Central West

Central West Florida covers the Gulf-coast metro country around Tampa Bay and the springs-and-river country to its north. The terrain is flat coastal plain at low elevation — barrier islands, mangrove estuaries, sandy beaches running 30+ miles down Pinellas County — with the karst-spring landscape opening up as you move inland through Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties. Hillsborough County holds Tampa; Pinellas holds St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and the Gulf-beach towns; Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties cover the springs and inland country to the north. Anchor cities include Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon, Spring Hill, Brooksville, Crystal River, and Inverness. Busch Gardens, the Florida Aquarium, the Salvador Dalí Museum, and Tropicana Field cluster in the metro; Crystal River, Homosassa Springs, and Weeki Wachee Springs anchor the spring-and-manatee circuit. Most trips split by tier. Multi-day metro visits cluster around Tampa’s working port, the museum-and-restaurant scene in St. Pete, and the Pinellas beaches at Clearwater, Treasure Island, and St. Pete Beach. Day trips north reach the springs for snorkeling with manatees in winter at Crystal River and the mermaid show at Weeki Wachee.