Things To Do In Tampa

Tampa is a popular city in the state of Florida in USA. Tampa has an interesting history. It was occupied by Native Americans before Europeans settlers came searching for riches. Tampa was officially made a town on December 15, 1885 after the state of Florida was purchased by the United States from Spain in 1821. Tampa also played a part in the American civil war. After the war ended with confederate defeat, the federal troops took control of Tampa. Tampa wore a deserted and impoverished look until phosphate was discovered in 1883 which changed the fortunes of tampa for the better. Ybor’s cigar industry in Tampa enticed large scale immigration, making it the cigar capital of the world.

Landmarks in Tampa include the Sulphur springs water tower, Ybor city, Babe Zaharias golf course, Park tower and the Sunshine skyway bridge. The tampa port is one of the busiest port in North America and the largest in Florida. There are many interesting museums in tampa like the museum of science and history, USF contemporary art museum, tampa bay history center, firefighters museum, planetarium, tampa museum of art, Henry.B plant museum and Ybor city museum state park. There is also a war ship-SS American Victory which is permanently docked and is now a museum.

There are interesting annual events which attracts many tourists. The Gasparilla Pirate festival is a mock pirate invasion. It is usually held in late January or early February. The fun event is a major tourist attraction. It includes smaller parades like children’s parade and the Sant’Yago Knight parade for adults. Film festivals and arts festivals based on the pirate themes are also conducted in this period. Attractive events like Outback bowl on New Year’s Day, MacDill Air fest and florida state fair also attract large crowds. All these events provide a tourist with things to do in Tampa.

Museum of science and industry located in Fowler Ave. is the biggest science center in the southeastern part of the USA. The children’s science center is the leading center in the country. There are permanent exhibitions in the center. The attractions include human body learning, disaster facts and the sky trail ropes course.

Busch gardens Tampa bay is a combination of thrill rides, zoo, entertaining skaters, puppets and animal care center. Visitors are allowed to observe the care given to animals. It is a complete entertainment package. The garden is a theme park based on Africa.

The Florida aquarium has an interactive exhibition which attracts both adults and children. Children can swim with the fishes. Adults can dive with the sharks. The penguin encounter is an added attraction. The aquarium is located at Channel side Drive.

Lowry park zoo is rated as the number one zoo in the United States. It houses about 1,700 animals. The zoo contains natural habitats for animals, wild rides, educational shows and other interactive opportunities. People are allowed to hand feed birds in Lorikeet Landing which is a tropical sanctuary. The chimps and orangutans are a delight to watch. The Florida manatee and aquatic center is also a part of the zoo. The zoo is located at West Sligh Avenue.

Big cat rescue located at Easy street is a 45-acre wildlife sanctuary for cats. There are 16 species of cats including lions, ocelots and tigers. The cats are enclosed but visitors can observe them at a close distance. Feeding time is an interesting time to watch. The rescue center accepts animals from zoos, circuses and private owners. A visit to this center is a ‘must do’ in the list of ‘things to do in Tampa’.

The Ybor city area is a history lesson in itself. There are many buildings which have been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Parades and festivals entertain tourists. The city is filled with restaurants, night clubs and retail shops.

The Tampa theatre is an escape into old world statuary. There is a Mediterranean courtyard with floating clouds and twinkling stars. The theatre has been included in the ‘top ten iconic show places in the world’ by the Delta Sky magazine.

Tampa