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Found on the Gulf Coast of Florida, Tampa is a growing and dynamic city. It is known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant cultural scene, and warm year-round weather. For all these reasons, Tampa is absolutely worth visiting!
Home to historic Ybor City and many popular attractions, this city offers visitors of all ages many thrills and chances to relax. Going from the beaches to coastal locations to plenty of history, there are so many reasons to visit Tampa today. Below are our favorite reasons.
Where is Tampa?
The city of Tampa is found on Tampa Bay on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It is within driving distance from Orlando, found in the center of Florida. Tampa has its own international airport.
Reasons why Tampa is Worth Visiting
Many Museums
Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI)
With over 100 hands-on activities, MOSI is a great place to spend the day. It is especially fun for those with children. The exhibits range from learning about the Moon Landing to brain puzzles to PaleoLab. There is something for everyone. This is a particularly fun way to spend a rainy day in Florida.
Tampa Museum of Art
Found on the riverfront, the Tampa Museum of Art is devoted to the art of our time and features many engaging and innovative exhibitions. Like many other museums, it is easily accessible on foot, by car, and by water taxi.
The many exhibitions include sculptures, photography, and paintings. Additionally, there is an innovative media, video, and installation art. It includes a 14,000-square-foot LED installation of Leo Villareal’s Sky. Given that it is found on the river, this museum also offers great views over the river and of downtown Tampa.
Henry B Plant Museum
Found in the Tampa Bay Hotel, the Henry B. Plant Museum uses the actual items from guests to showcase the true opulence. While a smaller museum, it does pack a punch with artifacts and opulence. This National Historic Landmark showcases many different exhibits both in person and online. It gives you the opportunity to check it out before even visiting.
Delicious Food to Try
Larry and I love to eat new and local foods when traveling. It is one of the best parts about going to a new place. Not only can you experience the local fare, but also new snacks and types of restaurants. Tampa, much like the rest of Florida, has cuisine deeply rooted in Spanish and Latin foods. While I’d suggest sticking to Miami for Cuban food, there is plenty of Latin food to try here.
While in Tampa, here are our recommendations. Spanish Bean Soup: crafted in Ybor City over 100 years ago, this soup is the pinnacle of Tampa dishes. One of the best options is found at Colombia Restaurant, Florida’s oldest restaurant. This popular Tampa street food is Deviled Crab. Deviled Crab is balled up crab with spices, then rolled in breadcrumbs and fried. Not to be confused with Crab Enchilau!
Crab Enchilau is crab in a tomato sauce and spices that is served over rice or pasta. As a city on the water crab and fish are very popular dishes in Tampa. Blue Crab is especially popular as it is wildly accessible in Tampa Bay Harbor. Don’t forget to try some fried grouper sandwiches while visiting.
Fun Theme Parks
Busch Gardens
The most popular amusement park in the Tampa Bay Area. It is a 355-acre park themed like a safari. It is most well known for Iron Gwazi roller coaster that has a 91 degree drop. That roller coaster is my personal favorite. I went with my dad and the drop is so dramatic that all the coins from his pockets actually fell out!
Empower Adventures
A fully tour guided zip line adventure. It lasts about 2.5 hours making it the most exciting and longest in the area. Additionally there is also paddle boarding at Empower Adventures. Both of these theme parks make Tampa worth visiting.
Many Places to see Animals
Florida Aquarium
As a state on the water, learning about the local wildlife is so important and fun! The Florida Aquarium has an iconic 80-foot glass dome in the Wetlands as well as a 500,000 gallon Coral Reef habitat. This allows for awe-inspiring views of sea life.
Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park
Another fun place to see animals in Tampa! The Zoo Tampa is great for all families. It also offers a small aquarium and even a safari. It is truly such a fun place to enjoy on a beautifully sunny Florida day.
Manatee Viewing Center
This protected nature preserve has warm water that attracts many manatees. The 50- foot observation deck is perfect for all visitors to watch the migrating manatees. The viewing center also includes walking trails and a butterfly garden.
Pro-Tip: Enjoy many different attractions at a discount with CityPass!
Learn About Tampa’s History
Ybor City
Ybor City (Pronounced ee-bor) also known as Cigar City. It is the historic town that pays homage to its Cuban roots as well as its long history as the cigar capital of the world. There are so many things to see and do while here. Check out this walking tour to help you get along.
In Ybor City, you can meet a cigar roller to see how cigars have been historically made. Check out the many different bakeries and restaurants. Florida’s oldest restaurant is in Ybor City.
Tampa Bay History Center
The History Center has three floors full of local history. The history is presented through well-preserved and beautiful artifacts. There are interactive exhibits. Here, visitors can watch media clips, shoot cannonballs at enemy pirate ships, shop for cigars, and even understand how people lived in Ybor City.
Enjoy the Outdoors in Tampa
Tampa has some beautiful areas to enjoy the outdoors. Not only are there many wonderful parks, but there are places to go for a walk. The Tampa River Walk is a great place for a walk along the water in Tampa. This beautiful walk is absolutely a reason why Tampa is worth visiting.
Another great place to walk along is the iconic Bayshore Boulevard. This famous street is another place worth visiting in Tampa. Along the water in southern Tampa, this boulevard has a 10-foot wide sidewalk and has the longest continuous sidewalk.
There are three wonderful parks to enjoy while in Tampa as well. Ballast Point Park, Hillsborough River State Park, and Caladesi Island State Park are all very popular parks in the area. They all allow you to enjoy the unique nature and ecosystem in Tampa.
Head To the Beach
Found on the gulf shores, Tampa has many wonderful beaches. Some of the best ones are Ben T Davis Beach or Rocky Point as well as Clearwater Beach. Of course, if you’re going to Florida, you must go to the beach! I would recommend going early in the morning to avoid crowds and to have the whole beach to yourself.
Take in Florida’s Great Weather
Florida has wonderful weather year-round. With the summer being perfect for plenty of beach time, and winter is the perfect time to escape from the snow. Additionally, the Sunshine State has wonderfully sunny weather. There are some rainy days, especially during the rainy season, but luckily, those don’t last too long.
FAQs about Tampa:
How to Get to Tampa, Florida?
There are several ways to get to Tampa depending on where you are coming from.
What makes Tampa famous?
Mostly, it is known for Ybor City and all of its history. Additionally, it is most famous for Busch Gardens Amusement Park. Finally, since it is Florida after all, Tampa is known for its illustrious beaches.
Should You Visit Tampa?
Absolutely! There is so much to do as I detailed above. Tampa is a large city on the water which caters to all types of travelers. Definitely recommend visiting Tampa.
How long should I spend in Tampa?
Tampa is a large city, I would recommend about 3-4 days in order to see as much as possible. Additionally, by having 3-4 days there will be plenty of time to enjoy the beach and really go to as many museums as you’d like.
So? Is Tampa Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! There is so much to do in Tampa that makes it completely worth visiting. It is also a great place to visit tacked onto another city visit within Florida. Personally I loved visiting Tampa because of Busch Gardens alone. I am a big fan of roller coasters so visiting Busch Gardens was a top priority for me, then I got to see how much more Tampa has to offer as well. It is not just a city around an amusement park, but a beautiful city on the water with a deep history.
