Why Locals Love Tampa, Florida

Exploring Tampa, Florida, today, I hardly recognize The Big Guava as my high school stomping grounds. But that’s a good thing. Back then, the city’s visitor experience was anchored by Busch Gardens, Ybor City (the so-called Latin Quarter), and the Gulf Coast beaches 45 minutes away in St. Petersburg and Clearwater. These days, people drive to Tampa seeking its cultural options, exciting food scene and revitalized downtown.

Take a stroll along the river

The Tampa Riverwalk—a 2.5-mile stretch connecting museums, restaurants, parks and attractions along the Hillsborough River—is changing the way people think about the best way to get around downtown. Cars remain the most convenient option, but the Riverwalk’s water taxis and Tampa’s HART system (streetcars, trolleys and buses) will take you to and from Channelside, Ybor City, the airport and other destinations in Hillsborough County.

If you’re driving to the Riverwalk and want to take off on foot from there, you can find an inexpensive parking spot at the William F. Poe Garage on West Cass Street and North Ashley Drive. Then head north to the Water Works Park and native-Floridian restaurant Ulele, or go south to Curtis Hixon Park for views of the University of Tampa’s minarets.

Bring along the kids

There’s no shortage of family fun, whether it’s the big Busch Gardens Tampa Bay theme park or the smaller Glazer Children’s Museum. My kids love the Lowry Park Zoo and the renovated splash pad at the Florida Aquarium. For an off-the-beaten-path alternative, check out Big Cat Rescue, home to more than 80 lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars and cheetahs.

Tampa locals regularly take their kids to the Tampa Bay History Center, which has a choose-your-own-adventure theater and such exhibitions as Treasure Seekers: Conquistadors, Pirates & Shipwrecks, which boasts a 60-foot replica sailing vessel.

Enjoy the sunshine

Lettuce Lake Park’s 240 acres offer space for bicycling, running, hiking, kayaking, fishing and even a playground for kids.

Seventy-one of the city’s more than 170 parks boast playgrounds, and six of those have water play areas. My family likes to canoe at the Hillsborough River State Park, fish at Ballast Point Park, and walk the Lettuce Lake Park boardwalk.

There’s plenty to do on the water, too. Outfitters like Urban Kai and the Tampa Bay Water Bike Company will get you out on the water on a stand-up paddleboard, floating bicycle or biyak (a bicycle-kayak hybrid). You don’t have to spend a fortune on a river cruise; just take the $5 ride between stops on the Tampa Water Taxi Company route. It’s especially nice at night with the illuminated skyline as your backdrop.

Join in the sporting life

Tampa has a franchise in three of the four major sports, but tickets to see the Rays (in the MLB), Buccaneers (NFL) or Lightning (NHL) can be pricey. But there are plenty of affordable college and minor league sports to take in as well.

Instead of a Bucs game, watch the University of South Florida football team play at Raymond James Stadium. Baseball fans can cheer on the Tampa Yankees at GMS Field, the New York Yankees’ spring training field. If you’re into hockey, coupon sites like Groupon offer discounts on Lightning seats. And the city’s professional soccer team, the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the United Soccer League, is getting more popular, but tickets are still less than $25.

Get a taste of the local cuisine

Satisfy the thrill seekers with a family trip to Busch Gardens.

You’ll find every chain restaurant imaginable somewhere on the Dale Mabry Highway, but get off the strip to check out Tampa’s unique independent eateries. I prefer international flavors, so high on my list are Petra (Middle Eastern), Ichicoro (ramen) and Pipo’s (Cuban). For a java fix, head to Kahwa Coffee, a local roaster with several storefronts.

Finally, if you have the opportunity for one night’s meal to be a bit more special, you should visit the popular Columbia Restaurant. It’s a real treat to go to the Columbia for the food and the flamenco shows. It’s a bit more expensive, but worth it.

Written by Traci L. Suppa

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