Sunshine Skyway Bridge Picnic Area

This is the picnic area at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge south rest area. We pulled in to have a picnic lunch on our way to St. Pete Beach.  A large lawn with shaded picnic benches is past the rest area building. There is a lot more seating space here than on the entrance side of the rest area.

The scenic views are great!  You can see St. Petersburg and Tampa on a clear day.

Weedon Island Preserve Observation Tower

(Click on the photos for larger images.)

We walked across boardwalks over a mangrove marsh to get to the Observation Tower at Weedon Island Preserve.


Here's a view of the boardwalk from the top of the Observation Tower. You can see the roof of the Natural History Center and the Progress Energy Plant at the horizon.


The fishing pier seen from the Observation Tower.


Take the time to stop, look, and listen as you walk along the boardwalks. You're bound to discover some wildlife, like this crab.


Ibises in the salt water marsh. They are funny looking birds with long, curved beaks.


These fruits are actually miniature mangrove plants in the making called propagules. They will continue to grow longer to look like giant string beans. Eventually the propagules fall into the water and are carried away by the tide. Those that land in a place to take hold and root become trees. The roots capture more silt and debris to form islands.


Fortunately for me, there are signs along the trails to explain such details. Now I know what those big string beans are that we find at the beach in the summer.

There is always something new to discover here.

More photos of Weeden Island Preserve.

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Directions from Tampa
Drive across the Gandy Bridge and turn left at San Martin Blvd. Keep a close eye out for it as soon as you're on the St. Petersburg side of the bridge.

Preserve Hours: Daily, 7am - Sunset
Natural History Center Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 10am-4pm (closed Monday, Tuesday, and holidays)

Shelling at Sunshine Skyway Bridge Rest Area

(Click photos for larger images.)

These photos were taken at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge south rest area. The tide was out and people were walking through the shallow mud flats looking for sea shells.


Here's a closer view of people shelling. They are the dots in the distance of the first photo.


A live conch in the water slowly strolls around on a cinder block.


Take a look over the rail and you might see a stingray.

This scenic rest area is a fun place to explore. It's a great spot to have your picture taken with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge as a backdrop. Exit at the South Skyway Fishing Pier and go to the rest area. It is accessible from both sides of I-275.

Nick-A-Jack Lake Rest Area on I-24

It's Grandma Apple's birthday, and we're on our way to Nashville from Florida. Nick-A-Jack Lake is just past Chattanooga on I-24. Part of I-24 goes into Georgia for a few miles, then back into Tennessee. Nick-A-Jack Lake is nearby after returning to Tennessee. The rest areas are gorgeous. There's one on each side of the highway. This is the westbound side.

Here's a scenic view from the bottom of the hill at the rest area.

There are picnic shelters and tables available. A Tennessee visitor information station is in the parking lot.

The redbud trees were in bloom all over the South. Wisteria vines were in bloom near Atlanta. They grew like weeds all over the trees along the roads. Wisteria has light purple flowers that hang from bunches like grapes.

Nickajack Lake in Tennessee

A scenic view at a rest area on I-24 near Chattanooga, Tennessee.