Tampa, Florida, has all the makings for a great vacation destination. It offers city life, major theme park attractions, premier sports teams and nearby beach and water fun.
Tampa’s downtown is its main commercial center on the waterfront. Historic Ybor City offers a glimpse into Cuban life in the past and present, and is a happening area for nightlife, dining and shopping. Learn about the impact of the cigar industry at the Ybor City Cigar Museum. In West Tampa, you’ll find historic neighborhoods and the University of Tampa campus.
If you’re traveling with kids, and even if you’re not, Busch Gardens is a must stop if you like roller coasters or love to get upclose to animals. More animals can be found at the Lowry Park Zoo, one of the top zoos in the country, and the Florida Aquarium with its over 20,000 species of aquatic plants and animals. Get wet at Adventure Island water park near Busch Gardens. Also great for kids is Dinosaur World, an outdoor museum with over 150 life-size dinosaurs. The Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) offers hands-on family focused fun. The Tampa Museum of Art recently opened to wow visitors with its design and visual arts. The Tampa Theatre, which dates back to 1926, is a city and national landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places showcasing beautiful architecture.
Whatever time of year you are visiting, catch Tampa’s sports teams doing their best, whether its football (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), hockey (the Tampa Bay Lightning) or baseball (Tampa Bay Rays).
Nearby beaches include Clearwater Beach and the other beaches of neighboring St. Petersburg. (Visit the links to Tribe’s pages on these destinations.)
There are numerous malls if you wish to kill a few hours to shop, including International Plaza Mall and Westshore Plaza Mall near the airport. Hyde Park, a historic district home to multi-million dollar mansions, also offers fun specialty shops to check out. It may no longer be the “Cigar Capital of the World”, but Ybor City is still the place to buy vintage clothing, hand-rolled cigars, handcrafted Spanish tiles and more. Centro Ybor offers shopping, dining and entertainment all in one. South Howard Avenue, or SoHo, offers its own dining delights along “Restaurant Row”.
Most U.S. airlines service Tampa International Airport (TPA) with non-stop and connecting flights from most destinations in the country. St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), 15 minutes away, serves smaller routes and discount airlines.
Renting a car is the best way to get around the area. HART provides extensive bus service throughout Hillsborough County, including local, Commuter Express from Tampa suburbs and trolley service serving the Central Business District. The TECO Line Streetcar, which is good for tourists, runs from Dick Greco Plaza downtown to Centennial Park in Ybor City.
Tampa’s humid subtropical climate creates average high ranges from 70 to 90 degrees year-round and lows of 52 to 76 degrees. You can expect hot temperatures from mid-April through early October, which is also the rainy season.
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Wingate by Wyndham Tampa North
Hotel
There are 85 comfortable guestrooms at this hotel featuring cordless phones, refrigerators, microwaves, free high speed internet, recliners, coffee makers, and iron and ironing board and hair dryers. If you need something a little bigger than just your standard rooms then try one of the 42 studio or executive suites equipped with microwaves, refrigerators, sofa beds and recliners. The Executive suites have Jacuzzi tubs and flat panel LCD TV’s.(more)
Quorum Hotel Tampa
Hotel
The Quorum Hotel Tampa houses 272 guest rooms equipped with two telephones, 32” flat panel TV’s, refrigerators, high speed internet access, oversized desks, coffeemakers, hair dryers and an iron with an ironing board. Suites offer a separate living area with comfortable seating for six, a dining area and a wet bar. Guests are encouraged to joing the frequency traveler program where you can earn points towards hotel stays, airline tickets, travel packages or merchandise.(more)
Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Airport Westshore
Hotel
All 171 guestrooms at the Hilton Garden Inn come equipped with spacious work areas, and ergonomic office chair, complimentary wireless internet, a mini refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, an iron and ironing board and a hair dryer. There is a 24 hour business center, an exercise facility and an outdoor heated pool and whirlpool on the premises. There is a 24 hour convenience store, Pavilion Pantry on the premises as well where guests can pick up snacks and drinks including beer and wine.(more)
Homewood Suites Tampa Brandon
Hotel
All suites at the Homewood Suites Tampa Brandon offer two rooms provided separate living and sleeping areas. Each suite offers you with all the comforts of home with fully equipped kitchens, two TV’s, complimentary high speed internet, two phones and a coffee maker. This hotel provides a daily complimentary breakfast and a welcome home reception dinner Monday through Thursday.(more)
Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites New Tampa I-75 Bruce B. Downs
Hotel
This hotel sits in close proximity to Busch Gardens and the University of South Florida and is recognized for having one of the best guest service ratings of any hotel in the country. There is a heated outdoor pool surrounded by lush landscaped grounds, a fitness center and a putting green on the premises. The Holiday Inn Express offers 27 suites all equipped with a wet bar, microwave and refrigerator. Executive and Presidential suites offer Jacuzzi tubs, glass enclosed showers and multiple TV’s.(more)
Big Cat Rescue
Attraction
The Big Cat Rescue rescues and provides homes for exotic animals. It takes in cats who have been abused, abandoned, bred to be pets, retired from circus performances, or saved from being slaughtered for coats. The center also provides education for the public about the animals and the issues they face. Remember that this is a rescue center, not a zoo so the animals come first. Photos are permitted while you’re on a tour of the facility, special photo tours can be arranged.(more)
Busch Gardens
Attraction
Busch Gardens is a great family vacation destination. This adventure park offers a variety of attractions based on the African continent. There is a great blend of thrilling rides, zoo features and entertainment. There is also an assortment of shops and restaurants. Special events are scheduled throughout the year at the park including live music concerts in the theater. There is even a night time safari on the” Serengeti Plains”.(more)
Tampa Theater
Attraction
This theater was built in 1926 as one of the country’s most elaborate movie palaces. The theater is protected today and is a landmark. It was designed by architect John Eberson. The interior style is lavish with a romantic Mediterranean courtyard complete with a statuary, flowers and gargoyles and the ceiling is a sky of night time stars and clouds. This theater hosts over 600 events a years. There are back stage and building tours available.(more)
Lowry Park Zoo
Attraction
The Lowry Park Zoo re-opened at its present site in 1988. It is recognized by the state of Florida as a center of Florida wildlife conservation and biodiversity. It was designed to be a low cost center for education and endangered species conservation. There is a native Florida wildlife center within the zoo. The natural outdoor exhibits house more than two thousand animals. Along with the native center there is also a manatee hospital, Asian gardens, Primate World, Free Flight Aviaries, Wallaroo Station, the children’s zoo and Safari Africa. The zoo also has rides, shows and hands-on interactive exhibits.(more)
Edwards Pipe and Tobacco
Attraction
This has been a Tampa landmark for the past 40 years. If you are a pipe or cigar smoker then visiting Tampa won’t be complete without a visit to this shop, complete with a coffee and tobacco bar. The cigar selection is extensive but the tobaccos are geared more to the burley smokers. Edwards has their own line of pipes and tobaccos.(more)