Robert Payne

Just a few hours south of Tampa, Florida is North Captiva Island.
View North Captiva in a larger map
It gets the name from both its captive beauty, and the fact that it served as a prison for female “captives” held for ransom by pirates.

Accessible only by boat or private plan, this half-mile wide island [...]

I’ve lived in Tampa for nearly two years now, and I must confess that during that time I’ve never taken the initiative to go to a Tampa Bay Rays game. So, when I got the invite from a friend it was the only push I needed. It was a good game, and the Rays walloped [...]

If you look carefully at this mural (click to enlarge) that is painted on the side of a building in downtown Tampa, you can see that it embodies much of the personality of the city. I hope the artist does not mind that I took a picture of it and posted it here.

Within the [...]

Lately, I have been exploring the different personalities of particular places I frequent. Here are two pictures taken in a 24-hour period along Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa, Florida. They go along with this shot of a Dolphin and Jack playing Cat and Mouse, Horses Resting, and this Bird On A Light.

Caught some images of skimboarders at Sebastian Inlet, Florida after a great Memorial Day surf session. More here…
 

The fact that Cocoa Beach is a mere 2 hour drive from Tampa, Florida can be a life saver for me. I get a little grumpy with all the flatness as far as the eye can see, so it sooths me when I spy a little natural variation on the horizon line. This generally comes [...]

If you are interested in visiting Anna Maria Island there is decent write up on the location in Southern Living. Otherwise, here is a little summation of this mellow enclave on the Gulf of Mexico.
No Roofs.
No Doors.
No Windows.
No Bars.
Think I’ll go for a bike ride.

Technorati Tags: anna maria,island,florida,gulf coast,tampa,biking

There are certain people who are absolutely fanatical when it comes to their fascinations with dolphins. I call these special treats, Porpoise People. And trust me, these unique individuals are by no means exclusive to beach communities. I can’t tell you how many times I have been driving through some little poedunk  mountain town, [...]

Sure, family is important, but if you are tempted to avoid all the hassles of baking a bird and packing on more calories than nature ever intended, you might just think about disappearing down to the Florida Keys for Thanksgiving. That is exactly what I chose to do this year, and a light suitcase containing [...]

Based on a tip from Tampa I Am, I decided to take a little stroll out at Brooker Creek Preserve this past Saturday. It sounded nice enough, and with its close proximity to downtown Tampa there was hardly any cause to consider it a huge commitment (even if it meant sacrificing precious weekend hours). [...]