Things to see and do in Philippe Park, Florida

Discovering Philippe Park: A Historical Site on Florida’s Old Tampa Bay

Tucked away in the small city of Safety Harbor, Florida, Philippe Park is a quiet powerhouse of natural beauty and local history. If you're anywhere near the Tampa Bay area and looking for a place to breathe, think, walk, or picnic under ancient oaks, Philippe Park is where you want to be. It doesn’t scream for attention, but once you're there, it leaves a mark.

We visited Philippe Park on 01/01/2024 and visited the Tocobaga mound located there.

Let’s start with the setting. The park stretches along the shoreline of Old Tampa Bay, offering water views that shift with the tide and sky. Walking trails snake through the 122-acre property, shaded by sprawling live oaks draped in Spanish moss. These aren’t just nice trees—they’re the kind that remind you how old and alive Florida’s wild places still are.

Then there's the history. Philippe Park is named after Count Odet Philippe, a Frenchman who settled in the area in the 1800s and is credited with introducing grapefruit to Florida. His grave is marked in the park with a simple stone, and while there's debate over whether he was truly a count, his influence is undeniable. The area was once part of his plantation, and the citrus boom he sparked reshaped Florida’s economy and identity.

But Philippe Park’s story goes deeper than colonial history.

One of its standout features is a large ceremonial mound built by the Tocobaga people, who lived in the area long before Europeans arrived. The Tocobaga mound rises near the water’s edge, and you can climb a stairway to the top for a panoramic view of the bay. Standing there, it’s impossible not to feel the weight of time. This isn’t a park built on nostalgia—it’s a park layered with memory.

Families love it here. Kids run free on the playgrounds, birthday parties take over the picnic shelters, and people fish from the shoreline or launch kayaks from the boat ramp. It's not a flashy destination, but that's part of the appeal. Philippe Park is unhurried and unpretentious.

It’s also a photographer’s dream. Between the mossy trees, the golden-hour glow over the bay, and the occasional dolphin sighting, it’s hard not to leave with a full camera roll. Birdwatchers, too, will find plenty to admire—egrets, ospreys, and herons are regulars here.

What really makes Philippe Park special, though, is its balance. It’s a place where nature, history, and community all quietly coexist. It doesn’t try to be anything more than what it is, and that’s exactly why people keep coming back.

Whether you’re a local who needs a quick escape or a visitor looking to see another side of Florida beyond the beaches and theme parks, Philippe Park delivers. It’s not about adrenaline or spectacle. It’s about stillness, roots, and real connection—to land, to history, and to a slower kind of joy. Bring a sandwich. Stay for sunset. Let the place work on you. It will.

Thinking of visiting? Viator offers numerous tours in Florida.  Click here for details. vi.me/0yyUX

For more information on wineries, distilleries, and craft breweries in the area visit https://flbwd.com 

Painting of the large ceremonial mound built by the Tocobaga people

Information about the Tocobaga people

Trail to the top of the ceremonial mound built by the Tocobaga people

The shoreline near the Tocobaga mound in Philippe Park