From metropolitan downtown to historic Ybor City to the beaches and beyond, Tampa is a city filled with a variety of fun things to do. Downtown Tampa is a city filled with skyscraper office buildings, a large convention center, a performing arts center, the St. Pete Times Forum (formerly the Ice Palace) which is a 20,000 seat bayfront sports arena, the Florida Aquarium, the Garrison Seaport Center (harbor for cruise ships), and Channelside, a major shopping/dining center.
For those that love the happening nightlife, Ybor City, founded by Cuban immigrants in the 1880’s, comes alive after dark with the hottest nightlife around. The sounds of jazz, blues, salsa, reggae and even hip-hop oozes out of a variety of pubs, patio bars and nightclubs. But it’s the latin beat that defines Ybor City, where you can still watch hand rolled cigars being made, and a hotel/museum where Teddy Roosevelt trained his famous Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War.
When visiting Ybor City, be sure to check out the incredible cuisine – Spanish, Cuban, French, Italian and Greek. But one of the most memorable evenings can be found at the Columbia Restaurant, which in addition to its award winning Spanish/Cuban cuisine, features flamenco dance shows every night but Sunday.
The entire family will love Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, which has again been voted #1 by Parent’s Magazine. And no trip to Tampa would be complete without a day at Busch Gardens.
So pack up the family and head for Tampa. You’ll be happy you did.
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