Tampa, FL|News|
7 Florida Day, Weekend Trips Families Must Take This Summer
Residents can skip the air fare, long car rides and extended hotel stays in favor of day or weekend trips just a short drive from home.

Originally from St. Louis, D'Ann Lawrence White has worked as an editor, columnist, feature writer and investigative reporter for more than 20 years. She has been married to her husband, Michael, for 33 years. The couple have a son who is currently a senior majoring in music at Loyola University in New Orleans. She lives in Valrico, Florida. You can reach her at dann.white@patch.com.
Residents can skip the air fare, long car rides and extended hotel stays in favor of day or weekend trips just a short drive from home.

With the help of good Samaritans, the Coast Guard rescued five people Saturday in two separate incidents Off Indian Rocks Beach and Anclote.
A 39-year-old Port Richey man has died after being struck by a pickup truck while crossing U.S. 19 Sunday.
This sprawling, custom-built, gated Southern estate sits on 9 acres of land in San Antonio.
Situated on more than 30 acres in Odessa, this well-equipped horse facility surrounds an Antebellum-style home.
This equestrian estate is situated on more than 30 acres with stables, corrals, training arenas, plus tennis courts and a putting green.
Send us your photos of sunsets, romps at the beach or children at the playground. You might have your photo published on Patch.
Equine encephalitis warning; Rays owner sued; Chuck Norris-inspired ghost kitchen to open are among the stories featured this week on Patch.
A 26-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a homicide May 23 in the parking lot of the Residents Inn at 9719 Princess Palm Ave.
School resource officers celebrated the fact that they not only made it through a tough pandemic year, but had some fun doing it.
Residents can get their second doses at the Tampa site June 1-4.
The animal care and veterinary teams at ZooTampa at Lowry Park are trying to determine why 12 stingrays at the zoo died suddenly.
Pasco County residents headed to the beach for Memorial Day weekend might want to pass on the Robert K. Rees Park Beach.
For more than 100 nights, guests can stay late and safely enjoy coasters, entertainment throughout the park and other new offerings.
The highly sought-after Four Diamond status is awarded to fewer than 6 percent of the thousands of hotels inspected and approved by AAA.
Forecasters say a chance of showers shouldn't disrupt plans for picnics, romps on the beach or boating excursions.
After being hidden away in studios during the coronavirus pandemic, artwork is back in the public eye.
Pasco County high school seniors will be able to celebrate their graduation with more family and friends.
Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren said inflammatory speech does not justify violence.
A 34-year-old Tampa man died and his 35-year-old passenger suffered serious injuries after he lost control of his pickup truck on I-275.