C&V points of interest in Tampa or Orlando area?
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C&V points of interest in Tampa or Orlando area?
The title should say Tampa or Orlando area.
I'll be visiting the Tampa area with side trips to St. Pete and Orlando. Are there any must visit shops or museums, etc.?
Also, any particularly interesting or scenic paved trails in the Tampa - Valrico area? We like pretty and wild areas, but we are not above cruising in historic neighborhoods or oggling neat homes. We do want to avoid heavy traffic.
-Tom
I'll be visiting the Tampa area with side trips to St. Pete and Orlando. Are there any must visit shops or museums, etc.?
Also, any particularly interesting or scenic paved trails in the Tampa - Valrico area? We like pretty and wild areas, but we are not above cruising in historic neighborhoods or oggling neat homes. We do want to avoid heavy traffic.
-Tom
Last edited by loose spoke; 01-31-12 at 03:09 PM. Reason: Heading mistyped
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I lived in and around Tampa for quite a few years...and apologies to any members there, but it was without question the least interesting, most generic, boring place I've lived in.
There are a FEW places worth seeing (though I don't know if they're still there)...
Lettuce Lake is really cool, but go during the day. It's this trail/path over swampland.
The Tampa Theater is worth a visit - it's magnificent.
Dali museum is close by (St. Pete) and pretty decent.
Eat at the Columbia in Ybor...pretty good food...lots of history and they have a cigar factory tour.
There are a FEW places worth seeing (though I don't know if they're still there)...
Lettuce Lake is really cool, but go during the day. It's this trail/path over swampland.
The Tampa Theater is worth a visit - it's magnificent.
Dali museum is close by (St. Pete) and pretty decent.
Eat at the Columbia in Ybor...pretty good food...lots of history and they have a cigar factory tour.
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Aaron,
Thanks for the tips. The lettuce lake trail sounds interesting as does the food and Dali museum. We have been to the theatre, but it's been a while.
The terrain is flat and I suppose that works against interesting scenery.
-Tom
Thanks for the tips. The lettuce lake trail sounds interesting as does the food and Dali museum. We have been to the theatre, but it's been a while.
The terrain is flat and I suppose that works against interesting scenery.
-Tom
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Nice Schwinn shop in Lakeland, which is between Orlando and Tampa. In addition, if you are into architectural history, Lakeland is home of Florida Southern College. This college campus was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and is full of way cool buildings he designed. The campus is in the midst of restoration right now, we visited a couple of weeks ago.
As a fan of Wright myself, I would consider this a must see. College is right off one of the larger lakes, adjacent to downtown, some decent riding available through the nearby neighborhoods (Schwinn shop is close too).
Lakeland also has some bike routes around town (lots of lakes, as the name implies).
https://www.franklloydwrightatfsc.com/
As a fan of Wright myself, I would consider this a must see. College is right off one of the larger lakes, adjacent to downtown, some decent riding available through the nearby neighborhoods (Schwinn shop is close too).
Lakeland also has some bike routes around town (lots of lakes, as the name implies).
https://www.franklloydwrightatfsc.com/
Last edited by wrk101; 01-31-12 at 04:39 PM.
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Along wrk's comment above, Sarasota is only a little over an hour south of Tampa and has the Ringling estates...as well as New College of South Florida (where I had the misfortune of attending, but that's another story) where the dorms were designed by IM Pei and you'll see a random assortment of crazy hippies, punks and other dangers to society trying to impress one another as mating ritual. Siesta Key is also beautiful.
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Well, if you head south, might as well go down to Fort Myers and see the Henry Ford winter home and Edison Lab. Worth the time IMHO.
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St Pete, Dali Museum, The Pier (there is a Columbia Restaurant in it as well), St Pete Museum of Fine Arts, the Chihuly Glass Studio, Sunken Gardens (botanical garden), the Pinellas Trail (starts in St Pete and runs North to Tarpon Springs with spurs off in several places, about 50 miles), Ft DeSoto Park-south of St Pete, miles of beaches, bike trails, kayaking.
Tampa, Florida Aquarium, Lowery Park Zoo, a number of trails N and NE of Tampa, just google maps and look for them, there are several.
Tampa, Florida Aquarium, Lowery Park Zoo, a number of trails N and NE of Tampa, just google maps and look for them, there are several.
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Tampa: Velo Champ is an awesome little shop, and Jordan (owner) is a really nice guy, linus and cinelli. I ride Downtown Tampa 2-3x a week, and Ybor City has some cool historic stuff. Davis island is a nice ride, and bayshore (Some of the largest homes in Tampa) is right there. Downtown has The university of Tampa, History Museum and Modern Art Museum, as well as the FL Aquarium, and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Most of tampa isn't that bike friendly, but I've found that South Tampa is probably the best in Tampa proper.
St Pete is super bike friendly, Pinellas Trail is a nice ride, boring, but distance wise, fun. The Dali Musem is always good, and the downtown area has lots of cool places to eat. There are a lot of Route Maps online to ride along the beach, and back down the trail.
Sarasota has the ringling museum, and St. Armands Circle, I haven't spent much time there, so I can't vouch for the bike friendly aspect.
Fort Myers is ~2 hours south, and has the aforementioned Edison/Fort Estates. NOT bike friendly down there. There are a ton of trails and parks, I've been to almost all of them from living there. If you want a nice ride, you can ride the Sanibel Causeway, then Sanibel and Captiva Island. Ding Darling Wildlife refuge is Huge on the islands.
When are you coming down?
St Pete is super bike friendly, Pinellas Trail is a nice ride, boring, but distance wise, fun. The Dali Musem is always good, and the downtown area has lots of cool places to eat. There are a lot of Route Maps online to ride along the beach, and back down the trail.
Sarasota has the ringling museum, and St. Armands Circle, I haven't spent much time there, so I can't vouch for the bike friendly aspect.
Fort Myers is ~2 hours south, and has the aforementioned Edison/Fort Estates. NOT bike friendly down there. There are a ton of trails and parks, I've been to almost all of them from living there. If you want a nice ride, you can ride the Sanibel Causeway, then Sanibel and Captiva Island. Ding Darling Wildlife refuge is Huge on the islands.
When are you coming down?
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If you like old Warbirds, take I-4 east to Polk City and go to the Fantasy Of Flight Museum. The best and largest flying WWII warbird colection ( Privately owned).
https://www.fantasyofflight.com/
https://www.fantasyofflight.com/
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Wow! Great suggestions. We're staying in Valrico, so Lakeland, Polk City are close. We will visit the bike shops in between rides for sure. Thats always interesting, especially if it rains.
I am also a big Frank Lloyd Wright fan. Been to both Taliesyn East and West and other sites. Will try to see the campus.
With so many suggesting the Dali Museum, it must be special.
Thanks for the great trail suggestions as well. St. Pete is on the map for us as is Lakeland and Lettuce Lake.
The dance card is filling fast, but still looking for ideas, especially bike related.
-Tom
I am also a big Frank Lloyd Wright fan. Been to both Taliesyn East and West and other sites. Will try to see the campus.
With so many suggesting the Dali Museum, it must be special.
Thanks for the great trail suggestions as well. St. Pete is on the map for us as is Lakeland and Lettuce Lake.
The dance card is filling fast, but still looking for ideas, especially bike related.
-Tom
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https://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide...eral_james.htm might be up your alley too..
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https://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide...eral_james.htm might be up your alley too..
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As memory serves there is a beautiful hotel in southern Tampa, I forget the name, but it's the one they shot the Miami scenes from Once Upon a Time in America in. If you're a film guy it might be worth a stop. There used to be a pretty decent downtown bar called The Hub, but it isn't worth a special visit or anything.
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If you want C&V forget it...there's nothing. I've been to every shop between Orlando and St. Pete, while there's some old mom-n-pop shops they have nothing of significance on display. The best shop all around is probably Chainwheel drive in Clearwater and Revolution in St. Pete, if you only have time for 1 I'd hit Chainwheel drive. www.sarasotacycle.com has some old vintage stuff and may be closer to Valrico than Chainwheel.
My garage has more vintage than any local shop, your more than welcome to stop by for a look, I'm in Temple Terrace, I'll even let you ride a few. Check sig for collection details.
Flatwoods park has 11 miles of paved trail w/ a 7 mile loop...no stop signs or red lights, and dawn n dusk you'll see all kinds of wildlife depending the season. The off road trails connect with the Morris Bridge trail system, there's 25+ miles of single/double track.
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recrea...flatwoods.html
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recrea...lh-morris.html
https://www.floridastateparks.org/hillsboroughriver/
My garage has more vintage than any local shop, your more than welcome to stop by for a look, I'm in Temple Terrace, I'll even let you ride a few. Check sig for collection details.
Flatwoods park has 11 miles of paved trail w/ a 7 mile loop...no stop signs or red lights, and dawn n dusk you'll see all kinds of wildlife depending the season. The off road trails connect with the Morris Bridge trail system, there's 25+ miles of single/double track.
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recrea...flatwoods.html
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recrea...lh-morris.html
https://www.floridastateparks.org/hillsboroughriver/
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I've been to Lakeland several times and I must say that I wasn't impressed, from a cycling perspective. There are no interesting shops, the terrain is a bore and I wouldn't consider it cycling friendly. I no longer even bother trying to cycle when I'm there.
If you're a film guy, it was used for some of the location shots in Edward Scissorhands so there are some recognizeable landmarks.
If you're a film guy, it was used for some of the location shots in Edward Scissorhands so there are some recognizeable landmarks.
Last edited by T-Mar; 02-01-12 at 07:20 AM.
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Sorry, don't know when you are coming, but the "Revolutions" bike shop in St Pete is currently having a CLOSING BUSINESS SALE. Something about the owner going through a divorce, getting behind on payments and SPECIALIZED coming in and seizing 90% of his stock. Sad, because they are the closest shop to me, but there are a couple more within a few more blocks (one of the problems, 5 bike shops in a 20 block stretch of 4th Street, stiff competition)
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If you want C&V forget it...there's nothing. I've been to every shop between Orlando and St. Pete, while there's some old mom-n-pop shops they have nothing of significance on display. The best shop all around is probably Chainwheel drive in Clearwater and Revolution in St. Pete, if you only have time for 1 I'd hit Chainwheel drive. www.sarasotacycle.com has some old vintage stuff and may be closer to Valrico than Chainwheel.
My garage has more vintage than any local shop, your more than welcome to stop by for a look, I'm in Temple Terrace, I'll even let you ride a few. Check sig for collection details.
Flatwoods park has 11 miles of paved trail w/ a 7 mile loop...no stop signs or red lights, and dawn n dusk you'll see all kinds of wildlife depending the season. The off road trails connect with the Morris Bridge trail system, there's 25+ miles of single/double track.
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recrea...flatwoods.html
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recrea...lh-morris.html
https://www.floridastateparks.org/hillsboroughriver/
My garage has more vintage than any local shop, your more than welcome to stop by for a look, I'm in Temple Terrace, I'll even let you ride a few. Check sig for collection details.
Flatwoods park has 11 miles of paved trail w/ a 7 mile loop...no stop signs or red lights, and dawn n dusk you'll see all kinds of wildlife depending the season. The off road trails connect with the Morris Bridge trail system, there's 25+ miles of single/double track.
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recrea...flatwoods.html
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recrea...lh-morris.html
https://www.floridastateparks.org/hillsboroughriver/
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Sorry, don't know when you are coming, but the "Revolutions" bike shop in St Pete is currently having a CLOSING BUSINESS SALE. Something about the owner going through a divorce, getting behind on payments and SPECIALIZED coming in and seizing 90% of his stock. Sad, because they are the closest shop to me, but there are a couple more within a few more blocks (one of the problems, 5 bike shops in a 20 block stretch of 4th Street, stiff competition)
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Loosespokes, if you've never been to a drive-in movie theater you could do that as well, the theater turns into a huge flea market on Saturday and Sunday morning.
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If you want C&V forget it...there's nothing. I've been to every shop between Orlando and St. Pete, while there's some old mom-n-pop shops they have nothing of significance on display. The best shop all around is probably Chainwheel drive in Clearwater and Revolution in St. Pete, if you only have time for 1 I'd hit Chainwheel drive. www.sarasotacycle.com has some old vintage stuff and may be closer to Valrico than Chainwheel.
My garage has more vintage than any local shop, your more than welcome to stop by for a look, I'm in Temple Terrace, I'll even let you ride a few. Check sig for collection details.
Flatwoods park has 11 miles of paved trail w/ a 7 mile loop...no stop signs or red lights, and dawn n dusk you'll see all kinds of wildlife depending the season. The off road trails connect with the Morris Bridge trail system, there's 25+ miles of single/double track.
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recrea...flatwoods.html
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recrea...lh-morris.html
https://www.floridastateparks.org/hillsboroughriver/
My garage has more vintage than any local shop, your more than welcome to stop by for a look, I'm in Temple Terrace, I'll even let you ride a few. Check sig for collection details.
Flatwoods park has 11 miles of paved trail w/ a 7 mile loop...no stop signs or red lights, and dawn n dusk you'll see all kinds of wildlife depending the season. The off road trails connect with the Morris Bridge trail system, there's 25+ miles of single/double track.
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recrea...flatwoods.html
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recrea...lh-morris.html
https://www.floridastateparks.org/hillsboroughriver/
Reading your posts over the last 3 years or so, I can believe you have more interesting C&V gear than the shops! We get to Orlando this Saturday and if the time works out, I'll PM you to see if a visit sometime in the week is feasible for you and us (Wife and I). I'll give you plenty of advance... That is an exciting offer and it would be great to meet.
Last edited by loose spoke; 02-01-12 at 09:44 AM. Reason: details, details
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Sorry, don't know when you are coming, but the "Revolutions" bike shop in St Pete is currently having a CLOSING BUSINESS SALE. Something about the owner going through a divorce, getting behind on payments and SPECIALIZED coming in and seizing 90% of his stock. Sad, because they are the closest shop to me, but there are a couple more within a few more blocks (one of the problems, 5 bike shops in a 20 block stretch of 4th Street, stiff competition)
Thanks for the heads-up.
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I've been to Lakeland several times and I must say that I wasn't impressed, from a cycling perspective. There are no interesting shops, the terrain is a bore and I wouldn't consider it cycling friendly. I no longer even bother trying to cycle when I'm there.
If you're a film guy, it was used for some of the location shots in Edward Scissorhands so there are some recognizeable landmarks.
If you're a film guy, it was used for some of the location shots in Edward Scissorhands so there are some recognizeable landmarks.
+1 Lakeland terrain is boring and it is not real cycling friendly, a common problem I have seen in FL.
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Seems like there's enough locals to put together a c&v ride (not it!) but would attend if one was to pop up :-)
The Dali is ok, the building itself is the main draw.
Pinellas Trail is a great ride, about 90 miles total from start to finish & back.
Some locals head up north an hour or so by car to San Antonio (FL not TX) for the rolling hills and lack of traffic
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I already asked about the two vintage Stumpjumpers hanging on the wall: "not for sale" sigh
Seems like there's enough locals to put together a c&v ride (not it!) but would attend if one was to pop up :-)
The Dali is ok, the building itself is the main draw.
Pinellas Trail is a great ride, about 90 miles total from start to finish & back.
Some locals head up north an hour or so by car to San Antonio (FL not TX) for the rolling hills and lack of traffic
Seems like there's enough locals to put together a c&v ride (not it!) but would attend if one was to pop up :-)
The Dali is ok, the building itself is the main draw.
Pinellas Trail is a great ride, about 90 miles total from start to finish & back.
Some locals head up north an hour or so by car to San Antonio (FL not TX) for the rolling hills and lack of traffic