We need a break from the daily grind, it's time to pack the car and gear up for an adventure in the Sunshine State. Whether you're looking for a cute and quick bite & a boozy frosty treat, something active and outdoors, or stunning art installments - this list of 12 spontaneous day trips near Tampa has you covered; and the best part, they're all less than 3 hours away. Get your Spotify playlist ready! The Florida Aquarium Time From Tampa: ~7 minutes from the heart of the city. Price: Changes depending on the day - tends to stay around the $30 mark; keep an eye on their website for daily ticket rates. Ordering your ticket online gets you the lowest price. Address: 701 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602 Hours: 9:30am-5pm, 7 days a week. Why you need to go: If you're looking to keep your day trip local, admire the marine life that makes our oceans great; one of the more popular exhibits being the Shark Tanks. You'll even have a chance to pet the jellyfish if you're wanting a hands-on experience - don't worry, they're cold water jellies so they don't sting! View this post on Instagram future marine biologist takes a trip to the aquarium 🐟🐬 A post shared by jac (@jacquie.rpd) on Jul 18, 2019 at 10:44am PDT website Taco Baby Time From Tampa: ~40 minutes Price: $3 per taco; they do $2 tacos on Tuesdays - heads up: they only accept credit or debit, no cash. Address: 235 Main St, Dunedin, FL 34698 Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 12pm Noon-10pmFriday & Saturday 12pm-1amSunday 12pm-SunsetClosed Mondays Why you need to go: A Chase ATM turned adorable Taqueria serves up tasty tacos in downtown Dunedin; they even have a Jackfruit Taco for all you vegans out there! Grab a bite from the tiniest taco stand and explore downtown Dunedin - they often have weekend markets and have arty stuff going on in the area. View this post on Instagram @EatTacoBaby - Once a Chase ATM that dispensed money but now dispenses tacos? We’re here for it! 🙋🏻♀️🌮 It’s also Florida’s smallest taco stand! Next time you’re in Downtown Dunedin and craving some amazingly tasty tacos on the authentic side, this is your jam! 🤟🏼😋 #LetsTacoBoutIt #LiveAmplified A post shared by Visit St. Pete/Clearwater (@vspc) on Jul 12, 2019 at 8:54am PDT website Beans & Barlour Time From Tampa: ~30 minutes Price: $3-$6/drink Address: 538 1st Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 4pm-10pmFriday 4pm-12amSaturday 2pm-12am MidnightSunday 2pm-8pmClosed Mondays Why you need to go: This coffee and dessert lounge serves up the most delicious boozy milkshake concoctions imaginable - Samoa or Lucky Charms milkshake anyone!? If you're not looking to drink, all of their boozy creations also come virgin. Super chill atmosphere. View this post on Instagram Best 👏 boozy 👏 desserts 👏 in👏St Pete👏 @beansandbarlour 🍭 New episode link in bio☝️#beansandbarlour #dessert #desserts #boozy #boozydesserts #treats #luckycharmsmilkshake #milkshake #foodforthought #meetthechef #milkshakes #yum #dessert #datenight #desserts #treatyoself #girlsgottaeat #est2018 #dessertchef #craftcoffee #stpete #florida #stpetersburgflorida #bestdessert A post shared by CandiceWTSP (@candicewtsp) on Jun 19, 2019 at 2:26pm PDT website Coolside Gelato Bar Time From Tampa: ~40 Minutes Price: $4-$9/item Address: 1124 11th St., Palm Harbor, FL 34683 Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 2pm-10pmFriday 2pm-10:30pmSaturday 12pm Noon-10:30pmSunday 12pm Noon-9pmClosed Mondays Why you need to go: Get delicious crepes, Gelato, and Italian Ice at this handcrafted Gelato Bar. If you're looking to try something amazing, get a Beerlato: a mix of one of their delicious gelato flavors and a craft beer - basically a Root Beer float, with gelato and without the 'root'. View this post on Instagram Tastebuds will be tempted this morning! #GoodDayTB #gelato A post shared by Charley Belcher FOX13 (@charleybelcher) on Aug 19, 2015 at 4:31am PDT website Fort Drum Crystal Mines Time From Tampa: ~2hours, 10minutes Price: $60/person - take home everything you find. Address: 28320 NE 55th AveOkeechobee, Florida 34972 Hours: 9am-5pm, 7 days a week. Why you need to go: Hunt for gorgeous rocks, minerals, and sparkling crystals to add to your collection; you may just have the perfect spot for them in your nature-inspired space at home. Take home anything you find and that fits in your bucket. Expect this to be an all-day spontaneous trip with just a little bit of planning, including packing a change of clothes and checking for what else Fort Drum suggests to bring on their website. View this post on Instagram Mining Rick👷🏿♂️⚒⛏! We got some really beautiful #crystals 😍🤗.. The #florida #calcite #glows 🤯.. Thats hometown stuff so its always gonna be my favorite. But how can I not love the #georgia #iridescent #hematite 😍.. You see them colors🤯? Snuck a crystal from #pikespeak in #coloradosprings in there. Idk what it is🤷🏾♂️.#ruckspit #gravesmountain #digsquadtreasures #yadig #healingcrystals #honeycalcite #gems A post shared by Ricky Robinson (@ricktikal) on May 22, 2019 at 3:40pm PDT websiteFacebook TreeHoppers Aerial Adventure Park Time From Tampa: ~40 minutes Price: $59.95/adult for a 3-hour climb-time. Address: 27839 St Joe Rd, Dade City, FL 33525 Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 9am-6pmFriday 9am-10pmSaturday 8am-10pmSunday 8am-8pmClosed Mondays. Why you need to go: Climb among the trees and zipline across the landscape for a fun and active day out; If you want to make it a spontaneous night trip, they do evening climbs with lights and music on Fridays & Saturdays after the sun goes down. Treehoppers Aerial Adventure Park website Florida Cactus Time From Tampa: ~1 hour, 40 minutes Price: Free to explore - just check in at the office first; cactus & succulent prices range greatly from teeny tiny potters to big ol' cacti bois between $1.75-$150. Address: 2542 Peterson Rd Apopka, FL 32703 Hours: 7am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday; closed on weekends. Why you need to go: A cactus and succulent farm for you to pick up and fill all of your adorable new potted plant needs. A broad range of color, style, and shape - there's so much to choose from you'll be seriously shook. You can get some surprisingly beautiful photos here too. View this post on Instagram Find yourself before someone else does 🗝 ~ I’ve known and loved a lot of people but I’ve never had a real connection to them. I believe the reason that I didn’t found that connection is because I didn’t even have a connection to myself. To truly love someone, you must truly love yourself. 💆🏼♂️💞 ~ Photo by: @brotherlukas Muse: @shaynecardamone A post shared by Luke~s Herzog (@brotherlukas) on Mar 2, 2019 at 12:03pm PST website The Chihuly Exhibit Time From Tampa: ~30 Minutes Price: $19.95/adult - if you have a group of 10+ they do offer discounted group rates. Spontaneous girl's day? Address: 720 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL. 33701 Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-5pmSunday 12pm Noon-5pm Why you need to go: Stunning, unique, and breathtaking halls of glass art; See the colors, the lights, and the abstract beauty of these amazing pieces made by famous Glass Artist, Dale Chihuly. View this post on Instagram this museum was so beautiful A post shared by Anabelle Townsend ☆ (@anabellej.t) on Jul 10, 2016 at 4:38pm PDT website Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Time From Tampa: ~1 hour, 10 minutes Price: $20/adult; $10 for guests of members, free for members. Address: 900 S. Palm Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236 Hours: 10am-5pm, 7 days a week. Closed on Christmas Day. Why you need to go: A stunning floral and botanical oasis stretched across 8 different greenhouses, outdoor gardens, and indoor exhibits. They're known to do limited-time exhibits that use flowers, plants, and other decors to create unique installments. View this post on Instagram Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you. Frank Lloyd Wright Restful weekend friends😊 A post shared by Kai Ingarra (@wonderonwander) on Jul 27, 2019 at 7:18pm PDT website Myakka River State Park Time From Tampa: ~1 hour, 6 minutes Price: $6/vehicle Address: 13208 State Road 72, Sarasota, FL. 34241 Hours: 8am-Sunset 365 days a year Why you need to go: An affordable and beautiful place to enjoy nature views. Walk their treetop boardwalks and enjoy the lush & diverse Florida landscape, ascend the tower for a bird's eye view, or stay low and frolic the wildflower field. View this post on Instagram True life I miss Florida 😭 . . . . . #visitorlando #visitflorida #pureflorida #roamflorida #flstateparks #lovefl #myakkastatepark #floridasprings #sunshinestate #hashtagflorida #instagram_florida #floridanature #coupleswhoexplore #floridastateparks #just_unitedstates #landscape_specialist #staysaltyflorida #signatureshots_hub #nautical_images #landscape_captures #canonphotos #canoneos #canonrebel @fl.stateparks A post shared by nicolexmichelle (@nicolexmichelle) on Jun 1, 2019 at 5:27am PDT website Blue Spring State Park Time From Tampa: ~2hrs, 15 minutes Price: $6/vehicle Address: 2100 W French Avenue, Orange City, FL. 32763 Hours: 8am-Sunset, 365 days a year. Why you need to go: Swim, snorkel, and tube in this stunning blue spring; You'll be surrounded by Florida's lush tropical landscape for some of the most beautiful backdrops for your Insta-shots. Manatees are known to flock these springs between November & March. View this post on Instagram sprangs 💦💦💦💦💦 A post shared by Liz Hynes (@liz.hynes) on Jul 3, 2016 at 9:58am PDT website Rainbow Springs State Park Time From Tampa: ~1 hour, 45minutes Price: $2/person to swim in the headsprings; Tubing fees will vary. Address: 19158 SW 81st Place Rd. Dunnellon FL 34432 Hours: 8am-Sunset, 365 days a year. Why you need to go: This gorgeous state park houses stunning crystal clear springs and breathtaking river views that you have to see in person to fully appreciate. The 5.7-mile-long Rainbow River is the perfect place to enjoy Florida's beauty on your tube or in your kayak. View this post on Instagram 🌈💦Rainbow River, some of the best freshwater boating in the entire state of Florida! Starting at Rainbiw Springs @fl.stateparks runs 5.7 miles and puts out up to 600 million gallons of water every single day. It’s the perfect example of what a spring fed river with healthy grass growth and completely trash free can look like. So happy that I was able to spend the whole swimming and boating there yesterday! 😍🙏🏼 • @djiglobal Mavic Pro with a @polarpro polarizer filter • #floridasprings #pureflorida #optoutside #hashtagflorida #floridaexplored #djimavicpro #aerialphotography #rainbowriver #lovefl #igersjax #polarpro A post shared by Mike Winkles (@narcosis27) on Apr 9, 2019 at 11:05am PDT website So what are you waiting for? Get your Spotify playlists ready, pack up the car, get out there and enjoy a spontaneous day out in the gorgeous Sunshine State. We strongly advise that before you go swimming or visit a potentially hazardous location, you check for the most recent updates on potential hazards, security, water quality, and closures. If you do plan to visit a location, always respect the environment.
