Florida Archives | Happier Place

Tampa Bay’s Natural Beach Alternative: Hillsborough River State Park (Florida)

Bridge over Hillsborough River, Florida, Tampa Bay

Escape the blazing beach sun and sweltering city: take a break in the shady forest of the Hillsborough River State Park. Enjoy the view from the river on a kayak. Yes, there are gators – and even Class II rapids (but upstream).

Best-Kept Secret: Caladesi Island State Park (Florida)

Sandpipers on the Caladesi Beach just north of Clearwater Beach

Getting to Caladesi Island is as beautiful as the destination itself. One of Tampa Bay Area’s best-kept secrets is hidden in plain sight. It takes some knowledge and effort to get there, which makes the reward even sweeter – and the island less crowded.

Natural Beach Paradise: Honeymoon Island State Park (Florida)

Natural Beach Paradise: beach morning glory, sea oats, birds, and wide white beach, Honeymoon Island State Park, Florida

Honeymoon Island State Park brings Florida nature dreams to life: miles of white beaches, clear blue water, shady wood trails, wildflowers, birds and other wildlife – and not a hotel in sight.

Shark Valley: Close Encounters with Wildlife in Everglades National Park (Florida)

Alligator and snowy egret, Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida, Happier Place

Visit Shark Valley to discover the “True Everglades,” be awed by close encounters with wildlife, and take in the spaciousness of the vast River of Grass and the big subtropical sky.

Hidden Botanical Wonder: Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg (Florida)

Beautiful Sunken Gardens, St. Petersburg, Florida, oldest roadside attraction sign

Get off the hot beach and cool down in the natural shade of the Sunken Gardens, one of America’s oldest roadside attractions and a tropical wonder in the middle of the historic city of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Lauren Gay: Travel Blogger, Photographer, Podcaster, and Speaker (Tampa, Florida)

Known online as the Outdoorsy Diva, the creator and advocate Lauren Gay is a powerhouse of encouragement and inspiration to seek fun and healing in nature and to promote diversity in the great outdoors.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park (Key West, Florida)

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park beach and shady trees, Key West, Florida, Happier Place

Relax and re-energize in Key West’s best kept secret! Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is just a short bike ride from party-central Duval Street – but a world apart. A natural world! And of course, there’s history, too!

Florida Keys Highlight: Bahia Honda State Park (Florida)

Bahia Honda State Park, Florida Keys, Calusa Beach, Gulf of Mexico, Bahia Honda Bridge and marina

Bahia Honda State Park is more than your average Florida Keys Nature Getaway. Besides the beaches, flowers, snorkeling and fishing, the undeniable attraction is a 100-year-old abandoned railway bridge and the unique vantage point it offers.

Capt. Frank Praznik: Fly Fishing Guide (Florida Everglades + Louisiana Marsh)

Captain Frank Praznik spends his days on a boat guiding people to their Happier Place: catching big fish (like red fish, tarpon, snook) while fly fishing the scenic Everglades and Louisiana Marsh.

Meet Mermaids and Paddle A Crystal Clear River: Weeki Wachee Springs and River (Florida)

Weeki Wachee Springs and River in Florida - Meet Mermaids, swim in a natural spring and paddle the crystal clear river.

Legendary Weeki Wachee Springs is pure Florida magic. It’s a 1940s roadside attraction featuring live mermaids, a modern water park at a natural spring and a gateway to exploring miles of lush nature by kayak or SUP.

Jessica Mills: Parent, Musician, Writer, Instructor (Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Jessica Mills is such a creative, caring and socio-political powerhouse, it’s hard to imagine she has time for the great outdoors. But maybe her nature hikes are actually the energy source for everything else?

Time for a Big Change: Moving to a Happier Place

Do more of what makes you happier can cooler on the beach with sunset - benefit of moving to a happier place.

Moving to a Happier Place doesn’t mean that you’re leaving a bad or sad place. It just means figuring out what kind of place might make (or keep) you happier and then moving there… as we just did.

Scott Solary: Marijuana Dispensary GM + Happier Place Co-Founder

Scott Solary is the general manager of a medical and retail marijuana dispensary. Together with his wife, Luci Westphal, he founded Happier Place.

Continue reading Scott Solary: Marijuana Dispensary GM + Happier Place Co-Founder

Anastasia State Park on Anastasia Island (Florida) + VIDEO

Royal Terns flying over Atlantic Ocean waves in Anastasia State Park outside St. Augustine, Florida. HappierPlace

Anastasia State Park offers a lovely quick nature getaway from the popular tourist destination St. Augustine. With a vast beach, intriguing wetlands, abundant wildlife and plants, it’s an ideal Happy Place… just waiting for you.