Get Outside

Well, almost yesterday. Though Wesley Chapel is more than a century old, you could call it Florida’s Sports Coast’s late bloomer, and it’s still blossoming. A backdrop of marshlands and towering pines and cypress still keep things real-Florida in Wesley Chapel. Majestic herons stand watch off in quiet pastures as sandhill cranes amble across the street. Armadillos and bashful white-tailed deer make twilight appearances. 

At sunrise or sunset, you’ll see people of all ages walking, biking and jogging the many scenic trails throughout Wesley Chapel’s residential communities. 

Travel east on State Road 54, and you’ll arrive at Saddlebrook Resort, a favorite of golfers and spa-seekers. The diverse retreat spreads out across 480 acres of a gated, secure Florida nature preserve. Golfers in the Saddlebrook Golf Academy and the juniors teeing off in the Saddlebrook Preparatory School swing easy on the verdant property. 

Designed by golf legend Arnold Palmer, Saddlebrook’s golf course incorporates rolling fairways and well-maintained greens along with wilderness areas full of pine and palm trees. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a resident to walk, jog, or bike along pathways of the resort.
Resort-style experiences don’t always come with a five-star hotel room rate. Sunbathe along the pristine shores and sparkly aquamarine waters of Epperson Lagoon for the price of a lunch date. The aquatic complex beckons like a mirage, replete with a swim-up bar and inflatable slides. Billed as the world’s first “man-made sparkling lagoon,” the Epperson beach was built just in 2018 and is filled with purified water.

Shop ‘til You Drop

The Shops at Wiregrass lures shoppers with a pedestrian-friendly, open-air and aesthetically pleasing alternative to the generic big-box-in-a-giant-parking-lot headache that’s found everywhere else in America. The name Wiregrass, incidentally, comes from landowner James “Wiregrass” Porter, who purchased a giant portion of the ranchland in Wesley Chapel in 1937.

The retail promenade includes Macy’s, Dillard’s, JCPenney and 100 specialty shops, restaurants, and services. Special events happen there all year long, including the Symphony in Lights holiday tree lighting, Cruisin’ at Wiregrass Car & Truck Show, The Fresh Market, Spring & Fall Fair, the Artisan Street Market and more.

Go west, shoppers, for the ultimate brand-name deals at Tampa Premium Outlets. Anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, the complex comprises more than 110 shops including Marc Jacobs, Coach, J. Crew, Michael Kor, and Polo Ralph Lauren.

Dine Out

Hungry? Chuck Lager America’s Tavern, Noble Crust and Yamato Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi are among the highest-rated eateries in Wesley Chapel. If you’re craving seafood, Pinchers is a seafood-shack chain concept known for crab dishes and fried fish. 

For nutritional, vegetarian-friendly fare, try Fresh Healthy Cafe. The fast-casual eatery slings panini, salads and smoothies. Wash it all down at Florida Avenue Brewing Co., a local favorite that has award-winning homebrews on tap. 

For healthiness with a conscience, try Raining Berries, a haven for sustainably sourced coffee beans. The pastel and inviting cafe offers meeting spaces that will undoubtedly contribute to your work-life balance.

Try Something New

And now for something completely different (and, yes, trendy), try your aim at Highland Axe Throwing, a premier indoor ax throwing venue that serves beer and wine. The hotspot serves small groups of four per lane up to large parties of 50-plus.

Before you go too Medieval, cool off at AdventHealth Center Ice, where hockey and ice skating options entertain kids and kids at heart. The facility offers lessons and team play, for kids ages 5-17 regardless of skill level. 

Enjoy just about every other outdoor and indoor sport at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus. The mega-compound houses 16 volleyball courts and eight basketball courts. National tournaments and invitationals are open to spectators, featuring everything from wrestling to fencing to gymnastics. The money spent on games at the complex goes to programs that help athletes at all levels become better players. 

Last but not least, a little history: Wesley Chapel formed in 1878. First dubbed Double Branch, the community got its inspiration from the area’s twin creeks, but “Wesley Chapel” entered the vernacular in the early 20th century, named after the Methodist church that stood on the northwest corner of State Road 54 and Boyette Road. Dynamic and rapidly growing, we’re excited to see what happens next in this up-and-coming Florida Sports Coast Community.