SUNNY STATE OF MIND

City Guide: Lima

2017-10-09T16:53:00.000-07:00

Peru has such an abundance of popular tourist spots--from Lake Titicaca to Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu--that Lima often becomes an afterthought to many visitors. But the country's capital, home to more than 10 million people, offers a unique crash course in Peruvian culture and history that every traveler needs to experience.

Whether it's touring museums, enjoying breathtaking light shows or admiring the city's scenic coastline, Lima has a wide variety of activities that you will not encounter anywhere else in Peru. So if you ever find yourself in Lima for a short visit or a long layover, here are six things you absolutely cannot miss while in this majestic metropolis fittingly dubbed La Ciudad de Los Reyes: The City of Kings.

1. Stroll Around Plaza de Armas

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Also known as Plaza Mayor, this iconic location is the perfect starting point for travelers. Situated in the heart of Lima's historic district, it is just a stone's throw away from several important buildings such as the Government Palace, the Municipal Palace, the Archbishop Palace, and the Cathedral of Lima.

Arrive at the Plaza at noon and witness the changing of the guard in front of the government palace. It may not be as well-known as the one in London's Buckingham Palace, but it is as impressive and prestigious nonetheless. Afterwards, get lost in the streets surrounding the plaza and discover museums, churches, and colonial buildings along the way. As you wander around the historic district, don't forget to look up and find intricately designed wooden balconies that adorn several colonial buildings in the area.

2. Tour World-Class Museums

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Whether you are a history buff or just a curious tourist, a visit to any of the city's museums is a great way to learn more about the country's heritage and its cultural contributions. For a city deeply rooted in its history, it is not surprising that Lima is home to some of the best museums in South America. It has dozens of cool places that showcase anything from history, archeology, architecture, anthropology to religion, culture, art and fashion.

Immerse yourself in Peruvian history and stop by the National Museum of Archeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru where you'll encounter thousands of artifacts from the Pre-Colombian period to the present day. Apart from state museums, Lima also boasts niche museums that are sure to trigger anyone's interest. Located in Lima's historic district, the Museum of The Inquisition has an exhibit of torture devices used during the Peruvian Inquisition. In the bohemian district of Barranco, you will find MATE's collection of Peruvian fashion photographer Mario Testino's larger-than-life images of A-list celebrities and indigenous Peruvians. And to prove that Peru is indeed the food capital of South America, there's even a museum in downtown Lima that will satisfy your craving for Peruvian Cuisine: the Museum of The Peruvian Gastronomy.

3. Visit Colonial Churches

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In a country where religion and culture are tightly intertwined, exploring Lima's old churches is vital in understanding how Catholicism came to power in Peru and how it reshaped the country's ideals. The city's colonial-era churches are not only known for their grandiose architecture, but each one has a unique story to tell.

Step inside the Cathedral of Lima just across Plaza de Armas and explore its 13 chapels with elaborately carved altars embellished with grotesque statutes, and a gold-plated main altar that rivals its European counterparts. Just a block away from the plaza is the renowned Monastery of San Francisco. The spacious property, built in Spanish-Baroque style, has two churches, a convent, and a library that stores a collection of more than 25,000 antique books. The monastery is also known for its catacombs which contains thousands of geometrically arranged human bones.

4. Feel The Magic of Parque de la Reserva

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Built in 1929 to commemorate Peru's civilian reservists, Parque de la Reserva was renovated in 2007 to include The Magic Water Circuit, featuring 13 unique water fountains that light up with different colors at night. The water displays have made the park a great family-friendly venue for both locals and tourists alike. Being the largest fountain complex in the world, the Magic Water Circuit is definitely a one-of-a-kind attraction that every visitor needs to see.

Stand in front of the park's Fuente de la Fantasia at 7 PM to witness an unforgettable light and laser show. Synchronized to music, the 15-minute spectacle highlights Peru's history and culture through breathtaking visuals projected onto giant curtains of water. After the show, walk around and enjoy the rest of the park's attractions such as the Magic Fountain, which jettisons thousands of gallons of water up to 80 meters in the air, and a 35-meter long walk-through water tunnel called the Fountain of Surprises.

5. Explore The Ruins of Huaca Pucllana

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Seeing how Lima has evolved into a modern metropolis, it can be hard to imagine that it also used to be home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Ruins of ancient temples, called huacas, can be found all over the city to this day. Although many of these huacas remain inaccessible to the public, Huaca Pucllana, one of the grandest and most prominent of these structures is thankfully open to visitors. This important archeological site is yet another testament to Lima's rich history that spans a millennium.

Take a guided tour along Huaca Pucllana's maze of footpaths and learn about the structure's significance in ancient Liman society. Throughout the ruins, you'll find beautiful pottery and life-like statues that depict the life of Lima's early inhabitants. After the tour, stay for dinner at the on-site open-air restaurant overlooking the ruins. The menu is pricey, but the food is excellent and seeing Huaca Pucllana lit up at night is a sight to behold. Surrounded by residential areas and tall buildings, pictures alone cannot justify the scale and the beauty of this gigantic adobe pyramid. It has to be experienced first-hand to appreciate its real value.

6. Traverse The Scenic Miraflores Boardwalk

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Straddling Lima's famous cliffs and the Pacific Ocean, El Malecon, a 6-mile long boardwalk that stretches from Callao to Barranco provides sweeping views of the city. El Malecon's most visited section, if not the most well-known, is Miraflores Boardwalk. Consisting of several parks that offer unique attractions, Miraflores boardwalk is the perfect spot to enjoy both Lima's seductive metropolitan charm and its heart-stopping natural allure.

What makes Miraflores Boardwalk particularly desirable is the myriad of activities it offers tourists. Go paragliding and get a thrilling bird's eye view of the expansive city and the ocean. Take pictures of Love Park's colorful, Instagram-worthy mosaics and sculptures. If you love shopping, then the cliff-side mall Larcomar is worth a visit. For more adventure, climb down the boardwalk to the coastline and give surfing a try. After you get your dose of adrenaline rush, walk up to La Rosa Nautica Restaurant at the end of a pier not far from the surfing area. Take in the beautiful views of the ocean as you indulge in the restaurant's top-quality Peruvian seafood.

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Let go of your reservations about Lima and you will find this city to be wonderfully satisfying. If at first Lima appears bleak with all the fog that envelopes it, look closer, and you will see it slowly reveal its vibrant colors. Lima is a city for the inquisitive traveler. So go explore this wonderful place and delight in the little surprises waiting behind the mist.

Adventure Kayaking at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

2017-03-11T16:36:00.001-08:00

People usually imagine postcard-perfect beaches when they think of Florida, but the Sunshine State is also famous for its abundance of world-class natural springs. Last week, we paddled down the Weeki Wachee River--arguably among the best natural attractions the state has to offer--and explored its wildly captivating beauty.

What's Behind The Name?

Derived from the Seminole term which roughly translates to "little spring" or "winding river," Weeki Wachee is the deepest naturally occurring spring in the United States. The springs attract thousands of visitors each year for its scenic vistas, turquoise green streams, and its flora and fauna. This popular tourist spot became a state park in 2008, ensuring the area's preservation and responsible use for generations to come.

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The Paddle

The best way to explore Weeki Wachee is by paddling down its 7.4-mile long river. There are plenty kayak shops in the area renting anything from single and double kayaks to stand-up paddleboards (also called SUPs). Most rental places also drive visitors to kayak launch ramps upriver so visitors can conveniently float downriver with little effort.

During our visit, however, the ramps were under renovation (and will remain so until April 2017), so we had no choice but to paddle upstream. We launched our vessels at Rogers Park where our rental place The Kayak Shack was located and paddled hard against strong currents.

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Paddling upstream may not be much of an issue for expert paddlers, but it was definitely exhausting for occasional kayakers like us. There were even times when we had to dismount and drag our vessels on foot simply because we were too tired to paddle. Fortunately, there were plenty of exposed river banks where we got to take quick breaks and rehydrate before resuming our trip.

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Rope Swings

There are plenty of rope swings along the trail that visitors can enjoy. Some have just the perfect height for little kids, while others that are as tall as thirty feet only call for the people with steel nerves. During our visit, the water levels were dangerously low for diving, but it didn't stop this daredevil below to try this rope swing and do graceful acrobatic moves midair before diving.

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Snorkelling

Weeki Wachee's clear water also makes it an optimal spot for snorkeling. The water wasn't a warm as we had hoped, but it was comfortable enough for us to dive underwater and be captivated by the river's incredible clarity. We could see schools of fish swimming several meters away from us and even the hulls of kayaks passing above us!

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Manatees

Since Weeki Wachi is also known for manatees, we kept an open eye for the river's elusive creatures all along the trail. Sometimes called sea cows for their size, plant-based diet, and their gentle behavior, these gentle mammals thrive in Weeki Wachee's warm water temperature (it stays 74-degrees all year long). We spotted a couple of manatees during our paddle, but we were not able to take photographs since they swam faster than we could paddle.

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Paddling Back

After paddling about two miles upstream for about four hours (the entire kayak trail is about 5.5 miles), we decided to make our way back to Rogers Park. The return journey was surprisingly easy as the river's currents effortlessly carried us downstream. Instead of focusing on our paddling, we could finally enjoy the lush forest and the beautiful houses that lined the river bank towards the end of the route.

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Other Activities

Paddling along the Weeki Wachee River was quite an experience, and we are definitely looking forward to going back again this summer to try the state park's other attractions. Apart from kayaking, the state park offers a long list of activities for visitors that include manatee tours and the world famous mermaid shows! You'll never run out of fun things to do in Weeki Wachee, so when you visit, make sure you have plenty of time to do all of them because they are all worth it!

What's Happening: Discovering the Fun at The Florida State Fair!

2017-02-13T16:29:00.001-08:00

This weekend, we got to enjoy dozens of exciting attractions at the Florida State Fair with our dearest friends Krissy and Kaleen. Taking to heart the theme for this year's fair, "Picture Yourself at the Fair," we dove straight into the colorful chaos and made lots of lasting memories--all captured in 360-degrees!

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Florida State Fair's History

Started in Tampa in 1904 to promote the state's agricultural industry, the Florida State Fair has become a favorite yearly event among many Floridians who enjoy its hundreds of agricultural exhibitions, contests, thrill rides, food oddities, games, and shows. Originally called the Mid-Winter Fair, The Florida State Fair is now in its 113th year and still continues to attract hundreds of thousands of patrons.

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Childhood Nostalgia

At times, roaming around the fairgrounds can feel like an authentic Americana experience. The fair features many century-old attractions that are becoming more and more difficult to find anywhere else. It was refreshing to see thrill rides still decorated with handpainted artwork, a circus under an actual big top tent, and variants of classic carnival games such as dart games, ring-a-bottle, high striker, and shoot around the star.

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Fair Food

Of course, we can't forget about the food kiosks that filled the air with delicious smells of fried fair foods. Trying the various peculiar snacks offered at the fair is an essential experience for any fairgoer. This year's long list of strange treats includes enchilada funnel cake, Nutella Oreo sundae, and steak sundae (yes, it's a sundae made of meat). We, of course, ended up with a banana split sundae and thin potato chips smothered in cheese and bacon--unoriginal but timeless fair favorites, nonetheless.

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The Rides

A great state fair experience is not complete without the real big rides. This year's fair will debut the largest traveling ferris wheel in North America called the Midway Sky Eye. At 155 feet high, riders will get the chance to see more than 15 miles of magnificent vistas across Tampa Bay from the top of the wheel. Unfortunately, the Midway Sky Eye was still not operational during our visit, but it should be available to fairgoers really soon!

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Although we didn't get to ride the towering Midway Sky eye, we still enjoyed some fun rides such as the Air Flyer. It may not have been nearly as high as the Midway (and the Air Flyer was really just a typical carnival ride), but it still provided us a wonderful way to enjoy the sunset over Tampa while spinning really fast in the air.

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Kid Friendly Attractions

Quite frankly, we were a bit scared to try the bigger rides, but for the more adventurous fairgoers, they can always ride the fair's many gravity-defying attractions such as the Space Roller, Zero Gravity, Orbiter, Cyclone, and Dream Catcher. For parents who feel intimidated by the names of the rides we mentioned, the good news is that kids also have their own section at the fair where they get to ride mini-rollercoasters, carousels, slides, and ferris wheels.

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This year's fair opened on February 9th and will remain open until February 20th. There's still plenty of time to enjoy the event so start planning your visit. Now it's your turn to picture yourself at the fair and make your own memories!

SOME IMPORTANT TIPS:

***Bring enough cash to purchase food and tickets for rides and games. But don't worry if you forget to bring money, there are ATMs available at the fairgrounds for your convenience.

***Parking is free and there is plenty of space even for RVs, but make sure you arrive early because traffic can get bad; it can take a while to get into the venue and find a parking spot. Since the parking lot is massive, it is important to remember where you park.

***There's going to be a lot of walking involved, so dress comfortably. It can get chilly at night, so it's a good idea to bring a jacket.

To see the complete list of rides, ticket prices, event schedule and more, please visit:

http://www.floridastatefair.com/

For directions, please click on the map below:

Reliving the Magical Era of Circus at The Ringling Museum of Art

2017-01-23T18:27:00.000-08:00

Although we were born into a generation exposed to a plethora of entertainment options, we never really got to enjoy the excitement and the allure of the circus as kids. So a few weeks ago, we visited The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art--the first museum of its kind to document the history of the circus--to see what it must have been like to experience "The Greatest Show on Earth".

History

Established in Baraboo, Wisconsin in 1884, The Ringling Bros. Circus is considered to be among the biggest circuses in the world today. After acquiring their rival circus company Barnum & Bailey in 1907, the company became known as the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Combined Circus Shows. Under the slogan “The Greatest Show on Earth”, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus have been entertaining the world for almost 150 years with gymnastic performances, acrobatic stunts, clown skits, animal shows, and many other popular circus routines.

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When Ringling Bros. Circus co-founder John Ringling and his wife Mable decided to move the circus headquarters to Sarasota in 1927, they started to develop a property which would later become the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. The 66-acre estate is now the 16^th largest museum in the United States, home to the art museum, circus museum, Tibbals Learning Center (added in 2012), and the Ca' d'Zan Mansion.

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The Miniature Circus at Tibbal's Learning Center

To get a sense of what a touring circus looked like back in the old days, we decided to make our first stop at the museum's Tibbals Learning Center. Inside the center is a miniature circus painstakingly built by the circus collector and sculptor Howard Tibbals. The diorama, made up of 42,000 items, was started by Tibbals in 1956 and took many decades to finish.

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As soon as we walked into the exhibit, we were immediately captivated by the immensity of Tibbals' diorama and the breathtaking detail of his work. We saw miniature circus cargo and animals being unloaded from a long line of railway cars, circus workers setting up equipment behind the big top tents, children running around and circus patrons enjoying the circus shows. Peeking under one of the miniature circus's huge top tents, we were even surprised to see dozens of mechanized miniature trapeze performers whirling in the air to circus music!

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The Tibbals Learning Center also includes interactive exhibits that allow visitors to "walk" a tightrope wire, fire a mini cannon, pose beside a fiberglass tiger, and stand on a horse's back (also made of fiberglass, of course). Among the activities that we really quite enjoyed was spinning a zoetrope that played an animation of a juggling clown, and squeezing into this tiny clown car replica you see below:

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The Circus Museum

The Circus Museum, just behind the Tibbals Learning Center, houses some of the most valuable items in the Ringling Bros. Circus's history. Among the antique props, posters, and circus relics displayed in its galleries, visitors can find intricately carved horse-drawn wooden carriages, railroad cars, and trailers once used to transport the entire circus to different cities in the United States.

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The museum does such a great job curating the different types of circus transportation from the wooden wagons to the modern trailers (to this day, the Ringling circus still mostly uses the railway). The exhibit also gives people a glimpse into the lives of circus workers back in the old days and how they managed to keep the show going anywhere they went.

The Art Museum

After our visit to the Circus Museum, we headed to the Art Museum where the Ringling family's private collection of over 10,000 artworks are kept. The museum building is a giant piece of art in itself with its pink walls and tall arches extolling the classic elegance of Renaissance architecture. Apart from touring the galleries, visitors can also walk around the museum's well-manicured garden and admire the Hellenic sculptures and ornate fountains that adorn the space.

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The Ringling Museum of Art's eclectic art collection from different periods makes it a magnet for art lovers. And it helps to know that the Art museum is free of charge to the public on Mondays. (although you have to pay the $25.00 full admission to access the other museum attractions.)

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The art museum has 21 galleries that display works from artists such as Peter Paul Rubens, Marcel DuChamp, Diego Velazquez, Nicolas Poussin, and Eugene Baudin among many others. Apart from the classic art exhibits, the museum also boasts a collection of antiquities from different parts of the world.

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Enjoying The Sunset at Ca' d'Zan

After viewing the paintings and sculptures at the art museum for hours, we ended our beautiful day at the Ca' d'Zan watching the sunset over Sarasota Bay. Born out of John and Mable's obsession with Venice, the Ca' d'Zan, which means "House of John" in Venetian, is a Venetian Gothic style mansion built to replicate the couple's favorite place in the Mediterranean.

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In front of the picturesque Ca' d'Zan, we settled into our lounge chairs to soak in the golden afternoon rays reflecting off the calm waters. The colorful mosaic walls and floors glowing brightly in the sun made the whole place feel like some exotic Mediterranean dream. There was simply no other word to describe that moment other than it was "magical."

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The End of A Great Era

After a 146-year run, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus recently announced that their last performance will be in May 2017, citing poor ticket sales compounded by pressure from animal rights activists to retire their circus animals. After hearing the news, it's become clear to us that the Ringling Museum's role in preserving circus history will be that much more important in the coming years. When the Ringling Circus closes the curtains for the last time, it is up to the Ringling Museum to keep the legacy THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH alive for the next generations.

For more information and ticket prices, please visit ringling.org

Please click on the map below for directions:

What's Happening: Holiday Lights in The Florida Botanical Gardens!

2016-12-18T15:00:00.002-08:00

Florida may not be known for its white Christmas, but the Sunshine State definitely knows how to make the holiday season a very colorful one. There are tons of places all across the state celebrating the holidays with sparkling lights that bring joy to both young and old. Among the most anticipated events during the holiday season in Tampa Bay is the Florida Botanical Gardens' Holiday Lights in The Gardens in Largo. We brought along Chad's mom to experience this magical spectacle that brings thousands of visitors year after year.

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Enveloped by tall trees and lush vegetation, it was hard to see the Botanical Garden coming from the gates right away. But as we made our way from the boardwalk to the "Snowflake Bridge", we were surprised to discover a "tropical" winter wonderland filled with 750, 000 bright, colorful lights that made us feel so giddy like little kids.

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At the main entrance, we found ourselves surrounded by trees outfitted with all sorts of colorful lights. Some of them even had stars hanging down from the branches! It surely felt like we'd discover some luminescent alien world like that of Avatar or even Fantasia. The event features different varieties of holiday lights displays, with each garden showcasing its own theme.

We were particularly impressed by the various glowing animals that appeared to interact with the plants in the garden as we walked along the Tropical Walkway. We saw random alligators lighting up our path, and even a flamboyance of flamingos (yes, apparently a group of flamingos is called flamboyance) standing next to a tiny pond.

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We also found this small family of deer feeding off garden leaves, glowing so brightly in white:

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Perhaps the most unforgettable display for us was walking through Florida Botanical Gardens' newest addition, the Butterfly Garden. We had a lot of fun finding dozens of glowing butterflies that "hovered" above multi-colored LED-laden shrubs.

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But there was definitely a lot more to see in the Gardens than just glowing animals. We also thoroughly enjoyed exploring other displays such as the one in the Palm Garden. We spent a good amount of time just sitting in the garden's beach chairs, enjoying the view of brightly lit palm trees that reminded us of that one popular Corona Christmas ad. Being from the tropics ourselves, being there evoked thoughts of our other home, the Philippines.

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Another noteworthy display was the "Wedding Garden". There we got to experience all the holiday staples, such as an a capella choir singing timeless holiday songs and a giant Christmas tree in the middle of the square. The whole place made us remember how magical the yuletide season can be, and we didn't really mind feeling like kids all over again. It was a strange, happy experience that we would definitely love to experience again next year.

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Holiday Lights in The Garden is an annual fundraising event by Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation, made possible by hundreds of volunteers and generous sponsors. Suggested donation for adults is $4.00 and children under 12 get in for free! Make sure that you bring cash with you for the donation. There is an ATM by the Welcome Center if you need cash. The event runs from November 25th to December 31st. There is free nightly entertainment and children even get to meet and greet Santa at the Palm Garden! You still have two weeks to experience this one-of-a-kind event so don't forget to check it out!

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For more information about this event, please visit visitstpeteclearwater.com

Please click on the map for directions:

Street Art Hunting in Downtown St. Petersburg

2016-12-04T15:21:00.000-08:00

In the last few years, St. Petersburg has transformed itself into a vibrant city that revolves heavily around arts and culture. Through its promotion of the arts, AmericanStyle Magazine has named the city "America’s No. 1 Arts Destination" since 2010. Apart from being a prime spot for world-class museums such as Salvador Dali Museum, Morean Arts Center, and the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg has also become a haven for emerging and established local artists alike.

Street Art

Perhaps one of the first things that you'll notice about St. Petersburg is its obsession with street art. So much so that the city has even hosted various art-related events such as the highly successful Shine On St. Pete Mural Festival. The event, which has been held for two years in a row now, has brought together local and international artists excited to decorate various walls around the city with breathtaking murals for the public to enjoy for free.

Street Art Map

With all the street art everywhere, the city looks even more scenic and colorful now than ever before. Central Ave. alone has enough painted walls to indulge every art-loving pedestrian that strolls along its sidewalks. However, for those who want the excitement of exploring the city specifically for murals, Shine On St. Pete's website provides an interactive mobile device-friendly map that lists all of the murals featured in Shine On St. Pete Mural Festival.

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Bloom Arts Center

After picking out our favorites on the map, we hunted down each and every single one of our top picks. Our first stop was Bloom Art Center on 5th Ave. It looked abandoned when we arrived, but we simply couldn't resist sneaking in to look at the murals that covered the walls of the 7,000-square-foot warehouse. Home to many local artists, we discovered several unique gems around the property like this:

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and this:

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A Surprise Find

While on our way to Central and 1st Ave. North where most of the murals are located, we stumbled upon this playful work by the Vitale Brothers called "Eye Candy," located on the sidewall of the Unitarian Universalist Church on Arlington Ave. N. Having made a name for themselves creating hand-painted signs and murals, they've also ventured into the movie industry doing creative work for several movies including Harmony Korine's controversial film Spring Breakers (shot in Tampa Bay in 2012).

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Space Rainbows

When we reached 1st Street, we found various murals on the back walls of different business establishments spanning about two blocks or so. The first mural we saw was Ricky Watts's kaleidoscopic work called "Space Rainbows". Painted on the sidewall of a big building adjacent to a parking lot, its sheer size and intense colors make it so hypnotizing.

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Twiggy Mural

From across the parking lot, a mural of Twiggy on a pastel-colored wall beckoned us to take a closer look. Created by local artist Chad Mize, the stenciled bedroom eyes of the 60s fashion icon effortlessly mesmerize anyone who gazes upon her.

Mr. Sun

Just next to the Twiggy wall is another work by Chad Mize along with fellow artist Nikolas Tekllas called Mr. Sun, a character originally developed by Griffin Advertising in the 1940s to promote the city of St. Petersburg. With all the recent growth of tourism in St. Petersburg, it's definitely nice to see Mr. Sun doing his part endorsing this wonderful city once again.

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Jennifer Kirashek's Dolls

Not far from the Twiggy and Mr. Sun walls, we found Jennifer Korashek's whimsical creations frolicking behind Crislip Arcade. Kosharek's brightly colored characters and spellbinding spraypaint swirls can make it so easy for anyone to imagine living inside the world that she creates.

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Basking In Fame

Central Ave. has so many top-notch murals on display, but among the works on Central that captured our attention the most was Czech-born artist Ales "Bask" Hostomsky's work. Located on the side wall of Foolish Pride Tattoo Shop's old location, his work is composed of several panels in black/white and black/orange depicting various characters. His mural is so enormous, it grabs people's attention even from afar. An unmistakably talented artist, Bask's claim to fame is his work on the movie set of Iron Man 3--endorsed by none other than Robert Downey Jr.

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Art Lover's Paradise

St. Pete may be a small city, but it certainly exudes a lot of creativity. The city's ubiquitous urban art reflects its expressive culture, and if it's not an art lover's paradise already, it is definitely on its way to becoming one. We only got to cover a small section of the city for this particular blog post, but if you found the featured artworks interesting, we encourage you to explore the city yourself for its beautiful murals. You can also take the official walking mural tour with St. Pete Mural Tour on Saturday mornings from 10am to 11:30am to learn more about St. Pete's murals and the artists behind them.

SHINE ON ST. PETE MAP
Click this Shine On St. Pete map to view all featured murals and artists from Shine On St. Pete Mural Festival. Now go and start exploring!

Source: Shine On St. Pete

What's Happening: The Beach Tampa's Giant Ball Pit

2016-08-13T06:40:00.002-07:00

Just like what it says on their website, The Beach Tampa is indeed a beach like no other. A creative concept of Penny Vinik, the wife of Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, The Beach is Amalie Arena's hockey rink converted into an epic 15,000 square-foot beach-themed ball pit.

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The Beach is an all-white enclosure complete with beach chairs, umbrellas, lifeguard stations and even astro turf made to look like white sand. There is also a snack bar inside the installation where hungry and thirsty "beachgoers" can buy food and drinks.

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Being at The Beach felt surreal knowing that we were actually inside a hockey stadium. The whole place looked like some futuristic monochromatic movie set. There were a lot of kids running around, parents lounging in beach chairs, and families playing cornhole.

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Inspired by The Beach in Washington D.C., Penny Vinik had the idea of bringing the "beach experience" to her new hometown Tampa. Penny contacted Snarkitecture, the design firm responsible for The Beach Washington D.C., to build an even bigger installation inside the Amelie Arena for Tampanians to enjoy for free. The Beach Tampa premiered on August 5th and is open to public until August 25th.

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The highlights of the installation are two gigantic ball pits filled with recyclable antimicrobial plastic balls. Diving into the pit was definitely fun, but we gotta be honest--it hurt a little bit when we tried it. Moving around inside the ball pit was quite a workout, but it was also relaxing and fun at the same time. Throwing balls at each other and wiggling around made us feel like kids all over again. Even the other adults couldn't resist frolicking with their friends and kids inside the pit.

We also got to practice our cornhole skills, but needless to say, we weren't very good at it. Nonetheless, it was quite easy to get carried away by the beach vibe under the stadium's bright floodlights.

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The Beach is definitely a fun place for young and old. Visitors not only get free tickets (recommended stay is 45-minutes), they also get free parking and a free ice cream at the entrance. Apart from that, visitors also get to use lockers to stow away their belongings. It's easy to lose items while bouncing around the ball pit, so make sure to empty your pockets before plunging in.

There is still time to enjoy the beach so don't miss out on this unique experience. Visit The Beach Tampa for more information regarding this 3-week long event.

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Opa! Exploring the Historic District of Tarpon Springs!

2016-08-06T19:50:00.002-07:00

The summer heat didn't seem to matter to suntanned barkers outside the souvenir shops when we arrived in Tarpon Springs. As we walked along the sidewalk, they didn't waste time persuading us to try Greek lunch specials, buy sponge products, visit museums, and get on dolphin boat tours. Every single offer sounded tempting, and we had the whole day to try just about everything.

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Sponge-O-Rama Museum

The very first place we visited was Sponge-O-Rama's Museum along Dodecanese Ave. Inside, we found paper mache dioramas depicting the life of the early settlers of Tarpon Springs. As one of the very first attractions that visitors encounter along the avenue, it makes a great starting point to learn Tarpon Spring's early history.

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Tarpon Springs' History

Attracted by the area's demand for fishermen and sponge divers, Greek immigrants began to settle in Tarpon Springs in the 1880s. Greek fishermen with a lot of experience sponge diving in the Aegean Sea were particularly invaluable to the city's thriving sponge industry. Today, Tarpon Springs is considered to have the highest percentage of Greek-Americans in any city in the United States, and its unique culture and traditions are still proudly celebrated.

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Tarpon Springs caters mainly to tourists nowadays, but it remains home to many locals who, like their predecessors, still work as fishermen and sponge divers. For more than a century, the sponge industry has and still continues to contribute to Tarpon Spring's economy.

Sponge Diving

Among of area's main attractions is sponge diving--an extremely dangerous method of collecting sponge in some of the deepest parts of the Gulf of Mexico. Since sponge is found as deep as 150 feet on the ocean floor, cultivating them used to require divers to wear cumbersome brass helmets and thick diving suits. Although they now use modern diving equipment, the traditional diving suit and helmet have nonetheless become emblems in the sponge diving community especially in Tarpon Springs.

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Mediterranean Vibes

Walking in front of heritage buildings sometimes felt like we were in a real Mediterranean town.The place has everything to make you feel like you are in Greece: Greek flags on lamp posts, locals in the streets speaking Greek, folk music pouring out of small souvenir shops, and of course a large selection of restaurants serving authentic Greek cuisine--such as the well-renowned Hellas Restaurant. We're not exactly adventurous when it comes to food, but tasting Hella's delicious beef-lamb gyros was quite a gastronomic experience, to say the least.

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Tarpon Springs Aquarium

After our short Sponge-O-Rama's Museum visit, we went to Tarpon Springs Aquarium and had the opportunity to watch sharks being fed by a scuba diver inside a giant glass tank. The place is small but perfect for experiencing intimate animal encounters. Apart from viewing sharks, groupers, eels and other aquatic animals up close, we saw turtles, lobsters, alligators, snakes, and even got to pet stingrays.

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The aquarium is also home to several captive Tarpon, the fish responsible for the city's namesake. Some say that the city became known as Tarpon Springs after the early residents in the city saw Tarpon jumping out of the water. The aquarium has been entertaining and educating visitors since 1991, Unfortunately, the aquarium's lease is up in December 2016, and it is relying on donations to relocate to a nearby site.

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Preserved Identity

After our visit to the aquarium, we strolled up and down the avenue to look for new things to do. But the heat was so intense that day that at some point, we gave up walking and just sat on a bench under a tree overlooking the sponge dock. We spent the rest of our time enjoying the sea breeze, watching the boats swaying gently back and forth on the water, and observing the workers silently packing sponges into big nets. Despite all the changes tourism has made to Tarpon Springs, the place still proudly maintains its identity, and the people that live there are very pleased about it.

Hiking Hillsborough River State Park

2016-07-26T13:39:00.000-07:00

Our plan to spend a weekend at Hillsborough River State Park for an off-the-grid R & R was quickly crushed after finding out the park's primitive campsite was flooded. We ended up pitching our tent on a very crowded campground among enormous trailers and expensive RVs, feeling quite out of place in our tiny pop-up shelter. We weren't exactly used to what we both jokingly dubbed as 1st world camping, but we were a couple of happy campers eager for a different kind of adventure.

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The whole park felt more like it was in the middle of the suburbs than in the middle of a forest. It was busy with kids running around and riding bikes on the concrete paths, couples enjoying an afternoon stroll, people walking their dogs, and retirees lounging in beach chairs under retractable awnings. The park features a swimming pool, restaurant, and a gift shop where you can find anything from souvenirs and fishing rods, to canoe and bicycle rentals. For convenience, every campsite also has a big restroom facility complete with shower rooms, laundromat, and a vending machine that dispenses cold soda bottles for just $1.25 (a definite luxury for campers).

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After eating dinner we cooked on our camping stove, we went to a “Campfire Program” behind campsite 41 overlooking the Hillsborough River. Held on Saturday evenings in a campfire setting, the program aims to teach visitors different topics about nature and showcase some of the flora and fauna found in the park.

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We sat on one of the log bleachers in front of a dying campfire, squinting in the dark as a park ranger presented a slide show about wildfires--as well as the animals typically affected by natural disasters like turtles, birds, snakes, and deer. After the program, a curious visitor asked the ranger whether panthers roamed the campgrounds, and the ranger simply responded: “Maybe, maybe not.”

We spent the night in our tent slightly worried about panthers (that may or may not be roaming around the campsite) sniffing outside our tent and biting our toes, but we didn't anticipate that it was actually mosquitoes that were the real threat to campers. The next day, we woke up with giant welts all over our body despite putting on copious amounts of pungent mosquito repellent the previous night.

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After a quick breakfast, we packed our bags and headed to the hiking trails. Due to the park's close proximity to Tampa, it remains one of the busiest parks in Florida. Yet, despite all the human traffic, the area is still teeming with wildlife. As we passed by a picnic area, we saw several squirrels stealing food from unattended coolers, and turkey vultures (a.k.a. buzzards) lurking on the rooftops of surrounding trees and buildings.

Of course, those weren't the only animals we encountered during our weekend there. Before crossing a stationary bridge that led to the hiking area, there was a sign warning us that alligators were present in the park, and it surely didn't take very long before we spotted one floating downriver. Alligators are vital to the Florida ecosystem, and it was quite special to see them in the wild instead of seeing them caged in farm corrals. We tried our best to keep in mind that alligators have a natural fear of man, but that didn't stop us from being extra cautious especially while we traversed the exposed river bank.

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^^Did you see the alligator?^^

Although Hillsborough River is actually off-limits to swimmers, there were definitely times the mesmerizing orange and red hues of the river made us want to take a quick dip. Considered a blackwater river, Hillsborough's water looks dark due to the tannins produced by decaying vegetation. Canoeing and fishing are just a few other ways to enjoy the river, but since we were both petrified by river predators, we never got to try any of those activities.

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Established in 1938, Hillsborough State Park is one of the first state parks created in Florida. It has a total of 7.3 miles of hiking trails with difficulty levels ranging from easy to challenging. In our experience, the trails were effortless to navigate. Apart from being provided a map upon entrance to the park, there were markers ( with emergency numbers included) that showed us where we were and where we needed to go. There were also boardwalks in marshy areas that not only made hiking easier but also provided a good vantage point for viewing the lush trees that towered above us.

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Walking along the nature trail felt a lot like exploring an outdoor museum. Every once in a while, we would find signs that provided information about the interesting plants and animals found along the trail like large saw palmettos, barred owls and corn snakes. Apart from a few squirrels climbing the giant trees and a lone grasshopper we found hiding behind a trail marker, we didn't really see any other animals during our hike. Nonetheless, it was quite fascinating to learn about the park's impressive biodiversity.

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It took us about an hour to finish one of the park's shorter trails. As we made our way back to our camp, we saw children in swimsuits walking along the path using branches as trekking poles, all thrilled to embark on a midday hike. We'd never seen children get so hyped about the outdoors and we understood why. With a lot of kid-friendly activities and easy access to playgrounds and other facilities, the park is the perfect introduction to nature for children.

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Hillsborough River State Park may not have fulfilled our romantic Thoreauvian fantasies, but we were happy to return home with more knowledge about Florida's ecosystem, America's RV culture-- and the vicious Florida mosquitos. With excellent campground amenities, the park is definitely the great place to experience the great outdoors without sacrificing comfort.

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What's Happening: Fourth of July in Ybor City!

2016-07-17T19:20:00.006-07:00

The streets were still empty when we arrived in Ybor at around 3 in the afternoon. Being accustomed to the big crowds and the outrageously festive atmosphere of Philippine holidays, Daphne found it rather strange to see Tampa's historic district empty during a national holiday. But after spotting barricades along 7th Ave., we realized we were in for a cool Independence Day surprise. Having lived in Tampa Bay for almost a decade now, I have learned to expect surprises—both good and bad—when in Ybor.

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While scouting the streets for cool shops to visit, we saw cigar rollers working behind the Tabanero Cigar shop's window and decided to take a closer look. A heavyset man in a blue Guayabana shirt and a fedora hat greeted us at the door and lead us to small lounge. He walked around a lot to greet other customers, but every once in a while, he would stop by our table with a cigar in his mouth to discuss the art and business of cigar making.

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"We have six full-time employees from Havana making our cigars," he told us. We watched his cigar dangle precariously from his lips every time he spoke, but it never fell. He showed us the shelves stocked with all kinds of handmade cigars that reached the ceiling, remarking that they make all their cigars locally and deliver them worldwide.

Before we left the cigar shop, the man mentioned something about the Shrine Parade later in the afternoon. Despite having very little idea about who the Shriners were, we decided to stick around and wait for the event.

To kill some time, we walked around Ybor's cobblestone streets and marveled at all the beautiful architecture that surrounded us. The district has been around for more than a century, yet it seemed like it hadn't changed much at all.

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Founded in the 1880s, Ybor City was a thriving industrial area that produced millions of cigars yearly during its heyday. However, the city's population—mostly made up of Cuban, Spanish, and Italian immigrants—began to decline during the Great Depression and diminished furthermore after WWII, leaving the district in decay for many decades.

Ybor's restoration beginning in the 80s eventually filled the old brick buildings and factories in the district with new businesses, slowly evolving into one of the exciting tourist destinations in Tampa today.

Ybor's strong heritage can still be felt to this day and small cigar shops like Tabanero Cigars work hard to keep Ybor's legacy alive. In recent years, the district has also become known for local craft breweries such as Cigar City Brewing and Coppertail Brewing Co., serving award-winning beers that put Tampa on the map as one of the best beer towns in America.

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We ended our short walk in Centro Ybor—a scenic, brick-walled commercial complex that houses several cafes, bars, restaurants, shops, and theaters. By the time we arrived, the place was already buzzing with activity. People were starting to fill the sidewalks, and dozens more were pouring out of the vintage streetcars parked on 8th Ave.

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As soon as we heard the Egyptian bagpipes, we immediately ran to 7th Ave. to witness Ybor City's very own Independence Day spectacle sponsored by the Shriners. Headquartered in Tampa, the Shriners are a Freemasonry-related fraternity with a penchant for wearing red fezzes on their heads and participating in outlandish parades.

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Hundreds of spectators watched as dozens of colorful floats and miniature cars commandeered by the Shriners in Oriental costumes passed by. There were a lot of kids wearing red, white and blue ensembles, waving their arms in the air tirelessly while their parents carried them in their arms or on their shoulders. Gay couples lounging outside the gay clubs along the avenue greeted us with big smiles as we passed by. Ybor has been dubbed Gaybor for its warm acceptance of the gay community. It is one of the few places where Rainbow flags are proudly displayed alongside American flags every day of the year.

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After spending almost an hour watching the seemingly endless cavalcade of colorful floats, we got really hungry and went to NYNY Pizza for dinner. The place was just a regular pizza joint, but Daphne really enjoyed the restaurant's classic diner interior with moody lights reminiscent of Edward Hopper paintings. She sat curiously on her bar stool, taking pictures of the neon signs hanging on the brick walls and watching the waiters hustle as more guests came in.

It didn't take long before our pizza was served. After spending the whole afternoon walking around, all I had in mind was food. I was about to take a bite of my slice when I saw Daphne looking around as if she had lost something. A few moments later, she looked at me with a confused face and asked: “Do Americans eat pizza with hot sauce?”

We both laughed. It had been a month since she arrived in the United States, and up until that point, she seemed to have acclimated really well in her new home. I honestly didn't think her first bout with culture shock would come in the form of a condiment.

Welcome to Sunshine State of Mind!

2016-07-17T18:51:00.000-07:00

Hello, everyone! We're Chad and Daphne and we're a newly wed couple currently based in Tampa, Florida. After tying the knot not too long ago, we decided to create a 360 travel photography blog to provide you a truly immersive experience of all the cool places we visit. We are very excited to take you on a ride and let you see exciting destinations like never before!