Active Pursuits

Biking, In-Line Skating & Jogging

Bayshore Boulevard, a 7-mile-long promenade, is famous for its sidewalk right on the shores of Hillsborough Bay and is a favorite with runners, walkers, and in-line skaters. The route goes from the western edge of downtown in a southward direction, passing stately old homes in Hyde Park, a few high-rise condominiums, retirement communities, and houses of worship, ending at Ballast Point Park. The view from the promenade across the bay to the downtown skyline is matchless. (Bayshore Blvd. is also great for a drive.)

Fishing

For charters, try Captain Jim's Inshore Sportfishing Charters, 512 Palm Ave., Palm Harbor (tel. 727/439-9017; www.captainhud.com), which offers private sport-fishing trips for tarpon, redfish, trout, and snook. Rates are $350 to $625 for two anglers. Call for schedule and reservations. Rave reviews have come in for Capt. Gus's Crabby Adventures (tel. 813/645-6578; www.crabbyadventures.com), whose 4-hour boating, eating, and eco-experience includes interaction with live blue crabs, stone crabs, and all the living creatures of the bay including manatees, dolphins, laughing gulls, pelicans, herons, egrets, and osprey. Gus instructs guests on how crab traps are pulled and baited. Guests also learn to grade, clean, steam, and eat blue crabs and stone crabs at the Bay Chop Villa, an open-air, waterfront shack and gazebo overlooking a Zen rock garden. Parties of two cost $300; additional passengers are $50 each. The boat leaves at 8am and 2pm.

Golf

Tampa has three municipal golf courses where you can play for about $30 to $35, a relative pittance compared to fees at privately owned courses here and elsewhere in Florida. The Babe Zaharias Municipal Golf Course, 11412 Forest Hills Dr., north of Lowry Park (tel. 813/631-4374), is an 18-hole, par-70 course with a pro shop, putting greens, and a driving range. It is the shortest of the municipal courses, but its small greens and narrow fairways present ample challenges. Water provides obstacles on 12 of the 18 holes at Rocky Point Golf Course, 4151 Dana Shores Dr. (tel. 813/673-4316), located between the airport and the bay. It's a par-71 course with a pro shop, practice range, and putting greens. On the Hillsborough River in north Tampa, the Rogers Park Golf Course, 7910 N. 30th St. (tel. 813/673-4396), is an 18-hole, par-72 championship course with a lighted driving and practice range. All of the courses are open daily from 7am to dusk, and lessons and club rentals are available.

You can book starting times and get information about these and the area's other courses by calling Tee Times USA (tel. 800/374-8633; www.teetimesusa.com).

If you want to do some serious work on your game, the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy World Headquarters is at Saddlebrook Resort, 5700 Saddlebrook Way, Wesley Chapel, 12 miles north of Tampa (tel. 800/729-8383 or 813/973-1111; www.saddlebrookresort.com). Half-day and hourly instruction is available, as well as 2-, 3-, and 5-day programs for adults and juniors. You have to stay at the resort or enroll in the golf program to play at Saddlebrook.

For course information online, go to www.golf.com or www.floridagolfing.com; or call the Florida Sports Foundation (tel. 850/488-8347) or Florida Golfing (tel. 866/833-2663).

Tennis

Sharpen your game at the Hopman Tennis Program, at the Saddlebrook Resort. You must be a member or a guest to play here.