Where to stay? (Tampa, Tarpon Springs, Homosassa Springs: airport, beaches, ferry)

[mateoc15]

I'm flying into the Tampa airport for business and will be working a little north of the city. I'm an amateur photographer also and would love some public parks, public beaches, great views (bridges on the bay, etc) to stop and take some pictures. What beaches/parks would you suggest? I'm looking for a good area to stay in to do some of this. Can someone suggest a few areas not far from the airport where I should look? I don't want to go too far. If there's something on the east side of the bay that's best, but I could always go across Gandy Blvd.

Thanks! I'm excited to join you in Tampa!

[mateoc15]

Ok, so the boss tells me I have to stay in Odessa. Some beaches near there are best. Others may be possible too.

Thanks!

[Loren.]

Great area for what you're talking about. All but the bridges, anyway. Plenty of big nature parks in the area. Starkey Park, Brooker Creek, even Connor Preserve if you want something completely undeveloped and mostly deserted. (spent 3-4 hours hiking around there a few months ago, never saw another person!) Plenty of good beaches from Honeymoon Island (take the ferry over to Caledesi) and on up the coast through Tarpon Springs and further North as far as Hernando and Homosassa Springs if you want to go that far. The Withlacoochee Forest is good, too.

Some of the smaller parks will surprise you, too. My wife likes to go to Chesnut Park (just East of Lake Tarpon near the South end) to take pictures because there always seems to be an abundance of wildlife there. (gators, turtles, birds, squirrels, deer, etc) There's also a nice observation tower there with a good view of the lake.

For nature photography, your boss is actually doing you a favor by putting you in Odessa rather than downtown Tampa!

[mateoc15]

EXACTLY what I was looking for Loren. Thanks! I think I'll try Chesnut if I get a chance. I'll be working until about 5 or 6 every day but it should be decently light until 8:30 or 9, so we'll see! Dawn and dusk are the best times for photography anyway!