Portal to the past: New Port Richey

New Port Richey has its rugged and rustic side—the ultimate place to tackle your next big outdoor adventure. Boating along the Pithlachascotee (aka Cotee) River, you come upon the tall grasses and mangroves that the Timucuan tribes woke up to every day during the paleolithic era. Or, take a leisurely stroll or car ride through NPR’s historic downtown, and the Mediterranean-Revival architecture of the Roaring 20s come into view. The “enchantment” of Sims Park will lure under the shade of mossy oak canopies. 

See the Sights

New Port Richey’s Key West-style homes and wooden churches continue to transport you back in time. The terracotta tile and elegant archways of the Hacienda Hotel recall an era when movie stars like Shirley Temple and Gloria Swanson owned winter homes in New Port Richey. Charlie Chaplin, Luminaries like Babe Ruth, Irving Berlin and many others also stayed at the Hacienda and other locales throughout the area.  

The West Pasco Historical Society keeps history alive in the community, providing photos and stories of the time George Sims purchased the Port Richey Company and 14,000 acres of land along the Cotee River in 1913. Sims donated what was known as Enchantment Park, bordered by the Cotee River and Orange Lake. The city accepted the donation as part of its first ordinance, then renamed it Sims Park. 

Richey Suncoast Theatre, a historic former movie theatre built in 1925, has been restored to serve the public as a playhouse and community theater. From plays to concerts to galas and revues, a wide variety of entertainment can be enjoyed in the art nouveau landmark.

New Port Richey and its satellite communities—Hudson, Aripeka, Port Richey and Trinity—have embraced the contemporary pleasures of 21st-century urban society with loads of brewpub, foodie-approved and craft cocktail establishments, coupled with an eye on sustainable ecotourism, Florida’s next wave of tourism revenue. 

Ecarve Scooter Rentals and Lucky Booty Cycleboats help you tour downtown New Port Richey and the surrounding areas with speed and style, from different perspectives. 

Pull up a Chair

After the sun goes down, explore New Port Richey’s eclectic nightlife options. Enjoy contemporary dining, a rooftop bar and live music at The Social NPR or kick it Floridian-style at Gill Dawg Tiki Bar & Grill in Port Richey just next door with fresh seafood and signature cocktails. The lively, casual riverside hangout offers scenic views and big-screen TVs tuned to the latest game or race. 

Day or night, food establishments at all price points keep you fed in style with cuisine inspired by locals and transplants from around the world. Savor a contemporary farm-to-table experience at Craft Street Kitchen, which sources sustainable ingredients in their inventive fare. Try Buffalo Cauliflower, the Smoked Old Fashion or Mr. Rib Sandwich. At Whiskey Joes Bar & Grill, you can enjoy more of that waterfront ambiance that Florida is famous for. Gulf Grouper Tacos, Mango Glazed Scallops, Coconut Rum Chicken and their Raw Oyster Bar are customer favorites. 

Mornings are the best with a cuppa joe from  Mountaineer Coffee, served lovingly by baristas who roast their beans daily. Get that sugar and carb injection to fuel a day of adventure at Mimi’s Donuts Port Richey. Later, grab dessert at Vampire Penquin, which features colorfully plated and indulgent creations, or chill out at Ottoway’s Parkside Ice Cream Parlor.

If you’re venturing east, Starkey Market and the Starkey Blueberry Farms are Trinity staples for foraging, shopping and gourmet goodies. 

Explore the Outdoors

Get lost if momentarily in Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, which spreads out across 8,000 acres of pine flatwoods and ancient oaks, providing the right amount of shade and fresh air for hiking, biking and camping. James E. Grey Nature Preserve lines the shores of the Cotee River and is home to 80 acres of swamps and wetlands. Stroll along its boardwalk and nature trails to catch a glimpse of creatures in their habitat. Birders, be on the lookout for Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, Wood Ducks and Limpkins along the water, and songbirds like Cedar Waxwings and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. 
You could spend an entire summer in the parks and preserves of western Pasco and still have new ground to explore. Other aquatic and forested getaways include Robert K. Rees Memorial Park,  Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, Boy Scout Preserve and Pasco Palms Preserve.

Get Wet

Tread the area’s waterways with the help of charters and rental companies that provide professional guidance to ensure safety and the most fun possible. Salty Dog Kayak Rentals provides the means to traverse amazing mangrove tunnels and bring you up close to manatees and other aquatic animals. 

Veteran fisherman Capt. Mark Dillingham leads inshore, offshore and deep-sea fishing trips, helping you land redfish, scallops, snook, tarpon or trout. Or, board a boat helmed by The Reef Chief Charters and embark on a scalloping adventure. 

For family-friendly fun that’s on the tamer side, make a splash for The Lift Adventure Park. Located on a beautiful spring-fed lake, this exciting aqua park features fun for all ages by way of a cable wakeboarding system, inflatable jungle gym and shallow waters at the end of the lake. 

Sip a Nightcap

After a long day of fishing, swimming and exploring, quench your thirst at a number of New Port Richey-area craft brew establishments. Beer-hop to Cotee River Brewing Company or Craft Life Brewing, and then move on to In The Loop Brewing, Infusion Brewing Company of Trinity, Escape Brewing Company and Dented Keg Ale Works. Wrap up your brewhop at Ordinance One. A local favorite for craft beer and wine, this trendy yet not pretentious bar is a preferred New Port Richey destination. The renovated bar occupies an old fire station!

Whether you’re enjoying a tour of a celebrity home, having a drink at the newly constructed downtown brewery, or enjoying a hike along the Cotee River next to the newly built City Park, you’ll find that New Port Richey is the perfect place to score your next one-of-a-kind getaway.