A guide to whimsical, tasty Safety Harbor
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Ellie in her natural habitat: in front of the Safety Harbor Art and Music Center. Photo: Selene San Felice/Axios
Many of you recognized the pink elephant in yesterday's newsletter as Ellie, a beloved icon in downtown Safety Harbor.
Why it matters: She's one of countless quirky characters in a little town well worth the half-hour-or-more drive from areas such as St. Pete and Tampa.
State of play: The city's Third Friday celebration (tonight!) is a great way to get a taste of Safety Harbor partying, with live music and local vendors.
Zoom in: Ellie lives at the Safety Harbor Art and Music Center (SHAMC), a building covered in mirrored mosaics that hosts concerts, offers craft classes and sells work from local artists.
- It's owned by Todd Ramquist and Kiaralinda, who met and fell in love in seventh-grade art class.
- For nearly 40 years they've been turning their home nearby into "Whimzeyland," an outdoor recycled art collection with everything from bowling balls to computer part-covered VW Beetles. Both SHAMC and Whimzeyland are free to stroll through.
- The decorations spread to "Coco Loco," their rentable guesthouse across the street.
The big picture: Downtown Safety Harbor is a delightful walk packed with fun shops and cafes.
- Nature lovers can also explore the waterfront park, boardwalk and Philippe Park — perfect for running, biking and kayaking.
More to eat, drink and do:
🧇 Treat yourself to a sweet breakfast at Café Vino Tinto. Try the toasted marshmallow latte and guava waffles.
📚 Grab a new read and chat with Crystal, the owner of Portkey Books.
💆 Splurge on a self-care day at Safety Harbor Resort & Spa.
🦞 Grab a lobster grilled cheese at Bar Fly.
🍭 Become a kid in a candy store at Rocking Delicious.
🍰 Dig into a slice of cheesecake at Bassano.
🎞️ Catch a movie with a gourmet speakeasy twist at Gigglewaters.
Want more to explore? Check out our guides to Brandon, Dunedin, Lakeland, Largo and Plant City.