Tampa Bay Area Parks

Tampa is located on Florida's west coast, and features inland waterways and sandy beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. The Tampa Bay Area includes both Hillsborough Bay and Tampa Bay, as well as the Hillsborough and Alafia Rivers and several nearby lakes. With so many varied bodies of water near the city, Tampa abounds with state and city parks, offering many recreational opportunities.

The city of Tampa maintains 156 city parks with ball fields, beaches, gymnasiums, pools, picnic shelters, piers and even computer labs. In addition to city parks, Tampa owns and operates three full-service marinas with wet slips, docks, gasoline sales and public restrooms, including Marjorie Park Yacht Basin, Bayshore Marina and Sea Plane Basin. Tampa also has many miles of greenways and city trails: 15.5 miles of off-road multi-use trails, 4.3 miles of hiking and nature trails and 16.4 miles of on-road bike lanes.

Another great trail opportunity for runners, inline skaters and bicyclists is the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail, a network of 34 miles of trails linking parks, neighborhoods and scenic coastline. About 90,000 people each year use the Pinellas Trail which winds through glades and alongside streams and is home to several species of waterbirds. In Pinellas County, this trail connects the areas of Tarpon Springs, Clearwater, Largo, Seminole and St. Petersburg.

State Parks are plentiful in the Tampa Bay Area, showcasing all the rivers running through this part of Florida. Hillsborough River State Park is a good place for canoeing, swimming and camping as well as visiting Fort Foster, a replica of a Second Seminole War Military Fort. For more prime canoeing, visit Alafia River State Park, just 10 miles southeast of Tampa on CR 39; here you can explore 6,000 acres of forests, wetlands and rolling hills. Little Manatee River State Park, located 4 miles south of Sun City off of US 301 is a 4.5-mile stretch of the Little Manatee River set aside for recreation and designated an Outstanding Florida Water. One more state park, not dedicated to nature, is more about the culture and history of Tampa. The Ybor City Museum State Park tells the story of the thousands of Cuban and Spanish immigrants who established Tampa as the cigar-rolling capital of the world, and covers the history of the years 1886-1921.

Tampa is a beautiful backdrop for a wide range of activities, many of which are water-related. Make sure you take advantage of all the city and state parks in the Tampa Bay area, as well as the Pinellas Trail. You're sure to be delighted by the glistening water, miles of trails and perfect sunset-watching spots.