South Tampa, FL July 2026

You’ve spent a fortune looking like you’re still figur

ing it out.

Your stylist should understand how you think, not ust what ’s trending.

Strategi ardro e epositioning is a out uilding your wardro e like a system around the identity of who you want to e ome.

Every morning you stand in front of your closet and something feels off. Maybe it's full of beautiful, expensive things that don't work together. Maybe you've been playing it safe for so long you don't even know what you'd choose if you trusted yourself

Either way, what you're wearing isn't who you are There’s an underlying pattern

Utilizing NLP-based identity work, I decode the psychological patterns driving your style. We break the cycle of “expensive drift ” and construct

a wardrobe centered on your next evolution. No

more random or emergency purchases. ust a definitive, high-per formance wardrobe that

works like a system and repositions you for who you want to become.

This goes beyond shopping - I strategically

reposition your presence

I founded STYL/FWRD after my 20+ years on

Wall Street and the Big4, integrating corporate

strategy with the science of Neuro-Linguistic

Programming to help you reclaim your power through style. I focus on luxury transformational

styling and guide you to stop the cycle of “oneoff ” purchases. Together, we build a cohesive, intentional system that serves your lifestyle, your goals, and your identity.

I don’t ust know every pie e you own.

I know who you truly are.

u ury ransformational Styling

Let's Explore!

We live in a world that values productivity and efficiency, where every moment seems to be mapped out and planned. I’ll admit, I fall into this mindset sometimes too, thinking that the only worthwhile activities are those that can be measured, calculated, and optimized. But the truth is, a life that is too structured is missing something vital— space for exploration.

We need room for discovery, for trying new things, for being a beginner. Sometimes, it’s in those unplanned moments where connections are made, memories are created, and trust is built. I remember when my husband, Matt, and I went paddleboarding during an anniversary trip. He thought I had gone before, but it was my first time. Within minutes of getting on the water, strong winds rolled in and I found myself paddling in circles while Matt had to walk both boards along the shoreline. When we finally made it around the bend, a bystander yelled, “I thought I’d never see you again.”

What was supposed to be a relaxing adventure quickly turned into one of those trips we still laugh about today. Sometimes the best travel memories come from the unexpected moments, the wrong turns, the weather surprises, and the stories you end up telling long after the trip is over.

In recent months, I’ve been reflecting on how my family spends our time together. We’ve realized that our happiest moments often come when we step away from screens and routines. Our "adventures" don’t always involve grand trips—they could be as simple as playing a board game on the patio, trying out a new trail, or exploring a new part of town to find a quirky little café.

This issue is all about giving yourself permission to explore—whether it’s a spontaneous trip, a new hobby, or simply making time for those unstructured moments with the people you love.

Let’s make space for the unexpected and the unexplored, and remember that it’s often in these moments that the richest connections are formed.

Happy exploring!

July 2026

PUBLISHER

Bethany Norman | Bethany.Norman@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

JoAnn Chang | joann.chang@citylifestyle.com

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR

Matt Norman | matt.norman@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Bethany Norman, JoAnn Chang, Amanda Schulis

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Hannah Hughes, Taylor Mayfield, Bethany Norman, JoAnn Chang, Heather Aycock, The Tox Tampa, Team Tampa Bay Missions, MetroLagoons, Jose Lopez Jr.

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Josh Govero

LAYOUT DESIGNER Liz Nixon

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas

BETHANY NORMAN, PUBLISHER @SOUTHTAMPACITYLIFESTYLE

Proverbs 3:5-6

New

Ownership, New Products, Next Level Service

Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa Bay is proud to join the South Tampa community under new ownership. We’re bringing a fresh approach to custom window treatments with elevated service, designer-inspired products, smart home solutions, and personalized design expertise. From shades and shutters to custom drapery, our team is committed to delivering the quality, style, and attention to detail South Tampa homeowners expect.

Mike and Adriane Wonderlin are excited to continue growing strong local relationships. They believe relationships matter just as much as results. Call

www.budgetblinds.com/tampabay/ 813-839-1400

INSIDE

OUT

Tampa Bay homeowners know how to live life lavishly. At Integral, we bring your refined lifestyle outdoors with home technology designed to withstand Florida’s unique climate. Integral outdoor speaker systems are the life of the patio party. Our landscape lighting beautifies your backyard. Our automated screens create defined, bug-free outdoor living spaces. Effortless technology lets you enjoy your boat dock, terrace, pool, and cabana year-round in the ultimate comfort, convenience, style, security, and entertainment. From sunset to soirée, Integral makes outdoor living luxurious.

Redefining Eyelid Surgery & Skin Rejuvenation in Tampa Bay

Dr. Rosh specializes in laser-assisted eyelid surgery, delivering natural, refined results with precision and minimal downtime. From blepharoplasty to BBL® + MOXI® and deep resurfacing, each treatment is designed to enhance—not change—your natural beauty. Her approach blends surgical expertise with advanced laser technology for beautifully balanced results.

DESIGNING ADVENTURE

ARTICLE BY BETHANY NORMAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HEATHER AYCOCK

SMART TRAVELERS ARE USING BOUTIQUE TRAVEL AGENTS WITH WORLDWIDE CONNECTIONS TO CURATE A TRAVEL EXPERIENCE LIKE NONE OTHER

Details matter. They shape the experience, elevate the ordinary, and often become the moments travelers remember long after they return home. In a world where travel has become increasingly automated, rushed, and transactional, more travelers are stepping away from DIY booking sites and seeking something far more personal: a thoughtfully curated experience designed around them.

That is exactly what Heather Aycock, founder of Catalyst Travel Design, has built her business around. “The human connection is incredibly important to me,” Heather shared. “People are tired of feeling like just another number. I wanted my business to feel completely different from that.”

Before launching Catalyst Travel Design, Heather spent twenty years working as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry. While she enjoyed the analytical side of her work, she eventually found herself searching for a career that allowed more creativity, flexibility, and direct connection with people. “I realized I loved the planning side of travel,” she said. “Most people love going on the trip, but they don’t love researching it, organizing it, or dealing with the logistics. I genuinely enjoy those details.”

During the pandemic, Heather immersed herself in learning the travel industry from the inside out. She trained extensively, built relationships with trusted travel partners around the world, and carefully developed the foundation for what would become Catalyst Travel Design. At the same time, life offered an unexpected adventure of its own. Heather and her now husband had moved aboard a sailboat full time in early 2020 when the pandemic abruptly changed their plans, leaving them offshore in the Bahamas for several weeks. While the experience was far from what they originally envisioned, it reinforced the importance of flexibility, preparation, and having someone you trust when plans unexpectedly shift.

That philosophy now defines the way she approaches every client experience. Rather than relying on generic booking platforms or pre-built itineraries, Heather takes the time to truly understand how her clients want to experience the world. Every trip begins with a conversation, learning what excites them, how they like to travel, what pace they enjoy, and even what hobbies or interests they have at home. Those details often become the foundation for the most memorable parts of a trip. For a couple who loves food and wine, that may mean a private culinary experience in Italy. For a family traveling with children, it could include immersive tours designed specifically to keep younger travelers engaged while still creating an elevated experience for the adults. For older travelers, thoughtful details like pacing, accessibility, and transportation logistics become equally important.

“No two travelers are the same,” Heather said. “So, no two trips should be either.”

That level of personalization is one of the biggest reasons travelers are returning to boutique travel advisors. While online booking sites may offer convenience, they often leave travelers navigating unexpected issues on their own. Delayed flights, canceled trains, missed connections, unfamiliar destinations, and constantly changing travel requirements can quickly turn stressful without someone advocating for you behind the scenes. Heather recalls assisting a family stranded in Azores, Portugal, after sudden flight cancellations disrupted their plans. While hundreds of travelers scrambled for solutions, she immediately stepped in to secure the final hotel rooms available and reorganize the remainder of the itinerary. “You don’t want to spend your vacation sitting on hold with customer service,” Heather said. “That’s what I’m here for.”

It is also the smaller behind-the-scenes details that many travelers never think about that often make the biggest difference. From helping clients navigate destination entry requirements to monitoring flights on departure day and coordinating schedule changes in real time, Heather serves as both designer and advocate throughout the entire travel experience. Travelers may never see the dozens of moving pieces being managed behind the scenes, but they feel the difference when a trip runs smoothly despite unexpected challenges.

Her extensive global relationships also allow her clients access to experiences they often would never find on their own. By collaborating with destination specialists, private guides, luxury hotels, and trusted local experts around the world, Heather is able to create itineraries that feel both seamless and deeply personal. One recent Switzerland itinerary included luxury train journeys through the Alps, glacier excursions, five-star accommodations, and full luggage handling from destination to destination so the travelers could simply relax and enjoy the experience. “They wanted everything handled for them,” Heather said. “They wanted to be fully present during the trip instead of worrying about logistics.”

For Heather, however, luxury is not always about extravagance. More often, it is about intentionality. When planning her parents’ anniversary trip to Washington, D.C., she balanced her mother’s love of elevated hospitality with her father’s passion for history by arranging luxury accommodations, personalized touches, and a private historian-led tour tailored specifically to his interests.

Those carefully considered details are what ultimately transform a trip from memorable to unforgettable.

Heather also believes travelers often underestimate how overwhelming travel can become once exhaustion, time changes, delays, and unfamiliar surroundings are added into the mix. Having someone available to step in, answer questions, adjust plans, or simply provide reassurance creates a level of comfort that online booking platforms simply cannot replicate. “Sometimes people just need to know someone has their back,” she said. “That peace of mind changes everything.”

For busy professionals, families, and travelers seeking a truly elevated experience, that level of support has become less of a luxury and more of a necessity in today’s constantly changing travel landscape.

“There’s a big difference between booking travel and designing an experience,” Heather said. “Anyone can book something online. But having someone who truly knows you, understands your priorities, and advocates for you throughout the process completely changes the experience.”

As travelers continue to prioritize meaningful experiences over convenience alone, Heather believes the future of luxury travel is becoming increasingly personal. Because in the end, the best trips are not simply planned. They are thoughtfully designed.

Heather Aycock

Heather Aycock founded Catalyst Travel Design, a boutique luxury travel agency specializing in personalized, relationship-driven travel experiences worldwide. After spending more than 20 years as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry, Heather transitioned into luxury travel design, combining analytical attention to detail with a passion for creating unforgettable experiences.

Known for her hands-on approach and client service, Heather works closely with trusted global partners to curate itineraries tailored to each traveler’s interests and style. From luxury European adventures to multi-generational family vacations, every experience is thoughtfully designed from beginning to end. Heather also belongs to the Virtuoso network through her host agency, Largay Travel.

To learn more or begin planning your next adventure, visit https:// www.catalysttraveldesign.com or follow along on Instagram @ catalysttraveldesign.

STRONGER TOGETHER

Welcome to The Spiral Staircase

Inspired by a vision of connection and creativity, The Spiral Staircase is a serene and joyful gathering place for women. Founded by Christina McCue Hoek, it was thoughtfully designed as a retreat from the demands of daily life, inviting guests to engage in enriching workshops, heartfelt events, and moments of reflection. More than a venue, it is a living community built on friendship, inspiration, and celebration.

A New Rhythm

Your Body Feels Off, Here’s What Can Help

That constant puffiness, low energy, sluggish digestion. The heavy feeling that’s hard to pinpoint but impossible to ignore. For Kat Wade, owner of The Tox in South Tampa, these are patterns she sees every day, and often, they’re tied to how the body is (or isn’t) moving.

“The body responds to consistency and movement,” Wade explains. “When things slow down, you can start to feel it in multiple ways.”

While many people focus only on workouts or diet, body sculpting introduces another layer of support. One that’s centered around hands-on techniques designed to promote circulation, encourage muscle engagement, and enhance overall body definition. It’s an approach that meets the body where it is, working with what you’re already doing rather than asking you to start over from scratch.

At The Tox, sculpting is not about extremes or quick fixes. It’s about creating visible, feel-good changes through intentional, consistent work. The Tox Technique is best described as body sculpting that stimulates your lymphatic system. It supports natural flow while helping reduce the appearance of puffiness and promoting a more contoured look. It’s a method built around the understanding that how you feel and how you look are deeply connected. It’s centered on the belief that addressing one tends to improve the other.

Modern routines don’t always support that. Long hours sitting, high stress, and limited movement can all contribute to that feeling of stagnation. The lymphatic system has no pump of its own, so it depends

"The heart and the cardiovascular system have a natural pump

system. The lymphatic system does not, which is why

we have

to work on it to drain it and get all the toxins out."

entirely on movement, breath, and muscle contraction to keep things flowing. When daily life removes those, the body reflects it. Fluid builds. Tension settles in. Energy drops. Even for those who work out regularly, there can still be areas where the body holds tension or appears less defined. Cue the puffy feeling we all dread.

That’s where sculpting-focused bodywork comes in. By combining targeted techniques with a full-body approach, these sessions are designed to complement an existing wellness routine, not replace it. Each session works to encourage the body’s natural processes, helping move things along. Many clients leave feeling lighter, more energized, and more connected to their bodies.

One of the most common questions Wade hears is what to do after a session.

“I always tell clients to keep going,” she says. “Move your body, sweat, stay hydrated—support the work so you can maintain how you feel after.”

Daily habits like movement, hydration, and consistency play a major role in maintaining results. Sweating, deep breathing, and staying active between sessions all help keep the body’s systems moving efficiently. Body sculpting works best as part of a broader routine. One that supports both how you look and how you feel.

“You can be doing all the right things,” Wade adds, “but sometimes your body needs that extra push. Lymphatic and digestive based sculpting helps enhance what you’re already working towards”.

KATE WADE & THE TOX SOUTH TAMPA

Kat Wade is the owner of The Tox Tampa and Sarasota, part of The Tox Technique-a network of lymphatic drainage studios focused on manual drainage, body sculpting, and whole-body wellness. After years in corporate health, Kat knew that she wanted to do something different, to really make people’s health better, not just “work in healthcare”, especially after she saw some behind the scenes of what that really looked like. The Tox was her way of making an impact. Learn more at thetoxtechnique.com/stores/ the-tox-tampa.

A STAYCATION STATE OF MIND

Sometimes the most memorable destinations are only a short drive away

Sometimes the least explored place is right in our own backyard. While many travelers spend months planning elaborate vacations and faraway escapes, some of Florida’s most memorable destinations are only a short drive away. From luxury Airbnb’s and waterfront dining to charming coastal towns filled with personality, local staycations have become the perfect way to step away from routine without the stress of major travel.

For our recent getaway, we headed to Anna Maria Island, a laid-back stretch of coastline known for its white sand beaches, relaxed pace, and unmistakable Old Florida charm. The moment you cross onto the island, everything seems to slow down. Golf carts replace busy traffic, palm trees sway over quiet streets lined with beach cottages and coastal homes, and nearly every corner invites you to linger a little longer.

Our home for the weekend was a stunning bayfront Airbnb through Sunrise Bay Properties, and it instantly set the tone for the trip. Thoughtfully designed with coastal interiors, panoramic water views, spacious indoor-outdoor living spaces, and a private pool overlooking the bay, the property managed to feel both elevated

and welcoming at the same time. Whether planning a romantic weekend, a girls’ getaway, or simply looking for a change of scenery close to home, it offered the perfect balance of luxury and comfort.

One of the highlights of the stay was waking up to the sunrise over the bay each morning. As the island slowly came to life, golden light reflected across the water while the sky shifted into soft shades of orange and pink. Coffee in hand, wrapped in the quiet stillness of the morning, it was the kind of view that instantly slows you down and reminds you why getting away, even locally -– matters.

Of course, no island getaway is complete without memorable local stops along the way. Our first stop was lunch at The Ugly Grouper, a lively local favorite known for its laid-back atmosphere, live music, and fresh seafood. Casual, welcoming, and completely unpretentious, it captured the relaxed energy that makes Anna Maria Island so appealing.

That evening, we headed to Sandbar Seafood & Spirits for sunset dinner, and it quickly became one of the most memorable moments of the trip. Situated directly on the beach, Sandbar offers front-row seats to one of Anna Maria Island’s nightly traditions. As sunset approached, crowds lined the shoreline waiting to watch the sky transform over the Gulf.  Conversations quieted as shades of amber, blush pink, and lavender stretched across the water. Then, as the sun finally disappeared beneath the horizon, the crowd erupted into applause and cheers. Complete strangers celebrating something simple and beautiful together. It was one of those moments that perfectly captures why people fall in love with places like Anna Maria Island year after year with family and friends.

The next morning, we wrapped up the trip with breakfast from The Donut Experiment, a playful island favorite where guests customize mini donuts with different glazes and toppings. Between the smell of warm donuts drifting into the street and the cheerful patio atmosphere, it felt like the perfect final stop.

What makes a staycation so appealing isn’t just the convenience, it’s the reminder that we often overlook the beauty and adventure waiting close to home. From breathtaking sunrises over the bay to waterfront dinners that end with strangers applauding the sunset together. Sometimes the perfect escape is waiting much closer than you think.

SCAN FOR MORE

BUILDING BRIGHT FUTURES FROM INFANTS TO VPK SINCE

1977

Exploring With Heart

They say you can’t pour from an empty cup. You can only work so long before you need to take time to recharge and fill your cup again. Most do that by unplugging and taking time to rest and relax. But there is another type of person who recharges through the act of giving to others. These people seek out ways to lift others up, and the joy they bring through their efforts is what brings them back year after year.

This is most certainly the case for the group behind Team Tampa Bay Missions, a small non-profit focused on providing

medical care and education to underserved communities through annual medical mission trips to the Dominican Republic. Led by Co-Presidents Sarah Mahon and Fran Kade, who met as nurses at All Children’s Hospital, they’ve created a special community of people called to help those with the greatest need. The trips started as a project of another worker at the hospital who recruited the nurses to help. “We immediately felt at home there. The people we get to serve are so grateful for just our presence and not what we can give,” shared Mahon.

Eventually, the planning of the trips was passed on to Sarah and Fran. They had a core group of five who often discussed creating a non-profit to support their efforts. After Sarah’s mother passed in 2015, the legacy she left behind allowed Sarah to bring that idea to life in 2016. Since then, they have led a group of volunteers every year to support the work of Good Samaritan Mission Council in the Dominican Republic.

The trip requires significant planning and preparation. From recruiting volunteers, securing both prescription and over-the-counter medications, and medical and personal hygiene supplies to bring on the trip, they are busy all year long. “I think Fran may have gone to 17 different Dollar Trees looking for items. I think sometimes it’s like a never-ending scavenger hunt, trying to look for specific supplies that we utilize,” explained Mahon.

As the trip gets closer, they host packing parties to make the most of every inch of luggage space. “The people coming pack in a backpack and carry-on for their personal stuff, and their checked bags are all clinic supplies,” explained Mahon. “We have a luggage scale, and we pack those bags as close to 50 pounds as we can,” added Kade.

Team Tampa Bay Missions travel to provide medical services

ARTICLE BY JOANN CHANG

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TEAM TAMPA BAY MISSIONS

Once they arrive, the group gets to work. “We do five mobile clinics during the week. It’s a nine-toten-day trip, but most of that is prep work. We see somewhere between 400-600 people in those five days of clinic,” said Kade.

Most of the patients they see are battling hypertension, diabetes, and malnutrition. They try to give every person they see vitamins, a toothbrush and toothpaste and over-the-counter meds for minor symptoms. Those with hypertension and diabetes receive a 90-day supply of meds, enough to last them until the next mission group arrives. But what the volunteers get in return is priceless. “You’re working your butt off, but it’s this beautiful time of just working for others. It fills our buckets like crazy,” shared Kade.

Anyone with a heart to serve can join Team Tampa Bay Missions. “We are thrilled when we get medical professionals to come, especially providers. But

“The people we get to serve are so grateful for just our presence and not what we can give.”

anybody, even if you have zero medical knowledge, can come,” said Kade. “When we created this, we wanted anybody that has the heart to serve to feel like they had a place to do so. As hard as it can get, we can’t stop doing what we’re doing, because we have been able to create what the five of us with all different backgrounds wanted to create,” added Mahon.

In turn, this group has created a legacy of service and care that will live on for generations to come. Those who want to volunteer or otherwise support Team Tampa Bay Missions can learn more on their Facebook page or at http://ttbmissionsinc.org.

ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE

The 10% Target Mindset

Jen Cohen ON THE PRACTICE OF ASKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT

Winnipeg in the winter, and a 17-year-old waits 45 minutes in the cold for Keanu Reeves. Her fingers are numb. She is not there for an autograph. She is there to ask him to appear in her audition tape for MuchMusic, Canada’s MTV. When he finally agrees, she writes her number on a gum wrapper with a borrowed lip liner.

He calls days later.

That 17-year-old was Jen Cohen — fitness expert, host of the Habits & Hustle podcast, and best-selling author. She has built a career on the premise her frostbitten afternoon proved. She calls the practice the 10% Target: 10 attempts at whatever you want most in life.

The premise is simple. Most people never make one attempt. Almost nobody makes two. The math works in favor of the person who keeps going.

The top-rated Habits & Hustle podcast has logged hundreds of conversations with high performers and the people who study what the body does to the mind. Her TEDx talk, The Secret to Getting Anything You Want in Life, has traveled widely inside Fortune 500 sales-training rooms. On the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Cohen sits down to share the working rules that are the foundation of her latest book, Bigger, Better, Bolder.

“You have to be the CEO of your own life.”

FEATURING JEN COHEN

Discover the full 10% Target Mindset framework.

1 2

MAKE TEN ATTEMPTS

The door opens, or another door does. The unmade attempt and the refused one leave you in the same place — except one of them teaches you something.

STACK THE DECK

Cohen frames her habits as a wager: How do I stack the deck so I win more than I lose? The workout happens first, and the food decisions follow. The email follow-up gets sent, and the answer arrives. The choices compound in a single direction.

3

DISCIPLINE IS A PRACTICED SKILL, NOT AN INHERITANCE

No one is born with it. The people who look disciplined are running a routine they have rehearsed long enough that it no longer feels like effort. The reps are the skill. Miss them, and the skill fades, the same as any other.

4

SELF-TALK ONLY WORKS WHEN THE BODY BACKS IT UP

Confidence does not arrive by repeating the word. It arrives after the body has done the thing — the workout finished, the cold walk endured, the email sent. The mind takes its cues from what the body proves it can do. Talk follows action, not the other way around.

5

NEVER MISS A MONDAY

The first decision sets the slope of the rest. Skip the Monday workout, and the rest of the week tends to follow. Hold the line on Monday, and the slope tilts the other way.

SOUTH TAMPA

2610 W KENNEDY BLVD 813-970-3022

OUTDOOR Living

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WESTCHASE

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HANDS-ON APPROACH TO TRUE WELLNESS

YOUR FASCIA KNOWS HOW TO HEAL. IT JUST NEEDS THE RIGHT HANDS.

After 19 years treating everyone from Olympic athletes to postpartum mamas, cancer patients, and chronic pain sufferers, I know one truth: your body already knows how to heal. My job is giving your fascia the expert touch it needs to restore balance and eliminate pain. Necessary Elements brings elite-level neuromuscular and myofascial therapy to South Tampa.

LET ME HELP YOU COME BACK TO YOUR BODY’S NATURAL BALANCE. Call or text 813.531.3966 to book today!

necessaryelementsofsouthtampa@gmail.com

ARTICLE BY JOANN CHANG

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOANN CHANG & METROLAGOONS

“It’s a day at the beach without driving all the way to the beach. No jellyfish, sharks or red tide.”

Lagoon Life

The next time you're looking for a beach day, head to the Lagoon

As the summer days get hotter, finding ways to cool off and connect as a family become more important. In Florida, we are blessed with a wealth of options. Beaches, springs and rivers surround us. In recent years, a new option has been added to that list – a day at a local lagoon!

Lagoons are a recent trend, brought to the United States by Metro Development. The first lagoon built in the United States was in Wesley Chapel at the Epperson development in 2018. It was so successful, Lagoons were built at other Florida communities including Southshore Bay in Wimauma in 2022, Mirada in San Antonio in 2023, Brightwater in North Fort Myers in 2025 with additional Lagoons planned for Angeline in Land O’ Lakes and Seaire in Parrish in coming years. These large artificial swimming lagoons are managed by the team at MetroLagoons. “It’s an immersive getaway right in their backyard,” explained David Heaton, MetroLagoons Vice President of Operations.

While these large resort-style amenities were created for local communities, what many may not realize are these lagoons are also open to the public to enjoy. For the price of a ticket, you can cool off and enjoy one of the largest swimming pools in the country, complete with a swim up bar and water activities. “It’s a day at the beach

without driving all the way to the beach. No jellyfish, sharks or red tide,” shared Heaton.

A perfect balance is struck between the host community and the public. “We do a lot of community events and host them at the property. We’ll do movie nights during the week. We’ll do seasonal events during Easter, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Fourth of July. Launching fireworks over these properties is absolutely breathtaking,” Heaton said. Residents are often offered designated seating areas for these activities, allowing them to feel at home with their neighbors while allowing the public to enjoy the experience as well. They also keep a close eye on attendance, limiting ticket sales on peak days so everyone can enjoy the lagoon without overcrowding. The lagoon experience has much to offer. Small children enjoy playing in the sand, wading and splashing in the shallow areas and playing in the kids splash zone. Those looking for a bit more adrenalin will enjoy the water slide, large water obstacle course, as well as exploring the lagoon on paddle boards or kayaks. Those who prefer more low keys activities have options too. “The swim up bar is wildly popular. Just to be able to cool off on a hot Florida day, sipping your cocktail or frozen drink in the water is a plus,” Heaton shared.

“The swim up bar is wildly popular. Just to be able to cool off on a hot Florida day, sipping your cocktail or frozen drink in the water is a plus.”

Those looking for exclusivity and luxury by the water can find that as well. “Each property has our Cabana Cove area, where you can rent your cabanas. It has its own designated swimming area and bar with large screen televisions. You can scan a QR code, and your favorite cocktail or frozen drink is hand delivered right to you. It’s really the best way to have that kind of privacy, exclusivity and top-notch level of service when you visit,” shared Heaton. Cabana Cove offers both traditional cabanas with comfortable seating and loungers as well as Aquabanas that float right on the lagoon.

Above all, a day at the lagoon lets you leave your worries behind and focus on a cool day on the water. Whether it’s spending time as a family or treating out-of-town guests to a fresh slice of Florida, the lagoon experience offers something for everyone, turning an ordinary Florida afternoon into a resortstyle escape just minutes from home.

ENJOY A DAY OF LAGOON LIFE

Planning your lagoon day starts at www. metrolagoons.com. You can pick the right lagoon to fit your needs, purchase admission tickets, add splash passes for water activities, and reserve seating lagoon side or even a cabana or Aquabana in Cabana Cove.

Guests should bring their towels and sunscreen, but leave the coolers at home. Each lagoon offers a wide variety of food and beverages to enjoy on your lagoon day. Be sure to check the FAQ about what to bring to enhance your day and what to leave at home.

www.metrolagoons.com