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Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay Florida is a treasure trove of entertainment. A theme park and animal sanctuary combined, it has something for everyone.

For the brave, Iron Gwazi awaits. With a 206-foot-tall peak, 91-degree drop, and speeds of up to 76mph, it's a classic thrill ride. Meanwhile, on the Serengeti Flyer, you can buckle into the world’s tallest and fastest ride of its kind as you soar high above the 65-acre Serengeti Plain before plunging back down at speeds of up to 68mph. 

Busch Gardens is also home to over 200 species of animals, including rhinos, giraffes, sloths, and kangaroos. And there are many options for seeing these majestic creatures up close. You can observe Busch Garden's fantastic animal welfare first-hand at the Animal Care Centre, or hop over to Walkabout Way, where you can hand feed Aussie’s icon, the Kangaroo.
 

Bayshore Beautiful

A little known fact about Tampa is that it boasts the longest continuous sidewalk in the world. At 4.5 miles in length, this sidewalk is free of cross streets meaning walkers, runners and cyclists can exercise whilst enjoying spectacular, uninterrupted views of the bay on one side and magnificent mansion homes on the other.

Bayshore Beautiful stretches from downtown Tampa, where you can also enjoy a Segway tour, all the way to scenic Ballast Point, which features an excellent fishing pier with a fantastic seafood restaurant serving fresh catches of the day.

Take some time out on the concrete benches too, which are built into the Spanish inspired, decorative wall that dances along the sidewalk. Many couples enjoy an evening stroll here, listening to the tranquil water. Not to mention the pretty lights of the city in the distance. But hey, the clue was in the name anyway!

Gulf Coast Beaches 

Expect some of the best beaches in Florida and gorgeous, powdery white sand composed of nearly 99% pure quartz looking out onto the Gulf of Mexico. Better yet, Florida's Gulf Coast is more cost-effective than the tourist-laden Gold Coast.

You’ll be close by to highly acclaimed spots like Clearwater Beach, where you can watch dolphins across turquoise shores and enjoy a touch of fishing. We also love the family-friendly Fort De Soto Park, where you can go canoeing, kayaking, biking and explore five offshore keys.

Seminole Heights

Seminole Heights is one of Tampa’s oldest neighborhoods and still embraces a true sense of southern hospitality. Situated along the Hillsborough River, which runs to Downtown Tampa and out into the bay, Seminole Heights residents live in homes that were built in the early 1900s. The homes have picturesque wrap around wooden porches, perfect for a swing or a pair of rocking chairs, and yards that are covered in shade provided by hundred year old oak trees draped in Spanish moss.

Even Tampa’s oldest high school, Hillsborough High School, was designed to look more like a cathedral than a school, with stained glass windows and cut granite and marble buttresses. So, this neighborhood is definitely worth exploring...

Sit in a booth at Nicko’s Diner, where Elvis Presley used to enjoy a late night meal, and have your picture taken. Visit the old water tower, reminiscent of the Rapunzel fairy tale, and have lunch while safely viewing alligators sunning themselves along the riverbank.

And be sure to check out the award-winning restaurants and independent brew pubs along Florida Avenue during the evening, you'll feel like you’ve just stepped into the Pacific Northwest.

Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and Tampa Riverwalk

The Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and Tampa Riverwalk provide downtown residents and visitors alike the opportunity to take a stroll along the city’s edge.

Its park, which is gradually levelled down to the Hillsborough River, hosts live music from local bands, art and vendor sponsored festivals, the Glazer Children’s Museum, a dog park with an obstacle course, and all sorts of delicious food stalls during the weekends.

At the top of the park, children and those who are children at heart can run through an array of dancing fountains. And during the wintertime, the fountains are replaced with a climate controlled ice rink. Once you’re ready to venture out along the river, you can head north up the shaded walk to take in some fine dining at Ulele - one of Tampa’s best eclectic brewpub restaurants.

Or, you can head south down the walk and explore Tampa’s History Center and Amelie Arena, home to the Stanley Cup winning Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team - "Go Bolts!"

SOHO (South Howard Avenue)

Right off of Bayshore Beautiful, the South Howard Avenue section of Tampa - affectionately known as SOHO to its residents - is alive with some of Tampa’s most cherished fine dining and hot spots. One such spot is Bern’s Steak House, originally established in 1953, and a favorite among locals and visiting celebrities. Despite having eight dining rooms and 350 guest seats, the restaurant still requires a reservation as dining there is in prime demand. But, if you’re in the mood for something sweet instead, you can visit the famous Dessert Room which features 48 private booths and a choice of over 50 desserts and a variety of fine wines.

Though don’t worry if you can’t get a reservation at Bern’s Steak House, there are many restaurants to choose from in SOHO - as well as bars and coffee houses to frequent. And if your visit to SOHO is during the day, you can take a stroll past Bern’s Park towards neighboring Hyde Park to grab lunch, catch a movie or smoke a fine cigar whilst watching shoppers peruse the small boutique stores.

Gasparilla Pirate Fest

Over 100 years old, Gasparilla is Tampa’s version of Mardi Gras or Carnival. Festivities begin the last week of January, when the legendary captain, Jose Gaspar, and his pirates come into port and invade the city, taking the mayor hostage. All in the name of fun, of course...

The week is full of parties, film fests, art shows and other pirate-themed experiences that culminate in the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates. With over 50 participating crews, visitors to the parade can vie to catch beads, gold and silver coins, bullet casings, candies and other pirate booty that is thrown by the participants walking the parade route, or riding on one of the many multi-colored floats down Bayshore Beautiful.

And, if you happen to be an early bird, eat a hearty breakfast fit for Blackbeard and take a seat along the water to catch the pirate ship flotilla coming into Tampa Bay. Keep in mind that since this festival is akin to Mardi Gras or Carnival that a pirate’s favorite mate, rum, is in abundance. For a more family friendly parade, Tampa throws the Gasparilla Children’s Parade the week prior, where the pirates keep things alcohol free.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Even if you’re not an avid American football fan, taking in a Buccaneers game at Raymond James Stadium is truly an experience to write home about. The open-air stadium boasts ample seating, as well as a true-to-size pirate ship built beneath the main scoreboard.

And yes, the canons are operable, firing confetti loudly into the air every time the home team makes a touchdown and scores some points. Perhaps the best part of “game day” though takes place before the game in the stadium’s parking lot, where fans and spectators tailgate: grilling out hotdogs and hamburgers, drinking an ice-cold beverage and getting to spend time with friends old and new. Similarly, just across Dale Mabry Highway, baseball fans can take in spring training for the New York Yankees, who call Tampa their home away from home. No matter what your sport, Tampa definitely has you covered.

Ready for your bespoke Tampa itinerary? 

Call our Florida experts for first-hand advice and enquire online for a tailormade quote.