Literally doesn't get any better than a night on the Bay front. So beautiful and serene to be able…read moreto eat with your toes in the sand, right by the water and then run over to the awesome new park with the littles.

Closed for remodeling. Such a bust drove all the way here and nothing was open. Plus the red tide…read moremade area stink.

We arrived early, and it wasn't too busy at all, but by the time we finished around noon, the area…read morehad become quite crowded. I can only imagine how difficult parking must be during peak season. Thankfully, parking is free, and so are all of the park's facilities. We visited on a Sunday and were greeted by a friendly park employee who was incredibly knowledgeable about the area. She provided us with a laminated trail map, which was a huge help and allowed us to enjoy the experience without constantly checking our phones. The kayak trails were absolutely amazing! The water was crystal clear, making it easy to see fish and other wildlife below. We visited in mid-June and were pleasantly surprised that we didn't encounter any mosquitoes or no-see-ums. It took us about two hours to paddle all of the kayak trails, including a relaxing beach break along the way. There are four main trails to explore, with Trail 3 offering two different exit routes, making it worth paddling twice for two unique experiences. Trail 4 was the most challenging, with several low-hanging branches that required a little extra maneuvering. Overall, this was easily one of the best kayak trail systems we've explored, and we'll definitely be back!

Excellent park to explore by canoe. Ted Sperling Park is famous on mangrove tunnels. The best way…read moreto explore the part is kayak or paddle board. Prefer to visit the park during high tide. Even with low tide, I was able to maneuver the kayak. I would not recommend use the canoe to explore due to shallow depths on certain locations. The park has 4 major tunnel and over 10 brunch tunnels. Tunnel is label 1 to 4. The tunnel 1 and 2 is one way in and out. I was renting the kayak at the locate vendor Surfit. They provide me a map of the mangrove tunnel to explore. They also provide a dry bag for my personal staff. I would said paddle board has a height condition due to mangrove brunch. Many paddle boarder has to kneel or sit through the tunnel. On the non major tunnels, the space is narrow. Some time you do not have room to paddle. Just use the mangrove to push through. I enjoy the most is when I follow the flow direction. Easy paddling. I also like to see a lot of bird in the tunnel. The nature is beautiful. Love the tunnel due to shading from wind. In the tunnel is also blocking the sun and pleasant. I would suggest visit the park in the morning.

A great little spot nearby our home that offers camping, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, Manatee…read moreriver access for kayaks, and clean bathrooms next to the Ranger Station. This 145 acre property located just northwest of the Lake Manatee Dam. The preserve's trail system leads visitors through four distinctive ecosystems, including sand pine scrub, xeric oak scrub, oak hammocks and the river community. The trails are soft underfoot and well traveled. Lovely spot for a sit, a walk or some kayaking!

Like many things in this area, the preserve was once an amazing piece of wild Florida. The overall…read moreupkeep of the park's doesn't seem to matter much, but it's great manatee county can buy brand new trucks for the rangers. Not to mention there is a new boundary fence that was recently put in place, barring anyone from exploring the bush. Orange and yellow trail are passable, but pieces of the red trail near the canoe launch are completely over grown. On top of all that, it is just lovely to hear people start their cars from the brand new neighborhood just a hundred feet from the red trail! Do not go barefoot, and if you must, please look at the ground every once in a while. I have been going to this park for 13 years and have never seen a disgusting needle(not in a doctors office) until today. Truly, it is heartbreaking to see this place be pushed aside and the history be forgotten. Erasmus Rye erected the town or Rye along the manatee river, may his namesake never be forgotten.

Buffalo Creek Park has something for everyone, from soccer and baseball fields to basketball…read morecourts. My personal favorite, however, is the paved walking path circling the park; it's perfect for both brisk exercise and leisurely strolls. With a playground for the little ones as well, it's a wonderful spot to spend a few hours with the whole family.

Brought the kids here to play basketball. They had fun showing off their skills. Parking was easy,…read morebut wish there were some better signs where things are. 06.06.2025

I love walking to this park from my house. It's fairly small and focused right on the water front…read more There are a couple of sandy coves right on the bay. Sometimes people fishing. There's also a big grassy area with some benches. Some people walk their dogs and other people relaxing. A fairy nice spot that is a good place to relax. It's not very big so don't expect too much. Boat park is right there too

This is a super cute park. It has a few benches and chances are you'll see a pelican or two. ( they…read moreflew away before I could take the photo ) I like that you can walk on the sand and touch the water here also, or just casually tan or have a picnic on a blanket. Very nice atmosphere.

Modern toll bridge connecting St Petersburg to Sarasota. The four lanes are over four miles long…read moreover Tampa Bay in the Gulf. The bridge opened in 1987 & cost almost $ 1/4 billion to build. The old bridge here collapsed in 1980, the United States Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn collided with the Capricorn tanker west of the bridge, resulting in the sinking of the cutter with the loss of 23 crew members in the worst peacetime disaster in the history of the US Coast Guard. Also in 1980, the freighter MV Summit Venture collided with a support pier near the center of the bridge during a squall, resulting in the catastrophic failure of the southbound roadway and the deaths of 35 people when several vehicles & a Greyhound plunged into Tampa Bay.

Beautiful views from this bridge. Keep in mind that this is a toll bridge and spans the lower…read moreTampa Bay connecting St. Pete to Terra Ceia, Sarasota/Bradenton. I believe tolls are $1.50 each way. This bridge is REALLY tall and also has a fishing pier off of the old bridge. Great views of Tampa Bay, however I prefer to stay on the inside lane when driving across this thing since it's so high :)

Great park with some shaded trails & some out in the full sun. There are several ponds to walk…read morearound & this park backs up to Green Brook Adventure park. Lots of wildlife to check out besides herons, different birds & we saw an Eagle! Trying to figure out if there are alligators in the ponds or not! This place has plenty of parking & is not crowded. Seems to be well-kept & clean!

WOW. What a cute park. There are benches to sit on around the two lakes as well as nice paved…read morepaths. Saw so many different kinds of birds. Definitely enjoyed my time here. One of the best parks I've been to so far ( in my opinion) .

This is a very nice preserve / park. We saw lots of dragon flies and many different types of…read morebutterfly March 2020. Also many species of bird. There are some covered picnic table areas and a small playground. Then some woods with wide and narrow trails. Leads to an open area and slough (lakeish feature). Good mix of wilds and park features. Did a pretty wel established tent campsite with two tents despite the no camping signs. There are buckets out to collect air potatoes if you see any. Lots of large vines,, some saw palmetto, and wildflowers. It was pretty dry this spring and not too buggy. Not sure on summer with the water features around. Lovely area to explore for a walk. Saw people fishing. Reccomended for a nice outing. Peeps were friendly. Lots of dog walkers and nature loving folks.

There are dog walkers with the dog not on a leash. There are signs posted to inform dog walkers…read moreaboilut this