12 Things You CAN Do This Weekend In Tampa Bay

Author Ted Kamikaze

March 13th, 2020 8:09 AM

All week we’ve heard about the events that have been cancelled due to the coronavirus spread. Disney and Universal are closed. No Lightning or Spring Training games. No St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Large gatherings are the big thing to avoid right now. But it doesn’t mean you have to stay cooped up in the house for the next few months. Here are 10 fun things to do this weekend in Florida that keep your risk low as long as you keep your personal space personal!

• Go to a beach you’ve never been to.

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  This one seems to be the no-brainer to me. Grab a cooler, towel, beach chair, sunblock and a radio (I even know a good station to listen to). Head to a beach you've always meant to check out but have never gotten around to visiting. We always tend to go to one that's nearby. Pick a new one. Listen to the waves hit the beach and just relax. We've had a stressful week. I can't think of a better way to spend this weekend given that the weather will be warm but not too hot and muggy.

• Get the bike out and hit the Pinellas Trail.

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  We're so lucky to live near the Pinellas Trail. If you've never used it, get the bike out this weekend. Fill up the tires. Or if your bike is too out of shape, rent one. My favorite part of the trail to ride is from Clearwater to Tarpon Springs. When you reach the Sponge Docks, take a walk around and smell the smells. It's the safest way to bike around here. You will cross a few streets along the route, but it's better than biking in the roadways of Tampa Bay. Plus doctors are saying sleep and exercise is a good way to keep your immune system strong.

• Go back in time and buy a record.

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  Want to escape the stress of 2020? Go back to the vinyl years. Even if you don't have a turntable there are lots of cool record shops around here. I love Banana Records in St. Pete. Plus right next door is Mazzaro's. Go buy a CD and cannoli and your mood will be lifted guaranteed.
• Foster a homeless dog for a couple nights.

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  I love this idea. You sign up to have a two night “pawjama party” with a dog from Friends of Strays Animal Shelter in St. Pete. No commitment beyond those two nights. Just give a homeless pup a loving home, food and water for 2 nights. You’ll actually be part of a study… they’ll ask you how it went, how the dog behaved, etc. Their research tells them that even just a couple nights away from the shelter helps not only the dog, but shelter staff and volunteers. For a homeless dog, they get some love, peace and quiet. They found that fostered dogs become less likely to be returned once adopted. You pick a date and time that works for you to host a homeless dog for a two nights.

• Eat.

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  The cancellation of all these events is going to hit businesses hard, especially those small family-owned restaurants. Visit Yelp and pick a less-crowded part of town you don't visit often and try a new Cuban. Or have you ever had the BLT at Wright's Gourmet in Tampa? Or how about the pizza at Cristino's in Clearwater? You'll have to do take-out, but do it!

• Bowl!

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  When's the last time you put on a pair of ugly bowling shoes? Wash your hands often or bring some hand sanitizer and go throw some gutter balls at Pin Chasers or some other local alley.
• Go fishing.

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  Unfortunately you can't go fishing on the Skyway, but there are plenty of other spots to fish. Skyway may not be the best fishing anyway. As you see in this pic, you never know what you'll catch... maybe even another fish lure like I did.

• Do some grocery shopping for a senior.

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  While this is scary for us, for seniors, the virus is even more frightening. They're far more at risk of complications. Pick up some fresh fruits and vegetables at Publix for them.

• Walk the River Walk.

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  Not a bicylist? Just put some sneakers on and head to Bayshore and stroll around the city. The weather this weekend will be warm, but it isn't brutally hot and muggy... yet. Take advantage! Both the River Walk and Bayshore are open this weekend for some exercise.
• Reconnect.

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  We've become so "connected" via social media that we've disconnected from people in our real lives. Call a friend you've lost touch with. FaceTime with a high school classmate who lives thousands of miles away.

• Play a round of golf.

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  People fly from all over the world this time of year to visit our golf courses. There will probably be plenty of availability now since folks aren't traveling. Or if you're not a golfer, look for a mini-golf spot and hit the ball through the clown's mouth!

• Volunteer.

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  We tend to think of volunteering during the holidays. Look up a food bank near you and see if there's something you can do to help.
• Watch a Florida sunset.

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  Watch a Florida sunset! They don't get any better than where we are on Florida's west coast.

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Author Ted Kamikaze

Category:

• Coronavirus
• Ted Kamikaze
• Trending In Tampa Bay

Tags:

Clearwater,Coronavirus,Florida Life,St. Pete,Tampa