The best way to enjoy the historic downtown of New Port Richey is on foot, with charming shops, art galleries, cocktail bars and cafes to check out. The area is a seafood lover’s paradise, with fresh catches filling the local restaurants. The town has an eye on eco-tourism, and visitors can explore the area on e-scooters or take a kayak or paddleboard for a trip along the Pithlachascotee River.

Wesley Chapel is home to Epperson Lagoon – a 7.5-acre man-made, crystal-clear body of water. A first-of-its-kind in the United States, the lagoon’s ultrasound technology uses thousands of sensors to efficiently keep the water pure, using 50 times less water than a park of the same size and 30 times less water than an 18-hole golf course. At the lagoon you’ll find areas for swimming, paddle boarding, and kayaking, as well as sandy beaches, a swim-up bar, cabanas and a floating obstacle course for all the family to enjoy.

In Florida’s Sports Coast you’ll find the West Tract of the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve. This 37,350-acre wildlife management is home to alligators, white-tailed deer, bobwhite quail, armadillos, grey squirrels, feral hogs and numerous bird species. Although portions are subject to seasonal flooding, a large part of the preserve is not swamp land but upland hardwoods, pine flatwoods, and open prairie land. Hikers will appreciate the many miles of marked trails, and kayakers can launch near the entrance of River Road and paddle the Withlacoochee in either direction.

The islands of Anclote Key house the Anclote Key State Preserve, whose beach dunes form a vibrant coastal ecosystem. These secluded islands, accessible by boat, are a favourite gathering place for nesting birds and returning sea turtles. In addition, the seagrass grown around the islands is a flourishing site for manatees, bottlenose dolphins, and marine invertebrates. While there, you can sunbathe on the powder-soft beach, search through the abundance of shells, wade in shallow waters or watch the sunset over the horizon.