CIRCLE OF HEROES JOHN R. CHESNUT SR. PARK SUNKEN GARDENS which spans Boca Ciega Bay (read more below), stops trekkers in their tracks. While cruising through Dunedin, Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs, downtown corridors beckon a brief detour away with colorful shops, cafes and brewpubs. ter dive memorial created in tribute to U.S. military veterans, features 24 life-sized statues that represent each of the Armed Forces. St. Pete/Clearwater’s 42 reef sites can be found from 200 yards to 38 miles offshore. Key Preserve is a vital sanctuary for nesting, wintering, and migrating birds. Hubbard’s Marina , at Fort De Soto, runs a ferry that takes passengers to both key islands, some of the best places in the area for snorkeling and shell collecting. SUNKEN GARDENS Considered the “oldest living museum in Florida,” Sunken Gardens is not only surviving. It’s thriving. The city’s 4-5-acre garden blossoms with 500-plus species of some 50,000 tropical plants. Its signature sinkhole garden can be enjoyed in the shade of a lush canopy surrounded by 14-foot walls that cascade with vibrant bougainvillea. Expect to leave feeling more peaceful than when you entered. Some trivia: The secluded spot was designated a Historic Site the year before a developer planned to transform it into a nudist resort. Take the little ones to Great Explorations Children’s Museum , located on the property, adjacent to the gardens. GULF OF MEXICO’S REEFS In the aquatic depths spanning Tarpon Springs and St. Pete Beach, inshore reefs, designed by marine biologists and engineers function as part of an environmentally sensitive coastal enhancement. Scuba divers favor the Reef No. 2 deep-water site, which takes underwater explorers to multiple vessels. Circle of Heroes , the nation’s first underwa-FRED MARQUIS PINELLAS TRAIL Threading a variety of landscapes, the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail connects St. Pete to Tarpon Springs and the Pasco County line for a total of 50 miles. Ride, bike, jog, skate or walk across dozens of pedestrian bridges with sweeping views of Pinellas County urban, suburban and natural settings. The scenic quarter-mile portion on Cross Bayou Bridge, VISITSTPETECLEARWATER.COM 51
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