Mark And Chuck's Adventures
Menu
  • Travel and Food Blog
  • Who Are Mark And Chuck?
  • In Search Of Neverland
  • Contact or Collaborate
Menu

3 Ways To Get Back To Nature in St Pete

Posted on September 9, 2020 by Mark And Chuck's Adventures

Since returning from India in mid-March, we, like the rest of the world, quarantined at home. As directed, we stayed in and ventured as far as the back yard. We took advantage of grocery delivery services and some local restaurants offering delivery.

 

Escape to the Great Outdoors

We finally reached that tipping point where we needed a change of scenery and some fresh air. We also wanted to make sure we got more exercise than walking back and forth from the sofa to the refrigerator.

So, we decided to explore some local St. Pete parks. A majority of people traveling here head straight to the beaches. We honestly don’t blame you. That’s a good portion of why we moved here.

But we were looking for places to walk, explore, and stay as socially distant from other people as possible.

 

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

1101 Country Club Way South

St. Petersburg, FL 33705

Admission: $3.00 for Adults, $1.50 Children ages 3-16, Free for children under 3

This 245-acre protected area is probably the last thing you expect to find tucked away on the southside of St Petersburg. What seems to have begun initially as a botanical garden and zoo for the city of St Pete has evolved over time.

Due to COVID-19, the Lake Maggiore Environmental Education Center, programs, and tram tours have been suspended. So, that left us to explore the three miles of trails through different ecosystems.

The park features the education center, a picnic area, and playground, and lots of nature programs. But, we were happy for the peace and quiet. While non-motorized bikes are allowed on the trails, we encountered very few and only about a dozen people walking. People were either wearing masks or had them readily available to cover up if someone approached.

 

empty playground at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St Petersburg Florida
Picnic area and playground
man standing on a quiet boardwalk path at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St Petersburg Florida
Chuck walking along the boardwalk

 

The trails are well marked and include great signage indicating the ecosystem’s specifics, there are plenty of benches to relax and chill out, and the boardwalks are well maintained.

We were surprised at how close we were to downtown St Pete. Sitting near the lake, you could see buildings downtown as well as the Tropicana Field.

 

green directional signs at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St Petersburg Florida
Great directional signage throughout the park
educational signs at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve describe the local eco systems
Signs describing the local eco-systems
man sitting on a bench overlooking a lake and downtown St Petersburg
Mark overlooking the lake and downtown St Pete

 

We went for the escape to nature and were pleasantly surprised by the unique sculptures by artist Paul Eppling. The first we saw was at the aviary, where we also saw a stunning bald eagle. There is also this massive armadillo along the trails and a crane in the lake.

 

bald eagle at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve's aviary
Bald Eagle
sculpture of an armadillo made from car parts
Armadillo made from car parts
metal sculpture of a crane in Lake Maggiore in St Petersburg Florida
Metal sculpture of a crane

 

 

Weedon Island Preserve

1800 Weedon Drive S.E.

St Petersburg, FL 33702

Admission: FREE – donations are always welcome

Weedon Island Preserve is on the opposite side of town from Boyd Hill. It’s located along Tampa Bay’s coastal area with 3, 190 acres aquatic and upland ecosystems.

We explored the hiking trails, boardwalks, and the observation tower where you can see across the bay to Tampa and along the coast to downtown St Pete.

 

man walking along boardwalk at Weedon Island Preserve in St Pete
Chuck at Weedon Island
boardwalk and observation tower at Weedon Island Preserve
Observation tower at Weedon Island

Kayaking is popular here, too, with access to the Riviera Bay and inland waterways through the mangrove trees. There is a kayak rental set up with very affordable rentals of both single and tandem kayaks and canoes and stand up paddleboards.

 

people kayaking on Riviera Bay near Weedon Island Preserve
People kayaking on Riviera Bay
rental kayaks sitting on the sand at Weedon Island Preserve
Rental kayaks available at the park

 

The other remarkable feature of the preserve is the information available on local indigenous people who have inhabited the land and waterways for nearly 7,000 years.

 

educational signs at Weedon Island describing the ancient history
Awesome educational signs
walls of the Weedon Island educational center showcase artwork of indigenous people
Artwork of indigenous people

 

 

Sawgrass Lake Park

7400 25th Street North

St Petersburg, FL 33702

Sawgrass Lake Park is 400 acres located right in the middle of a relatively dense residential neighborhood just off of Interstate 275.

The mile-long boardwalk and ½ mile of dirt trails wander through one of the most extensive maple swamps on the Florida Gulf Coast.

The park is quiet and tranquil, and I’m sure it’s quite popular during spring and fall, busy with many migrating birds.

 

boardwalk at Sawgrass Lake Park
Boardwalk over the swamplands
covered pavilion inside the Sawgrass Lake Park
Educational pavilion along the boardwalk
observation tower at Sawgrass Lake Park in St Petersburg Florida
Observation tower
man walking down the steps of the two story observation tower at Sawgrass Lake Park
Chuck at the observation tower
views of Sawgrass Lake from the observation tower
Views of the lake from the observation tower

 

Both St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation and Pinellas County Parks and Preserves have done outstanding jobs in setting aside green spaces that preserve the area’s natural habitats. Additionally, all three locations offer a wide array of nature and cultural programs educating the community on the importance of conservation and the local history.

Be sure to check them out during your visit to St Petersburg!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share on Social Media
twitter facebook pinterest linkedin tumblr reddit email
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr

Related

1 thought on “3 Ways To Get Back To Nature in St Pete”

  1. Sabrina Polk says:
    September 12, 2020 at 5:12 pm

    I want to go to all those places. Glad y’all are out and about!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Get Social!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Archives

Archives

© 2021 Mark And Chuck's Adventures | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
  • Español