10 Best Issues to Do in Tampa, FL

Yes, a sidewalk is certainly one of Tampa’s greatest points of interest. However, it is a particular sidewalk. Running 4.5 miles from Gandy Boulevard to downtown Tampa, the sidewalk that runs alongside Bayshore Boulevard is the longest steady sidewalk within the US. It can also be south Tampa’s unofficial gymnasium, the place in any respect hours of the day yow will discover individuals strolling, jogging, biking, and rollerblading down the practically flat pavement. With water and skyline views on one aspect and a few of Tampa’s most costly actual property on the opposite, the surroundings cannot be overwhelmed. It’s additionally the situation of the town’s most anticipated annual celebration, the Gasparilla Pirate Parade and Festival in late January.

The Tampa Museum of Art is a boldly designed riverfront museum housing six short-term reveals and an intensive everlasting assortment of Greek and Roman antiquities and Twentieth-century sculpture. After looking the galleries, guests can wander by the serene riverfront sculpture backyard earlier than indulging in cool, creamy gelato on the Riverwalk Cafe. Check out their stunning museum store the place yow will discover distinctive presents and souvenirs of your go to. The museum could be very a lot part of the group and presents an intensive program of occasions from artwork lessons to Buddhist meditation. Every Friday from 4 pm – 10 pm, the Tampa Museum of Art hosts Art on the House that includes pay-as-you-will admission.

Built to protect and have fun Ybor City’s colourful historical past, this museum is a spotlight of any go to to Tampa’s nationwide historic district. Once generally known as the “Cigar Capital of the World,” cigars have been an enormous enterprise and had a transformative influence on all the area. Housed within the renovated historic Ferlita Bakery, the museum options each short-term and everlasting reveals that illustrate how the immigrant cigar employees and their households lived and labored, creating a brand new society with distinctive group establishments. Outside you possibly can discover the peaceable Nineteenth-century-style backyard and see the “casitas” which can be typical of the homes constructed for cigar employees and their households.

To expertise Florida nature with out having to drive very far out of city, Hillsborough River State Park is your greatest guess. Located upriver from downtown Tampa in northeastern Hillsborough County, that is certainly one of Florida’s oldest and hottest state parks. The checklist of issues to do right here is intensive, beginning with each full-facility and primitive tenting. Canoes and kayaks will be rented to go down the river. There are additionally quite a few picnic areas, a public pool, bike leases and quite a few mountaineering trails. If you are fortunate, it is possible for you to to identify some native Florida wildlife from Great Blue Herons to alligators.

One of the perfect aquariums within the southeast, this 250,000 sq. foot attraction explores aquatic environments all over the world. Exhibits characteristic greater than 20,000 vegetation and animals in each recent and saltwater environments. The centerpiece of the aquarium is a million-gallon coral reef show housing over 200 species of fish. Other areas of the aquarium showcase river otters, alligators, deep sea fish. Kids will love the “touch” experiences the place they will stand up shut with stingrays, horseshoe crabs, urchins, and starfish. Also widespread are the twice-daily Penguin Meet & Greets that includes African black-footed penguins. A present store and restaurant are on the premises. Check their web site for admission costs as they provide Plan-Ahead Pricing.

Step into the jazz age with a go to to the H.B. Plant Museum that’s devoted to recreating the expertise of company to the historic Tampa Bay Hotel. With its hanging structure, lavish furnishings and vibrant gardens, the previous resort presents a glimpse into the early years of Florida tourism. Built in 1891 by railroad magnate Henry B. Plant, the opulent lodging provided uncommon luxuries together with electrical energy, telephones, ensuite baths, and an elevator. This extravagance drew company similar to Teddy Roosevelt and Babe Ruth. Today, the museum shares house with the University of Tampa and guests can step subsequent door to view the resort’s lavish foyer that appears identical to it did again within the late 1800s. Plant’s accomplishment is made all of the extra wonderful while you understand that when it was constructed, the resort was surrounded solely by swampland!

Beloved by locals and guests alike, ZooTampa at Lowry Park has been voted the #1 Family Friendly Zoo within the nation by Parents Magazine and is a five-time winner of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. The 56-acre nonprofit zoo is dwelling to 1,300 animals and emphasizes regional endangered species and people in comparable climates. All of your favorites are right here, together with African species like giraffes, rhinos, and hippos, Asian animals like lions and tigers, in addition to animals native to Florida, similar to varied species of alligator and crocodile. Once they’ve made their method round to all the animals, the children can play within the Australian-themed kids’s space that features rides and different video games. Going within the morning is a good suggestion, particularly in the summertime. Not solely do you keep away from the warmth, however the animals additionally are typically extra vigorous.

Wild animals and wilder rides await guests to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. This 335-acre, Africa-inspired theme park boasts a number of scream-worthy curler coasters, 2,000-plus animals and a bunch of entertaining reside exhibits. There is one thing for teenagers of all ages at this world-class park. While journey lovers flock to the various adrenaline-inducing thrill rides, animal fans can take pleasure in hand-feeding kangaroos at Walkabout Way. While there’s a gondola and a practice to assist negotiate the distances, be ready to stroll with the intention to discover all areas of the park. Luckily, there are many areas to linger for relaxation and refueling, with outlets, eating places, and leisure phases positioned all through the park.

The Tampa Bay History Center, a 60,000-square-foot waterfront museum, presents 12,000 years of Tampa Bay historical past by revolutionary, interactive reveals that have interaction guests of all ages. Visitors can discover an enormous array of Seminole artifacts, study in regards to the Spanish conquistadors, browse a Twenties-era cigar retailer, and look at over 1,000 objects associated to Tampa’s historical past because the cigar capital of the world. There is an excellent museum reward retailer the place yow will discover distinctive Tampa souvenirs and for those who’re hungry, strive the onsite Columbia Cafe. Sister to the well-known Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, this model serves most of the similar Spanish delicacies.

The Tampa Riverwalk is a scenic exploration of the downtown waterfront and connects most of the metropolis’s hottest points of interest, parks, and eating places. The broad paved path follows the banks of the Hillsborough River and Garrison Channel, simply accessible to everybody together with the disabled, youngsters, and furry associates. There are additionally some ways to navigate the Riverwalk which accommodates walkers, joggers, and bikers. Major landmarks alongside the trail embody the Heights Public Market, Straz Performing Arts Center, Tampa Museum of Art, Glazer Children’s Museum, the Tampa Bay History Center, and the Tampa Convention Center. Along the best way, you’ll uncover quite a few interpretive reveals highlighting Tampa’s historical past and public artwork reveals. The path is 2.6 miles lengthy, however there are many spots to cease for a relaxation and seize a drink or a fast chunk alongside the best way.