LemonHearted

View Original

5 hours in Dunedin

The West coast of Florida has several smaller cities that I haven’t explored, so on my recent trip to St. Petersburg, I decided to venture out and explore Dunedin. Just North of Clearwater, it’s a small beachside town that was full of active residents on a beautiful Sunday morning. With two beautiful islands right off the coast for kayaking, fishing, swimming, and nature walks, as well as a trail that cuts right through the center of the downtown area, it’s easy to see why so many people were out and about in the Florida sunshine.

Dunedin is about a thirty-minute drive north from St. Pete, so my time was limited to just a few hours. I likely would not advise seeking out Dunedin as a day trip without already being in a neighboring city, but it was great for a few hours.

Below is what I was able to enjoy in Dunedin and a few places I had on my list but didn't get to visit.

9th Coffee Bar and Co.

The first stop is always coffee, and that is especially true when exploring a new city. 9th Coffee Bar and Co. was a quick stop in the morning, I didn’t stay and hang out inside, but the coffee was excellent as was the service. There was no hipster coffee vibe here. Definitely not pretentious or unwelcoming.

949 Huntley Ave, Dunedin, FL 9thbarespresso.com

The Scone Age Cafe

I had not come across this bakery in my initial research, but as we drove into Dunedin, I saw the “Scone Age” sign, and it piqued my curiosity. Everything in this small bakery is from scratch, and the owner offers European style pastries and bread, including whole food, gluten-free, and paleo baked goods. I had a Jerusalem bagel with their homemade cream cheese, and it was one of the best bagels I’ve had in recent memory. I highly recommend a visit here.

332 Skinner Blvd., Dunedin, FL sconeagecafe.com

The Hidden Oranges

Few images are as iconic to Florida as the Orange. Dunedin has embraced its rich citrus history with hidden oranges all over the city. Dunedin artist Steve Spathelf and fellow resident Marsha Goins, inspired by fruit crate labels, secretly painted “loose” oranges around downtown. There are now over 200 oranges on buildings all over the city. I tried to find as many as I could in every entryway and sidewalk as we explored. I would love to see something like this happen in Orlando.

Taco Baby

They say it’s the tiniest taqueria in Florida. What used to be an ATM now houses a tiny taco window. I was a little unsure of what to expect as I watched a guy set up the shop right at the opening time, but the tacos weren’t bad at all. There are a few tables directly behind the window to sit down.  

235 Main St, Dunedin, FL taco-baby.com

Reboot Arcade & Bar

Dunedin is known for having a lot of craft breweries, which is usually right up our alley. Still, instead of visiting a brewery, we opted for a fuller experience inside this arcade and bar. Reboot packs a good gamer punch in a relatively small space. They have just about every console you could want with televisions all over, and older arcade and pinball games. There is even a VR room. You can still try local beers with their 14 rotating taps.

248 Scotland St, Dunedin, FL  rebootdunedin.com

Harley’s Popcorn

It may seem weird to single out a popcorn shop on my list, but Harley’s popcorn was so good it was worth mentioning. The smell from the shop guided me in, and after a few samples of their flavors, I walked away with two bags. One sweet (cider doughnuts) and one savory (beer pretzel). This is a great place to grab an edible souvenir from Dunedin and support a local business.

316 Main St, Dunedin, FL Harley's Facebook page

Lucky Lobster Co.

Something about being near the water had me craving lobster rolls most of my trip. Lucky Lobster is right off the Pinellas Trail and near the main strip of downtown so it just seemed like an easy spot to try without having done much research or getting lost in Yelp reviews. The gamble paid off for a great lunch on the patio with generous lunch portions. They serve both Connecticut and New England style lobster rolls and a great Moscow mule to wash it down.

941 Huntley Ave, Dunedin, FL  luckylobsterco.com

Things to Do

Main Street

As you walk the main drag of downtown you’ll see a mix of businesses and boutiques, restaurants and a little bit of history. The Pinellas Trail runs through the city, so you can walk leisurely without fear of traffic, and it doesn’t hurt that they had a large, free parking garage right off the trail. Main Street is where most of the action is happening, and its length is bearable to walk even in harsh Florida temperatures. You’ll want to walk off the main drag to find other places to explore, including local breweries that Dunedin is known for.

  • Dunedin History Museum - here you’ll get some facts about the history of Dunedin and better understand the famous hidden Oranges you find around town.

  • Penny Lane Beatles Museum - Unfortunately the museum was closed the day of my visit, but is known for its access to memorabilia by a local Dunedin resident and humanitarian who wanted to share the extensive collection with residents. Check the hours and days they are open before you go. The museum is free!

  • Dunedin dog murals - As you walk down Main Street hidden Oranges aren’t the only thing to keep an eye out for. Dunedin is dog-friendly, and you’ll find several local businesses that have sprawling dog murals on their exteriors. A great photo op if you are traveling with your pooch.

A few spots I had on my list but didn’t make it to (or they were closed) on this trip:

There is a lot of charm in this small town and my next visit I hope to have more time to visit one of the islands nearby for some nature and maybe a brilliant sunset.

This post is not sponsored by any entity or business and all meals or experiences were paid for personally. Explore your city and support your local Florida businesses. All images are property of LemonHearted Creative and cannot be used without permission.