Tampa is Florida's third largest city and the largest in Hillsborough County. The Tampa area stretches from Tarpon Springs to the north all the way to Sarasota in the south. Tampa's location on the Gulf of Mexico allows it to have warm weather for most of the year and that tropical climate is one of the many reasons it is beloved by visitors from the northern states. However, while the area is most famous for sun and beaches, there is an excellent variety of other attractions here for vacationers of all ages. Don't miss these places on your next trip to the Sunshine State:
Busch Gardens
If you have children, then this attraction is a no-brainer. Few adults, let alone kids would pass up an opportunity to visit a theme park that offers thrilling rides and a massive menagerie of exotic animals. Busch gardens predates Disney and offers a 65-acre Serengeti-like plain along with the nation’s first dive rollercoaster.
Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)
MOSI is the southeast's largest science center and its objective is to provide people with an understanding of science, industry and technology. MOSI features a planetarium, an IMAX theater and a butterfly garden. Additionally, there are more than 450 hands-on activities.
Tour the Ybor City Museum State Park
This is one of the two National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida. Ybor City is culturally diverse and this museum offers you the opportunity to delve into its unique history. Housed in the Ferlita Bakery, the Ybor City Museum and State Park allows you to see a typical cigar-worker's house, an ornamental garden as well as the museum's main exhibit space. You can also get a walking tour of the city's historic district in order to get a deeper understanding of this special piece of Americana.
Sports
There are multiple sports-centered attractions here for the serious fan. Tampa is one of Florida's professional sports hubs and offers you the opportunity to see the Tampa Bay Rays, ice hockey's Tampa Bay Lightning or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa is also the spring training home of the New York Yankees, so you will get the opportunity to follow that team in the warmth of a Florida spring.
Visit the Florida Aquarium
This is one of the best aquariums in the state and offers you the opportunity to experience a fabricated swamp wherein you can see herons and ibis amidst the mangroves. The Florida aquarium also offers programs that let you swim with the fishes and take eco-tours of Tampa Bay.
The Tampa Museum of Art
Here you will find a museum that focuses on contemporary art along with antiquities. The exhibits here feature both new and old media and along with its own collection, there are numerous annually scheduled special exhibitions. The permanent collection includes works by John Baldessari, Berenice Abbott and Ralph Goings. There are also various Greek and Roman antiquities for you and your family to view.
Tampa, FL The E-Z Way
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