What to do in Tampa: the ideal combo between parks, beaches and shopping
It's a hidden gem in West Florida and a must for anyone visiting Busch Gardens. What to do in Tampa: all the options.
Tampa Bay is located on the west coast of the State of Florida, a few hours from Miami and Fort Lauderdale, and very close to Orlando. With gems like St. Petersburg and Clearwater, it's a city with a lot to offer. We tell you what to do in Tampa and how to make the most of its beaches, amusement parks, and world-class outlets.
Located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, Tampa is a major commercial hub, also known for its museums and other cultural attractions. With its combination of historical architecture and modern buildings, it is the scene of a culture impregnated with Cuban and Spanish flavors, where you can enjoy a lot of options to have fun, relax and shop at the best prices.
If you don't know it, you will be surprised by all that this charming city offers and the attractions that will open in 2023. What to do in Tampa and what are its main attractions. The must-see list.
What to do in Tampa and what's to come in 2023
By day and by night, Tampa dazzles. Art, culture, history, the beach and gastronomy come together to create a destination that you cannot miss on your visit to Florida.
Among the most important attractions of the city we find Ybor City, a district created in the 19th century that has a great nightlife. The place is very picturesque, since it is surrounded by brick buildings that formerly belonged to Cuban cigar industries and today are very well maintained and modernized.
Also, in Ybor City is the oldest restaurant in Florida, the Columbia Restaurant. We recommend you visit it for its internal decoration and its gastronomic proposal. Tip: try their Cuban food dishes.
Another obligatory destination in Tampa is Hyde Park: a very nice area and close to many bars and restaurants. In turn, it is a place visited for its art and history, since the Hutchinson and Anderson-Frank House are located here, recognized worldwide for their unusual architecture for the time they were built.
The Riverwalk is a unique adventure. Walking along the riverfront from the Historic District Center to the Tampa Museum of Art will give you a mile or two of views of the entire city and plenty of attractions and cute places to eat and enjoy.
Finally, when the sun goes down, the night in downtown Tampa offers its visitors thousands of options: bars, rooftops, restaurants and breweries. Latin cuisine, Mexican tacos, German sausages, traditional American craft beers and Oriental dishes make up a culinary offering that spans many different cultures.
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge (Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge) is one of the most famous in the United States. It crosses Tampa Bay and connects to the cities of Bradenton, on the Florida peninsula, and St. Petersburg, on the Pinellas peninsula.
It is an iconic bridge for being considered an architectural wonder of humanity. It was built in 1954 and spans Tampa Bay with a 1,500-foot cable-stayed main span.
Tampa Beaches
The beaches in Tampa, Florida are some of the most chosen by American tourists and from around the world. This is because its waters are crystal clear and turquoise in color, its sand is white, and it has truly impressive sunsets. Among the most famous beaches in Tampa Bay are Clearwater and St Pete, short for the name of the coastal city where Saint Petersburg is located.
Sunset at Clearwater Beach
Clearwater beach is the most chosen by tourists and locals. It is listed as the best in the United States on various travel websites and for a reason: the sunset view from its coast makes all who visit it fall in love.
With wide white-sand beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, Clearwater Beach is a Florida coastal community known for its water activities and warm turquoise waters. It is considered by many to be one of the best beaches in the United States.
Clearwater Beach is characterized by having white sand beaches that stretch for 4 km along the Gulf of Mexico. It has a marina and is connected by a small bridge to another island called Sand Key.
The area offers shops, restaurants and activities such as parasailing, jet ski rentals, boating (with dolphin watching in the Gulf waters), mini golf, fishing charters and "pirate ship" cruises.
Plus, you can take a walk along the Beach Walk Promenade and then enjoy some quiet time by renting a beach chair on the serene shoreline of Sand Key Park.
As we said before, watching the sunset is a "MUST" in this place. Pier 60 is the most famous gathering place in downtown Clearwater Beach and possibly the number one spot to watch the sunset in Clearwater Beach.
Another option is to get on the Calypso Queen Sunset Cruise where you can enjoy a beautiful sunset, dinner and dance while sailing on a beautiful tropical boat. Clearwater beach is actually very long and anywhere you settle will be optimal for stunning views of the sunset.
To get to Clearwater Beach there is a ferry available. What most tourists do is take advantage of the free parking in downtown Clearwater and hop on the ferry for a carefree, traffic-free ride to the beach.
St. Pete Beach
The practice of water sports such as paddle surfing, windsurfing and kiteboarding is one of the main reasons why many come to this beach in Saint Petersburg.
On the other hand, if you are traveling in search of fun, shopping and family entertainment, the ideal is to go to the Corey Avenue district where you will find many shops, galleries, typical restaurants and more.
At night, there are several recommendations: The Drunken Clam for those looking for a beach bar where they can taste delicious cocktails in a relaxed atmosphere. If it's a fancy evening you're after, RumFish Grill is ideal for sipping martinis under the glow of a beautiful aquarium. On the other hand, Harry's Beach Bar will be an excellent place to spend a romantic evening outdoors.
As for lodging, you will be able to choose between motels and inns typical of old Florida or luxurious five stars that offer complete services and wonderful views facing the sea.
Amusement Parks in Tampa
It doesn't matter if you only have a few hours to find adventure or a whole day to play, visiting Tampa's theme parks is one of the things you shouldn't stop doing.
The best roller coasters, playgrounds for children, fun entertainment programs and a beautiful zoo characterize a traditional and very popular park: Busch Garden Tampa Bay. It opens every day of the year at 10 am and closes between 6 and 10 pm depending on the season.
Busch Gardens announced the opening of a new attraction in 2023: Serengeti Flyer will receive visitors with pure adrenaline. In the screamin' swing style (a kind of giant balance), it will be the highest and fastest in the world.
In addition, with the entrance they give you a guarantee of rain with which they assure you that if it rains, you can return another day for free. An interesting fact for lovers of vertigo: Busch Garden has the highest roller coaster in all of Florida. It is called Tigris and it has twists, forward and backward movement and sections in which its passengers are inverted. All this at almost 100 km per hour.
On the other hand, Adventure Island is a water park visited by thousands of tourists every day. The land where it is located occupies more than 12 square km and is full of attractions and recreational areas for all ages. Its hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. in winter or autumn and from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in summer. During the months of September and October it opens only during the weekend.
Tampa zoo
ZooTampa at Lowry Park is hands down one of the best zoos in the country. It is inhabited by about a million and a half animals, including Red Book primates, panthers, Pygmy Hippos, giant tortoises, sea cows and birds of all kinds.
Home to a wide variety of animals ranging from native Florida species to African wildlife, ZooTampa in Lowry Park is a must-visit for all nature and animal lovers. It is ideal for families with children.
The zoo has numerous exhibits including various hands-on attractions. Both children and adults can share the experience of petting rays, feeding giraffes or riding a camel. The zoo has also recently expanded to include various children's rides, including a merry-go-round.
The terrarium at this zoo is especially popular with youngsters who visit every day to view an astonishing variety of reptiles. Also, keep an eye out for special events scheduled for holidays throughout the year.
Shopping in Tampa
With the best brands, excellent prices and all kinds of promotions, Tampa has nothing to envy Orlando or Miami when it comes to shopping. Armani, Tommy, Ralph Lauren, GAP, Calvin Klein, Victoria Secret, Disney Store Outlet and hundreds of other stores offer discounts that in some stores can be up to 50%.
Tampa Premium Outlets is one of the busiest and most recommended shopping malls. Located in a very convenient area near Interstate 75 and State Road 56 on Grand Cypress Drive, it has more than 110 stores and many delicious options of ice cream shops, chocolatiers, bars and restaurants within the same shopping strip.
This mall is located just 30 minutes from Busch Gardens and Lowry Park Zoo.
How to Get to Tampa
If you have decided to spend a few days in Tampa during your next vacation, it is important that you take into account the following:
Although there are no direct flights from Buenos Aires, if you travel with airlines such as Delta, United and American Airlines, you will be able to arrive at Tampa International Airport with a short layover in another city.
From Latin America there are direct flights to Tampa from Panama, Cuba and Puerto Rico.
If you fly from Europe, Frankfurt and London are the airports that offer direct connections to that coastal city.
Tampa International Airport is located 10 kilometers from the city. This means that when you arrive you will have to choose a means of transport that will take you to the hotel or apartment. The options are:
From the first level of the airport there is a bus line that takes you free of charge to the shopping center.
Another alternative is to take the bus line 30 that starts its journey from the airport to the center every half hour. The tour is approximately 40 minutes and has a fee of two dollars.
Yellow Cab and United Cab are the official airport taxi companies that will take you to the city center in just 20 minutes. The cost of the service is 25 dollars.
Finally, a very convenient option chosen by tourists from Tampa and all of Florida is to rent a car. In the arrivals area of the airport you will find many counters of rental companies where you can choose the car that you like the most.
Finally, another way to get to the Tampa coast is aboard a cruise ship. Many of them include this city in their itinerary as a stop, port of departure or arrival. The tours vary between destinations such as the Bahamas, the Netherlands Antilles, Mexico and some beaches in Central America. Undoubtedly, this is a great option to get to know the most exotic beaches.
I have given you information about What to do in Tampa: the ideal combo between parks, beaches and shopping so if you read this post till the end, then your Thanks.
