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“Flight Seeing” Over Tampa Bay, Florida
By carlvaleri | June 5, 2010
Turquoise waters slide below as I fly towards an inlet where strong currents have turned the white sandy swirls into a secluded bird sanctuary. The din of the airplanes engine is barely heard as I lose myself in the wonderful views of pristine waters surrounding a barrier island below. As if on a magic carpet I’m gliding above the colorful waters during my aerial tour of Tampa Bay.
From the air our world turns into a beautiful landscape. The tour today takes me over Ft. DeSoto, Egmont Key and Anna Maria Island. By land visiting these areas would require hours but by plane I pass them all in minutes.
Ft. DeSoto and the preserved white sands of its North Beach is one of the gems of coastal Florida. From my heavenly vantage I could see visitors climbing the steps up the side of the historic fort, sunbathers laying on the beach, bicyclists riding the trails, and kayakers paddling the many inlets.
Egmont Key at the base of the Tampa Bay has been a protector of the harbor for centuries and was inhabited on numerous occasions. Now a state park with a bird sanctuary on one end and a sturdy lighthouse on the other, the island plays an important role in nautical navigation and the ecosystem.
Turning south and crossing the large inlet is Anna Maria Island, a quaint village with small shops and restaurants surrounded by white sandy beaches. Pine trees reach skyward above the low lying homes contributing to the rustic look and relaxed atmosphere of this island paradise.
It was time to head home after circling the pristine barrier islands. Flying back I passed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, illuminated by the bright Florida sun. Many inlets and coves nestled along the bay pass under the plane as we head north.
My sightseeing tour began out of an island in Tampa named Davis Island. At the southern tip of the island a small airport, Peter O. Knight, sits between a yacht basin to the south and the beautiful skyline of Tampa to the north.
I can’t wait to see more wonderful sights from the sky above Tampa Bay. No matter where you live the view from above is amazing. Why not stop by your local airport and see if you can take a “flight seeing” tour?
For More Information:
Atlas Aviation at Peter O. Knight airport.
Suggested Reading:
Topics: Aviation, Florida, Tampa | 1 Comment »
June 10th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
One of the best trips I have ever taken was the trip to Ft. DeSoto Park. We were supposed to fly home and we ended up driving the rental car away because of a hurricane. I remember how pristine the beaches where and so secluded, it was like we had a private beach for the day. Then we stopped at all of the little out of the way places on the way home. Awesome time!!!