Tampa Florida

Ideally located on the west coast of Florida, Tampa features gorgeous climate, miles of gleaming waterways, and easy access to surrounding cities and islands. Citizens enjoy a climate that averages a mild 72 degrees and is generally tempered by a mild oceanic breeze. Tampa is Florida's third most populous city with over 300,000 residents, and the entire Tampa Bay area (Hillsborough County) is the most populous and affluent Metropolitan Statistical Area in the State. 

Brief History

Tampa was originally an Indian fishing village. The first name for the area was "Tanpa," the native word for "fire sticks". After Ponce De Leon started his quest for the Fountain of Youth near Tanpa in 1521, the name of the area soon changed on European maps to Tampa. The next European to sail into Tampa was Hernando de Soto. In 1539, de Soto began his search for gold, and left the area. The region was left largely untouched for almost 200 years after de Soto's exploration.

The United States purchased Florida from Spain in 1821. Just two years later, historic Fort Brook (now downtown Tampa) began attracting traders and settlers. The town of Tampa was founded in 1855. Tampa encompassed a large area, but at this point only numbered 836 in population. A single figure is responsible for sealing the fate of Tampa. Henry B. Plant extended the railroad into Tampa in 1884, and founded a steamship line from Tampa, to Key West, to Havana, Cuba. Plant also encouraged tourism by spending three million dollars to build the historic Tampa Bay Hotel in 1891. This masterpiece of architecture attracted famous stars, the very wealthy, athletes, and talents of all varieties.

Tampa is the birthplace of several industries. Known for years as the "Cigar Capitol of the World", nearly 12,000 people worked in the city's more than two hundred cigar factories. Don Vincente Martinez Ybor --a Cuban exile, who moved his factories from Key West to Tampa in 1885, single-handedly founded the city's cigar industry. Today his namesake district (Ybor City) is a National Historical Landmark. 

Another business born in Tampa is the commercial airline industry. Tony Jannus was responsible for piloting the first regularly scheduled flights from St. Petersburg to Tampa in 1913.

Today, Tampa is as culturally diverse as ever. One in three people in the area bear Latino surnames, and the Census Bureau has named the city as one of the five most integrated urban areas in the United States. With its rich history, and its amazing diversity, Tampa is an incredibly rewarding place to visit! To inquire about a Tampa Beach Vacation, we recommend VRBO.com or CoastRentals.com

Major Attractions

Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens has long been Tampa's number one theme and amusement park. Featuring breathtaking rides including enormous roller coasters, the Gardens are fun for the whole family. Check out their Broadway style entertainment for a break from the big thrills, or observe the vast variety of animals throughout the park. Make sure to schedule a whole day to see the plethora of amusements this park really has to offer! Click on the link to get ticket information.

Florida Aquarium
The Florida Aquarium is a wonderful three-story building, and is home to a variety of marine life. There are unique, interactive wetlands exhibits, complete with baby alligators and limestone caves. Be sure to check out the gigantic coral reef captured in an enormous tank. Aquarium divers take turns pointing out what's what on this giant reef in order to educate the public about just how miraculous and diverse coral really is. Whether you like fog covered water and mangroves, or sandy beaches and seashells, the Florida Aquarium will definitely be an interesting journey!

Tampa Museum of Art
The Tampa Museum of Art is a place of both the antique and the modern. The museum boasts a wing of excellent Greco-Roman artifacts, while also playing host to an excellent collection of modern sculpture. Perhaps the most standout area of the museum's architecture is the glassed in terrace that encloses the modern three-dimensional works - using the beautiful Hillsborough River as a backdrop. This is the perfect place to check out up and coming Floridian artists (the museum regularly features them), or to shop for a perfect gift. 

Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)
Ready to be fascinated? Try playing an enormous game of pinball to find out how energy works. Do you think you can figure out how to take out the nation's trash? The MOSI let's you try it. Perhaps one of the most educational and child-friendly places in Tampa, the MOSI is a hands-on delight. Teaching by doing could be their motto, as they take you through nearly every area of science and industry - from space to geology. Learn about robotics from a robot! The exhibits are ever changing, as is the movie on the big screen IMAX. If you live to learn, but like to have fun while you're doing it, MOSI is the place for you. 

Sports Teams

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
"Fire that cannon! It's TOUCH DOWN TAMPA BAY!" is a phrase you're nearly sure to hear if you visit Raymond James Stadium when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are at work. Since being awarded the 27th franchise in the NFL in 1974, the Bucs have not always been a force to be reckoned with. Not so in the past two years, however. After winning Super Bowl XXXVII (their first) in 2003, the Bucs sent seven team members to the Pro-Bowl. They played shut out games in 2004, and then sent another four members to the Pro-Bowl as a follow-up. Over 150,000 fans lined the streets of Tampa after the Bucs' Super Bowl win, and you can be sure that each of those individuals expects great things from their record setting team. Tickets are available from a variety of sources.  You can visit eBay, The Bucs Official site, or go to a broker. Tickets sold on the secondary market are generally sold for more than face value (unless you are just looking to go to a preseason game, in which case you can generally get the tickets cheaper than face value.

Tampa Bay Lightning
If you like ice hockey, you'll love the Tampa Bay Lightning. Rooting for a winning team has never been so easy. The Tampa Bay Lightning just won the 2004 Stanley Cup, to a roaring salute from both fans, and the Florida State Congress - who passed a resolution honoring the team. Check out this group of champions at the St. Petersburg Times Forum in Tampa. 

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