Going Green Tampa

Valentine’s Day - The day that people either love or hate…because of a blossoming romance or the crushing end of one. Whether you’re for or against this Hallmark holiday, you can still face it head on in an earth friendly, green kind of way.

This article is dedicated to our local friends of the Tampa Bay region in all of its eco-friendly greatness! A few ideas to keep it local, fun and earth friendly:

Sweet Treats

Valentine’s Day just wouldn’t be the same without some tasty chocolate treats. A partner of Going Green Tampa has a fabulous shop on Central Ave in St. Petersburg, properly titled GateauOChocolat. They serve the most heavenly chocolate flourless, organic cakes one could imagine. GateauOChocolat Gluten free chocolate cake is made of Rain Forest Alliance Certified 100% single-origin rare Ecuadorian chocolate. This is a local must stop for all chocolate lovers. And if you can’t make it to the store, they have Fed Ex shipping available.

Learn more about where you can find a complete listing of foodie friendly treats.

Fun Eco Activities

If you want to lay off the guilt ridden indulgences and head outdoors with your Valentine’s Day sweetie, there are lots of local spots to enjoy the outdoors. Weedon Island Nature Preserve is an outdoor lover’s paradise. It is quiet and serene with Mother Nature surrounding you at every step. Take part in bird watching, hiking, kayaking and more. It is open year round, so why not get away from the office and head back to nature. Some other local outdoor spots include: Boyd Hill Nature Park, Caladesi Island and Moccasin Lake Nature Park.

Eco Gifts

Sometimes it can be overwhelming when it comes to gift buying. Why not purchase something that everyone can enjoy, and it doesn’t add clutter to our life or the landfill. Florida Aquarium offers annual memberships that allow you to take as many eco adventures as your heart desires. If that special someone is far away, you can always make a donation in their name to help out in the Florida Aquarium’s conservation efforts.

Learn more about where you can find more earth friendly gifts.

How about a delicious dinner

The day just isn’t complete without experiencing some gastronomic local favorites. These restaurants buy as much as they can from local farms who do it right and keep it sustainable.

The Refinery

The menu changes each Thursday and offers what is fresh and in season now. All food is made in house and consists of fresh salads, soups and entrees full of delectable local goodness. It is a place that you have to try out for yourself in order to give it the justice it deserves. Don’t miss the seasonal brunch menu or Happy Hour.

See a complete listing of local, sustainable restaurants the Tampa Bay area.

We hope this gives you a few ideas to enjoy the beauty of what we have to offer in the Tampa Bay area.

Enjoy your Valentine’s Day everyone!

Be safe, have fun and most importantly keep it earth friendly!

Love,

Your team at Going Green Tampa

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