Heritage Village, the living history museum of Pinellas County.

Safety Harbor Church, Heritage Village. by Gregory Urbano

If you are looking for something to do on a Sunday afternoon in Pinellas County that does not cost a lot (free!), is educational, provides a little exercise and is a great opportunity for the hobbyist photographer  then Heritage Village in Largo is your destination!
Set on 20+ acres in Largo Florida, Heritage Village sits next to one of my other favorite free things to do- The Florida Botanical Gardens, you can visit both in the same day if you like. I will probably post something on the gardens in the spring so you can see all the wonderful flowers on bloom!

Bug Fest 2013

2013 Bug Fest, Quaker Steak and Lube. by Gregory Urbano

When you hear the words "bug fest" as a Florida resident you immediately grab for the insect repellent. For this Bug Fest that would be totally unnecessary as these bugs are vw's or Volkswagen's! The Bug Fest being referred to was the 6th Annual Bugfest at Quaker Steak and Lube in Clearwater Florida.

Hiking around Honeymoon Island state Park.

Florida Pine, Honeymoon Island State Park. by Gregory Urbano

 There is an island in Northern Pinellas County that offers fun, sun and relaxation. So much so you might think you were on your Honeymoon, hence the name Honeymoon Island State Park. In earnest though the island was first called "Hog Island" but was later renamed in the late 1930's when a land developer built some bungalows and made it a destination for newlyweds!

Geodesic Goodness of the Dali Museum.

Geodesic Glass Domes of the Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg Florida. by Gregory Urbano
 
Living in downtown St. Pete puts me in close proximity to a variety of things to do and places to see. One of the most avant-garde locations close by is the Salvador Dali Museum. If you are unfamiliar with this artist he was a Spanish born Surrealist painter, one of the greats. If you are familiar with his work this is your opportunity to see the largest collection of his work in North America.

Soon to be missed St. Pete Pier.

Soon to be missed St. Pete Pier. by Gregory Urbano

Downtown St. Pete has a few landmarks that are postcard worthy, the top of that list is the iconic inverted pyramid known as "The St. Pete Pier".
Our city is struggling to balance progress with preservation as two sides are engaged in battle over both the fate of the current structure as well as its envisioned replacement. One of the great legacies the cities forefathers left its residents was one of the nations longest publicly accessible waterfronts.
The pier is part of that waterfront as well as the Dali Museum. Replacing it with another structure is not an easy task even though this building once replaced yet an even early pier known as the "Million Dollar Pier", a landmark in its own right.

Finding Sunsets at Fort DeSoto Park Florida.

Ship sailing into sunset at Fort DeSoto Park. by Gregory Urbano

I am not alone when I say that Fort deSoto Park in Pinellas county is one of the best beaches I have ever visited. Dr. Beach, Trip Advisor, National Geographic and Petside.com have all voiced the same opinion!
On top of that nothing beats a beach side sunset on the Gulf of Mexico!
So combine the two and you have a recipe for some spectacular results.

A Florida Pow Wow Experience.

Native American Indian, 2012 Pow wow Starkey Ranch Florida. by Gregory Urbano

Aside from the historical reenactments that have attracted my attention since my photography adventures have progressed another type of event also gained my interest and that is a "Pow Wow".
I usually follow local events on the local newspaper websites, both the TampaBayTimes.com portal and the TBO.com page have links to their "things to do" listings. Someone like myself seeking activities that might make for good photo shoots finds this an easy way to spot the next destination or event. One weekend I  happened across an event titled - "Spirit People 7th Annual Pow Wow". This definitely peaked my interest and I made plans to attend.

Car Shows on Corey Avenue St. Pete Beach Florida.

Cobra by Gregory Urbano

It is a perfect match, classic cars and a classic Florida beach town. Corey Avenue in downtown St. Pete Beach is the central hub for a once small coastal community now surrounded by incorporated land mass. There is still a chance for escape via the Gulf of Mexico but the for the most part the town center has retained its classic Floridian roots. Is there a better setting for classic cars to congregate?

2012 Pass-A-Grille VW Beach Bash.

Herbie, 2012 Pass-A-Grille VW Beach Bash by Gregory Urbano

Catching a local car show always provide ample photographic possibilities for the hobbyist like me, getting a chance to shoot vw's is even better, doing this on historic Pass-a-Grille Beach is the pinnacle for weekend entertainment!
so when I spotted advertising the the "2012 Pass-A-Grille VW Beach Bash" I knew we had to go.

The Thunderbird Beach Resort Neon sign.

Thunderbird Hotel Sign, Treasure Island Florida. by Gregory Urbano

I moved to St. Petersburg Florida back in 2003 and I remember one of the first things I did was to drive Gulf Blvd and think to myself how cool it was that I lived so close to such beautiful beaches.
It is a wonderful way to spend a couple hours or more depending on how many stops you might make along the way. Running down the middle of a chain of barrier islands that separate the peninsula of Pinellas county from the Gulf of Mexico you can start in the middle by taking Central Avenue right out of the heart of downtown St. Pete (where I live) to Treasure Island.