GET LOST IN THE VIEW
Everyone has their favorite spots for taking a pause and letting in some awe.
Some views, we stumble on while actively searching. A rooftop bar is a given, and why else would you walk to the end of a pier with no fishing pole?
Other times you’re going about your business — checking out a book at the library, parking your car in a public garage, jogging, reluctantly, down a new street — and it hits you: “woah.”
Creating a list of the “best” views doesn’t make sense. Everyone has their own favorites for their own personal reasons.
Instead, here’s a list of some of our favorite spots to take in the scenery, in the hope that you’ll discover something new to add to your own.
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JIM DAMASKE | Times
CLEARWATER MAIN LIBRARY, 100 N Osceola Ave.
One of the best, and most unexpected, views of Clearwater Beach isn’t from the beach side, but from downtown Clearwater across the Intracoastal Waterway. Head to the Clearwater Public Library System’s Main Library, take the elevator to the third floor where the library keeps its magazines and newspapers and flop down on a couch near the floor-to-ceiling windows for an eyeful of colorful Coachman Park, the Clearwater Memorial Causeway and the water. .
One of the best, and most unexpected, views of Clearwater Beach isn’t from the beach side, but from downtown Clearwater across the Intracoastal Waterway. Head to the Clearwater Public Library System’s Main Library, take the elevator to the third floor where the library keeps its magazines and newspapers and flop down on a couch near the floor-to-ceiling windows for an eyeful of colorful Coachman Park, the Clearwater Memorial Causeway and the water. .
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LUIS SANTANA | Times
Jimmy’s Crow’s Nest, 101 Coronado Drive, Clearwater Beach
Of all the great sunset views to be had along Pinellas County’s beaches, and there are so many, it’s hard to beat this open-air bar on the 10th floor of the Pier House 60 Marina Hotel for a sweeping panorama. You can see the heart of Clearwater Beach’s tourism district, the Intracoastal and a wide swath of beach and gulf. The sunset is stunning, which is why the view from Jimmy’s is streamed live around the world nightly. If you lose track of time sipping a pina colada, there’s a sunset countdown clock on the wall to let you know exactly when it will happen.
Of all the great sunset views to be had along Pinellas County’s beaches, and there are so many, it’s hard to beat this open-air bar on the 10th floor of the Pier House 60 Marina Hotel for a sweeping panorama. You can see the heart of Clearwater Beach’s tourism district, the Intracoastal and a wide swath of beach and gulf. The sunset is stunning, which is why the view from Jimmy’s is streamed live around the world nightly. If you lose track of time sipping a pina colada, there’s a sunset countdown clock on the wall to let you know exactly when it will happen.
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CHARLIE KAIJO | Times
Ballast Point Park, 5300 Interbay Blvd., Tampa
There are two things you’re practically guaranteed to see here: pelicans and couples taking their engagement photos. You can stroll out to the end of the fishing pier or sit on the swing dedicated to Marcy Moore, also known as the “Cussing Lady,” for a nice look at the Bayshore Boulevard waterfront and downtown in the distance, but take the path behind the park’s fitness center and you’ll find a graffiti-covered cement slab between the trees that offers some quiet seclusion.
There are two things you’re practically guaranteed to see here: pelicans and couples taking their engagement photos. You can stroll out to the end of the fishing pier or sit on the swing dedicated to Marcy Moore, also known as the “Cussing Lady,” for a nice look at the Bayshore Boulevard waterfront and downtown in the distance, but take the path behind the park’s fitness center and you’ll find a graffiti-covered cement slab between the trees that offers some quiet seclusion.
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SCOTT KEELER | Times
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S, St. Petersburg
This gorgeous and easy hiking respite is a great place to get a taste of natural Florida’s pine and scrub lowlands, but it’s the jarring mix of nature and city you get from the trail’s boardwalk, where St. Petersburg skyscrapers suddenly become visible across Lake Maggiore along with the metal bird sculpture often used as a perch by actual birds, that lands this spot on the list.
This gorgeous and easy hiking respite is a great place to get a taste of natural Florida’s pine and scrub lowlands, but it’s the jarring mix of nature and city you get from the trail’s boardwalk, where St. Petersburg skyscrapers suddenly become visible across Lake Maggiore along with the metal bird sculpture often used as a perch by actual birds, that lands this spot on the list.
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JIM DAMASKE | Times
Courtney Campbell Trail
The pedestrian and bicycle trail that runs along the entire southern side of the Courtney Campbell Causeway, from Veterans Expressway in Tampa to Bayshore Boulevard in Clearwater, is 45 feet tall at its apex. From there you can see Tampa, Clearwater and, just barely, St. Petersburg.
The pedestrian and bicycle trail that runs along the entire southern side of the Courtney Campbell Causeway, from Veterans Expressway in Tampa to Bayshore Boulevard in Clearwater, is 45 feet tall at its apex. From there you can see Tampa, Clearwater and, just barely, St. Petersburg.
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Times (2004)
Davis Islands’ Channel Drive
Unless you book a ticket with Carnival, you’re not likely to get a closer view of a cruise ship than you will from one of the waterfront benches along Channel Drive. Some say the channel these ships use to travel between Davis Islands and Harbour Island en route to Tampa’s port is so narrow and puts them so close to shore you can see into people’s cabins. This is also a prime spot for viewing the Gasparilla flotilla, or just doing some regular boat watching.
Unless you book a ticket with Carnival, you’re not likely to get a closer view of a cruise ship than you will from one of the waterfront benches along Channel Drive. Some say the channel these ships use to travel between Davis Islands and Harbour Island en route to Tampa’s port is so narrow and puts them so close to shore you can see into people’s cabins. This is also a prime spot for viewing the Gasparilla flotilla, or just doing some regular boat watching.
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Busch Gardens
Falcon’s Fury at Busch Gardens, 10165 N McKinley Drive, Tampa
There are multiple views to be had from the Tampa theme park’s 335-foot-tall drop tower ride. Depending on which side of the ride you’re on, you’ll see as far as downtown Tampa more than 10 miles away, or get a look at the University of South Florida and the vast Lettuce Lake Park nature preserve. And no matter where you’re seated, you’ll get a look at the ground directly below when the ride turns you face-first toward it before the big drop.
There are multiple views to be had from the Tampa theme park’s 335-foot-tall drop tower ride. Depending on which side of the ride you’re on, you’ll see as far as downtown Tampa more than 10 miles away, or get a look at the University of South Florida and the vast Lettuce Lake Park nature preserve. And no matter where you’re seated, you’ll get a look at the ground directly below when the ride turns you face-first toward it before the big drop.
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CHRIS URSO | Times
Tampa International Airport parking garage, 4100 George J. Bean Parkway, Tampa
The view from the ninth floor at the top of the short-term parking garage, which offers a wide-open view of Tampa from the west, including Raymond James Stadium, as well as providing an unobstructed place to watch airliners take off from pretty close, is a good reason to get to the airport a few minutes early or linger for a little while after returning to Tampa.
The view from the ninth floor at the top of the short-term parking garage, which offers a wide-open view of Tampa from the west, including Raymond James Stadium, as well as providing an unobstructed place to watch airliners take off from pretty close, is a good reason to get to the airport a few minutes early or linger for a little while after returning to Tampa.
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SCOTT KEELER | Times
Mahaffey Theater parking garage, 400 First St. S, St. Petersburg
Want to watch smaller planes take off from Albert Whitted Airport and climb high over the bay? Take the stairs to the top floor of the nearby Mahaffey Theater’s parking garage.
Want to watch smaller planes take off from Albert Whitted Airport and climb high over the bay? Take the stairs to the top floor of the nearby Mahaffey Theater’s parking garage.
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SCOTT KEELER | Times
Pinellas Bayway
The drive to St. Pete Beach is a treat in itself because crossing the final stretch of the Pinellas Bayway bridges heading west after Isla Del Sol provides a gorgeous, simultaneous view of the waterfront mansions along the Intracoastal and the Don CeSar resort on the beach, just before you arrive.
The drive to St. Pete Beach is a treat in itself because crossing the final stretch of the Pinellas Bayway bridges heading west after Isla Del Sol provides a gorgeous, simultaneous view of the waterfront mansions along the Intracoastal and the Don CeSar resort on the beach, just before you arrive.
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LUIS SANTANA | Times
Lettuce Lake Park observation tower, 6920 E Fletcher Ave., Tampa
The Hillsborough River is practically choked with alligators in this area, something you’ll be very aware of if you’re in a canoe or kayak. You can get a little farther away from them on the park’s long boardwalk, or get way up high in the observation tower, which offers a much wider view of the park and river.
The Hillsborough River is practically choked with alligators in this area, something you’ll be very aware of if you’re in a canoe or kayak. You can get a little farther away from them on the park’s long boardwalk, or get way up high in the observation tower, which offers a much wider view of the park and river.
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SCOTT KEELER | Times
Skyway Bridge Rest Area
Is there a rest stop in Florida, or all of America, with a better view than the one off southbound Interstate 275, just north of the Sunshine Skyway bridge? Maybe the Manatee County Rest Area just to the south of the bridge off northbound 275, but that’s debatable.
Is there a rest stop in Florida, or all of America, with a better view than the one off southbound Interstate 275, just north of the Sunshine Skyway bridge? Maybe the Manatee County Rest Area just to the south of the bridge off northbound 275, but that’s debatable.
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SCOTT KEELER | Times
Gulfport Beach, 5558 Shore Blvd. S, Gulfport
Want a nice view of the beaches from afar? Go to another beach. From across Boca Ciega Bay, the Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach gets silhouetted against the tangerine sky at sunset and looks like a castle. It’s equally stunning during a storm.
Want a nice view of the beaches from afar? Go to another beach. From across Boca Ciega Bay, the Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach gets silhouetted against the tangerine sky at sunset and looks like a castle. It’s equally stunning during a storm.
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Armature Works
Armature Works, 1910 N Ola Ave., Tampa
If you had the pleasure of attending an event at the historic Armature Works in Tampa Heights before the ongoing construction currently transforming it into an events space and Heights Public Market, you know that looking south down the Hillsborough River’s bank allows an excellent, and lesser-seen, look at downtown. The Armature Works will look different when it reopens this year, but that view will be intact.
If you had the pleasure of attending an event at the historic Armature Works in Tampa Heights before the ongoing construction currently transforming it into an events space and Heights Public Market, you know that looking south down the Hillsborough River’s bank allows an excellent, and lesser-seen, look at downtown. The Armature Works will look different when it reopens this year, but that view will be intact.
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LARA CERRI | Times
Vinoy Park bench, 701 Bayshore Drive NE, St. Petersburg
There’s a loop of sidewalk in the park going around a statue near where Fifth Avenue NE becomes Bayshore Drive. There, close to the water, is the park bench with the absolute best nighttime view of downtown St. Petersburg when the buildings and boats are lit up and reflecting on the water.
There’s a loop of sidewalk in the park going around a statue near where Fifth Avenue NE becomes Bayshore Drive. There, close to the water, is the park bench with the absolute best nighttime view of downtown St. Petersburg when the buildings and boats are lit up and reflecting on the water.
Contact Christopher Spata at [email protected]. Follow @spatatimes.