Straight outta Tampa

The city of champions as noted in 2020 and 2021 with Super Bowl and Stanley Cup wins. It’s the city of FUN for sure and there is always something fun to do!! Whether its a Lightning game, boat outing, bar crawl or concert, we truly are spoiled with choices.

One of the first places we visited was just north of Tampa and is slice of paradise. Weeki Wachee is known for its crystal clear water, calm stream and abundance of manatees. While the manatee count is not as high as Crystal River or Three Sisters up the road, the abundance of beauty is 100% worth the trip. Weeki Wachee also has one the deepest freshwater caves in the U.S. and you can also find a mermaid show during the summer.

Being new to the area we did not have our own gear and sought an affordable tour over Memorial Day weekend. We found SUP Weeki on Facebook and the owner Pam provides daily posts of the current conditions on the river. Affordable and highly knowledgeable, I cannot recommend Pam at Sup Weeki enough.

Typical tours are 3-4 hours and you can chose a few routes along the river. We always prefer to head up to Hospital Hole and then make our way to the State Park after. Most of the river you can stand and no paddling experience is needed to enjoy a day out along the river. The great thing about Weeki Wachee it’s very rare to see alligators here.

Weekdays provide a slower pace and less paddler traffic, but on the weekends it’s totally enjoyable if you arrive early in warmer months. Manatees love the colder water so Spring, Fall and Winter you do have better chances to catch one cruising along the river or having a snack along the banks.

Days following heavy rain causes the river to have darker green tint. So if you are looking for clearer waters try to avoid days post rain. Make sure to pack sunscreen, bug spray, snacks and a water bottle. The local sheriff patrols on jet ski so I recommend keeping the booze at home.

Enjoy a slice of paradise on the Weeki Wachee river.

Happy Traveling,

Katrina

Colors of Cartagena

Our time was short in Cartagena, but it was incredibly memorable. We started the morning with what many say is a must-do while visiting this gorgeous city riding in a Chiva Bus. A Chiva bus cam only be described as a party on wheels. Upon arrival to the bus we were handed a bucket of ice, local rum and coke. The entertainment on board was a 3-man band located in the middle rows of the bus; which truly bring the party to life. While some shy away from 8am cocktails, we embraced the experience like a local. When in Rome, right?  

We took a short site seeing tour stopping to take photos at San Felipe Castle and Las Bóvedas. Las Bóvedas at one time was the cities dungeon and now turned into a tourist hub for souvenirs. Outside the shops was an authentic Colombia coffee kiosk made out of an old Willys jeep. From Las Bóvedas you can capture views of the ocean or even start a bike ride along the city walls. 

We headed back through the city on our party bus and were dropped off at the clock tower to finish the city highlights. Beyond those walls were some of the most colorful buildings I had ever seen. The balconies, flowers and colorfully dressed ladies carrying baskets of fruit on their heads were along every street. We strolled for hours just taking in each and every square block of this fantastic city. We even stopped into the famous Juan Valdez. 

Cartagena sparked our curiosity for Colombia and we cannot wait to go back to see more. 

Happy Traveling, 

Katrina