Something to know everyone about Tampa

A significant portion of Tampa Bay's lengthy and colorful history is just waiting for you to uncover. Here are some Tampa-related facts you probably didn't know: Book DTW flights to Tampa and experience the city's diverse attractions and experiences, making it an unforgettable destination

THIS IS WHERE THE CUBAN SANDWICH WAS INVENTED

A sandwich was created in the 1890s in Ybor City by a local cook for Cuban cigar workers. This sandwich has become a mainstay in Tampa Bay and is made with mojo pork, gammon, salami, pickles, Swiss cheese, and mustard. The sandwich, which was initially eaten cold, was eventually pressed into a true work of art. In the Tampa Bay History Center's Columbia Cafe, The Columbia Restaurant serves a close-up of the original sandwich, which is ideal for lunch with plantain chips or Spanish bean soup.

RAY CHARLES, A FAMOUS R&B SINGER, BEGAN HIS CAREER HERE

Before going to Tampa Bay and performing at clubs on Central Avenue, the center of the African-American community, Ray Charles, a Georgia native, attended the Florida School for the Blind and Deaf in St. Augustine. On the Chitlin Circuit, other celebrities like Ella Fitzgerald and Cab Calloway also left their impact. Although the shops on Central Avenue are no longer there, Perry Harvey Sr. Park on the northeast corner of downtown Tampa Bay honors their legacy.

HERE, TEDDY ROOSEVELT SLEPT.

In the late 1890s, a group of troops known as the Rough Riders, under the command of Teddy Roosevelt, prepared for war with Spain. They sailed 300 miles directly south from Tampa Bay to Havana. The Tampa Bay Hotel, which currently houses Plant Hall and the administrative buildings of the University of Tampa, served as the Rough Riders' base of operations. The hotel's silver minarets continue to be a recognizable part of the skyline, and guests may explore the Henry Plant museum, which honors the railroad magnate from the Gilded Age who helped make Tampa Bay famous.

HERE IS WHERE "THE TWIST" DANCE CRAZE BEGAN.

African-American teenagers dancing on Central Avenue in the 1950s served as an inspiration for Chubby Checker creator Hank Ballard. When it was played on "American Bandstand," the song "The Twist" went viral and started a dancing craze. At the entrance to Perry Harvey Sr. Park is a sculpture honoring Ballard and "The Twist".

STARTING IN YBOR CITY, PREFABRICATED HOUSING.

Efficiency specialist Don Vicente Ybor soon ordered little, plain houses called casitas to accommodate the cigar workers in Tampa Bay. With the monthly mortgage being collected directly from their wages, these homes might be largely constructed and put together in a week. At the Ybor City Museum State Park, some of these original casitas are still on display.

TAMPA BAY IS LOVED BY MANATEES

Manatees, Florida's official marine mammal, are found in Tampa Bay and can be spotted in the Hillsborough River in the winter and spring. Free entry is available to the TECO Manatee Viewing Centre at the Big Bend power plant, which offers a great vantage point to observe manatees in the warm water. Along the nature trail, which runs parallel to the power plant, you can see spinner sharks and spotted rays. Visitors can interact with manatees in an underwater observatory at Lowry Park Zoo, the only nonprofit organization in Florida authorized to care for wounded manatees.

EVERY YEAR, THE WORLD'S BIGGEST PIRATE INVASION TAKES PLACE.

In January, the third-largest procession in the nation begins along Bayshore Boulevard when the Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, headed by the ghost of legendary pirate José Gaspar, invades Tampa Bay. The José Gasparilla, a three-masted caravel owned by the pirates, sails into downtown Tampa Bay during this occasion, which marks the beginning of two months of celebrations, parades, and festivals known as Gasparilla Season. If you want to know more about Tampa then book a cheap flight from Detroit to Tampa.