TAMPA, Fla. — You may have the travel bug, but you don’t really want to spend the money to go far. If that’s you, travel expert and blogger Lauren Gay, also known online as @outdoorsydiva, shares tips for ways to have a great time in the Tampa Bay area. She says there are plenty of budget friendly options and you don’t have to go to a packed beach to have fun.
Gay recommends places like Caladesi Island and Egmont key. You can make a day trip out of finding new places to explore in both Tampa and St. Petersburg by booking a trip on the Cross Bay Ferry.
Tarpon Springs is another great option where you can learn more about the Greek culture. At Tarpon along the Gulf, you can find cute shops and enjoy all the food.
You can even do airboat rides in Homosassa Springs in Citrus County.
Although not in the Tampa Bay area, Gay says a trip to the Florida Keys can also be a lot of fun for the entire family.
If you feel like making a drive close to Jacksonville, our travel blogger says you may really enjoy Amelia Island.
“Amelia Island is like my favorite place in Florida right now,” Gay said. “There’s so much to do. It’s so cute. There’s a lot of history there; a lot of fun American history, and fun Black history to learn about.
"It’s just a beautiful area. You can kayak. You can handglide. You can ride horses on the beach. You can do nothing and just shop.”
While those are good close options, our travel expert says if you want to travel across state, let the flights dictate the destination. Airlines are always sending out alerts for low fares.