Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HART's old-fashioned electric streetcars connect downtown's Marion Transit Center with
Ybor City, running every 20 minutes.
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
Between Tampa and Orlando, take I-4. The fastest route to Miami is via I-75 south, which
turns east at Naples and meets I-95 south at Fort Lauderdale. Another option, with Ever-
glades detours, is to pick up US 41 (Tamiami Trail) at Naples, and follow this directly to
Miami.
TRAIN
Amtrak
TRAIN
( 813-221-7600;
www.amtrak.com
; 601 N Nebraska Ave)
Operates several daily shuttles between Tampa and Orlando ($12 to $26, 2 hours).
Hillsborough River State Park
When Tampa residents need a woodsy escape, they head to the fantastic 3400-acre
Hills-
borough River State Park
( 813-987-6771;
www.floridastateparks.org/hillsboroughriver
;
15402 US 301 N; cyclist/car $2/6; 8am-sunset; )
, just 12 miles (20 minutes) northeast of
Tampa. For visiting families, it provides easy, kid-friendly encounters with Florida's wil-
derness, and you'll find the region's best (nonbeach) camping.
In summer, no question the biggest draw is the giant half-acre
swimming pool
(per per-
son $4, campers free; 9am-5pm Memorial Day-Labor Day)
. On weekends, arrive by 8:30am or
it might already be full (then you can't enter till someone leaves).
The flat, winding park roads make for scenic
cycling
(bike rental per hr/day $10/25)
, and
there are more than 10 miles of equally easy
hiking
trails through pine flatwoods and
cypress swamps.
The most evocative and fun activity, though, is
canoeing
(canoes per 2hr/full-day $25/50,
kayaks per hr $15)
. Despite some small riffles, the lazy Hillsborough River lends itself to
little paddlers. Who doesn't thrill to spotting raptors, deer, foxes and alligators gliding be-
neath torn curtains of Spanish moss? Early morning is best; animals are more active (and
rentals can sell out).
