Tampa is a great place to visit, especially for those who enjoy history. This city is home to a lot of museums, galleries and other places where you can learn about its history.
It's also a great place for shopping. The Ybor City area has plenty of shops and is the ideal place to try a Cuban sandwich.
The Riverwalk
Whether you walk, bike, rollerblade, Segway or cruise by boat, The Riverwalk is the perfect place to experience Tampa Bay’s culture and entertainment. You’ll find museums, art galleries and restaurants; performances and concerts; sports and outdoors activities; and fantastic Florida food.
The 2.4-mile Riverwalk links downtown parks, museums, attractions and businesses along the Hillsborough River. It’s a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.
The south end of the Riverwalk is home to the Tampa History Center, a new addition that pays playful and educational homage to the city’s pirate past. You can explore an 18th-century pirate ship and learn about conquistadors, shipwrecks and artifacts from the 1600s at this fun, interactive museum.
The Tampa Theatre
Designed by renowned architect John Eberson in his “atmospheric” theatre style meant to recreate the feeling of a Mediterranean courtyard, Tampa Theatre is an extravagant and romantic venue for movies, concerts, and other special events. Its lavish interior features a beautiful floor, plaster statues and bellowing music from the Mighty Wurlitzer organ.
The theatre’s historic beauty and stunning collection of old-world features have earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places and a designation as a Tampa local landmark. Today, the theatre plays host to a full schedule of first-run and classic films, concerts, special events, corporate events and tours.
The Florida Aquarium
The Florida Aquarium is an iconic display of the state's stunning water worlds, a globally-acclaimed fun and educational spot that is sure to delight visitors of all ages. The aquarium is filled with incredible exhibits featuring sharks, otters, alligators and other aquatic creatures.
Guests can also interact with the animals through special feedings, paint classes and tours led by marine biologists. The aquarium is an active member of marine conservation efforts and actively works to inspire and educate future generations.
The aquarium has four viewing galleries — Wetlands, Bays and Beaches, Coral Reef and Ocean Commotion. The Wetlands section features Florida's wetlands, while the Bays and Beaches gallery presents the sea life typical of Tampa Bay. The Coral Reef gallery offers a view of an amazing reef ecosystem in a 500,000-gallon tank.
The USF Botanical Gardens
Located on the University of South Florida campus, the USF Botanical Gardens is home to a living collection of 3,000 plants and natural habitats. Its 16 acres of gardens and greenbelt attract thousands of visitors annually.
It also houses ongoing research in medical botany, provides service-learning opportunities to USF students and is a great way for student organizations to get involved on campus.
The gardens feature fruit trees, bonsai trees, grasses, begonias, orchids, bromeliads, palms, aroids, bamboo, gingers, carnivorous plants, cycads, cactus and succulent plants, an herb and scent garden, wetland forest, temperate forest, subtropical shade garden, and Florida upland scrub and sandhill habitats.
The Tampa Zoo at Lowry Park
The Tampa Zoo at Lowry Park is one of the top attractions for animal lovers in Florida. This zoo boasts a variety of animals from around the world and offers family-friendly rides and events.
In addition to its beautiful tropical setting, the Tampa Zoo at Lowry Park features unforgettable adventures for everyone in your group. You can get nose-to-nose with an endangered Florida Panther or witness life-saving care for manatees at the zoo’s Manatee Critical Care Center.
You can also get a fun thrill at Roaring Springs, a water ride in the Florida Wildlife habitat. It offers a thrilling plunge along a crystal-clear spring.
The MOSI Museum
With a collection of exhibits and activities that spans science, nature and technology, Tampa's MOSI Museum has something for everyone. From a dinosaur-themed exhibit to a hurricane simulator, this museum is the perfect place for a day of fun and adventure with the family!
Kids can build their own foam sculptures in a hands-on zone called "Kids in Charge!" This innovative space is based on a concept similar to what you would find at a playground, but the difference here is that it's built with large foam pieces.
In addition to dozens of permanent exhibits, MOSI also features several traveling exhibits. Among these are the MetLife Foundation's Amazing You!
Bayshore Boulevard
Bayshore Boulevard is a scenic street that runs directly along Hillsborough Bay in South Tampa. This 4.5-mile sidewalk is known as one of the world’s longest continuous sidewalks, and it’s where many locals go to walk, run or bike their daily workouts.
- It’s also a popular parade route, as well as home to the annual Gasparilla Parade. This is an experience you won’t want to miss!
- The city of Tampa has taken great measures to preserve the historic sidewalk, and today it is a favorite for both exercise enthusiasts and residents alike. The 4.4-mile walkway offers a three-mile bike trail, plus workout stations to get your heart rate up and your muscles working.
