Much to the pleasure of many Academy girls, the season of Spring is here and the Tampa weather is starting to warm up again. Listed below are five fun, unique activities to do around the Tampa Bay area during Spring:

1. Curtis Hixon Park

• Curtis Hixon Park is the perfect place to spend a sunny, Spring day because there is so many outdoor things to do there. You can stay in the park area and have a picnic and throw a football around. You can also walk or bike the beautiful Riverwalk with friends. In addition, you can rent water bikes and “bike” around the river.
• “I love going to Curtis Hixon with my friends or my family on a nice, Spring day because we all ride our bikes through the park on the Riverwalk and enjoy the view,” says Junior Julia Prince.

2. Tampa Bay Rays Game

• Springtime means the beginning of baseball season for the Tampa Bay Rays. While it is not an outdoor activity, Rays games are still enjoyable on any Spring day. You can go with family or friends and cheer on the Rays at Tropicana Field. In addition, the stadium has many delicious food stands of all different types of foods.
• Junior Zoe Cuva states, “My entire family is big baseball fans, so we go to a couple Rays games a season. The games always have  a fun atmosphere with a lot going on and good energy.”  

Our pastime. #RaysUp #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/1FZ9wYq7nn

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 3, 2016

3. Busch Gardens/Adventure Island

• If you are in the mood for high speed thrills on a beautiful day, spending a day at Busch Gardens or Adventure Island with friends and family is a good option. Busch Gardens has roller coaster rides for people of all ages, and it also has a zoo to explore. Adventure Islands is perfect for Spring because it is a water park with both exhilarating water slides and relaxation pools.
• Katherine Hahn (10) says, “I love going to Busch Gardens in the Spring because I love roller coasters and Busch Gardens has really fun and fast roller coasters, and it is not too far of a drive to get there.”

4. Bayshore

• Whether you want to walk, run, or bike, Bayshore Boulevard is perfect for any Spring day. Bayshore is the longest continuous sidewalk in the road and it offers beautiful views of Tampa Bay. If you want a cooler activity, you can also go boating, paddleboarding, or jet-skiing in the Bay right next to Bayshore Boulevard.
• “I love running down Bayshore in the Spring because the weather is perfect running weather,” says Freshman Greta Dieck.  

  

5. The Beach

• The beach is a favorite activity of many students. There is nothing better than relaxing on the beach with friends after a long week. Tampa has numerous beaches that are all in a close proximity. Beaches are perfect for a weekend activity because you can swim, tan, and take long walks down the beach. At some beaches, you can also rent paddleboards or jet-skis.
• Sophomore Kayla Eckermann states, “I love going to the beach because I get to enjoy the warm weather with my friends, and it is always very relaxing.”