At first glance, the tiny town of Saint Leo and the surrounding area may not appear to have much to offer in the area of entertainment for incoming university students, but don’t let its size fool you! Pasco County, especially San Antonio, Dade City and Zephyrhills, have plenty of interesting places to visit and fun things to do.
Just a short walk from the Saint Leo campus lies the historic town of San Antonio. Here, students can find a couple of barber shops when they are in need of a trim, a quaint park that has setups for a game of basketball, baseball, and soccer and a couple of tasty restaurants, including the popular Mexican gem Pancho’s Villa. Prior to entering San Ann, students will also pass a drive-up coffee shop called A Cup of Organic and a tasty BBQ restaurant by the name of On Q. Continuing on SR 52, students will also come across a bicycle shop, campus swag store called Campus Gear and Al’s Pizza Shop. Campus Gear not only features a plentiful assortment of Saint Leo memorabilia but also offers a discount on items to University students.
Heading in the opposite direction on 52, after passing Pasco High School and taking a right onto Meridian Avenue, students will find themselves in the heart of Dade City. Taking a left on 301 leads to popular eateries Del Carmen, Mallie Kyla’s Café (which also doubles as American Eagle Antique Mall) and Francesco’s New York Style Pizzeria. If one is looking for a little entertainment to accompany their meal, then travel a short way down 301, away from Dade City, and there sits the nostalgia-inducing Joy-Lan Drive-In Theater.
Downtown Dade City is mostly for sightseeing and dining; the historic courthouse, the jewel of the city, is a major tourist attraction, along with multiple antique shops. Patrons can visit several quaint little shops, such as Lori Ann’s, Annetta’s Antique’s and Another Man’s Treasure to name a few, and find various collectibles, curious, and oddities. Also of note is a handy little shop called the Book Shack, a cheaper alternative to Barnes and Noble. The avid reader can find and purchase novels, some textbooks and other forms of literature in varying categories and genres or exchange their own books for store credit. When hunger strikes, there is also a diverse selection of eateries to choose from. Some restaurants include TJ’s Deli and Ice Cream, Café Kokopelli, Lunch on Limoges, a Matter of Taste, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, Truly Mediterranean Grill and Orleans City Market, which serves authentic Cajun cuisine. After lunch, patrons can grab dessert at Olga’s Bakery or enjoy a cup of joe at Perk’s Café.
Continuing on 301 away from downtown leads to more familiar locations. The city is home to a couple of sit down restaurants, such as IHOP, Bubba Q’s and ABC Pizza, as well as several fast food stops like Wendy’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonald’s, KFC, Taco Bell, Subway, Checkers and Burger King. Students can stock their dorms with food and supplies from Publix, Winn Dixie or Walmart, as well as other smaller recognizable chain stores.
Just up 301 sits the town of Zephyrhills, popular for its plentiful restaurants, shops, and entertainment. Zephyrhills has all of the same grocery stores, drug stores and fast food restaurants that can be found in Dade City, but with a few new interesting stops thrown in. Chili’s, Ruby Tuesday’s, Panera Bread, Sonny’s BBQ, Pizza Hut and Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt are only a few of the popular chain restaurants that dominate the small town. However, Zephyrhills also has a number of privately owned eating establishments, including Terra, a gluten-free option, Dimaggio’s That’s Amore, Sunrise Eatery and Coney Island, a small restaurant famous for their foot-long hotdogs. Zephyrhills and Dade City alike are also home to several Chinese, Mexican, and Pizza restaurants.
Zephyrhills is also a popular place to shop ‘til you drop. Shops include Walmart, GameStop, Bealls, Ross, T.J. Maxx, Hobby Lobby and, if your low on funds, several thrift shops and discount stores like Family Dollar, Dollar General, Dollar Tree and the highly unique and affordable Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. If trying on clothes isn’t enough fun, then students can catch a flick at the Zephyrhills Cinema 10, roll a few balls and topple some pins at Pin Chasers bowling alley, get a blast from the past with vintage games at Classic Contagious Games or, for the nature lovers, take a scenic walk or jog around Zephyrhills park.
Downtown Zephyrhills is rapidly becoming a hot spot for high school and college-age residents. New eateries, clubs and live music venues are being added frequently and offer a wide array of daily entertainment for people of all ages. If you are looking for some evening excitement, take a stroll down scenic fifth avenue and venture inside the Zephyrhills Brewing Company or the Creative Souls Cafè.
Students don’t have to go all the way to Tampa to have a good time; between San Antonio, Dade City, and Zephyrhills, there are a number of fun, local, hot spots to choose from to spend some free time without spending too much cash, and new fun features are being added all the time!
