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Zoo Tampa - Dec 2019
December 15, 2019
As most 20-something-year-olds do, Julie and I have decided our Christmas tradition is going to the Zoo. Consider this my official application to NatGeo Wild.
📍: Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo
The Library ~ #TampaLocal
April 7, 2019
As anyone who knows me knows, I've long been on a soapbox that Oxford Exchange is both the best place in Tampa, as well as my own image of what heaven could look like. Buckle up everyone, because yesterday I had my entire worldview shifted by yet another restaurant.
Located in St. Pete, the Library (formerly the Peabody) is like stepping into Belle's library for breakfast. We picked the earliest reservation of the day, so we were able to (obnoxiously) take a lot of photos, get up and walk around, and really enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant.
I'm definitely planning on going back to try more of the lunch options, and as you can see on my face below, it was literally pure happiness for me!
ZooTampa at Lowry Park ~ #TampaLocal
December 17, 2018
As the fourth-ish post in my #TampaLocal collection, I think this one actually FINALLY qualifies me as full local, and I'm honestly a little disappointed in myself that it took this long for me to make it to ZooTampa! I am a HUGE fan of animals and wildlife photography, so naturally getting the chance to break out my camera and take photos of random creatures just makes my soul happy. And, since Julie and I almost always seem to end up at a zoo of some sort, it was only fitting we check this one off the bucket list together!
Located in Lowry Park, ZooTampa features a multitude of different animals from all over the world, as well as rides for kiddos, and (amazingly) a beer and wine garden for the adults! They also have the largest Christmas tree I think I've come across in Tampa, as you can clearly see!
Though a decent amount of the exhibits had some sort of maintenance going on, our whole trek around the zoo took around two hours, including the "Expedition Africa" safari ride. And damn, it felt so good to break out my camera and dive into the way a shot lines up and the colors and exposure.
And clearly, I might be a wee bit partial to zebras, but c'mon people, baby zebras! Lucky for me, ZooTampa features a "Pay for a day, come back for the rest of the year" free option, so I will more than likely be back another day to get some more shots!
Winter Village ~ #TampaLocal
December 16, 2018 Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N Ashley Dr, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
Christmas is most definitely my favorite time of year. I get to celebrate both my birthday and the most wonderful, hopeful holiday on the calendar in the span of a few weeks, so I am no stranger to dashing off in search of Christmas magic all around.
Since I'm now a bonafide Tampa local (three years running!) one of the most obvious ways to kick-off the holiday season is the Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown. Featuring shop stands from local businesses, coffee & treats, and ice skating, it's a fantastic way to get in the spirit and enjoy the beautiful Tampa "winter" weather.
This event is free to visit, and features light shows, "snow," and so much more that truly helps get you ready for Christmas. And I'm lucky enough to have friends (like Michelle) that let me drag them around and take 400 pictures of the whole thing!
Sweetfields Farm ~ Fall in Florida
November 18, 2018 Tampa, FL, USA
It's almost a running joke in Florida that our "fall" consists of the two nice days of cold weather we get every October. We try to pretend like our leaves are changing and that it's cold, but realistically we're still at the beach in the middle of November. Nonetheless, as someone who loves the fall all all fall-related activities, I've developed some traditions that I absolutely can't miss every time the weather drops below 80 degrees!
My absolute favorite has to be visiting Sweetfields Farm in Masarkytown, Florida. This farm features a pumpkin patch, corn maze, hay ride, and all of the farm animals you could ever hope to see. Just a 45 minute drive north of Tampa, this is definitely worth a morning trip just to get outside and spend some time together!
Though it's closed for the season, definitely consider visiting Sweetfields next fall, or in the Spring for sunflower season!
Love is Calling - Yayoi Kusama
September 29, 2018 120 Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
As a lover of all things art related, I've been a fan of Kusama's infinity rooms for some time. I saw pictures of The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away online and have been hooked ever since. So when I found out the Tampa Museum of Art was going to be hosting one of her rooms, I was over the moon.
Love is Calling features one of Kusama's iconic infinity rooms, with soft, tentacle-shaped inflatables that gently change color. While in the room, you listen to the artist recite a poem in Japanese as you take in the seemingly infinite space.
At TMA, you get to experience the room for two minutes at a time. I definitely am going to have to go at least a couple more times, because as a lover of photos I spent the whole two minutes snapping pictures on my phone instead of truly just immersing myself in the room. BUT, since TMA and the exhibit are both free for students, I have no problem going again!
After our two minutes were up, we finished looking around the other exhibits, Patricia Cronin pieces and Vapor & Vibration, before heading to the classic Tampa pizza place, Eddie and Sam's for some lunch. Overall, a wonderful day with some wonderful people!
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