A walk on Davis Islands

On February 4, 2026March 6, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights4 Comments

The heat was breaking by early November and Brett and I were going out often for an early lunch and then a quick walk at different places around the Tampa Bay area. One of our favorite places to walk that we had not been to in a long time was the yacht basin on Davis Islands, near downtown Tampa.

This small island got completely flooded when the hurricanes hit in late 2024 and there was still a lot of damage with people waiting to get their homes fixed. It looked like the yacht club had been redone because there were a lot of people over there and it looked like a sailing class was going on.

Standing on the seawall I could see a blue crab in the water.

We could see downtown Tampa from across the small private airport.

We stopped by the Marjorie Park yacht basin before leaving and had a short walk around the small marina. There are great views of Tampa from the back side of this marina.

The crazy sunrise people

On January 28, 2026January 28, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights6 Comments

In late September I was at the Safety Harbor waterfront early enough for sunrise. My husband always thinks I’m the only one crazy enough to get up early to go see sunrise but when I got to the park there were a lot of other people. I managed to get a shot of a dolphin coming up on the far left in the above shot. I didn’t see him again after that shot.

Getting photo bombed by cute dogs. That one dog was more interested in what I was doing vs. watching the sunrise. He was ready to play.

Watching the sun come up as I walked along the waterfront. It was a warm morning and the water was calm.

I stopped at nearby Philippe Park to walk the stairs on the back of the Indian mound. The sun was still making it’s way up.

Halfway up and the view from the top of the mound.

Riverwalk in downtown Tampa

On January 12, 2026February 5, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights1 Comment

We were still in our “walking” training mode for our trip to Italy in mid-September so we decided to take a long walk along the river front in downtown Tampa. Riverwalk is a 2.6 mile walk each way that runs along the Hillsborough River. We parked far away so we got a 2 1/2 hour walk in that morning (we did take a 10 minute break at the other end).

The view from the top of the outside stairs at the convention center.

Downtown views along the water.

We saw a lot of rowers along the water and realized there was a rowing center across the water. It was a busy place. I’m not sure if they do lessons out of there or just host competitions.

Looking back at the city from Armature Works food hall.

We took a break in front of Armature Works on the other end of Riverwalk. By lunchtime this place will be packed.

Rowing in front of University of Tampa.

A laughing gull photo bombs my shot of the pirate ship.

Down at the other end of the walk you can rent boats, take a water taxi or a cruise on the pirate ship.

We passed by the home of the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team on the way back to our car. It was fun pretending to be tourists for the morning.

Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) at Image-In-Ing.

A hot humid walk

On January 7, 2026December 26, 2025 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights9 Comments

It was a hot calm morning in late August when I was out walking along the waterfront. Not a puff of wind and not a ripple on the water. The humidity was high and it felt like I was walking in a shower. You could see the humidity in the clouds.

It’s been interesting to watch the pier being rebuilt. On this morning most of the posts had been put in and by now the walkway is done and they are finishing the end. I miss seeing the manatees at the end of the pier. Hopefully they will show up again when it’s finished.

I made a quick stop at the Oldsmar fishing pier before heading home. The end of the pier here is closed due to the hurricanes but you can walk about 3/4 th of the way down.

Sunset on the causeway

On December 31, 2025January 3, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, Tampa bay sights6 Comments

Back at the end of August I went for a sunset walk at the Dunedin causeway. The sun was still up pretty high so I had time for a long walk since I wanted to be at the other end of the causeway before the sun went down.

The sun was peeking through as I walked past the kayak rentals.

I made it to the west end with plenty of time.

Every Wednesday night jeep owners have a meet-up here to watch the sunset on the causeway. I counted 42 jeeps this night. They have events during the year such as the Trunk or Treat Halloween event that draws tons of people. During December many of the jeeps are decorated for Christmas.

When I got to the west bridge there were a lot of flying critters also watching the sun go down.

Heading back to my car I saw a great egret catch a fish and take off in front of me after swallowing it.

Almost down and I still had quite a ways to get back to my car. There wasn’t any clouds in the sky for a great after glow so I wasn’t paying attention on the way back.

Christmas on Main Street

On December 24, 2025December 21, 2025 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights5 Comments

The side of a realtor office on Main Street in Dunedin changes murals with the seasons. Whoever the artist is does a really good job capturing the spirit of the town.

The businesses in the area decorate the light posts along Main Street each year. Some are the same every year but many change it up. These are a few of my favorites although I think the flamingo is my favorite.

On the other side of Pinellas county, Safety Harbor also decorates along their Main Street. The last 2 are in front of the Bassano Cheesecake Cafe. During the holidays you may catch the owner walking around in a Grinch costume and they do have the best cheesecake in the Tampa Bay area.

Well said, Grinch!

Above are some shots of a few of my favorite houses in a nearby neighborhood that really goes all out. They have long lines to get into the neighborhood on the weekends before Christmas. Brett and I drove through early this year on a weekday.

Me sitting with Santa on a recent trip to Atlanta to spend some time with family. Brett and I found 4 new parks to hike around this trip so more to come on those.

I want to thank everyone who stopped by this past year and hope you stop by again in the next year. I’ve got more pictures to come. Have a great Christmas!

Small town Christmas

On December 22, 2025January 3, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights2 Comments

These are some shots of last year’s Safety Harbor morning Christmas parade. I was out for a walk on the waterfront and stumbled upon the parade that was just starting. It was a fun cold morning.

After dinner one night Brett and I stopped at one of the famously decorated houses near our house. The above is from one house. They draw huge crowds on the weekends and you are welcome to walk around the yard to look.

A few other fun houses we saw that night.

Nothing says “Florida Christmas” like a pelican with a present in his beak.

Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) at Image-In-Ing.

Rain everywhere but over my head

On December 17, 2025January 3, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights6 Comments

Another stormy walk in late August on the Dunedin causeway. The air was heavy with humidity and it felt like I was walking in the shower but luckily I didn’t get rained on. It didn’t start to drizzle on the causeway until I got back to my car. I was hoping for a rainbow but the sun didn’t come out and I kept my eye out for lightning but didn’t see any nor hear any thunder.

🎵 “Don’t let the sun go down on me” 🎵

On December 10, 2025January 3, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights5 Comments

I usually like to get my walks out of the way in the morning but every once in a while I have something else going on so I walk later in the day and try to catch sunset. In late August I started my walk at the Dunedin marina and walked for about an hour around the area before coming back to my car before the sun set.

I walked down a neighborhood street that runs along the water before getting back to the marina.

The sun was going down on the “still damaged” dock. They are currently repairing the damaged areas in the marina and are supposed to start on the dock early next year.

Going down along the jetti in front of the marina.

🎵 “Sittin on the dock of the bay” 🎵

The End.

Dolphins and a manatee in the calm water

On December 1, 2025January 3, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights1 Comment

It was a calm morning on the water in late July. Not a hint of wind as I walked at the Safety Harbor waterfront.

Far out in the bay I could see dolphins cruising by.

I stopped at the Oldsmar pier before heading home and noticed that they had opened the pier almost to the end. It was still closed about a third of the way from the end and I could see the damage from last fall’s hurricanes. The end was missing and a great blue heron was enjoying the railing all to himself. It’s taking a long time to fix damaged piers and docks and some are just now getting fixed.

A few days later I was walking on the Dunedin causeway and watching the summer clouds roll in. I was hoping for some rain but that wouldn’t happen until the end of the day.

An osprey sits on top of the drawbridge arm. He has a great view up there.

The next morning I had a quick walk at the Dunedin marina. I could see a snout of a manatee coming up for air (in the 2nd shot). I waited a while hoping he would come closer but he was heading out into the open water.