RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Florida >> Hillsborough County >> Port Tampa >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

As we travel, we like to pursue some of our interests (such as astronomy and bird watching).

When in Port Tampa, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Port Tampa and the surrounding area.

  • Weather ...
  • Astronomy & Satellites ...
    • Whether using binoculars, a small telescope or the naked-eye, the Heavens-Above website can help you to find your way around the night-time sky. In addition to detailed sky charts, their website will help you find planets, asteriods, comets, satellites and their tracks across the sky.
    • To give accurate results, Heavens-Above requires the latitude and longitude of your location. As a starting point, when we link to Heavens-Above, we pass this GPS location for Port Tampa:
    • 27.862193, -82.528565
    • Once you're on the Heavens-Above website, you can improve its accuracy by giving a more precise longitude and latitude as your actual position.
    • The Heavens-Above Website, centered on Port Tampa
  • Waymarking ...
    • Looking for somewhere out of the ordinary? Find a unique place and want to share it with others? Then it's time to visit Waymarking.com:
    • Waymark.com

Curious and Interesting Names Near Port Tampa ...

As we travel, we always see a community with a name that gives pause. While there are names which are interesting or familiar, some catch our attention or strike our fancy. We always wonder about such a name. If time permits and the community is not too far, we'll usually try to make a side-trip.

  • Colony Key
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Colony Key have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony Key
    • Colony Key is located in Hillsborough County
  • Crescent Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crescent Park have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent Park
    • Crescent Park is located in Hillsborough County
  • Fosterville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fosterville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fosterville
    • Fosterville is located in Hillsborough County
  • Friendship Heights
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Friendship Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship Heights
    • Friendship Heights is located in Hillsborough County
  • Half Way Place
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Half Way Place have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Half Way Place
    • Half Way Place is located in Hillsborough County
  • Harbor Shores
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Harbor Shores have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbor Shores
    • Harbor Shores is located in Hillsborough County
  • Jenkins
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jenkins have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenkins
    • Jenkins is located in Hillsborough County
  • Knights Landing
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Knights Landing have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knights Landing
    • Knights Landing is located in Hillsborough County
  • Meadowlawn
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Meadowlawn have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowlawn
    • Meadowlawn is located in Hillsborough County
  • Nix
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nix have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nix
    • Nix is located in Hillsborough County
  • Oak Shadows
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oak Shadows have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Shadows
    • Oak Shadows is located in Hillsborough County
  • Palm Grove
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Palm Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palm Grove
    • Palm Grove is located in Hillsborough County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Rattlesnake
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rattlesnake have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rattlesnake
      • Rattlesnake is located in Hillsborough County
    • Regency Cove
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Regency Cove have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Regency Cove
      • Regency Cove is located in Hillsborough County
    • Robinson Heights
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Robinson Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Heights
      • Robinson Heights is located in Hillsborough County
    • Rocky Shore
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rocky Shore have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Shore
      • Rocky Shore is located in Hillsborough County
    • Ronnie Place
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ronnie Place have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ronnie Place
      • Ronnie Place is located in Hillsborough County
    • Shell Point
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shell Point have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shell Point
      • Shell Point is located in Hillsborough County
    • Skinners
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Skinners have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinners
      • Skinners is located in Hillsborough County
    • Speedway Place
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Speedway Place have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speedway Place
      • Speedway Place is located in Hillsborough County
    • Sunset
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sunset have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset
      • Sunset is located in Hillsborough County
    • Sunset Park
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sunset Park have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Park
      • Sunset Park is located in Hillsborough County
    • Temple Square
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Temple Square have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temple Square
      • Temple Square is located in Hillsborough County
    • Treasure Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Treasure Park have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Treasure Park
      • Treasure Park is located in Hillsborough County
    • Tropical Pines
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tropical Pines have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tropical Pines
      • Tropical Pines is located in Hillsborough County
    • Tropical Terrace
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tropical Terrace have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tropical Terrace
      • Tropical Terrace is located in Hillsborough County

How Far From Port Tampa to ...

We spend a lot of time looking through Gazetteers that were published in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Many of the Gazetteers include the distance from a community such as Port Tampa to various places of note, such as the White House.

With a nod to our favorite Gazetteers, the straight-line distance<2> beginning in Port Tampa and extending to:

  • Tampa, which is the Seat of Hillsborough County, lies just to the North Northeast.
  • Tallahassee, which is the State Capital of Florida, lies 206 miles [331.5 km]<2> to the north northwest (NNW). If you could drive a straight line from Port Tampa to Tallahassee, with an average speed<3>of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, it would take a little over three hours to make the trip. A comfortable walk of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour would take 12 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take 8 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 824 miles [1,326.1 km] to the north northeast (NNE). Driving would take just about two full days, a buggy would take 33 days and walking would take 47 days.
  • The shortest distance<4> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,626 miles [10,663.5 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<5>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,295 miles [11,740.2 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 5,194 miles [8,358.9 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Port Tampa) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Port Tampa. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 27.8622, Longitude: -82.5286       In this case, the coordinates for Port Tampa have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<3>While we have tried to pick reasonable speeds, the rate of travel is very theoretical - obstacles like fences, hills, lakes, river crossings and rest stops have been ignored. When we say 'Days' of travel, we're assuming 8 hours of travel per day.
<4>The shortest line can be visualized by stretching a string on a Globe from Point A to Point B - this is known as a Great Circle Route. Where you might expect the shortest route from Port Tampa to the Middle East to be East and South, the Great Circle Route actually lies to the North and East.
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 310.859 degrees.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 305.248 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 309.931 degrees.