Columbian Restaurant Ybor City and Lettuce Lake Park

 Living in Florida there is so much more to offer than theme parks!  Let me introduce you to a couple of fun cheap places that are amazing!

The Columbian Restaurant has become my favorite restaurant.  I'd always wanted to go there but thought it was too expensive.  But if you go for lunch you can get meals as low as $12   The Columbian Restaurant is located in Ybor City (part of old Tampa) It opened in 1905 and is Florida's oldest restaurant and the world's largest Spanish restaurant with 1,700 seats  There are 15 dining rooms and my goal is to eat in everyone of them.  I've only eaten in three so far!    Their 1905 salad is so good-I crave it.  They have an affordable lunch menu and the food is so good.  You can even ask for a tour of the restaurant it is very informative and you'll get to see the inner working.  With it being in the Ybor area you can take a stroll and look around (you might see a bit more than you bargained on the weekend or nights LOL  But it is very interesting.  You can also catch the FREE trolley and ride around Tampa from Ybor City.  We've not done that yet but plan to soon.  

 Read about it  here

My buddy in crime my college roommate we like to do day trips because of our schedules 

the patio

the patio

The wine cellar I can truthfully say I'd never been in one before

the was the original restaurant 

Lettuce Lake Park is in Tampa near the northeast side.  It's not too far from Busch Gardens but much cheaper....$2 a person but bring cash they don't take cards!  

There's all kinds of playgrounds and places to eat, you can rent a kayak or walk the trails.  One trail is a boardwalk on the river with a tower you can climb to see the sights and it is gorgeous.  

My friend and I last went the weekend before it was closing down for the Covid Quarantine

It was nice to be back in the beautiful Florida early summer LOL  

read about it here

Lettuce Lake Park

Just a baby

My goal this year is to explore more and to go do things more than I've done.  A lot of times when I have our dear respite worker here I feel like I should go and do errands or work around the house doing things I can't do if I'm here by myself with the kids.  But life is short and there is so much to do and see in Florida!  I'm planning on blogging about it maybe it'll encourage you to explore your area or visit some of these wonderful places when you come to Florida!