Tampa is the home to 3 national sporting teams, Buccaneers (NFL), Devil Rays (Baseball) and Lightning (NHL).       

Recognized as one of the nation’s fastest growing cities, Tampa is a bustling port town that boasts multi-ethnic diversity and a revitalized downtown waterfront. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll along Bayshore Boulevard, dubbed the “world’s largest sidewalk;” or wander the quaint streets of Ybor City, which was once known as the “cigar capital of the world,” and is now a city-within-a-city offering Latin shops, ethnic restaurants, art galleries, and nightclubs. Local attractions include the 300-acre Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, which is ranked among the top four zoos in the country; the Florida Aquarium; the Henry B. Plant Museum, which is the site of the old Tampa Bay Hotel and a national historic landmark; and the Tampa Museum of Art, which features the Southeast’s largest collection of Greek and Roman art. As for sports, the NFL’s Buccaneers and the NHL’s Lightning both call Tampa Bay home. Several major league baseball teams also come to Tampa for spring training.

Florida Aquarium

Set along the waterfront, this amazing attraction (housed in a structure modelled after a giant scallop shell) explores Florida's native sea life in a number of venues. More than 4,300 plants and animals are represented, highlighting both fresh and saltwater environments. Exhibits document the movement of water from wetlands to ocean and include a million-gallon coral reef display that houses fish of all kinds. Twice each day, divers feed sharks living in the aquarium, and other exhibits showcase sea life from around the world. A gift shop and restaurant are on the premises, and the IMAX theatre next door presents a film documenting ocean life.

Lowry Park Zoo

Located on 24 landscaped acres, this zoo houses animals from four continents in areas reminiscent of their natural habitats. Environments for primates, Asian animals, and creatures native to Florida coexist with a bird aviary, a petting zoo and an aquatic centre that shelters manatees and helps injured ones recuperate. A Discovery Centre encourages hands-on exploration of nature and small animals, and an amphitheatre presents performances by sloths and falcons. Considered one of the top zoos in its category, Lowry Park also offers rides and attractions for children.

Children's Museum of Tampa

Little ones will revel in all the activities available at this educational museum. Exhibits change frequently and, since the majority of them are hands-on, kids get the opportunity to explore and learn as they play. In "Safety Village," they're able to test-drive diminutive cars and try on adult careers, such as fireman or bank teller. Displays are located outdoors as well as indoors, so you can even throw a little sunshine and fresh air into the beneficial mix of learning and laughter.

Museum of Science and Industry

If you're a science nut, or even if you just like to know why things happen the way they do, this museum is a great diversion. With more than 450 hands-on exhibits, visitors become part of the action and can experience hurricane-force winds, zero-gravity and the effects of simulated flight. Displays on anatomy and ecology provide insight into the natural world, while the butterfly garden, nature trail and planetarium offer total immersion programs that further explore the physical environment. An IMAX theatre awes guests with spectacle and is just one more reason that MOSI is the Southeast's largest science centre and a perennial favourite of tourists and residents alike.

Ybor City Walking Tour

Sponsored by the Ybor City State Museum Society and the Chamber of Commerce, these walking tours wind through one of Tampa's most historic (and vibrant) districts. Led by a local resident, the tours last about 1.5 hours and begin at the museum. They go through the gardens there and then move out into Ybor City itself. Guides share the history of the area and also provide details about particular buildings and current developments. Participants should wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

Last updated:   January 31, 2012 21:51