7 Mindful Ways to Get Your Zen On in Tampa, FL

When you think of zen and mindful destinations, do you think of Tampa? Probably not! Yet, these seven mindful activities in Tampa show that it’s possible to take a relaxing trip to this Florida city and find a few zen moments while doing so.

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1. Visit Wat Mongkolratanaram, the Thai Temple in Tampa

Tampa is home to a beautiful Thai Buddhist temple which is open to the public. Wat Tampa opened in 1981 to propagate Buddha’s teachings and practices, provide a residence for monks, and perform religious activities.

The temple grounds are open to the public daily. Located alongside the Palm River, the grounds exude a quiet beauty which invites visitors to practice mindfulness in individual ways.

A Sunday Market remains open though is restricted to driving through rather than wandering on foot from tent to tent. Visitors purchase food items and are invited to sit at picnic tables beside the river.

2. Enjoy Nature at a Local Park

Many people who practice mindfulness in nature believe in techniques such as grounding, or earthing. Local parks are great places to practice mindful activities in Tampa, such as grounding. Or just to spend a few quiet minutes or hours to center oneself and let stress go.

For the best nature break in Tampa, try one of the larger parks or nature preserves. Lettuce Lake Park and Hillsborough River State Park are just minutes from Tampa and offer nature trails and calming water views. Hiking at Brooker Creek Preserve offers hours of remote trails or head to Weedon Island near St. Petersburg to find mindfulness along the kayaking trails.

If you have a shorter time to spend at a local park in Tampa, try Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Plant Park, or Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park.

3. Yoga at Armature Works

Armature Works brings together the best of warehouse aesthetic with small boutiques, delicious food, and a great riverfront location. The warehouse dates back to 1910 when it was the storage and maintenance facility for Tampa Electric’s streetcars. Though it was called the Streetcar Barn then, the name Armature Works comes from the phosphate machinery manufacturer which purchased the property in 1960, Tampa Armature Works.

Today, it has been developed into a multi-used space which connects The Heights neighborhood to downtown Tampa via Tampa’s Riverwalk. Where possible, original materials have been salvaged and used in the renovations.

How is any of this zen or mindful? Weekly yoga classes.

Every other Sunday, practice yoga on the South Lawn then order breakfast within Heights Public Market. Every first Tuesday, meet on the West Lawn for Happy Hour Yoga. Participants receive 10% off their beverages at Bar AW afterwards. Every second and fourth Tuesday morning, join the community for a calming and strengthening session. Grab a bite to eat in the Public Market after. All yoga sessions are free, first-come first-serve, and open to the public.

4. Stroll Along Bayshore Boulevard

Bayshore Boulevard runs 4.5 miles in South Tampa from MacDill Airforce Base to the Hillsborough River. It’s one of the longest continuous sidewalks in the world and is the second-longest in the United States behind Galveston’s Seawall Boulevard.

Bayshore Boulevard offers unparalleled views of Tampa Bay and is a popular exercise spot. The sidewalk is ten feet wide, providing plenty of room for walkers, joggers, and roller bladers. While many people stroll along Bayshore Boulevard for the water views, many of Tampa’s oldest and most prestigious homes line this road offering their own brand of beauty to passers-by.

Whether you get your zen on by running or just taking a leisurely walk, Bayshore Boulevard is one of the best places to do in Tampa.

5. Stop to Smell the Roses at a Botanical Garden

The Tampa Bay area offers several botanical gardens in which to find nature’s beauty. There are really few better ways to find mindfulness in Tampa than spending a few hours in one of these colorful places.

Less than ten miles north of downtown Tampa, the USF Botanical Gardens spread across 16 acres with more than 3,000 plants. These gardens are a short walk from Shriner’s Childrens Hospital (0.2 miles) and Moffitt Cancer Center (0.7 miles) making the USF Botanical Gardens the perfect place to find peace during stressful times.

About ten miles east of Tampa, Eureka Springs Park combines history and botanical beauty in a 31-acre urban oasis.

Across the bay, Sunken Gardens and Florida Botanical Gardens are two of the best botanical gardens in Florida. Both offer visitors unparalleled beauty, and Florida Botanical Gardens even hosts yoga classes.

6. Yoga on the Beach

One of the most popular mindful activities in Tampa is yoga on the beach. Around here, pick a beach – any beach – and you’ll likely find a yoga session or two happening weekly. Most sessions take place first thing in the morning or at dusk, which gives yogis the bonus of watching a beautiful sunset while moving through their asanas.

Some of our favorites are Yoga on the Beach at Indian Rocks Beach, sunset beach yoga with Muddy Mantra at Honeymoon Island State Park, and Beach Yoga Pinellas at Clearwater Beach.

7. Take a Bike Ride Along the Courtney Campbell Causeway

The Courtney Campbell Causeway crosses Old Tampa Bay from Tampa to Clearwater, providing easy access between the two sides of Tampa Bay. A scenic trail runs alongside for the causeway’s 9.5 mile distance.

From eight to ten feet wide and with sweeping vistas of Tampa Bay, the trail is popular with cyclists, walkers, joggers, and skaters. Parking along most of the causeway also provides great opportunities to stop and fish the water around the causeway. (Be sure you have a fishing license, even for shore fishing.)

Whether you choose a short walk or to bike back and forth across the causeway, the peaceful views and time outdoors creates a wonderful mindful activity in Tampa.

Other Mindful Activities in Tampa

The Tampa Bay area offers so many great activities to enjoy! Whatever you enjoy doing, make it a mindful activity by following these tips:

• Find quiet. This could be a few moments alone in the shower or on the water for a fishing trip.
• Listen to music
• Focus on your breathing
• Drown out all distractions
• Pause to enjoy the stunning surroundings if you’re outdoors

Travel and Mindfulness Resources

These are some of our favorite tools and resources to use. Please note we may earn a small commission if you purchase one of these products through our links. These commissions cost you nothing extra and help us run this site.

Yoga Mat: Just purchased this one from Gaiam and love it. It's the perfect thickness and doesn't slip around the floor.

Hiking Boots: My go-to hiking boot is Merrell's Waterproof Hiking Boot. It's extremely comfortable, lightweight, and water-resistant - perfect for Florida!

Hiking Day Pack: This daypack from Waterfly has been the best addition to my outdoor gear this year. I often take my camera and phone as well as the water we have to have in Florida's heat. This pack is lightweight and has tons of pockets for storing everything I need to take with me. So much easier than hauling the large camera bag with me when out hiking or walking around a city.

Flights: We always check flight prices and information on Expedia first.

Hotels: We use Booking.com for lodging when we're ready to compare and book hotels.

Vacation Rentals: For vacation rentals and other non-traditional lodging options, VRBO is our go-to.

Tours & Tickets: We use Viator for private tours and always check CityPass for unique experiences or discounted tickets to local attractions.

Rental Cars: Though we prefer to experience a city through its public transportation, but there are times when a rental car is needed and in those instances, we use RentalCars.com.

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