Monday, November 30, 2020

Covid-safe activities for the whole family

Covid-safe activities for the whole family










Like many people these days, I've been avoiding unnecessary travel for fear of contracting or unwittingly spreading Covid. Many museums have shut down temporarily and some permanently so I've had to find creative ways to feed my travel and museum addiction.  

Oxbow Eco Center
I don't want to travel by plane so I've been keeping my trips within driving distance and I've been limiting my activities to outdoor venues like the Oxbox-Eco Center (I wrote a separate post about the Oxbow Eco-Center which you can read here)

Port Saint Lucie Botanical Gardens



















and the Port Saint Lucie Botanical Gardens, which is free and open to the public 7 days a week.

Port Saint Lucie Riverwalk Boardwalk

The city has recently finished the 1,300-ft Riverwalk Boardwalk extension from Bridge Plaza to the Botanical Gardens. Residents can use the Riverwalk to walk, jog, or fish on the St. Lucie River and there is a floating dock with a kayak/canoe launch as well. The good news for pedestrians is that plans are in place to connect the existing Riverwalk at Veterans Park to the new 1,300-ft section so you'll be able to walk from the Botanical Gardens and under the bridge to Veterans Park without having to walk through the busy intersection on Port Saint Lucie Boulevard.


The Famous Tiny Houseboat

A couple months ago, my husband and I went on a short road trip up to Sanford, Florida for our anniversary and had a staycation on The Famous Tiny Houseboat. The houseboat was fun and relaxing and the perfect place to social distance. You can read more about The Famous Tiny Houseboat here.

Hillsborough River

This past weekend we took another road trip to the west coast of Florida and rented a cute little cottage on Airbnb again. 

View of Hillsborough River
Porch View of the Hillsborough River.

It was located in the quiet and peaceful neighborhood of Old Seminole Heights with our back porch right on the Hillsborough River. With just a 5-minute drive to downtown Tampa, we had the best of both the city and country. 

Canoeing on the Hillsborough River
Our kind hosts generously allowed us to monopolize their canoe every day. 

Canoeing on the Hillsborough River

We paddled up and down all day and couldn't get enough of this gorgeous river.


Sparkman Wharf Tampa Florida

Sparkman Wharf is an outdoor entertainment destination on the waterfront with a dining garden, Biergarten, recreational lawn, and live music.

Sparkman Wharf Tampa Florida
Foodtruck-style restaurants built out of shipping containers offer a variety of take-away cuisines. 

Sparkman Wharf Tampa Florida

Tables, sofas, and swings are spaced a minimum of 6-feet apart for safe yet intimate dining.

Armature Works Tampa Florida


Armature Works is a mixed-use event space with restaurants, an upscale food court, bar, rooftop lounge, and indoor/outdoor seating located in the historic Tampa Heights neighborhood.

Inside Armature Works Tampa Florida
Open-air seating inside Armature Works.

Giant checkers at Armature Works



















The area is family and pet-friendly with ample seating, tables, astroturf, and games.

Hillsborough Riverwalk Tampa Florida
You can grab a water taxi, rent a stand-up paddleboard, or go for a bike or stroll along the Hillsborough River. The Tampa Riverwalk includes Waterworks Park which has a playground and splash pad for the kiddos and a dog park for our furry friends. 

Waterfront at Tampa Armature Works
The weather was perfect for sitting outdoors along the waterfront and enjoying the live music performance. 

Drive-in movie theater at Tampa Armature Works
Armature Works also offers drive-in movies at 7:30 and 10:00 pm every night for $22 per car. 


This is a short video I shot of one of our canoeing adventures on the Hillsborough River. With the weather cooling down to more comfortable temperatures here in Florida, now is a great time to explore all the fun and healthy outdoor activities Florida has to offer!