City Guide: Tampa
The city of Tampa is situated in the Tampa Bay area, on Florida’s west coast, and it’s packed with attractions. One of the most famous of these is BuschGardens (don’t let the rubbish web site put you off, I went to BG last year and it was great) , a must-see attraction for anyone visiting Florida for its theme parks. Busch Gardens includes animal encounters and a “safari”, as well as rollercoasters and other rides. Other family attractions in Tampa include the Florida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo, Big Cat Rescue and Dinosaur World.
Tampa is known as a city of culture and its museums and galleries include the Museum of Science and Industry, the Henry B. Plant Museum and the Tampa Museum of Art. Sports lovers will enjoy a trip to the Raymond James Stadium, home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team, and there are also a number of excellent golf courses in and around the city. Some of Florida’s best beaches, including Clearwater Beach and St. Petersburg Beach, are also within easy reach of Tampa.
Whist Tampa has a public transport infrastructure including a streetcar (tram) line, most visitors opt for car hire as the best method of travel. The city covers almost 60 square miles and is surrounded by interesting places to visit so having a car is the easiest option. I stayed with friends when I visited Tampa so I can’t recommend any hotels but Tampa has a strong reputation as a tourist destination so there is a great deal of choice.
