TAMPA, FLORIDA (Part II)

QUICK LOOK:

Main Attractions: Horsepower for Kids, Armature Works, Riverwalk, Glazer Children’s Museum, Tampa City Ballet

Libraries: Maureen B. Gauzza, Dunedin

Parks: Carrollwood Village Park, Baybridge Park, Water Works Park, Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Lowry Park

Pools: Danny Del Rio Pool, Loretta Ingraham Complex

Transportation: Driving (lots of driving)

TAMPA - Amongst all the challenges (see Part I), we also discovered some fun local spots in Tampa and started to explore our new home a bit more.

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Libraries:

If you know our girls, you know they absolutely love books and reading. So, it wouldn’t be a surprise to hear that one of the first places we went to while in Tampa was the local library. We were told by another librarian that the Maureen B. Gauzza branch in Westchase was a nice kid-friendly one, and he was right. There is a whole walled-off section for the youth and even a room filled with toys and activities for children's imaginations to grow. The girls got their library cards immediately, checking out 60+ books on Day 1. It’s a heavy load, but a good load to carry.

Across the Bay (we came from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Tampa Bay Area), is Pinellas County and the quaint downtown Dunedin neighborhood. A local friend told us that this branch had a very nice kid space and that you could still borrow books from this county with our Hillsborough County library card (win!!!). She was absolutely right—good book selection, fun activities, and a kid-friendly environment (which meant you didn’t feel bad if your children were loud). If it wasn’t for the distance, we would go back more often.

Parks:

We always love a good park—the outdoors, the exercise, the nature, the no cost (we love a good free thing). The first couple weeks, the girls and I attempted to play at various small parks. Unfortunately, it was so hot and humid that the playgrounds were too hot to touch. Then, the hurricanes hit, so things were off limits for a while. We actually went to a park soon after the hurricane and there was a massive tree uprooted and on its side. Workers were assessing it that day. Playing and climbing with a fallen tree in the background? No big deal. When debris was cleared and more parks opened up, we found a few we liked.

Carrollwood Village Park is just ten minutes away from us with new equipment. One side has your main playground. If you go along the walking path and over the bridge (you can find turtles, birds, and other wildlife), you find a Ninja Warrior area. It's awesome! The park also has a splash pad (a lot of Tampa parks have spray pads, actually).

Baybridge Park is in the adjacent town of Westchase. We met one of the girls' closest school friends there for a date. Definitely a lovely park. Unfortunately, Vienna had an incident with a young boy (maybe around 3-years-old) who pushed her down the slide and asked, "Why are you so stupid?" It broke my heart when Vienna and Noe and their friend told me this, but I knew to stay calm. We spoke with the young boy's nanny (after Vienna vocalized that she wanted to find his parents) and we agreeably worked on the situation. The boy didn't even know what he said. He seemed to have picked it up from his older brother. That being said, it still hurt Vienna; but, she was so brave.

Lowry Park is home to Tampa's ZooTampa. We actually haven't been to the zoo, but we went to the park because it is the only one we have found to have nice monkey bars (or monkey bars at all). I don't know why a lot of the playgrounds we have been to do not have monkey bars, but it has been the girls' mission from Day 1. So, it was nice to finally find one (and we went on Christmas Eve when it was quite empty).

Water Works Park and Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park are both fun parks along the Hillsborough River. They are both modern, well-maintained, and equipped with spray pads (of course). Additionally, Water Works Park runs along Tampa's famous Riverwalk (see below).

Riverwalk:

Speaking of the Riverwalk, the Riverwalk is one of Tampa’s most iconic trails. Running along the Hillsborough River, the Riverwalk is a 2.6-mile long pedestrian trail connecting some of Tampa’s most treasured spaces and attractions. It originated in the 1970’s and continues to attract local and foreign visitors alike. I can see why so many locals enjoy it.

Armature Works:

One of the many attractions along the Riverwalk is Armature Works—a historic mixed-use event space full of eateries, events, and experiences for all ages. We celebrated “Noon Year’s Eve” at the Armature and the girls loved the colorful daytime fireworks. There was music, games, food, and a ton of people. It was like one enormous party that even the rain couldn’t stop!

Other Attractions and Activities:

Other notable places we have gone to include Horsepower for Kids (this is where the girls discovered guinea pigs and now we have two of our own—Boston and Goldie), the Glazer Children’s Museum, Hyde Park, and St. Petersburg (closer to Brad’s work). At Horsepower for Kids, we got to see a sloth and I was over the moon. I love sloths (one more reason to go visit the Amazon)! We also discovered the infamous "noseeums" (you might recall my unfortunate bug bite story from my previous post) at the ranch. Thankfully, they resolved quickly that time.

The girls started swim classes and Ninja Warrior classes. The girls began swim classes at Tampa's Park and Recreation centers. With a family membership, the classes were only $24 for 8 classes! I couldn't believe how inexpensive the classes were. I had to ask the employee multiple times to clarify that it was the price for all eight classes and not just per class. I think he was laughing at my shock. The girls loved the classes and the teachers. They both can go underwater now and Vienna is like a little fish. This was a good reminder for me as a parent to never give up on our children. They hold lots of unseen potential. We plan to start back after the winter break (surprisingly, Tampa gets into the 30’s sometimes!).

They also started Ninja Warrior classes in a nearby city called Odessa. Even though it is a different set-up and method than their previous class in California, they are still learning a lot and enjoying the class. They even have their yellow headbands now!

As for me, I found a dance studio that offers advanced ballet classes with the Tampa City Ballet company. My body was sore after the first class, but it was also very grateful. And the teachers and members are so welcoming. It’s nice to find a ballet home.

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There is so much more to discover in the Tampa Bay Area, but I think we are off to a good start. Everyday is an adventure.

See you in the next post when I tell you about my surprise birthday and special trip to St. Augustine!

xoxo,

Ashley