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.

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 3 hour tour” 🎵

On May 21, 2025June 6, 2025 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights7 Comments

My sister and her husband were coming to visit for the Grand Prix race (in St. Pete) in late February. They came a few days early so we could do some tourist stuff. Our first fun thing was a dolphin/sunset tour out of Dunedin. We left at 4:30 and boated down the intercoastal waterway passing by Clearwater.

I think that dog was having more fun on the water than anyone else as we passed close by the Sound Amphitheater.

Colors were popping as we got farther down the waterway and passed sailboats and kite surfers. We could see the pirate ship tour boat farther back on the left.

Passing underneath the Sand Key bridge.

We made our way into the gulf and passed by Clearwater Beach and the long Pier 60 as we headed north.

We got all the way to the tip of Caladesi Island before turning around to head back to Clearwater. The sun still had a ways to go before setting so we took our time coming back.

The sun was shining on the new hotels that sit on the south end of Clearwater Beach. When I was growing up and coming here to visit my grandparents this beach was all 2 story motels.

The boat stopped at the end of the beach and we watched the sun go down with a few other boats. It was a busy night on the water.

The Little Toot boat was following us as we made our way back into the intercoastal waterway. It was a beautiful night and got chilly quick when the sun went down. Luckily we were prepared and brought jackets with us.

Passing the pirate ship.

The sky was turning orange and the birds were flying around before going to bed as we made our way past Clearwater and back to the Dunedin marina.

The 2 1/2 hour trip turned into a 3 hour trip when we docked. It was a perfect night. We saw lots of dolphins but the boat was full and I didn’t bring my camera and longer lens so I hung back and let the tourists watch them. It’s always fun seeing the reactions when people don’t get to see them often or see them for the first time.

Just being out at Sand Key Park

On October 15, 2020September 24, 2020 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights3 Comments

A nice warm windy day in late July. The beach wasn’t crowded early in the morning. Plus there was a storm heading our way so most people probably were staying home this morning. The wind was blasting but the sun was out early before the clouds moved in at lunchtime.

Looking across the channel at Clearwater Beach. Most of the tourist were over there.

I walked over to the fishing piers that sit near the bridge and found a few birds waiting for handouts from the people fishing.

A typical scene looking across at Clearwater beach. The pirate ship passed under the bridge but turned around just outside the channel and headed back into the intercoastal waterway. I’m assuming they stayed inside the intercoastal this morning since the water was choppy. There were a few people on it but I’m sure not nearly as crowded as past summers.

This looks like fun but you would need a lot of upper body strength on a windy day like this was. They stayed inside the channel as well.

Across the Hillsborough river

On August 29, 2019August 2, 2019 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights1 Comment

Shots taken while on my walk along the river front in downtown Tampa in July. The above shows the University of Tampa. The main building was originally the Tampa Bay Hotel that opened in 1891 by Henry B Plant (the railroad magnate).

Looking over to Bayshore Boulevard and out towards the bay.

Lots of rowing going on this morning. Kayakers, paddleboarders and members of the Dragon Boat Rowing club were all out on the water.

A different view at the convention center.

SkyWatch Friday

Sand Key Park

On August 15, 2019July 16, 2019 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography2 Comments

Least terns were just starting to mate on the beach at Sand Key Park in late June.

A crazed looking juvenile mockingbird was also on the beach.

On osprey was guarding the jetti with his fish.

A small storm was moving in across the beach. The tourist pirate ship started to head out into the gulf but then turned around and came back into the bay. That trip must have gotten cut short. It started to sprinkle as I walked back down the beach to my car but then the sun came out just as fast.

I think it was going to end up being a perfect day after the morning storms moved through. I had stopped by the park to see if the least terns were nesting yet. They were there but none of them were sitting on eggs yet. People were starting to come out to the beach once the sun came out. It was time for me to go home and have lunch.

SkyWatch Friday