Why You Should Visit Tampa

While Orlando continues to draw all the headline attention in Central Florida, there’s a fast-growing movement towards the city of Tampa.

And we thought it was time for us to put the spotlight on the city on the bay at Florida’s Gulf Coast, especially as both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly here daily.

First off, it’s probably true that Tampa often gets overlooked as visitors dash from Orlando to the beaches (and vice versa), but the state’s third largest city (after Jacksonville and Miami) is a major attraction in its own right these days, and we are big fans of spending some time here.

Not only is it a happening place purely in city terms – it has seen a lot of development in recent years, and that doesn’t look like it’s slowing down anytime soon – it is popular with Hollywood, too, after featuring in the blockbuster film The Infiltrator and the Ben Affleck epic, Live By Night.

It is, of course, the home of the wonderful Busch Gardens theme park, as well as ZooTampa at Lowry Park, the Florida Aquarium and the Museum of Science and Industry, but there is more to Tampa than that quartet of attractions – much more.

Even better for UK villa guests, the drive to Tampa is only 55 minutes from our villa communities in the Highway 27 area, such as Sunset Ridge and Westbury.

With all that in mind, we present our Great Eight places to sample in Tampa:

8 – Cigar City Brewing

This is officially Beer City, Florida. Of the state’s 400-plus craft breweries, almost a quarter can be found in Tampa, all producing their own ales and ciders at a wonderful rate. It started in 1996 with the Florida Brewing Company but has ballooned in recent years, with Cigar City Brewery leading the way. Established in 2008, CCB has become the gold standard for Florida beer-makers, with a fabulous range of regular beers, special releases and even nitro beers. Their best-seller is Jai Alai pale ale, but we also like the Cosmic Crown, a Belgian-style strong golden ale, and Theoretical Jam, an excellent wheat beer.

7 – South Howard (that’s SoHo to the locals)

This trendy district in South Tampa has boasted Bern’s Steakhouse – a Florida institution – since 1956, but now features a wide-ranging assortment of bars, shops and restaurants that attract locals and tourists alike. You should definitely find time for Haven, a spin-off from Bern’s, with fabulous cocktails, charcuterie and small-plate dining; the tastebud-tantalising patisserie Chocolate Pi, with its home-made pastries, sodas and coffee; and the outrageously fun 1920s style of Ciro’s Speakeasy and Supper Club, where you have to know the password to get in!

6 - The Brew Bus

To get a wider taster of the city’s brewery world, take the bus – the Brew Bus. This clever idea takes small parties on 3-4-hour tours of some of Tampa’s top ale producers, with the chance to sample a good range of their products, all in the convivial – and safe – confines of their own bus. We visited the SixTen, Southern Brewing and Angry Chair breweries and learned a LOT about the local beer scene, while also sipping some distinctly fine beverages. Oh, and the Brew Bus has its own brewery HQ, too!

5 – Oxford Exchange

Looking for breakfast with a difference? Then head for this converted 1890s stable building (it was part of railroad baron Henry Plant’s estate) close to downtown Tampa. This unique restaurant/bookstore/coffee house/gift shop is fabulous just to look at, but serves up great food in a distinctive environment that is a real one-off by any city standards. Open 7.30am-5pm (from 9am on Sat and Sun), it really excels at breakfast, when the array of choices include omelettes, sandwiches and flatbreads, plus some of the most heavenly pancakes you can find. Sunday also offers an outstanding Afternoon Tea (3-5pm).

4 – Henry B. Plant Museum

After breakfast, head across the street to the unmissable former Tampa Bay Hotel (built 1892) that is now part of the University of Tampa as well as a museum dedicated to the railroad tycoon (one of the wealthiest men in the world at the turn of the 20th century). It was home to the Atlantic Coast Line, which drew up right outside the Hotel for its wealthy clients. Among other period curiosities, the hotel boasted the first electric elevator in Florida and now offers a wonderful homage to the man who inspired this amazing level of grandeur.

3 – Ulele and Ponte restaurants

Did we mention Tampa is a real foodie city? It’s hard to go far without tripping over somewhere to eat that has its own high-quality style and decadent cuisine. Lunch at Michelin-rated Ulele – the former city water plant, now lovingly given new life – provides a terrific slice of traditional Floridian fare given a real modern twist, along with a range of local craft beers that underline Tampa’s brewery claim-to-fame. Its riverside location is also idyllic on a sunny day. For dinner, head for another Michelin recommended choice in Ponte, a delightfully elegant choice in midtown Tampa. This upscale venue features contemporary American cuisine, with an entire section of the menu devoted to steaks, while also featuring some truly imaginative cocktails.

2 – Tampa eBoats

When you’re ready to try something different, and get a good look at the city from the water, head to the downtown waterside (next to the Convention Centre) and drive your own boat, your own eBoat, in fact. eBoats Tampa is a unique operation, with a fleet of electric-powered water-craft that can take up to 12 along the Hillsborough River and into the Bay for a look at the cityscape, the elegant Riverwalk and the stunning mansions that line the coast hereabouts. You can hire the eBoats for 1-4 hours and then just poodle around to your heart’s content. It’s definitely life in the slow lane, though – the boats do a maximum of 6mph!

1 – Ybor City

Still the jewel in Tampa’s crown, the former Cigar Capital of the World is a great story in its own right. You could easily spend two days here and not see everything. The fascinating background to this Cuban/Spanish/German/Italian-founded neighbourhood is on offer at Ybor City Museum State Park, including the fact that they produced a staggering 53,000 cigars a DAY in the 1890s. Stop for lunch at The Bricks, an eclectic emporium of hearty food, fine coffees, craft beer and, yes, more cocktails, then visit another of the area’s main features at the huge Coppertail Brewing, where they offer weekend tours as well as more excellent beer, a real Aladdin’s Cave for ale aficionados. To round out the experience, head for Florida Cane Distillery, where small-batch vodkas and moonshine are their speciality, and Cigar City Cider & Mead, yet another variation on a delicious home-brewed theme.

For more info, check out www.visittampabay.com.

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