Things to Do in Tampa

Busch Gardens is a 335-acre animal-themed park that is home to thrilling roller coasters and rides. Situated in the city of Tampa, Florida, this entire park is landscaped and designed around themes of Africa and Asia. It has been owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment since 1959.  As you visit this park, you will get the opportunity to immerse in diverse experiences, which include roller coasters and thrill rides such as follows: 

A family-style thrill coaster that is themed around cheetahs. It is called Cheetah Hunt
Kumba, a classic seated steel roller coaster
Iron Gwazi, a wood-style steel hybrid hypercoaster
Falcon’s Fury, the second tallest freestanding drop tower in North America
Montu, the tallest and fastest inverted roller coaster in the world when it was invented 

Florida Aquarium is a non-profit organization located in downtown Tampa. This aquarium is a leader in the conservation and education of wildlife and organizes various programs related to it. This aquarium organizes programs such as summer camps and school trips to educate about the wildlife of Florida. This large-scale aquarium is home to more than 7000 aquatic plants and animals from Florida and all over the world. It exhibits the journey of a drop of water from Florida’s hot springs out to the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This journey includes large simulated wetlands that are located under a tall glass atrium, a simulated beach, and a coral reef community. Visiting the Florida Aquarium is one of the fun things to do in Tampa. 

The Henry B Plant Museum is located in the south wing of Plant Hall on the campus of the University of Tampa. The Plant Hall was originally built as the Tampa Bay Hotel by Henry B Plant. Hence, the name Henry B Plant Museum. The Tampa Bay Hotel was a 511-room-resort-style hotel. It was opened in 1891. It has become a museum now that exhibits the elite lifestyle of the hotel’s guests. The museum also focuses on historical Gilded Age Tourism in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Its history informs about Tampa Bay Hotel’s use during the Spanish-American War. As a result, the Plant Museum was set up in the style of Historic House Museum Style. When you are here, you will witness various events such as Music in the Museum, Sunday Tour, and Fourth Friday. 

Tampa Theatre is a historic theatre of the U.S. and a city landmark in downtown Tampa. This theatre was designed by architect John Eberson and opened in 1926. It displays a series of independent foreign and documentary films. The theatre features a wide range of independent, foreign, and documentary films. Besides, you will enjoy world-class entertainment under a realistic night sky with twinkling stars in a romantic Mediterranean courtyard that is full of old-world statues, flowers, and gargoyles. In this atmosphere, you can view various Oscar-nominated films and events and take theatre tours and annual events.  It was built in 1926 as one of America’s most elaborate movie palaces and a beloved place to visit among its tourists. This theatre has often been used as a prime destination for movies, music videos, and local programming. 

The historic neighborhood of Tampa, Ybor City, is situated northeast of downtown Tampa, Florida. Tampa got the cigar industry in this town, and today, it is known after its founder, Vicente Martinez Ybor. This famous attraction consisted of other cigar manufacturers and thousands of immigrants, mainly from Cuba, Spain, and Italy. Within a long period, the City’s cigar factory workers manufactured hundreds of millions of cigars every year. Hence, it was nicknamed as Cigar City. This is one of the unique towns in the American South that was entirely populated and owned by immigrants. As you hover over this town, you will meet the master of cigar roller, Luis Gonzalez. You can hop on the TECO Line Streetcar and enjoy a free ride into historic Ybor City. It is just a mile over from downtown Tampa. 

Tampa Riverwalk is one of the ideal attractions that you must visit when you are in Tampa. Visiting this attraction is one of the must-have things to do in Tampa. As you are here, you can take a 2.6-mile walk along the Hillsborough River to the Garrison Channel. During your walk, you will see beautiful waterfront landscapes. You will also feel the sun’s warmth along the Tampa Riverwalk. In this place, you will see bustling Heights Market at Armature Works, vibrant Curtis Hixon Park, and continue to walk until you reach Sparkman Wharf. Locals and visitors of this beautiful attraction can walk, ride bikes, or scooters to witness colorful lights that bring the Riverwalk to life at night. 

The Pirate Water Taxi is the main transportation that you can use to explore Tampa. This taxi service will enable you to glimpse the famous attractions of Tampa as you cruise through the Hillsborough Rivers. It is a fleet of pirate-themed water taxis in downtown Tampa. This taxi will stop at 14 places. These places are located along Tampa Riverwalk, Channel District, Downtown Tampa, and Davis Islands. Through these places, pirate water taxis, you can take a tour of nearby attractions, museums, restaurants, and parks. Tickets for these taxis are available online. You can also buy them after boarding the taxi at any stop located in Downtown Tampa. Once purchased, you can hop on these taxis and explore attractions such as Tampa Convention Centre and Bayshore Boulevard. 

Roaming around the Tampa Bay History Center is one of the best things to do in Tampa. Tampa Bay History Center is a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum situated in downtown Tampa. This historical center features three floors that exhibit 12000 years of Florida’s history. It was founded in 1989 by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. As you walk around this center, you can take a look at Florida’s first people, who inhabited the state around 10,000 years ago. The center will also educate you about the arrival of European explorers in the 1500s and Tampa Bay’s modern role as a port city. You will learn about Florida’s history, culture, and heritage too. The History Centre is home to the Touchton Map Library and the Florida Center for Cartographic Education. 

If you want to enjoy water sports in Tampa, then you plan to venture around Adventure Island. This famous water-themed park is one of the fun things to do in Tampa. It is located northeast of Tampa, across the street from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Opened in 1980, this park is a part of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. You will find various water slides here, mainly Aruba Tuba, Rapids Racer, Solar Vortex, Vanish Point, Calypso Coaster, and Caribbean Corkscrew.  As you are here, you can get 30 acres of water-drenched fun in the sun. It features the ultimate combination of high-speed, thrilling rides and tropical, tranquil surroundings. People of all ages can flock here. Its soothing Key West atmosphere boasts challenging slides, waterfalls, and a wave pool. 

Lettuce Lake Regional Park is a haven of nature. Visiting this place is also one of the best things to do in Tampa. With a 1.25 bicycle path or jogging train, this place allows you to hike, ride bikes, and engage in other sports activities. Along with it, wooded picnic areas and a playground are favorite family spots. Moreover, in this park, you can view an extensive variety of wildlife on a 3500-foot boardwalk and an observation tower. You can hop on canoes and kayaks to get its good view. Besides, you will also see hardwood swamp forests, hardwood hammocks, and pine flatwood plant communities.  As you are here, you will be able to see a wide range of plant species.