The Tampa Bay region is one of the most stunning subtropical parts of America. Located in the heart of Florida, the city offers the perfect blend of cosmopolitan, urban life with stunning attractions to enjoy a stone’s throw from the center. Its multi-faceted personality is what makes Tampa Bay such a popular resort among families of all ages, with great weather and entertainment guaranteed.
But if you’re thinking of visiting the area for the first time, here’s a few pointers to help you uncover the best attractions and experiences during your first week or fortnight in Tampa.
The Tampa Riverwalk
One of the best ways to understand Tampa on-foot is by heading down to the Tampa Riverwalk. This 2.5-mile-long walk connects Downtown Tampa to many of the city’s leading attractions, including its Museum of Art, its picturesque eight-acre Waterfront Park and the city’s biggest theatre – the Straz Center for Performing Arts. As a riverside destination, you won’t be surprised to find plenty of water-based activities on offer here, with “fun boats” and eco-friendly eBoats available to hire on an hourly basis.
Live sporting events
If you enjoy your sport, you’ll be well aware that Tampa Bay boasts three teams that compete at the major league level in the US – the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL, the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL and the Tampa Bay Rays in the MLB.
It’s safe to say that the Buccaneers have made the most headlines in recent times. In fact, this year’s Super Bowl was staged at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium with the Buccaneers lucky enough to reach the finals in their first season with quarterback legend Tom Brady in the roster. The Bucs’ comfortable 31-9 Super Bowl LV win over the Kansas City Chiefs raised plenty of eyebrows, as much as the profile of the franchise in the Tampa Bay area. With the iconic Brady in their ranks, they are also second favorites in the NFL betting markets for Super Bowl futures to make it back-to-back Lombardi Trophies in 2022.
The region is also home to several minor league franchises too. Soccer fans should check out the Tampa Bay Rowdies, who ply their trade in the United Soccer League. Meanwhile no less than four minor league baseball teams operate in the Tampa Bay area. All of which compete in the Class-A Florida State League.
Busch Gardens
Tampa’s iconic Busch Gardens is one of the best days out for all the family. It’s an all-in-one entertainment experience that predates even Disney World. There’s over 300 acres of attractions on offer here, with adrenaline-filled rollercoasters and thrill rides, along with live entertainment and one of the biggest zoos in North America.
The Busch Gardens zoo is home to no less than 12,000 animals, creating a genuine African safari-style family adventure. The zoo’s “Animal Experiences” allow visitors to get up close and personal with some of the world’s most endangered species. Meanwhile the manmade “Serengeti Plain” creates a natural habitat for exotic animals that you can discover on the Serengeti Express train ride. There are shuttle buses that run from Busch Gardens as far afield as Orlando, so you shouldn’t need to hire a car and drive yourself. Although the surrounding areas of Tampa like St. Petersburg are well worth exploring behind the wheel.
The Florida Aquarium and cruises in search of wild dolphins
Tampa is also the proud home of one of the world’s most sought-after aquariums. The Florida Aquarium is home to more than 10,000 underwater species, flora, and fauna. It’s perfectly located in the heart of downtown Tampa, close by to the waterfront. It’s also possible to book wild dolphin cruises and sunset sails that allow you to head out to the ocean and get a once-in-a-lifetime experience with dolphins.
A word of warning on the Florida seasons
Although it’s fair to say that Florida is blessed with not having a genuine winter season, it does have a hurricane season which can be equally as destructive to your vacation plans. The hurricane season runs between June and November, with the tourist and holiday seasons running either side of this. It’s usually more expensive to visit before the hurricane season and the months after the hurricane season are slightly cooler, which makes sightseeing a little more comfortable for those who don’t enjoy the heat and humidity.
Hopefully, after shining a spotlight on Tampa, you can see there is plenty more to the west central coast of Florida than meets the eye.