Margarita Wars is coming – Get your tickets here!

Strolling through Safety Harbor: the Third Friday Music Series, history museum, farmer's market, Phillippe Park and more

By Kaeli Conforti on Fri, Apr 23, 2010 at 12:15 pm

For the History Buff:

[image-1]

The Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History is a good place to check out if you care to know a little more about the area. Featuring permanent exhibits that focus on Florida's prehistoric times and the first people who lived in the region, the museum offers an in-depth look at the past while docents keep your interest with exciting stories about Conquistadors, ancient weapons and Native American sites in the area. I arrived just in time for their exhibit about the 1960s, featuring Beatles memorabilia, old-fashioned board games, Woodstock posters and an original piece of The Berlin Wall. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for students, seniors and kids ages 7 - 18, while kids under age six get in free.

[image-2]

For Nature Lovers:

Those of us in desperate need of a picnic in a beautiful location near Tampa Bay should check out Philippe Park. Located just a few minutes away from downtown Safety Harbor, Philippe Park offers 122 acres of natural beauty where you can go for a walk or bike ride around the paths, play ball, fish or just take in the scenery. The park is also home to an ancient ceremonial mound and the grave of Odet Philippe, one of the founders of Safety Harbor.

For Your Inner Foodie:

[image-3]

As I drove on Main Street on my way back to Clearwater, I passed by what I could swear was a scene from Fried Green Tomatoes. The Whistle Stop Grill & Bar, just like in the movie, sits next to the railroad tracks that pass through Pinellas County and offers, you guessed it, fried green tomatoes among other dishes. My favorite was the bee charmer: ice cream with peaches, drizzled in honey and sprinkled with cinnamon

.

If You Can Splurge:

Of course the city is probably best known for The Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, which sits right along Tampa Bay and offers the best spa packages around.

So, now that you've seen what I've seen in Safety Harbor, what other places would you recommend checking out?

It's hard to believe that I've lived in the Tampa Bay area for nine years and haven't had time to explore it yet. Between being a full-time college student and working part time, I've driven past places everyday without even stopping by to check them out. Now that I've graduated, I finally have time to do just that: Explore Tampa Bay and uncover the sweet stuff. Follow me on my first time to places we should have known about a long time ago. Don't worry, I'll be gentle.

My first stop is Safety Harbor, a city I've driven past at least a thousand times. Getting there is a cinch. Just hop on McMullen Booth Road and look for the sign that says Sunset Point Road/Main Street. Just make sure you don't accidentally take Main Street/580, which will leave you somewhere in Tampa and very confused as to how you got there. Trust me on this one.

Safety Harbor Street Festivals:

Every third Friday of the month, the city hosts The Third Friday Music Series, a free event from 6 to 10 p.m. featuring arts and crafts, food vendors and live entertainment while the stores along Main Street extend their hours of service. There is live music at the gazebo in John Wilson Park near the center of Downtown. Each month, proceeds from the event are given to a different charity.

John Wilson Park is also home to the Safety Harbor Farmer's Market, held from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Thursday through May 2010. Located at 401 Main Street, the market features organic produce, flowers and more arts and crafts.

I went exploring a few weeks ago during the second annual Bloom N Garden N Chalk Fest, a block party-like event where artists from all over the country gather to showcase their talents in pastels on the streets of Downtown Safety Harbor.

Check out charming Safety Harbor specialties for the history buff, the nature lover, and the inner foodie after the break:

Tags:

WE LOVE OUR READERS!

Since 1988, CL Tampa Bay has served as the free, independent voice of Tampa Bay, and we want to keep it that way.

Becoming a CL Tampa Bay Supporter for as little as $5 a month allows us to continue offering readers access to our coverage of local news, food, nightlife, events, and culture with no paywalls.

Join today because you love us, too.

Scroll to read more News Feature articles