The Laker/Lutz News

Double Branch Road

Dipping into serenity, beauty and fun

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Science tells us if you want to live a longer, healthier life, get out into nature.

Take a walk, watch birds fly, reduce your stress by kayaking in tranquil waters – and leave your phone at home.

For a great escape, take off in one of many waterways in a kayak. (Karen Haymon Long)

Kayaking, even more so than walking, helps you escape, takes you into watery worlds – worlds far away from highways, noise and worries.

Take a kayak trip around here and you’ll likely see majestic great blue herons, bubblegum pink roseate spoonbills, cackling kingfishers, leaping dolphins and beauty beyond anything you normally see day to day.

We’re lucky, this part of Florida has it all – the salty Gulf of Mexico, mostly shallow and calm Tampa Bay, lakes galore, sounds, marshes and bayous.

If you don’t have your own kayak, you can rent one from local outfitters. And, you can choose from one-person or tandem varieties, use paddles or your feet on the increasing popular pedal kayaks.

You can fish, race or coast. You can explore canopied mangroves. Or, you can paddle along marked trails.

No matter which way you float, you’ll be exercising and mentally decompressing – far from phones, politics, crazy drivers and information overload.

Here is a look at five local places sure to be worth a kayak trip:

Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, 8737 U.S. 19 N., Port Richey
This park offers 4 miles of Gulf coastline, inlets and bayous and many springs, including Salt Springs, where you can view dolphins, bald eagles, roseate spoonbills, red-tailed hawks, and all sorts of shorebirds and songbirds.

From the parking lot, a lengthy boardwalk leads to the kayak launch, so you must carry your own, which could be a hardship for some. The park does not rent kayaks.

Ranger-led tours are given the first Saturday of the month, starting at 10 a.m., at the kayak launch. You must have your own kayak and make reservations by calling (727) 816-1890.

This park also has picnic tables, restrooms, and nature trails through pine woods to springs. The trail to Salt Spring is a quarter of a mile long and is highlighted by a waterfall created by a spring that’s 351 feet deep.

Park hours are 8 a.m. to sunset daily; fee is $3 per car with up to eight people, and $2 for bikers and pedestrians.

For more information about the park, call (727) 816-1890, or email .

If you worked up an appetite kayaking or hiking and didn’t bring a picnic lunch, a variety of restaurants line U.S. 19. We like Whiskey Joe’s Bar & Grill, 7835 Bayview St., Port Richey, on the Pithlachascotee River, called “the Cotee” by locals. Call (727) 815-1178, or visit WhiskeyJoePortRichey.com, where you can make reservations.

Anclote Gulf Park, 2305 Baillies Bluff Road, Holiday
This 23-acre park straddles the Anclote River and the Gulf of Mexico, so it offers lots of watery beauty. You can launch a kayak from a sandy spot next to a fishing pier that’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and paddle the river and Gulf.

The park itself is open from dawn to dusk daily. On a recent visit, anglers caught mangrove snappers, a night heron stood guard next to the pier and chattering kingfishers dove into the Gulf. Two men said they had just spotted three dolphins in the Anclote.

For more information about this Pasco County Park, call (727) 942-4030, or visit PascoCountyFl.net.

Historic Tarpon Springs is close-by and offers many good places for lunch. Our favorites are Tarpon Tavern, at 21 N. Safford Ave., for pub food. Call (727) 945-1000, or visit TarponTavern.com; and Mykonos, at 628 Dodecanese Blvd., for Greek specialties. Call (727) 934-4306.

Dunedin Causeway, Pinellas County
Take Florida 586 (Curlew Road) west to Causeway Boulevard
You can drop a kayak just about anywhere into St. Joseph Sound from the causeway to see dolphins, shorebirds and manatees in the warmer months. People who fish from kayaks tend to stay on the more tranquil north side of the causeway, but others try their luck on the south side near a small bridge leading to Honeymoon Island State Park.

A woman kayaks back to shore after paddling in St. Joseph Sound.

Skilled kayakers can go farther afloat into the Gulf, or stay in the sound and paddle to Caladesi Island State Park, a barrier island in the Gulf that  has a marina and kayak trails. Kayak rentals are available for $25 for one hour to three hours, at the park’s cafe.

Sail Honeymoon on the south side of the causeway rents kayaks for $35 for two hours, $45 for four hours, or $60 all day. The outfitter also rents fishing kayaks and tandems. For details, visit SailHoneymoon.com/kayak-rentals, or call (727) 734-0392.

A word of caution: On weekends, the sound can be crowded with boats and big yachts, whose captains don’t always see kayaks, so wear bright colored lifejackets, carry a whistle, keep close watch and wave your paddle in the air if you face danger.

For good food and good vibes, eat lunch at Frenchy’s Outpost Bar & Grill, at 466 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin. Call (727) 286-6139, or visit FrenchysOnline.com.

Philippe Park, 2525 Philippe Parkway, Safety Harbor; and, Safety Harbor City Marina Area, 110 Veterans Memorial Lane, Safety Harbor
This Pinellas County park has a boat launch and lots of grassy, low-lying spots in picnic areas where it’s easy to slip a kayak into Old Tampa Bay.

A Roseate Spoonbill stands in the shallow waters off Old Tampa Bay, at the south end of Philippe Park in Safety Harbor. The Pinellas County park is a popular place to kayak.

You can tool around the bay as far as you’d like. Much of it is shallow and safe, and within sight of land. We’ve seen beautiful birds along the shore – spoonbills, herons, egrets, pelicans and even flamingos. Once, a huge manatee scared us by popping up for breath right next to our kayak.

Park hours are 7 a.m. to dusk; admission is free.

You can also launch kayaks into the bay at the city marina and, on weekends, you can rent them from Tocobaga Tours, across the parking lot from the marina. Ken Bambery, a teacher who owns the company, charges $20 per hour, $25 for two hours, or $45 for a full day. He’s not always there, so call (727) 389-8687 for reservations.

Just across the street from the marina, Barfly Saltwater Grill, at 100 Main St., has tasty Caribbean seafood and other fare. Call (727) 400-4790, or visit BarflySafetyHarbor.com.

Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park, 8001 Double Branch Road, Tampa
This park has one of the best kayak launches in the bay area. It’s a floating dock with bars you can hold onto to glide yourself into waterways that lead to Tampa Bay. Along the way, you’ll pass dense mangroves, salt marshes, pinewoods and thick hammocks.

Marked kayak trails lead the way to all sorts of wondrous sights. We once saw a dozen dolphins frolicking in the waters between the kayak launch and bay. Another time, we counted 27 roseate spoonbills in mangroves off the bay. It’s a wonderful place to see butterflies, and mullet, snook and red drum. Best of all, the waters here aren’t usually very crowded with boats, since it’s so shallow in most places.

The park rents kayaks for $25 for up to four hours. Other amenities include picnic areas, nature trails, a fishing pier and a nature center, closed now for renovations. Park hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fee is $2 a car.

For more information about this park, call (813) 855-1765, or visit HillsboroughCounty.org.

For a tasty lunch and good craft beer, head to nearby Tampa Bay Brewing Co., at 13937 Monroes Business Park, Tampa (off Race Track Road, south of Tampa Bay Downs). Call (813) 247-1422, or visit TBBC.beer.

These suggestions are just a small sampling of places for kayaking in the Tampa Bay area. So grab a paddle, launch away, and savor the silence.

By Karen Haymon Long

Published January 08, 2020

Annual Hiking Spree features new trails, challenges

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Hillsborough County’s annual Hiking Spree is back, with some new twists, turns and challenges.

The hiking extravaganza, now in its fourth year, encourages people to exercise, explore the outdoors, and experience nature through the county’s numerous parks and preserves.

The 2020 Hiking Spree trail list features 24 trails at 21 locations throughout the county.

Five of those parks sit within The Laker Lutz News coverage area: Carrollwood Village Neighborhood Park, Lake Conservation Park, Lettuce Lake Conservation Park, Upper Tampa Bay Trail— Lutz Lake Fern, and Brooker Creek Headwaters Nature Preserve.

Lettuce Lake Conservation Park is included in this year’s Hiking Spree. It is one of 21 parks and 24 trails people are encouraged to try out this fall and winter. (File)

The Hiking Spree is designed to offer something for everyone from hiking rookies to seasoned outdoor enthusiasts. Hikers can walk paths near their homes, but also are encouraged to explore new terrain throughout the county.

Here’s how it works: Hikers who complete at least eight trails between Nov. 1 and March 31, 2020 can earn a patch, a medallion for a walking stick or a dog tag. Hikers may repeat any trail twice for credit provided they occur on different dates. Participants may hike on their own, with a dog, with others or on guided park staff hikes.

Most trails range from less than a mile to more than 4 miles, labeled from easy to strenuous.

To captivate more daring hikers, lengthier trails ranging from nearly 7 miles to over 9 miles are new this year — at Alafia River Corridor Nature Preserve North and South locations in Plant City and Lithia, and Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve in Plant City.

Incorporating some longer trails was requested by Hiking Spree participants last year, said Hiking Spree program coordinator Chris Kiddy, who also works for the county’s conservation and environmental lands management division.

Said Kiddy: “We’ve introduced a lot of people to hiking over the last few years with this, and some of the feedback we were hearing from last year was, ‘Hey, I love this, but I’d really like some longer hikes.’”

The Hiking Spree has shown to be a hit since introduced in 2016 by the county’s parks and recreation department.

About 1,000 people participated in the inaugural year, growing to about 3,700 participants in 2018-2019. County parks and recreation officials this year are hoping for as many 5,000 participants.

Kiddy has witnessed the surge over the years, as he gets trails ready each year and participates in the hiking challenge himself.

He put it like this: “What we hear more than anything from people is that they’re just amazed by how many opportunities that they have to see nature in Hillsborough County. We have over a million people in this area and you kind of think that it’s just this huge, urban area, (but) we have these little hidden places all over the county that are just places you can go to escape and get in touch with nature.”

While most parks and preserves and trails are rotated in and out of the Hiking Spree each year, a few locations are constants because of their popularity.

That includes Lettuce Lake, one of the county’s most visited parks, at 6920 East Fletcher Ave., in Tampa.

More than half of the park’s property lies in the natural floodplain of the Hillsborough River, consisting of a hardwood swamp forest. The remainder of the park consists of hardwood hammocks and pine flatwoods plant communities.

Within the park is a 1.25-mile paved exercise trail and 3,500-foot boardwalk with an observation tower that provides scenic views of the Hillsborough River and the opportunity to see all sorts of wildlife, from wading birds and songbirds, to alligators.

Kiddy said of the spot: “Pretty much everything you can possibly see in nature you see right there in that small area, I think that’s why people enjoy that so much.”

Another hiking favorite is the 1.25-mile Singing Bluffs Trail at Edward Medard Conservation Park, 95256 South County Road 39 in Plant City.

“That’s another one where you see a lot of wildlife,” Kiddy said, “and that one is also really cool and unique because it uses some old phosphate mines as part of the trail, so there’s some elevation changes on that trail that people seem to really enjoy.”

Organizers this year also have added a new adventure challenge called “Trail Magic.”

Each week, hikers will be given clues and directions on the county’s social media accounts to locate a hidden “Trail Magic” spot on a trail and then become eligible for a free prize.

The hidden spot will rotate between each of the designated Hiking Spree trails and will have signs showing off the giveaway you could win, once you locate it. Giveaways will range from hiking supplies to massage gift certificates.

Kiddy said the concept derives from thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail to describe an unexpected act of kindness or goodwill that lifts a hiker’s spirits. In that environment, it’s often something as simple as being offered a snack or drink by a passing hiker or an onlooker offering a hot meal and a shower at their cabin.

“We just kind of wanted to play on that and approach providing some ‘trail magic’ of our own for the hiking spree,” Kiddy said.

This year’s Hiking Spree will be celebrated with a kickoff party on Nov. 9 at 9 a.m., at Upper Tampa Bay Park, 8001 Double Branch Road in Tampa.

The event will include games, nature arts and crafts, outdoor workshops, and classes on orienteering, knot tying, how to make your own hiking stick, and more. A variety of hikes will be offered, including a plant ID hike, birding hike, bug walk, and kids hike.

Registration for the Hiking Spree is available at hcflgov.net/hikingspree. Cost is free, though there is a $2-per-vehicle fee to enter some parks.

Also of note: The county is seeking volunteers to join its new Trail CATS (County Associated Trail Stewards) stewardship program, to help county staff maintain existing trails and explore new trail opportunities. Duties may include blazing and trimming trails, inspecting trails, installing signs, and other trail-related tasks.

For more information, email Chris Kiddy at .

Here is the list of parks and trails for the 2020 Hiking Spree:

Neighborhood Parks and Recreation Centers — short, paved, trails with water and facilities

  • All People’s Life Center: All People’s Fitness Trail (0.4 miles)
  • Branchton Neighborhood Park: Gray Fox Fitness Trail (0.75 miles)
  • Carrollwood Village Neighborhood Park: Laurel Oak Fitness Trail (1 mile)
  • Dover District Neighborhood Park: Arrowhead Fitness Trail (1.2 miles)
  • Jackson Springs Neighborhood Park: Conejo Fitness Trail (0.5 miles)
  • Ruskin/Baudette Neighborhood Trail: Quiet Pines Fitness Trail (0.5 miles)
  • Stephen J. Wortham Park: Bluestem Hiking Trail, Sand Pine Trail (3.1 miles total)

Conservation Parks — mid-range, well-maintained paths and trails

  • Alderman’s Ford Conservation Park: Two Rivers Loop, Rivers Edge Trail (2.2 miles total)
  • Edward Medard Conservation Park: Singing Bluffs (1.25 miles)
  • Eureka Springs Conservation Park: Peaceful Paths Trail (0.75 miles)
  • Lake Conservation Park: Tortoise Trail (3.2 miles)
  • Lettuce Lake Conservation Park: Limpkin Loop, Cypress Dome (2.2 miles total)
  • Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park: Bobcat, Eagle, and Otter Trails (1.7 miles)
  • Upper Tampa Bay Trail—Lutz Lake Fern: Robin Trail (3.3 miles)

Nature Preserves— No facilities, subject to daily conditions

  • Alafia River Corridor Nature Preserve-North: Old Mine Trail (7 miles)
  • Alafia River Corridor Nature Preserve-South: Chito Branch Trail (6.7 miles)
  • Alderman’s Ford Nature Preserve: Riverbend Trail (3.5 miles)
  • Brooker Creek Headwaters Nature Preserve: Ramblewood Trail (3.6 miles)
  • Camp Bayou Nature Preserve: River Ramble Trail (2 miles)
  • Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve: Cone Ranch Trail (9.5 miles)
  • Wolf Branch Nature Preserve: Salty Trail (2 miles)

For information or to register, visit hcflgov.net/hikingspree.

Published October 30, 2019

Take a walk on the wild side during American Wetlands month

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Nature-lovers can explore four of Hillsborough County’s most scenic wetlands areas during free tours being offered as part of American Wetlands Month.

Myriad bird species make their home in Alderman’s Ford Conservation Park, such as red-shouldered hawks. (Courtesy of Hillsborough County)

The guided tours are being offered by the wetlands division of the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County, and the Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department of Hillsborough County.

Guides will give tour-takers a chance to learn about different kinds of plants and find out why wetlands are important, said Jackie Jordan, wetlands division project manager for the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County.

Some of those benefits include serving as a habitat for many wildlife species, providing recreational opportunities, filtering drinking water and reducing flooding hazards, Jordan said.

This is the schedule of the upcoming tours:

  • May 5 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Lettuce Lake Conservation Park, 6920 E. Fletcher Ave., in Tampa.
  • May 11 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Lutz Lake Fern Trailhead, 7020 Lutz Lake Fern Road in Odessa.
  • May 19 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Alderman’s Ford Conservation Park, 100 Alderman’s Ford Park Drive in Plant City (There is more than one entrance, this one is the best one to use).
  • May 25 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park, 8001 Double Branch Road in Tampa.

Although the tours are free, there is a $2 park entry fee per vehicle, for up to eight people.

Other things to know about these tours:

  • Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by adult
  • Hikers will walk a distance of 1 mile to 2 miles

Those planning to go on the tour are advised to bring water in a refillable container, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and bug spray.

Bringing a camera is a good idea, too, Jordan said, noting there will likely be some photo opportunities.

Published May 2, 2018

Park master plan meetings on tap

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Hillsborough County’s Conservation and Environmental Lands Management department will host a series of meetings during the next 2½ months to provide information to residents about the county’s regional park system, and gather input for a master plan.

The public meetings will take place at 10 locations, with the first on Jan. 9 at the Upper Tampa Bay Park on Double Branch Road. All meetings will take place on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to11:30 a.m.

The meetings will provide an overview of the conservation department’s duties, outline recreational opportunities in the area and explain the master planning process in detail. Department officials also will field questions.

When the master plan is finished, it is expected to include specific recommendations on policies, procedures and practices relating to natural resource management, facility uses and upgrades, and outdoor recreation for the parks and trails.

The Hillsborough County Conservation and Environmental Lands Management department will have a public meeting at Lake Rogers Park on March 27. (Photos courtesy of Hillsborough County)
The Hillsborough County Conservation and Environmental Lands Management department will have a public meeting at Lake Rogers Park on March 27.
(Photos courtesy of Hillsborough County)

“The master plan is really going to focus on the vision for our regional parks,” said Forest Turbiville, the county’s director of conservation and land management. “We want the public to kind of tell us what they would like to see. …What kind of services, activities and, potentially, facilities that they would like to see in the future at each one of our regional parks, as well as our ELAPP (Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program) sites.”

For those unfamiliar, ELAPP is a voluntary, non-regulatory program established for the purpose of providing the process and funding for identifying, acquiring and protecting endangered or environmentally sensitive lands in Hillsborough County. It is a citizen-based program made up of volunteer committees.

While the department has a few possible ideas for the plan, Turbiville said he first wants to gather residents’ ideas and feedback on improvements that can be made for the regional parks and trails before organizing the bulk of the plan.

The public meetings will provide information about the regional park system and will gather resident feedback to help create a master plan.
The public meetings will provide information about the regional park system and will gather resident feedback to help create a master plan.

“Really, we’re waiting for the feedback from the public,” said Turbiville, whose department manages over 78,000 acres of land across regional parks and ELAPP sites. “We’re going to have a survey that’s available that we’re going to hand out at the public meeting. It’s going to consist of a pretty extensive list of questions centered around what people would like to see in the parks.

“The public input is going to drive the outcome of the plan,” he said.

As an example, Turbiville said some people might suggest additional programming at select park facilities, request the construction of a new nature center or may want the county to build additional boardwalks on the trails.

The master plan is expected to be completed by the end of December 2016, so its programs’ budgets can be set in motion for the 2017 fiscal year, and successive fiscal years, Turbiville said.

Park master plan meetings
What: Hillsborough County’s Conservation and Environmental Lands Management department will have a series of public meetings to help develop the county’s master plan for parks and conservation. The meetings will be on Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 11: 30 a.m.

Meetings in the general vicinity include:

  • Jan. 9: Upper Tampa Bay Park, 8001 Double Branch Road in Tampa
  • March 5: Upper Tampa Bay Trail, 9201 W. Waters Ave., Tampa
  • March 12: Lake Rogers (meeting will include Lake Park): 9586 N. Mobley Road in Odessa

For a complete list of meetings, visit HillsboroughCounty.org/Conservation.

Published January 6, 2016