The Top 10 Things To Do and See in Tampa
Off the west coast of Florida, alongside the Gulf of Mexico, is Tampa – a large and bustling city full of commerce and culture. With Tampa’s natural beauty, cultural history and tourist attractions, there’s always a new adventure to have. Here are some of the top things to do and see while in Tampa.
Go To The Beach
Much to the enjoyment of locals and visitors, Tampa is beach-friendly city practically all year-round. The ever-popular Clearwater Beach is a must visit to those craving a beautiful beach with a number of restaurants and clubs for a night out. Local favorites that are a bit away from the buzz but still just as beautiful include: Indian Rocks Beach in Pinellas County and Honeymoon Island State Park. Pay a visit to any of these beaches for an experience you can’t find anywhere else.
Busch Gardens
Amusement Park, Zoo
Ybor City
Museum
Ybor City
Ybor City is a historic neighborhood in downtown that was founded in the 1880s by cigar manufacturers and housed thousands of immigrants, most notably from Cuba, Spain and Italy. Go to the Cigar Museum and Visitor Center for an inside look on the history of this neighborhood and take a walk down 7th Avenue, which in the past has been rated one of the “Great Streets in America” by the American Planning Association. Come to Ybor City for an experience that is solely unique to Tampa and its history.
Gasparilla Festival, Tampa l © allenran 917/FlickrJoin the Raid of Gasparilla
Every year on the last Saturday of January, Tampa holds the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, inspired by the local folklore legend of José Gaspar, a Spanish naval officer who turned to piracy. A mock “invasion” of hundreds of ships from the Gulf to the shores of the city is followed by a “victory” parade down Bayshore Boulevard. Often compared to the Mardi Gras festival in New Orleans, this festival is a special piece of Tampa’s cultural history.
Go to a Game
The Tampa Bay area is home to multiple professional sports teams. See the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers play in downtown’s Raymond James Stadium or head to Tropicana Field to watch the Tampa Bay Rays play some quality baseball. Hockey fans just need to head down to the Channelside district to watch the Tampa Bay Lightning play in the indoor Amalie Arena. Fans of collegiate sports can support the University of South Florida during football and basketball season or head downtown to the see the University of Tampa Spartans battle it out on the baseball diamond.
Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Dr, St Petersburg, FL 33705 +1 727-825-3137
Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33607 +1 813-350-6500
Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602 +1 813-301-6500
The Manatee Viewing Center
Park, Zoo
The Manatee Viewing Center
Although it’s only open from November through April, a 25 minute drive to the Manatee Viewing Center off Apollo Beach is a one-of-a-kind experience. When the water in Tampa Bay gets below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the manatees go to the Tampa Electric Company’s power station to enjoy the warm water that is discharged from the plant. As a result, the company opened a viewing center for locals and tourists to view groups of these special and graceful aquatic mammals.
6990 Dickman Rd, Apollo Beach, FL 33572
+1 813-228-4289
Lowry Park Zoo l © Eric Kilby/FlickrLowry Park Zoo
Park, Zoo
Big Cat Rescue
Zoo, Park
Go Fishing
For all those anglers out there, or those who just enjoy being on a boat in open water, Tampa won’t disappoint. Choices of saltwater, freshwater and deep-sea fishing give a wide variety of settings and species of fish to catch. Guided fishing tours are also readily available for half-day or full day expeditions. Check out Tampa Bay Fishing Guide, Tampa Fishing Charters and Queen of Fleet Deep Sea Fishing for some of Tampa’s best fishing guides.
The Florida Aquarium
Aquarium
Brendan Scully
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
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