Just north of the giant blue pipe that runs over the canal next to 301 is Veterans Park. It is an inspiration and a tribute to the bravery and memory of those who have served in the armed forces, especially those with a connection to Hillsborough County. It makes one proud to be part of Florida, knowing how our fellow citizens look out for each other. In the small museum are framed medal of honor citations of those who left positions of safety to rescue others in the line of duty. Also in the museum are the types of guns (handheld and those much larger) used in the various wars that Floridians have been involved in. I even saw in a case the actual machete used by a citizen of Hillsborough County while in the Pacific. There were also buttons from Spanish Army uniforms during the Spanish-American war.

3602 North US 301, Tampa, Florida
VeteransParkHC.com

Written by Daniel Noe, ChampionOfTheGalaxy.com

Brooker Creek preserve in Tarpon Springs, Florida offers a nice shady walk any day of the week. There is no admission cost. Thursday through Saturday the educational center and store are open. There are hands-on ecological exhibits, including a tortoise burrow replica big enough to crawl through. From the parking lot there are two ways into the woods:

​The boardwalk leads straight to the center after passing under an artistic metal helix. It seems to be several strands of metal woven together. One end terminates in a set of flat rings; the other in glass bulbs. What is it?

Across the small field is the bridge over tiny Brooker Creek where alligators are often seen. From there one can walk a short distance to the bird blind or take the dirt trail around to join the boardwalk near the center. From the center a four-mile loop extends into the woods.

​Lake Park in southern Lutz just off the Dale Mabry is a great getaway and public resource. It has not only wooded trails, picnic areas, large fields, and canoe rentals for the several ponds, but there is a remote-control car racing track, a playground, a youth campground, a horse arena, a volleyball net, and a BMX biking track, adjacent to which is a smaller bike track for the kids. An archery range exists at the opposite side of the park. There is much to do. I even saw someone with a drone.