Tampa Places of Interest
George M. Steinbrenner Field
Previously known as Legend Field, this home of the New York Yankees spring training was renamed in February 2008 in honor of the team’s eminent former owner. The field has served as location for the Yankees’ spring training camp for the past 13 years, and also serves as home to the Tampa Yankees Class-A Florida State League. At 31 acres, the stadium has 10,000 seats and 12 luxury boxes; its dimensions are identical to those of Yankee Stadium in
New York City
New York. Just outside the stadium is Monument Park, where Yankee legends including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio are honored with a plaque under their team number.
The stadium offers several options for large group events during both spring training and the Tampa Yankees’ season, including the recently-built Tampa Tribune Deck. The Deck offers five tiers of seating for 500 guests, including counter top and picnic table seating.
Tickets for spring training start at around $17 and parking is $10 per game. Parking is complimentary for Tampa Yankees’ games. For more information: 813-875-7753
The Henry B. Plant Museum
In the 1880s, Henry Bradley Plant owned the Plant System of railroads and steamboats, which eventually expanded to reach Tampa in 1884. Plant expanded his empire to hotels, opening the Tampa Bay Hotel in 1891, which he personally financed at the cost $2.5 million for construction and another $500,000 for furnishing. The 511 rooms were the first in Florida to have electricity. Other amenities in the lavish hotel included a golf course, tennis court, racetrack, casino, swimming pool, bowling alley and flower conservatory. Famous guests included Theodore Roosevelt, who stayed there when the hotel served as the headquarters for the U.S. army during the Spanish-American War.
The beautiful structure, whose classic Moorish architecture includes 13 silver minarets, domes and horse arches, continued to operate as a hotel until 1932, when it became the Tampa Municipal Museum, now the Henry B. Plant Museum. The museum provides visitors with a window into the lifestyle of the Victorian era, the history of the hotel, Plant himself and the development of the City of Tampa through tours of the Grand Hall, Garden Room and Parlor Suite, among other exhibitions.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday from noon to 4:00 pm. It is closed July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. A donation of $2 for children under 12 and $5 for adults is requested. Museum parking is complimentary. For more information: 813-254-1891
Tampa Museum of Art
Established in 1979, the Tampa Museum of Art features a collection of over 4,500 objects held in two main areas: Greek and Roman antiquities and 20th century contemporary art. With over 400 objects on display, the antiquities collection is one of the largest in the Southeast. The contemporary art collection includes paintings by the likes of Rockwell Kent and Abraham Rattner, as well as regional artists such as Syd Solomon and Theodore Coe. Sculpture, paper crafts, photography and decorative arts are also on display.
The museum’s collection is currently being housed in a temporary location, as construction of a new facility in downtown Tampa began in early 2008. The $32.5 million renovation project, to be completed by fall 2009, will result in a new 66,000-square-foot, three-story museum structure. The two top levels will be made of aluminum and will sit atop a transparent glass lobby floor. Built-in fiber optic lights will illuminate the building and change colors at night. The interior, with stone floors, white walls and a glass ceiling, will resemble a blank canvas. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission is by donation. For more information: 813-274-8130
Ybor City
Northeast of downtown Tampa lies Ybor City, once referred to as the “Cigar Capital of the World” and now known as Tampa’s Latin Quarter. Founded by Vincente Martinez-Ybor in 1885, the city began as a cigar-manufacturing center. Now visitors can find the largest collection of buildings related to the cigar industry in America amongst the red brick structures and narrow streets lined with wrought-iron balconies, as well as a plethora of stores, restaurants, coffeehouses and nightclubs. Cigar-aficionados can stop at one of many cigar shops in the city, including the famous Gonzalez y Martinez Cigar Factory, where cigar rolling demonstrations take place Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Roberto Ramirez, recognized as one of the 10 best cigar rollers in the world, also rolls daily in family-owned factory La Herencia de Cuba.
The Ybor City Museum offers exhibits on the history of Ybor, the cigar industry and the life of immigrants who first settled in Ybor. The museum is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission is $3 for adults and free for children under 6. For more information on the Ybor City Museum: 813-247-1434
Tampa Entertainment
Gasparilla Pirate Festival
Dating back to 1904, this famed annual festival is named after Jose Gaspar, a Spanish pirate who sailed the waters of West Florida in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Gaspar died in battle against a U.S. navy warship, but was rumored to have buried treasure along the Florida coast. Now, an average of 400,000 people attends this pirate-themed celebration of the legend, hosted by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, a social organization of over 700 members.
The festival begins when Krewe members, masked and costumed, sail into Tampa Bay on a 165-foot pirate ship, the world’s only fully rigged pirate ship built in modern times. Subsequent events in the week-long celebration include a parade of floats, marching bands and pirates, a fireworks presentation and a festival with live entertainment, food, games and rides.
The celebration begins on the last Saturday in January. It is a free event, but reserved tickets for parade seating and the Gasparilla Invasion Brunch at the Tampa Convention Center are available. For more information: 813-353-8108
International Plaza and Bay Street
Conveniently adjacent to Tampa International Airport, International Plaza and Bay Street is Tampa’s premier shopping and dining destination. The Plaza features four department stores and over 200 specialty shops, including Ann Taylor Loft, Burberry, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Tiffany & Co. Bay Street at the Plaza is an open-air village with dining and small boutiques. The Plaza also has 15 sit-down restaurants and a food court. The Plaza is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm and Sunday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.
For more information: 813-353-8108
Manatee Viewing Center at Tampa Electric
Over 2.1 million visitors have made the trip to see the manatees that flock to the cool, sheltered waters of Tampa Bay. Located at the warm-water discharge canal of Tampa Electric Company’s generating plant, the viewing center was made a state manatee sanctuary in 1986. When the water temperature drops below 68°F, visitors can walk on the viewing platform and see up to 300 manatees gather. A tidal walkway also offers views of an estuary and variety of native flora and fauna. The viewing center is open daily November 1 to April 15 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Both admission and parking are free.
For more information: 813-228-4289
Tampa Theatre
In 1926, Paramount Studios heavily financed this $1.2 million theater. Now, the beautifully restored Tampa Theatre is a Tampa City Landmark, averaging an annual attendance of 135,000 to one of its 650 yearly public movie screenings. Built in the Florida Mediterranean style of architecture, the theatre gives guests the illusion of sitting in an outdoor courtyard with its blue domed ceiling, twinkle lights and projected clouds. The theatre can seat over 1,400 guests for viewings of contemporary, classic and silent films in addition to concerts and special events. The theatre is available to host large events.
The Tampa Theatre box office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and evenings and weekends from half an hour before the first showtime of the day to half an hour after the last showtime starts. Regular film tickets are $9 for adults, $8 for students and $7 for seniors ages 55 and older. For more information: 813-274-8286
Tampa Restaurants
Bern’s Steak House
Gilded columns, murals of French vineyards and elaborate chandeliers welcome guests into the elegant and highly-popular Bern’s Steak House. Founded in 1956 by Bern Laxer, the family-owned restaurant remains famous for its selection of 50 different cuts of U.S. prime-only beef, offered by thickness and weight. Trimmed to order, the steaks are aged five to eight weeks under controlled temperature, humidity and circulation in order to give them a sweeter, more tender and unduplicated taste.
Bern’s also offers fresh fish, shellfish and poultry menu items, as well as over 20 different types of caviar from around the world and sides of organic vegetables, many of which are grown on Bern’s own farm. Bern’s Steak House also boasts the largest wine list of any restaurant in the world, offering more than 250 wines by the glass. The steak house is open daily for dinner, and reservations are required. Reservation requests can be made online with 72-hour advance notice. For more information: 813-251-2421
Bernini
Located in the heart of Ybor City, Bernini is named after Baroque sculptor, painter and architect Giovanni Bernini. His sculptures adorn the two-story restaurant, adding a unique touch to the already elegant vaulted ceilings and marble floors. Bernini offers classic Italian fare such as pasta and wood-fired pizza, but also takes a contemporary approach to many traditional dishes, featuring selections such as lemon-scented calamari and pistachio-encrusted grouper. Guests can select from a considerable wine list or visit the stylish martini bar. Private dining rooms for plate dinners, buffets or banquet events are available for up to 65 guests.
For more information: 813-248-0099
Columbia Restaurant
Founded in 1905 and capable of seating up to 1,700 guests, Columbia Restaurant holds the titles of both Florida’s oldest restaurant and the world’s largest Spanish restaurant. Guests enjoy Cuban and Spanish specialties such as Paella Valencia and Red Snapper Alicante in one of 15 dining rooms. Each dining room is defined by unique decor, such as the Patio Dining room, designed to resemble the outdoor patios found in Andalucia, Spain. Also popular is the trademarked “1905” salad, a combination of iceberg lettuce, ham, Swiss and Romano cheeses, tomato and olives tossed at the table in the restaurant’s famous garlic dressing, a family recipe for 100 years.
Live Flamenco shows take place twice a night except Sundays, making a meal at this restaurant an authentic Spanish experience. Columbia Restaurant offers accommodations for groups of 10 to 400. Average price of a meal is $8.95; tickets for the flamenco show are $6. For more information: 813-248-4961
Mise en Place
Mise en Place has become popular for its creative New American cuisine made from fresh, local ingredients. Located within walking distance from downtown Tampa and the Convention Center, diners choose from creative daily specials such as roast duck with strawberry sauce, snapper with sautéed passion fruit or pecan-crusted rack of lamb. The restaurant is also famous for its “Get Blitzed” sampler, a weekly fixed tasting menu created by chef Marty Blitz consisting of five courses and complementary wine. Mise en Place offers private dining for groups of up to 80. Tasting menus range from $21 to $36.
For more information: 813-254-5373
Oystercatcher’s Restaurant
Having recently undergone a $4 million renovation of the entire restaurant, Oystercatcher’s reigns as one of Tampa’s most exclusive seafood restaurants. Located on the shore about 150 yards away from the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, the restaurant welcomes guests to a cozy dining experience among its contemporary décor of natural stone and wood. An outdoor patio and deck offer stunning views of the Tampa Bay waterfront and sunsets. Fresh, locally caught fish, such as American red snapper, Florida mahi-mahi and yellowfin tuna, pervade the menu, and can be ordered blackened, sautéed or grilled on the restaurant’s wood-burning grill. Oystercatcher’s is most known for its award-winning Sunday brunch, which features a raw bar, salad selection, dessert table and rotating specials.
For more information: 813-207-6815
Tampa Nightlife
Blue Martini Lounge
Red and blue lighting immediately bring to mind images of fire and ice at this urban, chic lounge located in International Plaza, fewer than 7 miles from the Convention Center. Guests can sip one of over 25 martinis, including the lounge’s signature concoction made from blue Curacao liqueur. Wine and cigar selections are also available, along with appetizers such as fruit and cheese plates, whiskey shrimp and sliced beef tenderloin. Guests can enjoy a dance floor and live entertainment on Saturdays. Happy hours are Monday through Friday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm with reduced price beers, wines, cocktails and specialty martinis.
For more information: 813-873-2583
The Grape
Wine lovers can certainly find a favorite in one of The Grape’s 120 unique wines, available by glass, bottle or tasting flight, a sampler of three or more 2.5-ounce glasses. Guests can select a wine based on The Grape’s exclusive taste-based classification guide. Favorite wines can be purchased at the adjacent retail store. The bar hosts live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights, and offers a complete menu of small-plate foods to complement the wines. For meetings and events, The Grape offers customized wine tastings.
For more information: 813-354-WINE
Hattrick’s Tavern
Two blocks from the Tampa Convention Center, the walls of this Irish and hockey-themed bar are plastered with hockey jerseys and pennants. Three big-screen televisions and seven 36-inch televisions offer plenty of opportunities to catch whatever sporting event is playing. However, the bar is most popular during Tampa Bay Lightning games, when space is generally standing room only. Happy hours are daily from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm for food and drink specials, including dollar-off drafts.
For more information: 813-225-HATT
Jackson’s Bistro Bar and Sushi
Located in the heart of downtown Tampa, Jackson’s has something for everyone. Among the rich mahogany interior, patrons can dine on bistro or sushi menu items or visit one of two bar options during the day into late evening. The upscale Backjack’s hosts live entertainment on the weekends, while the laid-back, canopy-covered Island Bar provides a relaxing spot to enjoy a sporting event on one of eight televisions. Additionally, the WaterFront room is available for a private dining experience where guests can relax on the 500-square-foot attached balcony or catch breathtaking views of Harbour Island and the Tampa skyline through floor-to-ceiling glass walls.
For more information: 813-277-0112
New World Brewery
The New World Brewery offers a respite from the loud, crowded nightclubs populating the Tampa area. Located in historic Ybor City across from Ybor Square, the pub opened as a full-scale brewery, but after four years switched its focus to offering a large selection of microbrews. The extensive beer lists now includes more than 15 imported beers on tap, including uncommon selections such as Dry Blackthorn Cider from England and Delerium Tremens from Belgium, as well as a multitude of bottled imports and domestics.
Aside from the beer, New World Brewery is well-known for its live music, available almost nightly. Guests can enjoy a variety of music genres – from bluegrass to indie to jazz – while relaxing under the palm trees on the patio. A cover charge of about $3 to $5 can be expected on nights when live bands play. Happy hours are daily from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The pub is a 21 and over venue. For more information: 813-248-4969
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino offers
Fewer than eight miles from the Tampa Convention Center, the Seminole Hard Rock houses several bars for those looking to enjoy a late night in a vibrant atmosphere. The Lobby Bar serves 30 different kinds of tequila, and Floyd’s blasts music from live bands and DJs nightly on its 10,000-watt stereo system. Nestled in the four-acre lagoon-style pool area, the Pool Bar offers an escape from the sun and heat, while the Casino Center Bar entertains guests with its “Tower of Power,” a 75-plasma screen television structure rising up to the ceiling in the heart of the bar. If not dancing the night away, relaxing pool side or sipping a cocktail, guests can also explore one of the 150,000-square-foot casino’s 3,200 gaming machines or 50 tables of live action poker.
For more information: 813-627-7625
Family Activities in Tampa
Florida Aquarium
The 250,000-square- foot Florida Aquarium is home to over 20,000 aquatic plants and animals for guests to discover. The aquarium, located in downtown Tampa by the waterfront, introduces four main galleries: Wetlands, featuring alligators and river otters; Bays and Beaches, showcasing stingrays and Goliath grouper, the aquarium’s largest fish at 300 pounds; Coral Reef, including angelfish and yellowtail snapper; and Sea Hunt, highlighting sand tiger, zebra and blacktip sharks.
The aquarium also offers a two-acre water park, 600-gallon touch pool and the opportunity for guests (if SCUBA-certified and age 15 or older) to dive into shark bay, a 93,000-gallon saltwater tank with a variety of shark species and sea turtles. Younger guests can also swim with the 2,300 aquatic animals in the Coral Reef exhibit. No SCUBA certification is required and swimmers must be age 6 or older.
The aquarium is open daily from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. It is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. General admission is $12.95 for children ages 3-11, $17.95 for adults ages 12-59 and $14.95 for seniors; passes for children under 2 are free. The “Dive with the Sharks” costs $150 per person and includes aquarium admission. The “Swim with the Fishes” costs $75 per person and includes aquarium admission for participant plus one guardian/adult companion. Group ticket sales are available, as are facilities and catering services for private events. Aquarium parking is $5. For more information: 813-273-4000
Lowry Park Zoo
Situated 10 minutes north of downtown Tampa, the Lowry Park Zoo was voted the number 1 family-friendly zoo in the U.S. by Child Magazine. In 2007 over 1.1 million people visited the zoo to see its 2,000 animals housed throughout seven main exhibits, including the Asian Gardens, Primate World, Manatee and Aquatic Center and Free-Flight Aviaries. In 2004 the zoo opened the Safari Africa exhibit, where guests can feed giraffes, go on a camel ride and touch and feed rhinoceroses. In 2008, the zoo expands again to include a white alligator exhibit and a water flume ride where guests can explore Florida’s native wildlife by water.
The zoo is open daily from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. It is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and for special events or inclement weather. A one-day pass is $10 for children ages 3-11, $18.95 for adults ages 12-59 and $17.95 for seniors; passes for children under 2 are free. Group ticket sales are available, as are facilities and catering services for private events. Zoo parking is complimentary. For more information: 813-935-8552
Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)
Across from the University of South Florida Sun Dome and about 11 miles from the Convention Center, the Museum of Science and Industry opened to the public in 1982 with the mission to advance public interest, knowledge and understanding of science, industry and technology. The 300,000-square-foot museum features the only IMAX dome in Florida, as well as over 450 hands-on activities throughout three levels of exhibits.
At “Disasterville,” guests explore interactive towns and experience the impact of simulated natural disasters. “Our Place in the Universe: An Exhibition of Space, Flight and Beyond” presents guests with the chance to learn about earth, the solar system and aviation. The exhibit includes the Flight Avionics flight simulator, where guests can spend five minutes on a motion simulated “flight.” In 2008, the museum unveils the renovated “Amazing You” exhibition, a health, wellness and prevention exhibition where the public watch the development of the human brain or compare a healthy heart to an unhealthy heart. Perhaps the most notable exhibit at MOSI is “Kids in Charge!” At 40,000 square feet it is the largest children’s science center in the country. Developed by an advisory board of 26 kids as a place for young children to learn about science and creative thinking through play, exhibits include a wind tunnel and karaoke room.
MOSI is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Standard admission, which includes entrance to the museum, Kids in Charge! Center and one IMAX film, is $16.95 for children ages 2-12, $20.95 for adults ages 13-59 and $18.95 for seniors. Admission for children under 2 is free. Museum parking is complimentary For more information: 813-987-6000
Recreation and Outdoors in Tampa
Bayshore Boulevard
Outdoor enthusiasts and exercise fanatics alike will enjoy a visit to Bayshore Boulevard, a long strip of sidewalk along the Bay that links South Tampa to downtown. At about 4.5 miles, the Boulevard is the longest continuous sidewalk in the world. Joggers, runners, skaters and bikers all flock to the 10-foot-wide strip of pavement to enjoy sunshine and views of the water on one side and million dollar homes that line the opposing side of the street. Bayshore Boulevard starts at Columbus Statue Park and ends at Gandy Boulevard.
Ben T. Davis Beach
At a convenient 10 minutes from downtown, this beautiful white sand beach is the ideal stop for soaking up the Florida sun. Ben T. Davis Beach is the most popular beach in the city and attracts over 200,000 visitors a year. Several amenities are available to the public, including grills, restrooms, picnic shelters and volleyball nets. Lifeguards are on duty Memorial Day through Labor Day. Metered parking is available.
In the Breeze Ranch
In the Breeze Ranch, located five miles from the airport in northern Hillsborough County, is family-owned and operated since 1993. Owner Lynda Fowler has been teaching horsemanship for over 30 years. One of 70 trained horses are available to take visitors on trail rides through the Florida woods and creeks and around the ranch’s lake. Trail rides are offered to guests ages 5 and older with all levels of experience. Moonlight tours are offered to intermediate and advanced riders. The ranch also has hayrides and bonfires available. The ranch offers customized parties for groups of up to 500. Trail rides are available Monday through Sunday with tickets starting at $29 for beginners. Hayrides are $3 per guest and bonfires are $50.
For more information: 813-264-1919
Tampa Tours
Canoe Escape
Located 12 miles from downtown Tampa, Canoe Escape offers both self-guided and interpretive guided kayak and canoe tours of the Hillsborough River. The three-hour interpretive tour takes guests on a 4.5-mile trip through Wilderness Park, a 16,000-acre wildlife preserve on the river. Under a guide’s direction, guests learn about the native environment and the history and importance of the Hillsborough River. Among the variety of species found the area, great blue herons, black vultures, alligators, Florida red-bellied turtles and osprey are almost always seen during the tour.
Canoe Escape offers interpretive tours Wednesday at 11:30 am. Tandem canoe trips cost $50 per person and solo kayak trips cost $75 per person. Reservations are required by 4:00 pm the Tuesday before. No paddling experience is necessary for interpretive tours, but guests are encouraged to bring water and snacks, as well as to wear sunscreen and shoes that can get wet. For more information: 813-986-2067
Raymond James Stadium Tours
Raymond James Stadium is home to the NFL’s Tampa Bay Bucaneers, NCAA’s University of South Florida Bulls and the New Year’s Day Outback Bowl. Named by St. Petersburg, FL-based financial services firm Raymond James Financial, the 1.65 million-square foot building seats over 65,000 and has been rated the best in the league by the NFL Players Association for the past six years.
Visitors can take one-hour recreation tours of the stadium that include a visit to the security area, the Bucaneers’ tunnel to the field, the player locker rooms and the club/suite area. The tour also includes a walk through the main concourse to the 103-foot, 43-ton replica pirate ship, located in the north end zone, that fires soft footballs and confetti every time the Bucaneers score.
Group tours are offered Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10:00 am or 11:00 am with the option of a boxed lunch for $6. Individual and walk-up tours are offered the same days at 2:00 pm. Tours are not given Thursday during the week of a game or Tuesday after a Monday night game. Tours cost $3 for children ages 6-15, $6 for adults ages 16 and older and $3 for seniors ages 65 and older. Cost for children under 5 is free. Guest should keep in mind that large bags, backpacks and video cameras are not allowed on tours. Group tours require a minimum of 10 people and must be scheduled two weeks in advance. Guests are advised to arrive 15 to 20 minutes prior to the start of their tour. For more information: 813-350-6576
Secret Ybor Tour
Titled “Secret Ybor: Scandals, Crimes and Shady Ladies,” this hour-long walking tour promises to explore Ybor’s spirited sites. At locations such as old clinics and theaters, guests are both entertained and spooked with stories about mass murders, bloody streetcar incidents and yellow fever deaths. Every tour guide is a “ghost” from the area dressed in authentic period attire. Reservations are available by appointment. Price is flexible based on time and needs of the group.
For more information: 813-831-5214
Yacht StarShip Dinner Cruises
Florida’s largest dining yacht and America’s first 3 Diamond Rated dining yacht by AAA offers daily lunch and dinner cruises through Hillsborough Bay and Garrison Channel. An $8 million yacht, StarShip has five private dining rooms and capacity for up to 600 guests. Lunch and dinner menus are created fresh daily and include appetizer, dessert and entrée selections such as grilled mahi mahi, braised lamb shank and grilled boneless pork chop. A Sunday brunch cruise offers an extensive selection of breakfast and lunch foods, including bagels, scrambled eggs, fruit and cheese and prime rib.
Guests enjoy live entertainment and dancing during dinner cruises and learn about Tampa Bay’s history through a historical narration during the lunch and brunch cruises. The StarShip yacht is available for large group reservations. The two-hour lunch cruises board at 11:30 am. The two-hour Sunday brunch cruise boards at noon. Both lunch and brunch cruises cost $31.95 for children and $44.95 for adults. The three-hour dinner cruises cost $44.95 for children and $79.95 for adults. For more information: 813-223-7999
