A Day In Hyde Park

The Daily Meal Staff|Aug. 30, 2014 7:00 am EST

Hyde Park is a beautiful, well-kept Tampa neighborhood with ample opportunities for shopping, dining and entertainment. You don't have to live in the Hyde Park area to enjoy all that it has to offer. If you're looking for a day out or even a weekend getaway, you'll find plenty to do.

Shopping

Hyde Park Village
1602 W. Snow Ave.
Tampa, FL 33606
www.hydeparkvillage.com

Dozens of shops populate this open-air shopping center. Designer clothes like Anthropologie and Brooks Brothers are offered along with other brands like FITniche and Salt Pines. You'll also find shops like KidzArt, Pottery Barn, Ashworth Artisan Chocolate, Learning Express and West Elm. The center is also brewing with special events and clubs, like the Sunday Fresh Market, Irish 31 Running Club, story time at Learning Express, art classes and so much more. Parking is always free and the Village is open every day from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., except on Sundays, when the hours are 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can even bring your dog with you as long as you put him on a leash and use the doggie clean-up stations when you need them. Dogs are welcome in most areas of the center and there are plenty of shady places for them to lie down and rest. Most places even keep doggie treats and bowls of water in front of the store. Shopping in Hyde Park Village really is family-friendly.

Dining

Bern's Steak House
1208 S. Howard Ave.
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 251-2421
www.bernssteakhouse.com

Hyde Park is packed with dining options, including Cinébistro, Timpano Italian Chophouse, Wine Exchange and others, but this highly rated restaurant is definitely worth a try. Steaks are the main feature of the menu and there are separate lists for filet mignon, sirloin, chateaubriand, delmonico, porterhouse and t-bone steaks. Any steak, or other cut of meat like chicken or veal, comes with a side of your choice, such as onion rings, steamed vegetables, wild rice pilaf or mushroom risotto. And, even though it may be challenging with all of that good food, make sure you save room for dessert. The Harry Waugh dessert room is a truly unique experience, one in which you can enjoy quieter, more intimate conversation while you sip a dessert beverage like Godiva White Chocolate Liquer or Kahlua. The long list of dessert specialties includes bananas foster, baked Alaska, malted chocolate cake, espresso brownies and more than you can even imagine.

Lodging

Safety Harbor Resort and Spa
105 N. Bayshore Drive
Safety Harbor, FL 34695
(727) 726-1161
www.safetyharborspa.com

If you're enamored with Hyde Park and want to stick around for a few more days, you have your normal choices — regular hotels and motels. Or, you can try something really special and stay at the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, which is only 20 minutes from Hyde Park and well worth the trip. The resort was built over a mineral spring and the spring feeds all of the resort's water needs, including the swimming and spa amenities. Filtered spring water is even available throughout the resort and has a slightly saline, mineral flavor. There are plenty of amenities and entertainment options, including a family pool, adult indoor pool, outdoor tiki bar, steam bath, dry sauna, fitness center and group classes for yoga, water aerobics and other activities. Both men and women will love the available spa treatments, including mineral baths, mineral wraps, facials, manicures, pedicures and massages. Services are available in packages or a la carte. It is truly the best way to pamper yourself and relax.

Amanda Mole has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil and cooking since she was tall enough to reach the stove. She believes that food provides more than just vital nutrients: it is an irreplaceable part of countless cultural and social activities. As a Tampa Bay resident for the past 21 years, she is well acquainted with the incredibly diverse range of restaurants, bars, and food festivals that the area has to offer. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.