Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
From the outside, Florida's third-largest city seems all business, even generically so. But
Tampa surprises: its revitalized riverfront is a sparkling green swathe dotted with in-
triguing cultural institutions, and its historic Ybor City district preserves the city's Cuban
cigar-industry past while, at night, transforming into the Gulf Coast's hottest bar and
nightclub scene. South Tampa, meanwhile, has a cutting-edge dining scene that's draw-
ing food mavens from Orlando and Miami.
Sights
Downtown Tampa
Aside from the zoo, downtown's sights are in or along Tampa's attractive green space,
Florida Aquarium
AQUARIUM
( 813-273-4000;
www.flaquarium.org
; 701 Channelside Dr; adult/child $22/17; 9:30am-5pm)
Tampa's excellent aquarium is among the state's best. Cleverly designed, the re-created
swamp lets you walk among herons and ibis as they prowl the mangroves. Programs let
you swim with the fishes (and the sharks) or take a catamaran ecotour in Tampa Bay.
Lowry Park Zoo
ZOO
( 813-935-8552;
www.lowryparkzoo.com
;
1101 W Sligh Ave; adult/child $25/20; 9:30am-5pm;
)
North of downtown, Tampa's zoo gets you as close to the animals as possible,
with several free-flight aviaries, a camel ride, giraffe feeding, wallaby enclosure and
rhino 'encounter.'
Tampa Museum of Art
MUSEUM
( 813-274-8130;
www.tampamuseum.org
;
120 W Gasparilla Plaza; adult/child $10/5;
11am-7pm Mon-Thu, to 8pm Fri, to 5pm Sat & Sun)
In 2010 the museum christened its dramat-
ically cantilevered new home. Six galleries balance Greek and Roman antiquities, con-
temporary photography and new media with major traveling exhibitions.
Tampa Bay History Center
MUSEUM
( 813-228-0097;
www.tampabayhistorycenter.org
;
801 Old Water St; adult/child $13/8;
10am-5pm)
This first-rate history museum presents the region's Seminole people, Cracker
