St. Petersburg College. Besides their permanent collection they have many temporary gallery shows. We enjoyed our time visiting and will become a frequent visitor. The staff and docents were friendly and knowledgeable. We were surprised about the variety of the art and the enjoyment we had being there.

The museum views itself as a support to the local community by helping people learn and appreciate art, create their own art, and display the art. We talked with several college students who were studying art work for one of their classes. The museum had several displays of local art from people from all ages and abilities. It has a variety of interactive art experiences.

​600 East Klosterman Road, Tarpon Springs, Florida
​LeepaRattner.org

Written by: Tom Noe

We recently had breakfast at Johnny Grits and our taste buds matched what was in our dreams when we visited their website. Their mission is quality and southern. They put a gourmet twist on their food with all foods fresh and made on the site. We had a very friendly waiter and noticed the staff interaction with regulars. They had developed friendships with their customers. The whole place had a friendly vibe. But it's about the food and they delivered. Here are pictures of our breakfast

We did not try the grits yet, but we will. We will be back. There are about 20 combinations of grits. They started out as a breakfast and lunch restaurant but now are open for dinner Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Please don't tell anyone about the place, it is our little secret. Ok you can tell your best friends. This place is local and it is better than the national chains. When we eat here we keep the money local. They even opened a place in New Port Richey. They must be doing something right. 

857 East Klosterman Road, Tarpon Springs, Florida. -
​.
JohnnyGrits.com

Written by: Tom Noe