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.  

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)

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

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.

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.

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

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. 

Our kind hosts generously allowed us to monopolize their canoe every day. 

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

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

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

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

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.

Open-air seating inside Armature Works.

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

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. 

The weather was perfect for sitting outdoors along the waterfront and enjoying the live music performance. 

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!

Oxbow Eco-Center

The Oxbow Eco-Center is an environmental learning center located in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. Situated on a 225-acre preserve on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River, the Eco-Center has a series of trails totaling about 3.5 miles. 

The center houses an Exhibit Hall and Discovery Room which are currently closed due to COVID-19. However, the hiking trails, butterfly gardens, and picnic areas are free and open to the public, offering a safe and healthy activity for the whole family.

It was nice to be out in the fresh air surrounded by nature and art. The grounds are peppered with an eclectic mix of art installations and kid-friendly sculptures like this funky frog made from upcycled tires.

They also have a little outdoor theater for special events. My ukulele club was supposed to play in their Earth Day concert but unfortunately, it was canceled due to the stay at home order. On a positive note, there was a banner on the front of the building announcing that they will be open for summer camp.

The South Florida Water Management District and St. Lucie County purchased the lands to preserve and sustain its native wildlife.

Boardwalks, bridges, trails, and observation towers have been built from either recycled or recyclable materials to allow visitors to fully experience nature without disrupting it.

You can launch your canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard from the canoe launch and paddle down the St. Lucie River.

It has more species of fish than any other river in the state!

Along the Florida Heritage Trail, you will discover many delightful art installations.

These folksy animal sculptures are made from wood.

These endearing scenes made me feel like I was in an enchanted forest.

I couldn't get enough of them so I actually hiked this trail twice.   

The scenes are numbered but there was no interpretive signage and I couldn't find any information about them on the trail map.

I can only assume that this trail normally offers a guided experience when the Eco-Center is open. The mystery of it all has made me even more intrigued.

I can't wait to go back to the Oxbow Eco-Center when it is fully operational again. I am curious to know more about this special place. I will add a Part 2 to this post with photos and information about the Exhibit Hall and Discovery Room when they re-open.

In the meantime, I hope you visit the Oxbow Eco-Center and enjoy it as much as I did!

"The Oxbow Eco-Center cultivates knowledge, nurtures a sense of wonder, and inspires stewardship for the natural world through education, artistic expression, collaboration, volunteerism, and celebration."

www.oxboweco.com

5400 NE St. James Drive

Port St. Lucie, FL 34983

Admission is free