11 Entertaining Things to Do in Safety Harbor, Florida
Safety Harbor, Florida sits on the western side of Old Tampa Bay or north-northeast of Clearwater. It’s a quaint village of artists, restaurants, boutiques, and history. The many things to do in Safety Harbor makes the town a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle found in Tampa.
It hasn’t yet been discovered by throngs of tourists the way Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, and Dunedin have. Despite it’s relatively quiet existence, Safety Harbor draws big crowds with it’s festivals and Third Friday celebrations. It is a very desirable place to live, especially when one of the historic homes comes on the market.
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Things to do in Safety Harbor range from parks to art centers, from shopping to dining in one of the Safety Harbor restaurants, and naturally the many popular festivals and fairs.
If you know of Dunedin, Florida, think of Safety Harbor as Dunedin’s smaller, artsy sister. The bright, unique artwork around town has given Safety Harbor a reputation as having a thriving art scene. With it’s waterfront location, many watersports are also viable options for things to do when in town.
1. Enjoy a walk or a picnic at Philippe Park
The 122 acres that make up Philippe Park were purchased by the state of Florida in 1948, making this the first in Pinellas County’s excellent park system. An Indian mound from a Tocobaga Village plays center stage in the park though it certainly isn’t the only thing to do in Philippe Park.
Visitors to the park can also enjoy fishing along one mile of shoreline in the park, walk over 2 miles of paved trails, or enjoy the views of Old Tampa Bay from beneath the large, shady oaks. A boat ramp provides access to the Bay for boaters and kayakers. Kayakers can also launch their watercraft from one of four access points along the shore in the south end of the park.
Philippe Park is popular with large groups, too. Several picnic pavilions can be reserved for birthday parties or group functions. The pavilions vary in size. Some have a few picnic tables which can accommodate 20 or 30 people. Other, larger pavilions with over 20 tables can accommodate over 100 people. Three playgrounds also ensure kids will remain entertained and have places to expend their energy. Check out my One Day at Philippe Park to see more photos of everything the park offers.
2. Watch the sunrise from the Safety Harbor Pier
Unfortunately, the pier was severely damaged in the 2024 hurricanes and is no longer open. Most of it isn’t even standing. However, the Waterfront Park is still a great place to watch a sunrise, and the pier is slated to be rebuilt within the next year or two.
The Safety Harbor pier is one of the most iconic places to watch the sunrise in the Tampa Bay area. With much of the area providing stunning places for sunset viewing, places to watch a beautiful sunrise are few and far between around here.
The Safety Harbor pier, found at Safety Harbor Waterfront Park near the marina, is the perfect place to rise and shine with a cup of coffee. It’s popular with photographers looking for the perfect shot so don’t be surprised if you find a much of shutterbugs, cameras and tripods in hand, jockeying for a great photo of the sunrise with the pier.
If photography isn’t your jam, enjoy a walk along the pier or park. Following the paved walk leads to a boardwalk which winds through wetlands with a short pier along the bay. Any vantage point in the park offers great views of the sunrise.
3. Be amused at Whimzeyland
Also known as “The Bowling Ball House”, Whimzeyland has been a local landmark for the past 20 years and has been featured on websites such as Atlas Obscura and Roadside America. The owners have decorated the home with a variety of materials, including plexiglass, bottle trees, recycled materials, and paintings.
The name “Bowling Ball House” came about after they brought home tons of free bowling balls from a flea market and began to decorate with those. Over 500 bowling balls embellish the exterior and grounds of the home. Visitors are welcome to stop and photograph the exterior of the home. If the owners are home, they often open their doors to visitors and allow them to see the interior.
4. Learn area history at Safety Harbor Museum and Cultural Center
The Safety Harbor Museum and Cultural Center connects residents and visitors with Safety Harbor’s past, with the stories that drive the past and present, and with the arts which are such a big part of this town. The museum houses permanent exhibits that focus on the town’s history. These include exhibits about paleolithic Florida, the Tocobaga Indians, Florida in the Civil War, and Espiritu Santo. Temporary exhibits vary and can include local or national artists such as chalk artist Caroline Karp and photographer Sharon Smallwood.
The museum also offers a number of ongoing programs. Classes and workshops range from painting classes for adults to parent/child craft classes to teen parties with an artsy twist. Two unique programs the Safety Harbor Museum and Cultural Center provides are Safety Harbor Stories and the Historical Markers.
Safety Harbor Stories “aims to collect the history of (the) city through stories told by former and current Safety Harbor residents.” The stories are meant to be shared with future generations to provide a continuing and growing connection with the past.
Meanwhile, the Historical Markers placed throughout the town commemorate historical buildings and events around town. This brochure helps visitors navigate to the various markers.
5. Enjoy nature at Folly Farm Nature Preserve
Folly Farm Nature Preserve is an 8-acre oasis in the heart of Safety Harbor. The preserve was a horse farm for many years, the pride of Lucille and George Weiss. George had always envisioned the property as a park for public use. After Lucille’s death, he gifted 8.6 acres of the 10-acre farm to Safety Harbor.
The city has worked hard to be good stewards of the gift. The community garden moved to the property shortly after it opened and used the barn and barn yard. There’s a playground and a butterfly garden, a couple of labyrinths, a wind phone, an orchard, a nature trail, and an education center.
While volunteers help keep the grounds manicured, the city also hosts several successful events at Folly Farm. Most notably, the grounds are decorated for the holidays with inflatable decorations and thousands of lights. Two weekend nights in December see the park fill with visitors for the annual Holiday Lights.
6. Find your inner artist at Safety Harbor Art and Music Center
This place is so incredibly colorful, creative, and imaginative, I just didn’t know where to look first. And that was just on the outside! It seems every inch of building is painted or covered in sculpture or mirror. Every inch of ground is also covered in sculptures. Most everything is whimsical or has an uplifting message. It’s a delight for photographers, artists, and anyone seeking a unique visual experience.
Located just a short couple of blocks from Main Street, SHAMc hosts all sorts of programs. They hold art classes, concerts, and more. And their artists have helped decorated places like Folly Farm Nature Preserve.
7. Browse the glass art at Syd Entel Galleries
The most extensive glass blown and art gallery on Florida’s west coast, Syd Entel Galleries exhibits artists from around the globe. The 5000 square foot space displays art from internationally acclaimed artists, glass from the premier American glass artists, and handmade jewelry.
The gallery holds special events throughout the year. Some events highlight art of a specific theme, such as the Land, Sea, and Air show. Other events, such as the Art Trunk Show, offer special pricing for custom framing and art.
8. Eat, drink, and be merry
Like many of Florida’s small towns, Safety Harbor has a thriving food scene. Except for a Starbucks, all the restaurants in downtown Safety Harbor are independently owned. Their variety caters to many different kinds of taste.
Long-standing favorites among locals include the Whistle Stop Grill and Paradise Restaurant. Pizza aficionados might enjoy Nona Slice House. Marker 39 Floribbean Cuisine caters to those who enjoy the unique fusion of Caribbean and American foods that Florida has become famous for.
If you prefer to enjoy a local brew, try Crooked Thumb Brewery or Troubled Waters Brewing. With all of these excellent selections, visiting Safety Harbor to dine can be an expedition in and of itself.
9. Relax at Safety Harbor Resort and Spa
The Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, one of the top things to do in Safety Harbor, has a long history of pampering guests in an luxurious setting. The mineral springs in Safety Harbor have purported healing powers, a legacy that gave rise to names such as “Health Giving City”. The healing powers of these springs, however, were well-known long before white settlers came to Safety Harbor.
When Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto came through this area in the 1580s, he thought he had found the Fountain of Youth that Ponce de Leon missed. He named the mineral springs “espiritu santo” springs, or “holy spirit” springs. Through the 1800s, Northern visitors came to all of Florida’s mineral springs, seeking healing from a variety of ailments. Safety Harbor saw its fair share of visitors. In the 1920s, the first pavilions were constructed around the springs as well as nearby hotel for travelers. This hotel later became the St. James and today the Harbor House.
✨Check services and rates at Safety Harbor Resort and Spa
The Safety Harbor Spa was first constructed in the 1940s and has gone through many incarnations since then. The vision for a true health resort spa gave rise to onsite accommodations as well as treatments besides just “healing waters”. The spa became a place for the wealthy to relax and offered massage, steam baths, and health food.
Today the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa continues to build on its rich historical foundation. The resort offers a wellness center and retreat, world-class spa which is open to the public, retail promenade, and restaurant.
10. Find new treasures at a Festival or Fair
Safety Harbor hosts a number of festivals throughout the year. Visitors travel from nearby towns as well as from across the state to attend the more well-known festivals. Festivals range from the monthly 3rd Friday Music Series to the Market on Main to multi-day events. The most popular festivals include:
- Bloom N Art N Chalk Fest – a multi-day festival that features top artists from across the country creating sidewalk art.
- Safety Harbor SongFest – a one day music festival with multiple stages, the festival also features local craft beer, chalk artists, street performers, food trucks, and circus performers. The music tends towards blues and R&B.
- Beer and Burger Throwdown – a relatively new event, this one day festival pits local breweries and local eateries against each other for title of the best brew and best burger.
11. Boating and Kayaking
The marina was also damaged during the 2024 hurricanes. If the boat ramp isn’t open, there are places nearby to launch SUPs and kayaks – Coopers Bayou Park to the south and Philippe Park to the north.
A waterfront town, it’s no surprise that one of the top things to do in Safety Harbor involves the water and boating. Whether your watercraft of choice is a sailboat, powerboat, kayak, canoe, or paddleboard, you’ll find a number of boat ramps and launch spots as well as miles of coastline to explore.
Philippe Park and the Safety Harbor Marina both offer boat ramps for those who prefer boating. The marina, though small, can accommodate sail or powerboats; if you live in or nearby, your boat can stay in the water.
If paddling is more your speed, use the aforementioned boat ramps or launch from the shore at Philippe Park. Coopers Bayou Park, though technically in Clearwater, is also a great place from which to launch kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes. Plus, it’s an easy paddle up the coast from Coopers Bayou to Safety Harbor.
And if you don’t have a watercraft, fear not. A number of outfitters will rent theirs by the hour, half-day, or full day. Some even offer ecotours which explore the many mangrove islands and tunnels found around Safety Harbor.
Where to Stay in Safety Harbor
If you want to stay in the heart of Safety Harbor, walking distance to nearly everything the town offers, try the aforementioned Safety Harbor Resort and Spa or one of the many Safety Harbor vacation rentals. Like Dunedin’s accommodations, you’ll find the places to stay in Safety Harbor steer away from the large franchise hotels.
If you don’t mind staying a little further from the town center, the Mar Bay Motel & Suites is a quaint option, especially for those who want a more vintage experience. The Mar Bay is updated, adorable, pet friendly, and a short walk to Philippe Park.
Another option for those who prefer the consistency of a franchise hotel is the Candlewood Suites-Safety Harbor. Located on the outskirts of Safety Harbor on a main highway, this hotel is highly rated and is just a 5 minute drive to downtown Safety Harbor.
Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Safety Harbor
With it’s proximity to Tampa and Tampa’s airport, it’s a popular day trip for visitors to the larger city. Plan your trip to Safety Harbor around one of the festivals or just come spend a day enjoying the whimsical art and great food. Whatever you choose to do, you’ll leave entertained and utterly charmed by this small town.
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I need to visit this part of Florida, I love the aesthetic look and the spa is definitely something I’d love to do.
The next time I visit my uncle in the US, I’ll be putting Safety Harbor on my list, it has so much to offer it seems!
It’s such a fun and quirky little town!
hey Cristina 🙂 I love this guide. Thanks for the fantastic ideas, especially that one about watching the amazing sunset!
Thank you so much! So happy you enjoyed it!
What a great artsy town!
It is!