Recreational opportunities abound for Zephyrhills residents and visitors. With over 40 local golf courses in Pasco and Hillsborough Counties alone, year-round golf is a staple for the enthusiast at every skill level.

The participatory sport of skydiving is a major attraction due to the area’s ever present ideal conditions and available supporting aircraft.

Fitness opportunities are plentiful. The East Pasco Family YMCA provides facilities and many programs to meet all exercise and health needs, including the Fitness Center with a personal trainer, youth and adult sports, aerobics, health classes and special events. The “Y” has one of the city’s two public swimming pools, and provides a variety of water related programs and classes. The East Pasco Medical Center emphasizes healthful living in its Wellness Center, featuring professionally monitored aerobic classes and workouts, seminars and support groups.

Enthusiasts of shuffle boarding, horseshoes and other amateur sports have formed leagues and tournaments. Unity Lanes, a high tech 32-lane bowling center, offers bowling leagues and classes for the whole family. Six county parks and four city parks supply Zephyrhills residents with almost 200 acres of outdoor opportunities for hiking, picnicking and enjoying the scenery. The waters of the Gulf of Mexico, less than an hour’s drive to the west, and local rivers provide a myriad of recreational options for saltwater and freshwater anglers, sailors and boat lovers. Hillsborough River State Park (just six miles south of Zephyrhills) offers camping, picnicking, canoe rentals, fishing and seasonal swimming. The 3,950 acre park’s nature trails wind along the Hillsborough River through stands of oaks, sabal palms, pines and hickories.

Area restaurants serve up an extensive menu of palate-pleasing fare. Seafood and oyster bars fill diners’ plates with fresh-from-the-gulf ingredients. Steak houses and Southern barbecue cafes satisfy hearty appetites, while ethnic eateries – from Spanish to Chinese – offer international gusto. Fast food establishments, bakers, sub and pizza shops and ice cream parlors make it easy to grab a snack or a meal on the run.

Professional sports abound in the area, and the Tampa area is the home for teams in most professional sports – including the NFL’s 2002 World Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning and baseball’s Devil Rays. In addition, the NBA’s Orlando Magic play an hour away. The area is also home to the Grapefruit League, spring training for many major league baseball teams, and is a great way to see your favorite ball players up close.