A Quirky Escape Awaits: Welcome to Safety Harbor

Safety Harbor is a charming waterfront city located just a short drive from Tampa and St. Pete. Known for its quirky attractions and artistic flair, this small town offers a delightful escape from the hustle and bustle of larger cities. Featuring a blend of unique art, nature, and culinary delights, Safety Harbor is ideal for those seeking an adventure filled with unexpected surprises and memorable experiences.

We recommend starting your day at Whimzeyland, a vibrant art exhibition and an ongoing masterpiece by local artists known for their whimsical aluminum wire sculptures. This peculiar place is often called the Bowling Ball House due to its fun and quirky use of bowling balls as part of the decor.

Only a short drive away downtown is Cafe Vino Tinto, a farm-to-table cafe with coffee sourced directly from their own farm in Costa Rica. Along with a robust coffee menu, they offer an enticing range of syrups crafted in-house. If you are ready for brunch we would recommend ordering one of their unique waffle options, we tried their jalapeño cornbread waffles and were not disappointed. This continues to be one of our favorite coffee shops in Florida!

After a quick stop downtown we'd recommend heading to Folly Farm Nature Preserve. The property is a family-friendly spot where you can interact with animals, wander through community gardens and walk along trails. If you stop by, be sure to check out the butterfly garden and visit the giant gnome, Gnomeo!

After spending some time outdoors, you might be ready for a drink to cool down. The Safety Harbor Resort and Spa offers a "tiki" bar where you can enjoy refreshing tropical cocktails poolside, with views of the bay.

Once you've cooled down you could spend some time at the spa onsite or you can hop of the bike trail which is only a block away. We rode the trail on our e-scooters all the way to Phillipe Park and found the trail to be quite beautiful. If you don't have your own bike or scooter we'd recommend renting bikes from the Bicycle Boutique. Make sure to walk around the side of the cottage home to check out the giant mosaic before you go!

Even if you opt to not ride the trail to the park, we'd recommend visiting via car. The roads through the park have oak canopies, and there are many areas to pull off to the side to enjoy picturesque views of the bay. When planning, be sure to leave some time to visit the Tocobaga Temple Mound, as it is the largest remaining mound in the Tampa Bay area.

After a day out and about exploring Safety Harbor, head over to Gigglewaters Social Club & Screening Room for a dining experience reminiscent of the 1920s. There you can enjoy award winning burgers and grilled cheeses, served in a speakeasy atmosphere. They also offer an impressive cocktail menu with the option of having your drink "smoked" for an up charge. We would recommend both the 1919 Burger and the Big Chick. You'll definitely want to watch our Safety Harbor travel guide episode to see how delicious these two entrees were!

After dinner we'd recommend a visit to one of, or maybe both of, Safety Harbor's breweries - Crooked Thumb & Troubled Waters. Both have great beer (Skylar approved). Troubled Waters has an ever rotating selection of taps and Crooked Thumb has a spacious beer garden for events (be sure to keep an eye out for the bar cats)!

Lastly, we'd recommend capping off your day in Safety Harbor with a visit to Bassano Cheesecake, renowned for its authentic New York cheesecake. With a myriad of flavors like peach cobbler with bourbon caramel drizzle, these cheesecakes are unique and absolutely delicious. The ambiance here is not what you'd expect, definitely another quirky destination to add to your list!

Plan Your Escape to Safety Harbor

Safety Harbor is the perfect getaway for those looking to explore Florida's lesser-known destinations. Add this hidden gem to your travel itinerary today and experience the charm that awaits in every corner of this delightful town. If you really want to get a feel for each of the destinations highlighted in the itinerary we would recommend watching our Safety Harbor travel guide to plan your visit. 

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