(Gunn Hwy): a local favorite for coffee and waffles. Try the "Bee Nutty."
A little drive to 3240 Redeemer Way but delivers amazing breakfast/lunch every time. HOST FAVORITE!!
a reliable spot for a big Florida breakfast
8,700 acres of trails, boardwalks and wildlife, with an excellent environmental education center - Host Family Favorite!
hiking, biking and horseback riding, and it connects to the paved Suncoast Trail
(Oldsmar): boardwalks and one of the area's best kayak launches, with mangroves, dolphins and manatees in season
a peaceful 3-mile trail around the lake
long paved trails for biking and running
(Lutz): championship golf nearby
(Dunedin, ~35 min): natural, uncrowded beaches and trails. Take the ferry to Caladesi Island, often ranked among America's best beaches - Host Family Favorite!
(Tarpon Springs, ~30 min): a causeway beach with calm water, and great for sunsets
(~40 min): white sand, a lively promenade and Pier 60's nightly sunset celebration
(~55 min): a charming historic beach town
(~60 min): award-winning beaches, a historic fort and kayaking - Host Family Favorite!
a Greek fishing village with sponge boats and shops. Stop for lunch at Hellas
a walkable, artsy town with breweries, cafés and the Pinellas Trail - Host Family Favorite!
a working marine rescue center, and a favorite with kids in a bustling beach town
roller coasters plus an African-themed animal park
monkeys, giraffes and hands-on encounters - Host Family Favorite!
on the downtown waterfront, with a coral reef exhibit and dolphin eco-tours
a water park next to Busch Gardens
a 2.6-mile waterfront walk linking museums, parks and restaurants - Host Family Favorite!
food halls and waterfront dining
Tampa's historic Cuban cigar district. Dine at the Columbia Restaurant, Florida's oldest
at Raymond James Stadium
at Benchmark International Arena
Tampa Premium Outlets (Lutz) and Westfield Citrus Park: shopping close to home
the largest Salvador Dalí collection outside Spain
restaurants, a splash pad, a beach area and bay views - Host Family Favorite!
a century-old tropical garden with flamingos
world-class art in a walkable downtown, with dozens of museums
St Petersburg soccer team in the USL Championship - Host Family Favortie!
Major League Baseball at the Tropicana Field
Orlando's theme parks make an easy day trip, or a good couple of nights on a longer stay
Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom
Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, and the new Epic Universe
marine life shows and coasters
(Winter Haven, ~1 hr 15 min): ideal for kids aged 2–12
(~2 hr 15 min): watch a rocket launch if the timing works out - Host Family Favorite!
(~40 min): kayaking down a crystal-clear spring-fed river.
(~1 hr 15 min): Crystal River is the only place in North America where you can legally swim with wild manatees, on a guided snorkel tour in Kings Bay. The best time is November to March, when hundreds of manatees shelter in the warm springs. Nearby Three Sisters Springs has boardwalks with views into the gin-clear water - Host Family Favorite!
Dunnellon ~1 hr 30 min): one of Florida's clearest spring-fed rivers, so clear it feels like floating over an aquarium. Tube, kayak or paddleboard down the river, then swim near the headspring and walk past the old waterfalls and gardens. Tubing runs roughly April to September (the state park's tube entrance is open weekends only in spring and fall). Disposable containers are banned on the river, so bring a reusable water bottle - Host Family Favorite!
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