If you live in or around Tampa, when you hear Brooksville you don’t necessarily think “oh, I would like to go there”. In comparison to all the busy activities in Tampa, Brooksville is definitely a much slower pace. If your looking for a nice little day away from the crowds, Brooksville has a few nice family friendly activities to offer.
To start if your coming from Tampa, you can drive straight up the Veterans Express Way, US HWY 41, or take 75 to State Road 50. Your in for about an hour drive. It’s actually a very pretty ride, lots of land and trees. If your like us, we throw on Lady Gaga Essentials on iTunes and sing all the way there :).
The first stop of the day is Boyett Grove Citrus Attraction. This zoo/mini golf/gift shop/all things strange, is quite the experience. The first time we went we had no idea what we were walking into, but it actually turned out to be a pretty fun place. It’s a zoo for rescue animals and for an extra $5.00 you get a huge bag of food to feed them. There are zebras, birds, lama’s, ponies, and even a camel. The animals are great and they offer a lot of laughs. Charlotte gets a kick out of feeding them.
After your spent playing mini golf, petting a camel, and checking out everything behind all the mysteries doors (yes, there are numbered doors that take you to different areas of the attraction) you will be ready for lunch.
Our favorite place to eat is the historic Coney Island Drive Inn. It’s a hot dog joint and so yummy! It’s a super inexpensive treat for the whole family offering footlong corndogs, chili dogs, and if your not a hot dog fan they have burgers. The atmosphere feels like you stepped back in time when it first opened in 1960. Fun fact – Elvis ate there in 1961! They have a corner of the restaurant dedicated to him. If you sit outside, there is a nice area in the back to play cornhole while you wait for your order.
If your looking to throw in a little history for the little ones, visit Brooksville 1885 Railroad Depot Museum. It is literally around the corner from Coney Island. The museum provides a 45 minute guided tour for $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for children. There is even an old train car on the side of the building and a vintage fire truck.
If your in for a bike ride, right next to the museum is the Good Neighbor bike trial which is 10 miles long. We didn’t get a chance to ride on our visit because Charlotte had a melt down about riding her bike without training wheels….such is life!
Downtown Brooksville leaves a little to be desired right now but they are slowly working on revamping the city to a cool new destination. We are actually pretty excited about the plans for the city. They have already added a few events on the 2nd Friday of each month and 4th Saturday. It’s worth the walk around though, there are a few cute little coffee shops, shopping spots and historic buildings to check out.
So, there you have it…a fun little day away that’s not too far from Tampa and makes you feel like you stepped into a different time. We really do love Brooksville and the slow and quite setting if offers. Let us know if you make the trip and how you liked it!
The Nature Coast Family 