I live in St. Petersburg, and when most people think of the Tampa Bay area, they mostly think about our beautiful beaches. And though we have some of the most pristine beaches in the area, there is so much more to do and see in the Tampa Bay area. We have tons of restaurants and bars for the partygoers, we also have lots of historical sites and museums. Additionally, we have theme parks as well as sporting event venues. But my favorite thing about Tampa Bay is the nature preserves and wildlife parks and areas, where I can escape and fully submerge into nature. I especially like visiting these areas in the Summer although the weather is usually humid and hot, but that’s the best time to catch the wildlife as well as see the gorgeous native plants. My favorite is Lettuce Lake Park because it’s an oasis that makes you believe you’re a million miles away from the Tampa Bay area. Typically, I go to this park alone because my boyfriend would complain too much about the heat and not having any air conditioned spaces to cool off. Of course, there is no air conditioner in the middle of a swamp, and that is just part of the deal. My boyfriend prefers to go to a nice restaurant or hang out somewhere that has the air conditioner blowing all the time. I think if it were up to him, he would stay inside the entire Summer and play video games as long as there is air conditioning. Don’t get me wrong, having air conditioning is important while living in Tampa Bay, but I won’t allow the lack of A/C to prevent me from exploring my gorgeous city.