20 essential Tampa Bay tiki bars everyone should visit at least once

Frozen piña coladas, blackened grouper sandwiches, and mai tais are on the horizon. Tiki bars are a Florida staple, and here in…

By Max Steele

Cruisin’ Tikis
Tampa Bay, 727-477-8454
Cruisin’ through Tampa, St. Pete and Clearwater, these six-person tiki boats are a ton of fun. Grab your buddies, hop on one of these floating adventures and drink ‘til the sun goes down. Whether you're a saltwater local or a visiting tourist, the tiki boat’s scenic views of Tampa Bay are an experience all can appreciate. BYOB!Photo via Cruisin’ Tikis Tampa Bay/website
20 slides

The 20 best Tampa Bay beaches you have to visit to call yourself a local

Summer is here, and while these beaches stay hot year round, it's time to kick back and stick your toes into the…

By Max Steele

Caladesi Island State Park
    Pinellas County
    Ranked No. 2 on Dr. Beach’s 2022 nationwide list, this offshore island can only be accessed via boat or ferry, a large reason as to why the getaway spot remains peaceful and pristine. The state park features a bayside marina for docking, hiking trails, fishing docks, picnic tables, restrooms, showers and cafe. Pets must be leashed in the park and are not allowed on the beach or ferry. No alcohol permitted.
    Photo via Florida State Parks/website
20 slides

20 truly beachside restaurants and bars in Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay has plenty of great tiki huts, waterfront bars, and fish shacks, but not all of them are directly on the…

By Sofía García Vargas

Whiskey Joe’s Bar & Grill
7720 W Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa, 813-281-0770
With its own private beach and Causeway locale, Whiskey Joe’s is one of Tampa’s most visible beach bars. You can brave Ben T. Davis, or pay a small fee to access Whiskey Joe’s beachside bar and party area. 
Photo via Whiskey Joe’s Bar & Grill/Website
20 slides

23 low-key beaches within driving distance of Tampa

The beach is calling. Since not every patch of sand is the same and some beaches are more packed than others, here…

By CL Staff

Apollo Beach Nature Reserve 
    Estimated drive time from Tampa: 34 mins
    Open simply from sunrise to sunset, Apollo Beach Nature Reserve is arguably as popular as a birding site as for its beachy views. Unlike many Tampa Bay beaches, Apollo Beach Nature Reserve allows pets on the beach.
    
    Photo via Google Maps
23 slides

25 beautiful Tampa Bay places you probably haven't visited

Some of the most aesthetically pleasing, cool places are the ones that no one knows about. And sometimes they are the most…

By CL Staff

St Petersburg’s 600 block murals 
    648 1st Ave N, Saint Petersburg, FL, USA
     A sprawl of about a dozen murals cover the buildings behind Central Ave’s 600 block. It’s where you take your out-of-state-visitors to see St.Petersburg’s artistic reputation in real life, perhaps after dinner or before a show at State Theater. And yes, you’ll almost always see someone taking pictures for  Instagram in front of them. 
    
    Photo via  State Theater/Facebook
22 slides

Look at 13 photos of 7 Tampa Bay beaches where you can escape the crowds

As summer nears its end, our beaches are fuller than ever, often with shoulder-to-shoulder beach blankets. Not exactly the relaxing beach day…

By CL Staff

Fort DeSoto's Middle Beach
    
    You'll have to head south or north of the trees, then hike the beach towards them — there's no other way to get there. But when you do... man, that view. Pro tip: bring mosquito repellent — not for the beach, but the hike in and out.
13 slides

Join Creative Loafing Tampa Bay Newsletters

Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox.