CLOCK OUT AND TRAVEL

Eureka Springs was a nice surprise!   A park, which was donated to Hillsborough County, Florida in 1967, is a tropical quick getaway for an hour or two just to escape from the city life hustle.   This park is filled with unique beautiful Florida plants. The park is clean with a nice facility to rent for events.    Found between Highway 301 and Sligh Avenue in Eastern Tampa, there is a small fee to enter. A wooden walkway provides a safe and picturesque view of the thick interior swamp.  Take your time and you might glimpse some fine examples of Florida wild life–  anything from squirrels to alligators and butterflies too!    Source:   Hillsborough County Parks Acalypha hispida a.k.a. Chenille Plant Shrimp Plant

  Bring your tent/RV, canoe, fishing pole, horses, pets, and mountain bike!  Great place to have fun with over 40 miles of hiking, horseback and biking trails.  Add caption Alafia State Park is located in Lithia, Florida. Great way to enjoy the outdoors and be one with nature. Alafia State Park is only 30 miles southeast of Tampa, FL on county road 39.

Photograph by Jane Griggs December 13, 2013 A perfect ending to Friday the 13th in Apollo Beach.  Beautiful sunset of Tampa Bay with a faint sighting of Saint Petersburg, FL in the background. Photograph by Jane Griggs December 13, 2013 Apollo Beach has access to the bay and Gulf waters.  Enjoy the Apollo Beach Yacht Club, restaurants such as Circles and the Alpha House.  Circles, where you can enjoy   outside dining with water view.  The "Alpha House" which features Italian food and really good pizza :-) For added fun during the winter months visit the Manatees as they keep warm by the TECO Big Bend Power Plant.

At Indian Shores there is nothing but beautiful sand, water and air. Food and lodging are plentiful along this strip as well. Located between Clearwater and St. Petersburg in Pinellas County.

  Little Manatee River State Park located in Wimauma, FL. Enjoy camping, rent canoes, kayaks and bikes .  Great place to park your RV or Camper and take in the beauty of nature!

Photograph by J.A. Griggs If it was not for my little niece's birthday party, we would not have found this nice little spot in Crystal Beach, Florida. This place is nestled in Palm Harbor. Our location was near Crystal Beach Ave and Pennsylvania Ave.  (No politics here!) Although we missed the sunset, dusk was absolutely beautiful. In the distance you can see Pelican and Honeymoon Island. What a great way to end a long workday for Crystal Beach Residents. I know I would take advantage of it!     Behind park benches and the view of the water, is a nice little park with twisting trees that kids and grown ups alike can enjoy.

Photography by J.A. Griggs   Camping anyone?  Want to "rough" it in the wild?  Lithia Springs Park in Lithia, Florida has over 40 camping spots and 2 bath houses.  If you have an RV, take advantage of the electric and water hook up.   Great camping spots which overlooks the river and experience nature! This park is off the Alafia River, with t he springs for public use. The temperature of the Spring, year round,  is 72 degrees!