Local Insider Guide
Temple Terrace is home to some of the most beautiful Hillsborough River views and mature oak trees. With sprawling golf courses, theme parks, and delicious cuisine restaurants, it's a great place to be when visiting the Tampa Bay area.
Clearwater Beach is characterized by white sand beaches and clear blue water stretching for 2.5 miles (4 km) along the Gulf and sits on a barrier island. It has a full marina on the Intracoastal Waterway side and is linked on the south by a short bridge to another barrier island called Sand Key, where Sand Key Park is located. The area offers shopping, restaurants, and activities such as parasailing, jet ski rentals, boat tours (with a common sighting of dolphins in the Gulf waters), miniature golf, fishing charters, and "pirate ship" cruises.[1] Clearwater is consistently ranked one of the best beaches in the United States.[2][3] Its Sandpearl resort was named one of the best beach resorts in the U.S.[4] In January 2013, Clearwater Beach was awarded the designation of Florida's Best Beach Town by a USA Today reader poll ranking 10 Florida beach destinations.[5] In February 2019, Clearwater Beach was named the best beach in the United States and sixth-best in the world by TripAdvisor.[6]
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Check AvailabilityCheck the links for some of my favorite area restaurants.
Don't leave Tampa Bay without visiting some of the best we have to offer! Check the links below for great places to visit and see!
Head on over to Riverhills Park, just a few blocks away. It offers stunning views of the Hillsborough River and even a playground and launching pad for boats.
Lettuce Park is a great place to go hiking, walk the wooden boardwalk, and see wildlife from the observatory tower.
The Tampa Mall is our local flea market. Stop in for great deals and unique items from all over the world.
Clearwater Beach
· BeachBest beach in the USA!
Zen Noodle
· RestaurantZen Noodle Bar is a quick dining establishment committed to bringing fresh, quality Asian food and drinks! Whether you’re stopping in for a bowl of pho during your lunch break or to catch up with an old friend over tea, Zen Noodle Bar will be the spot for you!
Gaspar's Patio Bar
· RestaurantGaspar's Patio Bar & Grille offers Live music, Karaoke, Pocket Billiards, and Casual Dining in a relaxed atmosphere. Dine indoors at the main bar, outside on the Key West Style dog friendly patio, or inside the Pocket Billiards room complete with indoor shuffleboard table. Gaspar's features Live music Sunday through Saturday and Karaoke 7 nights a week.
Ajisai
· RestaurantAt Ajisai, our commitment to excellence sets us apart in the industry. We take pride in delivering a unique culinary experience through our high-quality Japanese cuisine. Our unwavering dedication to superior ingredients, meticulous preparation, and a genuine passion for authentic flavors distinguishes Ajisai as a standout choice for those seeking a truly exceptional dining experience.
Riverhills Park
· ParkBest views of the Hillsborough River
Lettuce Lake Park
· ParkLettuce Lake Conservation Park is one of Hillsborough County's most popular parks. More than half of the park's property lies in the natural floodplain of the Hillsborough River, consisting of a hardwood swamp forest. The remainder of the park consists of hardwood hammocks and pine flatwoods plant communities. The park features wooded picnic areas, a 1.25-mile paved exercise trail and 3,500-foot boardwalk with an observation tower that provides scenic views of the Hillsborough River. There is a visitors center with displays about local nature and history, and a native plant garden. In 2024, two new playgrounds were built with swings, adaptive and sensory equipment, and a scavenger hunt where children look for medallions to identify animals and plants. Canoe and kayaks rentals provide up-close encounters with a variety of aquatic birds and wildlife. Please Note: Pets and bicycles are not permitted on the boardwalk. Canoeing and kayaking
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
· AttractionBusch Gardens Tampa Bay is Florida’s ultimate theme park, blending world-class thrill rides, award-winning roller coasters, and one of North America’s largest zoos with over 200 species. From record-breaking coasters like Iron Gwazi and Cheetah Hunt® to unforgettable animal encounters and seasonal events like Howl-O-Scream® and Christmas Town™, every visit is a new adventure.
Adventure Island
· AttractionLocated right across the street from Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay, Adventure Island® is 30 acres of water-drenched fun in the sun featuring the ultimate combination of high-speed thrills and tropical, tranquil surroundings for guests of all ages. Within a soothing Key West atmosphere await slides, corkscrews, water falls, a 17,000-square-foot wave pool, children’s water playground and other family attractions. Choose to race down rapids, dig your toes into the sand or drift through the peaceful waters of the Rambling Bayou® lazy river. Hurtle high above the park and experience a feeling of weightlessness aboard Colossal Curl®, the park's newest family raft ride. Take on Vanish Point®, Adventure Island’s newest 70-foot drop slide, that lets riders choose between two skyboxes, each sending them through 425 feet of spiraling tubes.