Tampa Bay is a popular hotspot for a reason: it’s a tourist’s dream. From the beautiful weather, to the stunning landscapes and the widespread availability of water sports in the area’s stunning waterways, there’s something in Tampa Bay for everyone. Let’s take a look at just a few of the highlights.
First Time Guide to Tampa Bay, Florida
1. The Armature Works
The Armature Works is home to a 22,000-square-foot public marketplace, offering a variety of shops, restaurants and bars and making it a must-visit for tourists and locals alike. Open every day, entrance is free and the market is open at least twelve hours a day and from 7 AM to 11 PM on Fridays. That means that it should be easy for you to find some time during your visit to go and check it out.
2. Shopping
Tampa Bay houses hundreds of unmissable shops, from indie boutiques to huge department stores. Make sure you only pack the essential items in your carry on so that you have plenty of space to take back your new purchases. Alternatively, if you’re visiting Tampa Bay from elsewhere in the US, see whether they offer delivery so that you can place an order on holiday and arrive back home to find that it’s already been delivered.
3. Theme parks
Tampa Bay is home to several theme parks, most notably including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island. The latter of these is Tampa’s only water park, and it’s a great alternative when jet skiing and wakeboarding are a little too adventurous. Busch Gardens, meanwhile, has a bunch of rollercoasters and over 12,000 animals in its zoo. Definitely not one to miss!
4. Cruises
One of the best things about visiting Tampa Bay is that it’s home to some of the most stunning waters in the world. A great way to experience this is to take an exciting Tampa Bay cruise, which are available at different price points and which range from slow, sedate cruises, to fast-paced adventure cruises.
5. MOSI
MOSI stands for the Museum of Science and Industry, and if you’re interested in new technologies then you simply can’t afford to pass this place up. It’s the largest science center for thousands of miles and also houses the state’s only IMAX Dome Theatre. You could easily spend the day there without seeing the same exhibit twice.
6. Golf
Tampa Bay is known for its golf courses, in part because its fantastic weather makes golf accessible throughout the whole year. There are dozens of different courses available for players of all experience levels, and TPC Tampa Bay has a particularly good reputation because it’s been the home of the PGA Tour Champions tournament for several decades. You can play on the same links as the pros!
Conclusion
Now that you know just a few of the must-see parts of Tampa Bay, it’s over to you to start filling up your itinerary and booking a few trips. As a general rule, the earlier you book, the more money you can save, so it’s in your best interests to plan ahead as much as possible. Happy travels!
