Hopefully, you'll agree that Tampa has plenty of activities to offer for everyone. Like any city, it has excellent museums and attractions to entertain the whole family. What makes Tampa different is its waterfront location and its proximity to nature. Florida's cities are optimized for fun and relaxation, and Tampa is no exception.
There are amusement parks, golf courses, water sports and miles of beaches. Life is oriented around water and good weather, and there are downtown areas built around restaurants, shops, and entertainment. The vegetation is wonderfully tropical and feels more like an island than a peninsula. Florida is a world-class vacation destination.
Even though there are high-quality zoo and aquarium options in Tampa, they can be costly if you visit the whole family. Fortunately, the Manatee Observation Center is a unique place to see these majestic sea cows without paying a dime. Seawater used by Big Bend power plant in Apollo Beach is pumped back into the bay after heating (it's clean water, so there's no water pollution). In winter, when temperatures drop, local manatees gather around the power plant to swim in the warmer waters.
Tampa has some top-notch tourist attractions, especially Busch Gardens, where families enjoy the thrill of an amusement park and the fun of a zoo, all in one place. You'll also find several other popular places to visit in the area dedicated to animals and wildlife, such as a zoo, aquarium, and public manatee viewing area. With all this, in addition to an excellent science museum and a children's museum, Tampa is an ideal place for families on vacation. Downtown Tampa is an area of high-rise office buildings, but the city also has historic neighborhoods, such as Ybor City and Old Hyde Park.
Franklin Street is the pedestrian hub of downtown Tampa, where you'll find plenty of shops, restaurants, and things to do. Busch Gardens is a 335-acre African-themed family entertainment and adventure park that offers exciting rides, live music, performances and a multitude of exotic animals in natural habitat settings. You'll find a wide variety of exciting things to do in the park, including kids' rides and water rides, but Busch Gardens is best known for its roller coasters, which are an extremely exciting experience. Multiple Busch Gardens ticketing options, including multi-park passes and packages that include in-park dining.
Tampa's Florida Aquarium has an exciting variety of animal habitats, exhibits and activities to educate and entertain all ages. The habitats are organized to accurately represent a watershed area similar to the Tampa area, so that visitors can see the wide variety of fish and marine life. Florida Aquarium skip-the-line admission includes outdoor Splash Pad where kids can cool off. Also included are shows in the 4-D theater, where sensory elements are added to a 3D movie for a fully immersive experience.
The facility formerly known as the Tampa Zoo in Lowry Park has been renamed, albeit slightly, to ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Here you'll find more than 2000 animals in natural habitats, including animals from Africa, Asia and Australia, as well as native Florida habitats, a primate area and an aviary. At one point, the Ybor cigar factory was the largest in the world, with more than 4,000 people hand-rolling more than 900,000 cigars a month. However, the Great Depression and machine rollers put an end to the boom, and most factories were closed and demolished.
Columbia restaurant in Ybor City is the oldest Spanish restaurant in the state and the largest in the country. This historic institution was established in 1905 by Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernández, Sr. Columbia is famous for its Spanish cuisine, dinner shows, and old-world architectural charm. Live entertainment includes flamenco and jazz in the cafeteria.
The Paseo del Río has a wonderful collection of public art along its length, ranging from murals to sculptures. Tampa's top attractions are also on the walk, such as the Florida Aquarium and the Tampa Museum of Art, among others. For children, there are four playgrounds available, two of which have splash pads. The Museum of Science and Industry invites visitors to explore, learn, imagine and immerse themselves in all aspects of science and technology.
Beginning with the basics of physics, mathematics, and other scientific principles, the exhibits expand into several subject areas. Head to the city of Ybor to try the Sicilian flavor at Casa Santo Stephano, located in a newly renovated building with a comfortable atmosphere. Dine on the main floor or climb the stairs for an indoor and outdoor experience, where you can enjoy the sunset from the patio. Also worth a visit is Ybor City is La Segunda Central Bakery, another long-established Tampa establishment that supplies bread and baked goods to locals and many of the best restaurants.
Located on the Tampa Riverwalk, near Armature Works, Ulele Restaurant is another great find. Located in the former Tampa Water Works building, the open and airy interior has a fantastic atmosphere and tasty offerings. Two of the main highlights are the Gasparilla Pirate Festival and the Knights Parade of Sant'Yago. During the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, a parade of boats makes its way through Tampa's waterways and finally arrive ashore with their Krewe in search of taking over the city.
This parade is usually witnessed by more than 300,000 people. The Sant'Yago is a night parade through the streets of the city of Ybor, where parade floats throw treats and beads. Museum %26 Factory is one of the most fascinating attractions in the city of Ybor. Housed in a beautifully restored factory dating back to 1910, this free attraction showcases the history of cigar production in the Tampa area.
Of the 150 former cigar factories operating in Tampa, this one, El Reloj, is the only one that is still in operation. It was once the largest cigar factory in the world. Have you always dreamed of ziplining but haven't had the chance or were you too afraid to try? Well, a solution to your problem is found in Tampa at Empower Adventures. These friendly, well-qualified people will help you resolve and race through the treetops along 3,000 feet of zip line in no time.
You'll have the best chance of seeing manatees when the surrounding water temperature is cold, dropping below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. On-site, you'll find a tidal walkway that showcases a variety of Florida plants and birds, butterfly gardens, and a viewing platform for manatees. Picnic tables are available if you want to pack a lunch. The Manatee Observation Center also houses an educational building that has the power plant and a stingray touch tank.
The center is open from November 1 to April 15.One of the most recent exhibits is the Treasure Seekers Gallery. Within this multimedia exhibition area, you'll find a recreated pirate ship and historical objects from the 17th century, such as cannons, navigational instruments, and pottery. One of the most interesting exhibits is a hologram of a pirate participating in a sword fight. If you want to get to know one of Tampa's favorite restaurants without having to make the trip to Ybor City, stop by Café Colombia.
Take a seat in this small version of the sprawling restaurant and enjoy some of the most famous dishes. In addition to the permanent collection, the center has a temporary gallery with changing exhibits. This is a 60,000 square foot facility with a glass front, located in the Channelside district. Adventure Island is conveniently located across the street from Busch Gardens.
The previous bridge was rammed by a cargo ship in 1980 and partially collapsed, and parts of the old bridge now serve as docks for fishermen. Built in 1926, the Tampa Theatre is a luxurious movie palace with a unique blend of architectural styles including the Italian Renaissance, Byzantine and Greek Revival. He regularly presents foreign and classic films, along with specialized concerts and other programs. With its sunny climate and world-famous attractions, Tampa is one of Florida's top tourist destinations.
For more ideas and a wide variety of fun and dining experiences, head to Armenia Avenue and Water Street in Tampa. Eating in Tampa is a different experience than dining in other parts of Florida, and it's worth taking the time to find some interesting spots. Florida is a beautiful destination, and the Tampa Riverwalk will allow you to enjoy it all as a final farewell. It's beautiful inside and out, and it typically tops travel lists for the best places to visit in the city of Tampa.
The Tampa Bay Downs staff is another thing that marks it as one of the best places to visit for novice horse racers. Another great feature of Busch Gardens Tampa is that it's located just across the street from Adventure Island, one of Tampa's largest water parks. It's a rookie friendly place, so if you've always wondered what betting on a horse race would be like, Tampa Bay Downs can fulfill your fantasy. The 2.4-mile trail is your walkable, bike, or Segway connection to all the excitement of downtown Tampa.
If you love Tampa's diverse wildlife, you'll be struck by all the things you can see at the Florida Aquarium. The Tampa Museum of Art is also of architectural interest and has great views of the river and downtown Tampa. Not only will you enjoy all the traditional “touristy” things, such as restaurants and shopping, but there are also unique attractions that you can only find in the Tampa area. Rain or shine, day or night, you can stroll the halls of this Tampa mall and enjoy world-class retail therapy.
Unless you plan to stay downtown and can use the Telo Line trolley or walk, you'll probably need a rental car to visit other areas of Tampa, as well as the incredible beaches of St Pete and Clearwater and the artistic spots of Sarasota. You'll discover many more fascinating historical facts about Tampa than I could tell you here in a single post. . .
Leave a Comment