Fort De Soto Park beach on the Gulf Coast of Florida. – photo by Joe AlexanderFort De Soto Park is on part of a chain of islands in the Tampa Bay area on Florida’s coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
We found the beach littered with shells and even a few starfish. Like everywhere else near water in this part of Florida, we saw plenty of birds.
We were even lucky enough to run into some kite surfers at the far end of the park with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in the background.
Watching the sunset at Pass-A-Grille on St. Pete Beach. – photo by Joe AlexanderWe spent a breezy December evening watching the sun go down over the Gulf of Mexico at Pass-A-Grille on St. Pete Beach on the east coast of Florida.
It was mostly cloudy but the sun got through just enough to make the drive worthwhile.
Our visit included dinner on the balcony of the Brass Monkey Bar and Grill.
Mural in The Warehouse District in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. – photo by Joe AlexanderThe Warehouse District of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, is better known for its art galleries than its street art. There are still lots of pretty cool murals in the area if you know where to look.
Iconic cat mural in The Edge District in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. – photo by Joe AlexanderIf you’re not sure if you’re really in The Edge District in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, the cat mural on the Edge Animal Hospital is an obvious clue.
Mural in the Central Arts District in St. Petersburg, Florida. – photo by Joe AlexanderThe Central Arts District in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, has murals almost everywhere you look.
After a visit to the Chihuly Collection, which technically is in the Waterfront Museum District, we started walking in the direction of The Edge District.
One of the natives lurking at Circle C Bar Preserve along the shore of Lake Hancock near Lakeland, Florida. – photo by Joe AlexanderIt was a mostly cloudy day when we visited Circle C Bar Preserve along the shore of Lake Hancock near Lakeland, Florida.
I was just as happy that it wasn’t warm and sunny considering the photos I had seen in the Internet of alligators lounging on the walking trail.
We saw a few gators, but all out in the water and none of them too close.
The place was full of lots of birds and a few playfull racoons.
St. Petersburg, Florida has lots of street art. We got our first look at some of it on the side of a building in downtown not far from St. Pete Pier.
– photos by Joe Alexander
Holiday lights in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. – photo by Joe AlexanderThere’s no snow on the ground, but there are plenty of holiday lights for Christmas and New Year’s in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, near the St. Pete Pier.
Lunch in St. Petersburg, Florida, overlooking Tampa Bay. – photo by Joe AlexanderEven with the holidays, Tampa International Airport was quieter than I remember – a sign of the times. From there is was a short drive to a local restaurant with a view of Tampa Bay.
We hung around late in the afternoon as the sun started to sink over Tampa Bay.
The waterfront at sunset in downtown Scottsdale, Arizona. – photo by Joe AlexanderDowntown Scottsdale, Arizona, includes the entertainment district, Old Town and the riverfront.