- Tampa is renowned for its
subtropical climate, with mild winters and hot summers, making it great
for year-round vacations.
- The city has a vibrant culture and
lots of museums, parks and opportunities to catch a glimpse of wildlife.
- Families love Tampa because of the
fun attractions and central location between Clearwater Beach and Orlando.
- If you’ve followed along with the
Netflix series, Tiger King, make sure you stop in at Carol Baskin’s Big
Cat Rescue to see the incredible rescue cats.
Tampa
is a wonderful mix of old and new. It has historic quarters; tons of places to
eat, drink and shop; zoos and wildlife parks; and fascinating museums for
curious minds. While it’s ideal for family vacations, there’s plenty for people
without kids to do and see, especially if you’re animal lovers. Tampa Theater
and Ybor City are ideal for nights out, while Hillsborough State Park and the
Big Cat Rescue sanctuary let you feast on nature at its finest.
If
you’re planning a trip to Tampa or deciding whether to go, check out this list
of the top 12 things to do. From historic museums to adventure parks, you won’t
be stuck for ideas in this exciting city perched on the Gulf of Mexico.
1. Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens is one of the top attractions in Tampa and one of
the best places in Florida to escape for a weekend. It’s 335 acres of pure fun,
with an African theme and so much to do. Not only is it an amazing adventure
park with thrilling rides, ziplines and bumper cars, but it’s also a zoo and
safari park. You’ll discover an array of exotic animals, reimagined African
camps and first-hand encounters with wildlife.
Feed kangaroos and giraffes and admire beautiful flamingos and
languishing sloths by day. Check out the Serengeti night safari, a performance
or live music offered in the evening.
2. Tampa Riverwalk
You’ll find what seems like an endless pedestrian stretch known
as the Tampa Riverwalk in the downtown area. To be precise, it’s 2.4 miles long
and winds along the waterfront with spectacular views of the city and the
pretty Hillsborough River. Art lovers can set up here and create a masterpiece,
or admire the many public works of art, from sculptures to murals.
You’ll find a few of the other top attractions along the river walk, including
the Tampa Museum of Art and Florida Aquarium. There are even four playgrounds
for kids and two have splash pads perfect for cooling off in the hottest
months. If adults need some rest to recharge, there are some great restaurants
with outdoor seating to grab a cold drink at and watch the world go by.
3. Tampa Zoo at Lowry Park
With more than 2,000 animals spread over 60 acres, the Tampa Zoo
at Lowry Park isn’t something you can miss if you love watching animals in
their natural habitats. Some are native to Florida, while others hail from
Australia, Asia and Africa. There’s also an area dedicated to primates and an
aviary for bird watchers.
There are opportunities to interact with some wildlife,
including photos with koala bears and rhino feeding sessions. What’s more, it’s
one of the only places in Florida where you’re guaranteed to spot manatees due
to the location’s nonprofit acute care manatee hospital, where Florida’s
beloved sea cows are rescued and rehabilitated.
4. Ybor
City
Ybor
City is a cultural hub in Tampa and a National Historic Landmark District. It’s
an ode to Florida’s Latin American past, dating back to the 1600s when Spanish
settlers first claimed the area.
The
neighborhood is named after Vicente Martinez Ybor, a cigar baron who founded
the city in the 1880s. For a long time, the area was home to one of the biggest
cigar factories in the world, with legend saying 4,000 workers made more than
9,000 cigars each month.
These
days, it’s less about commerce and more about partying. Cigar mills have been
transformed into trendy boutique shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. There
are food trucks and microbreweries aplenty, with an intoxicating Latin American
vibe that makes a visit feel like a vacation within a vacation.
5. Museum of Science and Industry
There are few places more engaging for sharp minds than a
museum, and Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry is particularly enthralling.
Tons of interactive exhibits, activities and stations keep adults as
entertained as kids.
Previous events include the Imagination Playground, a building
station with tools to build items such as miniature villages and robots.
Slipper Science was a hockey exhibit that demonstrated how aerodynamics and
friction work. Mission: Moon base was a simulation of a lunar base that taught
curious visitors about the environment of the moon and its atmosphere.
6. Sunshine Skyway Bridge
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a feat to behold for engineering
or architecture enthusiasts or pretty much anyone who enjoys looking at
beautiful structures. When you drive up the four-mile bridge, it feels like
you’re driving straight up to the sky, but it looks just as beautiful when
viewed from afar.
When you’re at the peak of the bridge, you’ll see the expanse of
Florida and Tampa itself to the left, with the glistening waters of the Gulf of
Mexico to the right. At the base of the bridge, there’s a fishing hotspot at
one of the longest fishing piers in the world. Catch snapper, bass and grouper
as you chat with locals and learn more about the area’s history.
7. The Florida Aquarium
One of the most memorable activities in Tampa is the wild
dolphin cruise at the Florida Aquarium. You’ll jump on a catamaran and admire
the glorious sea creatures in their natural habitat.
What’s more, you’ll find beautiful coral, schools of beautiful
fish, imposing sharks, and adorable penguins throughout the aquarium. There’s
also a 4D theater showing educational films about all your favorite sea life.
When you’re ready to cool off, you and the kids can check out the outdoor water
playground.
8.
Tampa Bay History Center
The
Americas have a rich and fascinating cultural heritage, and Tampa Bay History
Center pays homage to over 12,000 years of local history. There are preserved
documents, artifacts and relics dating back to when Europeans first voyaged to
the Americas.
You can
hear retellings of stories from when Spanish explorers first came to the New
World. Tales from the Seminoles, the
shipping and railroad era and exploration of Florida’s multicultural history
are sure to enthrall.
9. Tampa Theater
Tampa Theater was constructed as a movie palace in 1926, at the
beginning of the first Golden Age of cinema. It’s one of Tampa’s most opulent
and impressive historical attractions and a must-see for visitors. You can buy
a ticket at the old-fashioned glass booth at the front and then catch a show,
where you’ll sit on one of the classic plush red seats.
Admire the huge curtain that covers screens when they’re not in
use and the Wurlitzer organ, which stands as a relic of the theater’s past.
Don’t expect to catch the latest blockbusters here, though. Instead, you can
view world cinema, independent films, and documentaries.
While much of Tampa is man-made, with animal sanctuaries and
zoos mimicking animals’ natural habitats, Hillsborough River State
Park is a truly wild wonderland. With bayous, mangroves,
swamps and trees, you’ll see alligators creeping through the marshes and
beautiful birds flying through the skies.
If you’re active and love the outdoors, you can go canoeing or
kayaking here and bike through the lush forests. When you’re ready for a
sit-down, head to the interpretive center and learn about the Native American
tribes from the area.
11. Tampa Museum of
Art
The
Tampa Museum of Art building is a piece of art to behold in and of itself, and
that’s before you’ve even walked through the doors! It has numerous display
rooms, exhibitions, and galleries, so art lovers will be right at home here.
There are vast collections of Roman sculptures, contemporary installations and
even a messy station where kids can create their own watercolors
The Big
Cat Rescue Center is an attraction that’s sure to delight
people no matter what age they are. It’s more of a sanctuary than a zoo,
housing over 60 beautiful felines, including lions, tigers, bobcats, servals,
leopards, lynx, jaguars and more.
Most of
the animals are rescues being rehabilitated after neglect and abuse experienced
in the big cat trade. The aim of the sanctuary is to educate people about the
plight of these often endangered and always graceful animals. And yes, this is
the same BCR heavily featured in the Joe Exotic Netflix series, owned, and
operated by Carol Baskin.
Angel Sepulveda Realtor
