Tampa on the Gulf Coast

The city of Tampa stretches along the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Visiting the city take a walk along the Tampa Rivewalk stretching along the waterfront with awesome views of the Hillsborough River. The walk starts at Sparkman Wharf and ends at the Armature Works either way you can choose your starting and ending point.

The Riverwalk has a collection of public art from murals to sculptures. Many attractions can be found along the walk like the Florida Aquarium and the Tampa Museum of Art. There are four playgrounds for children all with splash pads.

Sunshine Skyway is a toll bridge located on the multi-lane highway I 275/US 19. The bridge arches over the entrance to Tampa Bay with a middle section that is suspended from two huge pylons which allow the passage of large vessels heading for the ocean. This much-photographed bridge has beaches to the east and west which are popular with the local kiteboarding community.

Kiteboarding/kitesurfing is a sport that makes use of wind power with a large power kite to pull a rider across water, land, or snow.

The Tampa Theater was built in 1926. It is a luxurious movie palace that was built in a mix of styles like Italian Renaissance, Byzantine, and Greek Revival. People can enjoy both new and old films as well as specialty concerts and other programs, You can sign up for a guided tour.

The Museum of Science and Industry lets visitors explore and learn about every aspect involving science and technology, There are special exhibits for children like learning about the human body and how it works. The Idea Zone has hands-on projects. There are many other exhibits including a life-size model of the Mercury spacecraft and an IMAX theater.

The Glazer Children’s Museum allows children to learn and explore with many kid-sized exhibits. Children enjoy exploring robotics, engineering, oceanography, and world culture exhibits.

The Tampa Bay History Center offers visitors a look into the history of the Tampa Bay area. Among the highlights are learning about early inhabitants like the Seminoles, the multicultural influences of the last five centuries, the railroad and shipping era, and regional geography, The Treasure Seekers Gallery is one of the newest exhibits with a re-created pirate ship and other historical items from the 1600s.

The Henry B. Plant Museum is part of the former Tampa Bay Hotel. It was owned by railroad tycoon Henry Plant and became a museum in 1933. This is a luxurious Victorian palace with Moorish features. The museum traces the history of the hotel and how Plant contributed to the development of Tampa and the state of Florida. The rooms feature period furnishing and offer a look into the lifestyle of Henry B. Plant. The grounds are known for their lovely tropical gardens. The museum includes one floor to the south side of the main entrance while the rest of the building is home to the University of Tampa.

Busch Gardens is an Africa-themed family entertainment and adventure park. It features thrill rides, exotic animals in natural habitats, and lots more entertainment.

You can enjoy taking a safari that includes African villages. At the Animal Care Center, you can get up close to animals like flamingos and sloths. There are kiddie rides and water rides.

The Florida Aquarium offers a variety of animal habitats, exhibits, and activities.

The habitats have been arranged so that they represent a watershed area similar to the Tampa area. There are hands-on opportunities. Among the highlights are taking the Wild Dolphin Cruise and the SeaTREK Program with an underwater tour.

Tampa Zoo is located at Lowry Park and has been renamed ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Making their homes here are over 2,000 animals living in natural habitats.

There is also a large aquarium with three pools used to treat local manatees who are injured or ill. The park also has some rides like a safari ride, a mini-tram ride, and a family-friendly roller coaster.

Ybor City is the center of the Latino community in Tampa. It is a National Historic Landmark District and named for its founder, cigar baron Vicente Martinez Ybor. This is home to many shops, galleries, cafes, and restaurants.

Seventh Avenue known as La Septima in Spanish is home to some of the district’s most historical buildings some of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Here you can enjoy the Columbia Restaurant which is the oldest restaurant in Florida and the largest Spanish restaurant in the US. It is known for its Spanish cuisine, dinner shows, and Old World architectural charm. Diners enjoy live entertainment that includes flamenco and jazz in the café.

The Armature Works is housed in a restored tram car warehouse with a variety of eclectic shops and restaurants. You can purchase some food and sit outside with lovely views of the Hillsborough River.

Ulele is one of the most popular restaurants in Tampa. You can see art pieces throughout the restaurant that come from the private collection of the Gonzmart family. Richard Gonzmart is the second great-grandson of Casimiro Hernandez Sr., the founder of the popular Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City.

One of the most popular attractions in Ybor City is the J.C. Newman Cigar Co. Museum & Restaurant. It showcases the history of cigar production in the Tampa area.

El Reloj Cigar Factory is the only cigar factory still in operation and in its day it was the largest cigar factory in the world. Sign up for a tour and you’ll get a behind-the-scenes tour of the factory and see workers making cigars.

You can see lots of manatees at the Manatee Viewing Center, a manatee sanctuary located across from a Tampa Electric Power Plant. The manatees enjoy the warm water produced by the power plant. The facility has a tidal walkway that showcases different Florida plants and birds, butterfly gardens, and an observation platform to view the manatees. There are picnic tables. This is also home to an educational building featuring a power plant and a ray touch tank. The center is open from November 1 to April 15th.

Florida particularly the Tampa Bay area has had a long association with pirates. Pirate history is celebrated for two months every year in February and March. The two highlights are the Gasparilla Pirate Festival and the Sant’Yago Night Parade.

During the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, a parade of boats sails through the Tampa waterways, and eventually, the crews come ashore to take over the city. The parade attracts huge crowds.

The Sant’Yago Knight Parade heads through the streets with colorful floats.

A great way to cool off is to head for Adventure Island, the most popular water park in Tampa. There are many water slides to choose from and just added in 2022 are the Rapids Racer and the Wahoo Remix.

Take the time to relax and have a dinner/sunset cruise on the Yacht Starship. This is a large triple-decker ship that sails out from Sparkman Wharf into Tampa Bay, You can enjoy spectacular views from the top deck and head for the dance floor to enjoy a live DJ spinning great music.