Tampa Bay by the Mile

At Howard Avenue, turn right, and you're into the historic neighborhood of Hyde Park, which features oak-lined drives dotted with bungalows dating to the 1920s. If you're hungry, stop in for dinner at Bern's Steak House, which boasts one of the largest wine collections in the world, or keep moving, turning right on Swann Avenue and into Hyde Park Village.

The village is the perfect place to get your shopping on, as it features art and jewelry galleries, men's and women's fashions, home furnishings, health and beauty boutiques and more. Live musicians and children's festivals add to the fun if you time your visit right.

Once you've driven through Hyde Park, keep on Village Circle back to Bayshore Boulevard, which continues to wind along the water to Gandy Avenue. At Gandy Avenue, turn right and head west about three miles to Westshore Boulevard.

Turn left onto Kennedy Boulevard to the Courtney Campbell Causeway, a Florida Scenic Highway that traverses the Old Tampa Bay as it meanders the Rocky Point area of Tampa and into Clearwater. The waters along the Causeway are home to crabs, shrimp, herons and egrets, as well as the endangered West Indian manatee. Time your passage for twilight, and see a glowing sunset over marsh grass and mangrove trees, and keep an eye out for a passing Great Blue Heron.

Once in Clearwater, take the Mandalay Avenue exit to enjoy beachfront dining or a nightcap at the Palm Pavilion Bar and Grill on Clearwater Beach. Turn left onto Bay Esplanade and you're there. Try the grouper prepared the way you like it, and finish up with the key lime pie. Or just lounge back and sip on a tropical drink as you let the night roll in. You can even stay at the Palm Pavilion Inn and make this your stop for the evening.